1 First. Screw you.

2
Fore!

3 Hell yeah, it's time to panic!

4 If we had quit sending them money a decade ago the fix or ultimate collapse would have occurred already and been much smaller.

Collapse delayed is always collapse worse.

And the bad thing, we are STILL sending them money even though we don't have any to send.

5
brb...

6 I wouldn't want to be a tiny nation on the border of a large irredentist nation in the coming years.

7

"It is about whether sovereign governments can still underwrite economic performance and financial stability in the leading economies of the world."

 

This can only occur if it is deemed to be "fair" by a Kenyan import. Just sayin. We have to have priorities.

8 No need to panic. America will be best poitioned to thrive in the reset if we get over the Gaia cult. The people in a sling are the central EUtopians.

9 It is about whether our political discussion will result in us doing something that makes it worse, as usual.

10 Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes for a form of facism to be revived in at least one european nation? 

11 Building a Bridge to the 1920s -Barack Obama

12 6 I wouldn't want to be a tiny nation on the border of a large irredentist nation in the coming years.   Are you talking about me?

13 I don't know about this but after seeing that picture of Barky kissing Michelle; I jonesing for some sweet Me-on-Michelle action.

14 Don't Panic!

now where did i hide my xanax.

15 Obama = smart

16 I wouldn't want to be a tiny nation on the border of a large irredentist nation in the coming years. yeah, what's up?

17 Who me?  Panic?  Not me!  I'm joining my pet ostrich in the sandbox.

18

Posted by: Ben at September 22, 2011 04:02 PM (wuv1c)

 

You're a rabid anti-dentite!

19 Also, he's wrong that the political side is meaningless, even in light of world events.

It matters a hell of a lot who wins next year, and not just for us either.

20 I've been predicting a new world war for a couple years now. It seems more inevitable now than ever.

21 Third largest DJIA drop in history.

22 Remain calm, all is well (Animal House):

http://tinyurl.com/c62hqt

23 honestly i picked the wrong decade to be a sober member of society.

24 We're also out of coffee.

25 Euro collapse will take down Euro banks. Euro bank collapse will take down U.S. banks because all this BS world bank stuff consisted of loans from U.S. banks that the government would "guarantee". Does that sound familiar kinda like Fannie and Freddie?

26 Now you'ze Can't Leave. - Big Brother as he locks the door.

27 10 Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes for a form of facism to be revived in at least one european nation?    Huh? Are you talking about economics or race? They are already economic fascists - they just think being kind to tokens make them special and kind. Sorta like California, but the Euros really don't tolerate much back talk from the imported help. They especially don't think of them as new citizens. In this, they are more realistic than our home grown fascists.

28 Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes for a form of facism to be revived in at least one european nation?

No. I'd just depress myself with how small the time frame would be.

29

WRM is an over-beloved slinger of a familiar sort of bullshit:  "If only X could be more like Y..."  The world is in too much debt, BUT.  Cutbacks are needed, BUT.  Like reading tea leaves on top of entrails, all you gonna get is a headache...

\\

30 Nope.  No more speeches.  The 30 million metric ton bullshit limit on the teleprompter warranty just expired.

31 honestly i picked the wrong decade to be a sober member of society.

Glue?

32

>>>No need to panic. America will be best poitioned to thrive in the reset if we get over the Gaia cult. The people in a sling are the central EUtopians.

 

We are in a decent position. We have a wealth of natural resouces, regions with various climates condusive to growing almost every type of crop imaginable. Tons of arable land. Most of the worlds fresh water in the Great Lakes. A peaceful northern neighbor rich in natural resources  like oil and timber.

We've got enough gas, oil, natural gas, and coal to last us several lifetimes. We have warm water ports on both the pacific and atlantic oceans.

We're in a good position as a nation. I am happy we're not in Europe or Asia when the music stops and everyone is grasping for a chair.

Obviously things can, and probably will, get bad. But there are degrees of bad. There is rampant unemployment and soup lines bad. Which will be American bad.

And then there is let's pull straws to decide which kid to eat bad, which will be Asia.

33
"What you're starting to see is glimmers of hope across the economy. [...] We've still got a lot of work to do. Still, the signs of progress are unmistakable."

-President Mess-Creator
April, 2009

34 It could be that we're not getting the true situation from the media because the media has very emotional, very irrational reason to not want to believe it themselves. Which is why when they report Perry's bad numbers in the Suffolk New hampshire poll- the media doesn't tell you that it was- only 400 voters. That because the Republican primary is "open" in New Hampshire - Only 50% or 200 of those polled were REPUBLICAN.

35

Stock Market: DOOM

Gold and Silver: DOOM

Land and Property: DOOM

Food Prices: DOOM

Good RUM: Helps ease the DOOM.

Yo Ho Ho and A bottle of Bacardi!

36 DJIA headed for 5000, unemployment headed for the kind of figures seen in FDR's first term.

We're gonna get to see this depression in color.

Could it get so doggone bad that The One could win a second term just because everyone in the middle would panic about making a change?

We'll see.

37 yeah, so that extra $1.3 trillion a year we'll need to bridge the gap in the budget that doesn't exist. If the rest of the world collapses, were does OBlamer think that's going to come from? I predict the fed will do something awful and we'll all pay.

38 32

>>>No need to panic. America will be best poitioned to thrive in the reset if we get over the Gaia cult. The people in a sling are the central EUtopians.

 

We are in a decent position. We have a wealth of natural resouces, regions with various climates condusive to growing almost every type of crop imaginable. Tons of arable land. Most of the worlds fresh water in the Great Lakes. A peaceful northern neighbor rich in natural resources  like oil and timber.

We've got enough gas, oil, natural gas, and coal to last us several lifetimes. We have warm water ports on both the pacific and atlantic oceans.

We're in a good position as a nation. I am happy we're not in Europe or Asia when the music stops and everyone is grasping for a chair.

Obviously things can, and probably will, get bad. But there are degrees of bad. There is rampant unemployment and soup lines bad. Which will be American bad.

And then there is let's pull straws to decide which kid to eat bad, which will be Asia.

Posted by: Ben at September 22, 2011 04:07 PM (wuv1c)

"first thing we do, is we kill all the lawyers"

39 10 Ben, Arguably the EU qualifies, they just embrace the "other" against the domestic political enemy.

40 20 I've been predicting a new world war for a couple years now. It seems more inevitable now than ever.     Who are the players? We're the only ones with deployable forces. Are you thinking Russia - China? China - India? Glass Factory Mid East? Just wonderin.

41 20 I've been predicting a new world war for a couple years now. It seems more inevitable now than ever.

In the end, there will be only chaos. 

42 Ben:
Obviously things can, and probably will, get bad. But there are degrees of bad. There is rampant unemployment and soup lines bad. Which will be American bad.

Yeah.  I'd still rather be here than practically anywhere else.

43 Glue?

Posted by: Meiczyslaw at September 22, 2011 04:07 PM (bjRNS)

yeah you can use that to put me back together if this keeps up.

thanks in advance

44 What?  Really?  I have the honor and distinction of being the first on this thread to say that Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure? 

Thank you!  I'm honored.

Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

Ahhhhhh.

45
All we have to do is stop wasting a trillion dollars on stuff.

46 America is kinda lucky that the rest of the world sucks now too.  If we were the only one in dire straits, with the dollar collapsing and all, we'd be a LOT more f*cked than we are now.

47 This is an example of capitalism failing. If by capitalism you mean paying people six figures to retire early with money you don't have.

48 I've been predicting a new world war for a couple years now. It seems more inevitable now than ever.     Who are the players? We're the only ones with deployable forces. Are you thinking Russia - China? China - India? Glass Factory Mid East? Just wonderin.

It'll start in the South China Sea. Go hit the Strategy Page and bone up on the region.

49 The policies are because of the politics. So you can't talk about the policies without talking about the politics. Sounds like a call for more bailouts, to me, in the classic leftist method of "The time for politics is over, it's now time to do what *I* want!"

50 Ace this is what I and many others warned you of when the debt deal went down at the end of July. We were all pissed and sullen, while you (plural) were telling us of the great victory we had won in the debate. All that went through my mind is, it isn't enough, this was our last chance to avert econogeddon and we failed; we won't make it to 2013, not at least how we understand ourselves today. I projected we would be lucky to make it to Christmas. I'll be honest it's been getting me down lately. As everything I feared comes to pass right when I feared it would. We are only about a month out from the downgrade. What's going to happen next month? How are we going to eek by for another 16?

51
"May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

52 In the end, there will be only chaos. 

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at September 22, 2011 04:09 PM (9hSKh)

sometimes that isn't so funny.

53

Dang, I was really hoping the Mayans were wrong.

 

54 The political speculation is worse than useless at this point. Global economic events are moving so rapidly that we have no way of foreseeing the economic environment for next year. It will probably not be very good, but how bad it will be and how it will look to voters cannot yet be foretold.

Hey now, let's not lose focus.  The most important thing is that we navigate these crises so that we can pick up a few more seats and maybe the white house.  Taking a principled stand for policy reasons could mean an electoral loss.  That's much, much worse than economic ruin.

55 yeah, so that extra $1.3 trillion a year we'll need to bridge the gap in the budget that doesn't exist.

Posted by: joeindc44 at September 22, 2011 04:08 PM (QxSug)

Double that number.

56 40 20 I've been predicting a new world war for a couple years now. It seems more inevitable now than ever.     Who are the players? We're the only ones with deployable forces. Are you thinking Russia - China? China - India? Glass Factory Mid East? Just wonderin.

Posted by: Sub-Tard at September 22, 2011 04:09 PM (0M3AQ)

the mideast couldn't organize a package of gummy bears.  Europe is busy navel gazing and feeling sorry for themselves and eating shitty food.  China is focused.  The russians are mostly drunk and/or whores.

Worry about China.

57 [Muffled voice] Past panic. Already into fetal position.

58 America is kinda lucky that the rest of the world sucks now too.  If we were the only one in dire straits, with the dollar collapsing and all, we'd be a LOT more f*cked than we are now.

Posted by: © Sponge at September 22, 2011 04:09 PM (UK9cE)

a silver lining. tx

59

It is almost as if on December 8, 1941, the press was filled with speculation about whether Franklin Roosevelt’s chances for a fourth term were helped or hurt by the attack — and whether GOP hopes to pick up more seats in the 1942 election would have to be put on hold.

That is, in fact, what our current MFM would focus upon. 

I'm with Steyn, I believe Europe will revert to form to deal with the problems.  The difficult matter is that demographics do not favor the Old Guard.

honestly i picked the wrong decade to be a sober member of society.

Seriously.  I told my mother early in the week that I am now actively rooting that Yellowstone blows. 

60 a war? Kinda prescient since we're in 3 now and Islam just spit out about a billion 18 year old men who are willing to strap on a suicide pack in a school bus near you. But really, Europe is too old and feeble, and they probably don't have any bullets.

61

b..but Maxine Waters said..........................

62 Fire every SCoaMF appointee and their hires.  Drill everywhere.  Screw regulations and build refineries.  Abolish the EPA, DOE. Commerce, and other bullshit agencies.  Wisconsinize  the federal unions bargaining rights.  Lower tax rates, no sunset provision.  10% cut in the budgets for every agency.  No Pell grants to universities with huge endowments. Medicare/SS reform for those below 50.  Privatize where ever you can.  Immediate federal hiring freeze. Defund non-essentials (NEA, Planned Parenthood, community organizers etc.)  Claw back all unspent Stimulus and other funds held by any agency.  Stop funding the UN.  Fuck the PLO, Egypt and ME--no more $.

Just a couple thoughts. 

63 52 In the end, there will be only chaos. 

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at September 22, 2011 04:09 PM (9hSKh)

sometimes that isn't so funny.

I didn't mean it to be funny, it's somber.  Alas, Internet text cannot yet transmit tone inflection...

64 Boy, I am getting pissed off at that factory owner now, using my sidewalks!

65

And then there is let's pull straws to decide which kid to eat bad, which will be Asia.

 And whatever shall I do with my excess male population of 30 million. Oh, hi, Taiwan!

66 I didn't mean it to be funny, it's somber.  Alas, Internet text cannot yet transmit tone inflection...

Winter's coming.

67
Mike makes a good point.

Tell me again why a govt shutdown would've been awful for us? We gotta stop being pussies. And by 'we', I mean Boner and his pals.

68 Screw policies. We need to be talking about Freedom.

69

I completely agree with Mead on this.  It's one of the things that turned me off the media from the start, even before they became such blatant, snivelling sycophants to the left (or rather, before I realized QUITE how blatant, snivelling and sycophantic they were). 

Casting everything only in political terms is one of the most mindlessly amoral practices the media delights in perpetuating.  Hell, I might even call it IMmoral.  Obama's approach to Israel isn't solely a political situation.  Real lives are in the balance, as is the right of an entire country to exist.  Obama's decision to halt permits for new oil drilling isn't just a political maneuver.  It puts real people out of work and hurts real people at the gas pump, in the grocery store, and on the heating bill. 

It never ceases to amaze me that the left professes to be the ideology that "cares about people, not profits," but they're perfectly happy swinging their political morningstar at every straw man within reach, utterly ignoring the actual PEOPLE who are ruined as a result.

70 The Suffolk New Hampshire Poll sucks (cont.) The media also doesn't tell you that the only question the Suffolk folks asked to determine the "likelihood of voting" was: S4. Just to be clear, although you are registered you intend to vote in the Republican Primary in the next 5 months? **** the Republican Presidential Primary

71 68 Screw policies. We need to be talking about Freedom.

Posted by: Arms Merchant at September 22, 2011 04:12 PM (hW3KZ)

Freedom is where you take it.

72

I don't see the potential for a world war as we saw in the 20th. The only major players who can project some force all have nukes. So it's doubtful a war will ever be fought on the territory of China, US, Russia, India, etc.

However, wars for resources and proxy wars in nations that have resources are feasable.

China owns a lot of natural resources in Africa. If these African nations ever tried to nationalize them, I could easiy see China, or us for that matter, going in and maintaining them by force.

So in the sense that there would be war all over the globe, that's possible, but it's unlikely it will be as stark a contrast in sides as the second and first world war.

There won't be side a versus side b, but rather us versus everyone and vice versa.

73

We are in a decent position. We have a wealth of natural resouces, regions with various climates condusive to growing almost every type of crop imaginable. Tons of arable land. Most of the worlds fresh water in the Great Lakes. A peaceful northern neighbor rich in natural resources like oil and timber.

We've got enough gas, oil, natural gas, and coal to last us several lifetimes. We have warm water ports on both the pacific and atlantic oceans.

We're in a good position as a nation. I am happy we're not in Europe or Asia when the music stops and everyone is grasping for a chair.

Obviously things can, and probably will, get bad. But there are degrees of bad. There is rampant unemployment and soup lines bad. Which will be American bad.

And then there is let's pull straws to decide which kid to eat bad, which will be Asia.

Posted by: Ben at September 22, 2011 04:07 PM (wuv1c

We do???!!!

74 Thank you sir, may I have another?

75

Worry about China.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:11 PM (x3YFz)

China, the place with empty cities and fleets of cars nobody buys?  The place that long term decided to knee cap itself with a massive gender imbalance?

China's screwed.

76 Halloween 2012 - be prepared. The excrement will impact the variable oscillating device....

77
DaY oF RaGe

78

"first thing we do, is we kill all the lawyers"

Sweetie darlin', don't forget that some of us can shoot back. 

 

79 China's screwed.

And that's why they're dangerous.

80 The russians are mostly drunk and/or whores. Go on...

81 50 MtM, Again you send your mind control ray to John Boner Capitol USA. WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION TO "WIN" ANYTHING! Bambi welcomes implosion, good faith negotiation cannot happen w/this clown. He plans to jump and is wearing a bomb vest.

82 >>Who are the players? We're the only ones with deployable forces. Are you thinking Russia - China? China - India? Glass Factory Mid East? Just wonderin. I'm not sure where it will start, could be a result of the economic upheaval that is coming in Europe, riots have already broken out in Greece and the UK, could be the middle east, could be China looking to distract their marauding hordes (and Tom Friedman) once it becomes clear their "economic miracle" was a fraud. But all the ingredients are upon us. Massive wealth destruction, the breakup of social and economic ties like the Eurozone, religious strife... things are definitely heating up.

83 79

"first thing we do, is we kill all the lawyers"

Sweetie darlin', don't forget that some of us can shoot back. 

 

Posted by: alexthechick at September 22, 2011 04:15 PM (VtjlW)

"first thing we do, is we kill all the lawyers"

except Alex.

84
Keep in mind the Classic Blunders.

85

Sweetie darlin', don't forget that some of us can shoot back. 

 

Posted by: alexthechick at September 22, 2011 04:15 PM (VtjlW)

alright alex, but i'm still getting your boots.

_{i keed}

86 Guess what guys, it's time to embrace the horror! Look, we've got front row tickets to the end of the earth!

87 OMG, did anyone hear that R.E.M. is breaking up? That's way the world sucks! Shiny, happy people everywhere!

88 62....Just a couple thoughts. 

Posted by: observer at September 22, 2011 04:12 PM (gkxl1)

ARRGH! And right good ones they are, matey.

89
If you recall, one of the arguments used to intimidate people against a govt shutdown was the closing of parks and the Lincoln Memorial.

Seems rather trite now, doesn't it? It did, then, too, but now it's really silly.

90 1st. End Ethanol subsidies, food will be power; 2nd. Energy Independence, Drill Yesterday; 3rd. Resolve housing crisis - somehow clear the books and get the construction industry going - screw the banks if need be, we can charter new ones.

91 76

Worry about China.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:11 PM (x3YFz)

China, the place with empty cities and fleets of cars nobody buys?  The place that long term decided to knee cap itself with a massive gender imbalance?

China's screwed.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 22, 2011 04:14 PM (FkKjr)

You're making the mistake of thinking they won't want to be not hungry.  You actually made my point for me.  In the long term China needs to eat.  It's hungry.  and your ass is a croissant with a cheesy center.

92

a silver lining. tx

Posted by: willow at September 22, 2011 04:11 PM (h+qn

Bawahahahaha..........

 

93 You're making the mistake of thinking they won't want to be not hungry.  You actually made my point for me.  In the long term China needs to eat.  It's hungry.  and your ass is a croissant with a cheesy center.

Hmmm, cheesy!

94 somehow, it's as if the largest bailout/stimulus in American history has given us the worst post WWII recovery. weird. And you're saying that other countries that tried the same thing, without restructuring their obviously flawed systems are going through the same things? That's unfathomable, it's almost as if there were some kind economic principle that's being violated by the left. But they're so smart!

95 WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION TO "WIN" ANYTHING!

Posted by: sven10077 at September 22, 2011 04:15 PM (AEIYh)

That's not what John Boehner said in 2009.

96 I do hope that the trustafarians didn't get hurt too bad in the collapse of the Dow.

97 79

"first thing we do, is we kill all the lawyers"

Sweetie darlin', don't forget that some of us can shoot back. 

 

Posted by: alexthechick at September 22, 2011 04:15 PM (VtjlW)

crazy woman, you know I love you.  How in the metric 7 circles of hell did you get through law school... you being you?  There's gotta be more than a few holes in the desert after that episode.

98 "Bambi welcomes implosion, good faith negotiation cannot happen w/this clown." The die was cast the day this piece of shit was elected. The only negotiating tactic left with this hostage taker is to shoot the hostage.

99 And regarding politics: I do not know for certain what the next president would do, usefully, to improve the situation. It's Obvious. Tarp II - this time we're serious You know that Obama 2012 bumper sticker floating around the blog yesterday. It's not a parody anymore.

100 71 68 Screw policies. We need to be talking about Freedom.

Posted by: Arms Merchant at September 22, 2011 04:12 PM (hW3KZ)

Freedom is where you take it.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:14 PM (x3YFz)

Aye Matey, Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose.

Soon all you landlubbers will have Freedom. Join the Pirate Revolution, sharpen your cutlass, and take no prisoners.

101 Needs more cowbell.

102

Eh, Jesus is still Lord. I'mma not freak out that we still can't build Towers of Babel, even with iPads.

103 Hang all the traitors.

It will cut expenses and create jobs.

104 The die was cast the day this piece of shit was elected. The only negotiating tactic left with this hostage taker is to shoot the hostage.

All right, pop quiz. USA, SCOAMF with one hostage. He's using her for cover; he's almost to a plane. You're a hundred feet away... FRONT?

105 It's hungry. and your ass is a croissant with a cheesy center on the other side of a glass window they cant break ...

106 92 76

Worry about China.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:11 PM (x3YFz)

China, the place with empty cities and fleets of cars nobody buys?  The place that long term decided to knee cap itself with a massive gender imbalance?

China's screwed.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 22, 2011 04:14 PM (FkKjr)

You're making the mistake of thinking they won't want to be not hungry.  You actually made my point for me.  In the long term China needs to eat.  It's hungry.  and your ass is a croissant with a cheesy center.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:18 PM (x3YFz)

I always get into trouble when I use 2 or more negatives... I foncuse myself.  need moar beer.

107 The Second Congo War was the bloodiest war since WWII.  It involved eight countries and killed several million people, yet it wasn't called a "World War", and almost nobody outside of Africa even knows about it.

I don't think there will be a "World War" anytime soon.  But wars?  Yeah, good chance.

108

We are in a decent position. We have a wealth of natural resouces, regions with various climates condusive to growing almost every type of crop imaginable. Tons of arable land. Most of the worlds fresh water in the Great Lakes. A peaceful northern neighbor rich in natural resources  like oil and timber.

We've got enough gas, oil, natural gas, and coal to last us several lifetimes. We have warm water ports on both the pacific and atlantic oceans.

Now what we need is someone to step up to the podium, unplug the teleprompter, and lay out the plan for The Great American Renewal. We'd begin immediately to drill for oil and natural gas, mine precious metals, construct refineries and nuclear plants, unleash farmers, and start a national initiative to manufacture our own products.

We'd be back on our feet in no time. Screw the rest of the world. If they want prosperity, take our lead, free your people, and the rest will come naturally, on its own.

109 Soon all you landlubbers will have Freedom. Join the Pirate Revolution, sharpen your cutlass, and take no prisoners.

When you're a professional pi-rate ...
... you don't have to wear a suit.

110 14 Don't Panic! now where did i hide my xanax anthrax. Posted by: willow In the World of the Future, WMDs will be currency.

111

People can't get their heads around this impending crisis because of recency bias.

Humans look at their current environment and extrapolate from it. Most of us have known nothing but prosperity here in America (at least on a macro scale). The idea of America not being America anymore is unthinkable.

My wife suffers from this bias. She shakes her head at my food stores, my water filters, my gold and silver and keeps repeating, "Just WHAT do you think will happen? Social unrest? How? Why? What would cause it? Why wouldn't we have food or water."

We've agreed that she will let me do my job as head of the household in preparing the family for disaster with the understanding that she is free to mock me as a kook and a crank 30 yrs from now if nothing happens.

I hope that's the outcome.

But it's not just my wife. The  financial adviser she works for scolded me for pulling all our money out of equities. He sees "turbulence" coming, but ultimately thinks we'll pull through in a couple of years.

I said to him, when my upside is 10-15% and my potential downside is 25-80%, I'm sitting it out.

Right now he's looking like the dumbass, but it isn't about that. The guy knows far more about investing and finance than me, but that doesn't give him a better perspective on it. As a matter of fact, he's probably too close to the whole thing to have good judgement on the matter.

 

 

112

90
If you recall, one of the arguments used to intimidate people against a govt shutdown was the closing of parks and the Lincoln Memorial.

Seems rather trite now, doesn't it? It did, then, too, but now it's really silly.

Maybe Sparky will close bridges because their unsafe and there is no government employee on the clock to tell you they are unsafe? Scary.

113 Probably the weirdest thing about the poll if the above isn't enough for you- is the age demographic breakdown of their sample: ****** What is your age category? (READ LIST) N= 18-34 years .................................... 33...8% 35-44 years .....................................55...14% 45-54 years .................................... 80...20% 55-64 years .................................... 91...23% 65-74 years .................................... 87...22% 75+ years .......................................54...14% ******* In the exit polling for the 2008 presidential election the age breakdown of the electorate was: Vote by Age 18-24 (10%) 25-29 (7%) 30-39 (16%) 40-49 (22%) 50-64 (30%) (CNN) ***** I get that the republican primary voter in New Hampshire might trend older than the New hampshire general presidential electorate-but that much older? 65 or Over (14%)

114 106 It's hungry. and your ass is a croissant with a cheesy center on the other side of a glass window they cant break ...

Posted by: Jean at September 22, 2011 04:22 PM (WkuV6)

you say that as if you believe it.  I, however, do not.  I'm not talking a Red China Red Dawn remake here...  they have warehouses full of  hackers earning pennies/day to take down our infrastructure.

Cybersecurity has become an oxymoron in the US.

115

You're making the mistake of thinking they won't want to be not hungry.  You actually made my point for me.  In the long term China needs to eat.  It's hungry.  and your ass is a croissant with a cheesy center.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:18 PM (x3YFz)

Nope.  Historically China eats itself when it all goes to shit, going back thousands of years.

116 You mean taxing the rich won't help??

117 96 Bevel, *sigh* We are at best what has held his '08-'09 excess in check. Anyone who thought the scales were tipped back to us in '10 needs help. We need to get back to work fighting for the Senate and WH, and leave whinging about theatrics to Pelosi.

118 And regarding politics: I do not know for certain what the next president would do, usefully, to improve the situation.

There never was any option to "do something and improve the situation." Not TARP. Not the Stimulus. Not QE, QE2, QE 666. Not the debt limit increase. Not the bailouts DC will be screaming for in the coming weeks and months.

There was only ever "hold the government back (balancing the budget) from intervening and let the market work out the distortions that have been imposed on it." You (anyone) is not smarter than math. The government cannot be bigger than the market, ever, because the market is its food source.

119

We are in a decent position. We have a wealth of natural resouces, regions with various climates condusive to growing almost every type of crop imaginable.

(Which you cannot do in many places as it's against homeowners associationsand EPA)

Tons of arable land. Most of the worlds fresh water in the Great Lakes. A peaceful northern neighbor rich in natural resources  like oil and timber.

(who has the money to buy ?)

We've got enough gas, oil, natural gas, and coal to last us several lifetimes. We have warm water ports on both the pacific and atlantic oceans.

(EPA)

120 72  However, wars for resources and proxy wars in nations that have resources are feasable.

China owns a lot of natural resources in Africa. If these African nations ever tried to nationalize them, I could easiy see China, or us for that matter, going in and maintaining them by force.

Posted by: Ben at September 22, 2011 04:14 PM (wuv1c)

Aye, right ye be, Laddy, and the Pirate Crew be a-waitin' for that one, the riches of Africa bekon. Soon we sail.

121 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

122

110 Soon all you landlubbers will have Freedom. Join the Pirate Revolution, sharpen your cutlass, and take no prisoners.

When you're a professional pi-rate ...
... you don't have to wear a suit.

Yeah. Going all Piratey might be a fun way to roll through the apocalypse. Beats listening to Ivy Leaguers masterbate on TeeVee.

123 Well said Warden. I couldn't agree more.

124 116

You're making the mistake of thinking they won't want to be not hungry.  You actually made my point for me.  In the long term China needs to eat.  It's hungry.  and your ass is a croissant with a cheesy center.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:18 PM (x3YFz)

Nope.  Historically China eats itself when it all goes to shit, going back thousands of years.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 22, 2011 04:25 PM (FkKjr)

True, but until now there wasn't an all-you-can-eat buffet in europe.

125 We are at best what has held his '08-'09 excess in check. Anyone who thought the scales were tipped back to us in '10 needs help. 

Posted by: sven10077 at September 22, 2011 04:25 PM (AEIYh)

So you are saying John Boehner in 2009 needed help.

126

you say that as if you believe it.  I, however, do not.  I'm not talking a Red China Red Dawn remake here...  they have warehouses full of  hackers earning pennies/day to take down our infrastructure.

Cybersecurity has become an oxymoron in the US.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:25 PM (x3YFz)

Wolveri-WTF? Blue screen?

127 Wolveri-WTF? Power out?

Wolveri-WTF? No cell signal?

Rut-roh.

128 119 And regarding politics: I do not know for certain what the next president would do, usefully, to improve the situation.

There never was any option to "do something and improve the situation." Not TARP. Not the Stimulus. Not QE, QE2, QE 666. Not the debt limit increase. Not the bailouts DC will be screaming for in the coming weeks and months.

There was only ever "hold the government back (balancing the budget) from intervening and let the market work out the distortions that have been imposed on it." You (anyone) is not smarter than math. The government cannot be bigger than the market, ever, because the market is its food source.

Posted by: Methos at September 22, 2011 04:26 PM (sOXQX)

The next president, if we're to fix this shit, would go down in history as "The Hammer."

129

True, but until now there wasn't an all-you-can-eat buffet in europe.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:27 PM (x3YFz)

When the Chinese government goes caput, the warlords are gonna fight over China, like they always have.  That will keep them occupied for a long time.  By then Europe will either have un-fucked itself or be Muslim.

130 128 Wolveri-WTF? Power out?

Wolveri-WTF? No cell signal?

Rut-roh.

Posted by: Ima Wurdibitsch at September 22, 2011 04:28 PM (fk/lm)

exactly.

131 Panic is never a useful response.

132 Historically China eats itself when it all goes to shit, going back thousands of years.

I think so, too, although the definition of "China" probably includes Taiwan.

Russian minerals might be a tempting target for them, though.

133 "They were right; I was wrong."

But they had cried wolf so often, it was rational to doubt them.

134 And exactly 56 people in the poll said they were going to vote for Ron Paul. ( -but we are going to make big sweeping generalizing conclusions about that...in certain segments of the media.)

135 Don't the Chinese have a huge Muslim "Problem" in west China, that seems way more plausible. 30 million Chinese men with no hope for ever finding a wife, they are going to need something to do.

136 130

True, but until now there wasn't an all-you-can-eat buffet in europe.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:27 PM (x3YFz)

When the Chinese government goes caput, the warlords are gonna fight over China, like they always have.  That will keep them occupied for a long time.  By then Europe will either have un-fucked itself or be Muslim.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 22, 2011 04:28 PM (FkKjr)

first:  when was the last time Europe un-fucked itself?

second: those warlords and going to pick the path of least resistance and most profit.  That's not in China.

137 @8: "America will be best poitioned to thrive in the reset if we get over the Gaia cult."

Given their hold on the government, business, media, and education worlds, and their successes to date, that's a might big "if".

138

"first thing we do, is we kill all the lawyers"

The cliche joke is that 99% of lawyers give all the rest a bad reputation.

I prefer to look at it another way: Somewhere around 1% of lawyers leave us with unrealistic expectations that the other 99% won't predictably act like slime.

The title of that new book: "Lawyer jokes"..... is redundant.

If you assemble all the best political jokes and put them together, you'd have...Congress.

Thank you, I'll be here all week...try the veal!

139 84 79 "first thing we do, is we kill all the lawyers" Reporters first this time

140 This pirate talk, well in a previous thread, I observed that as someone who actually produces, what a bust out this admin has been, the left has totally raided and spent everything and the GOP hasn't the brains or balls to stop it. I am wondering why bother, when union thugs are getting pensions that I'll never see. Why not just become Ragnar Danneskjold or pull an Archer and become a loser bartender on an island far away.

141

In a couple of years, this is all going to seem so obvious.

People will look back and wonder what the hell they were doing still fucking around in the stock market in 2011.

Kinda like I did after the internet bubble crashed. That's when I decided I better educate myself about financial markets if I didn't want to get raped again by Wall St.

142 132 Panic is never a useful response.

Posted by: steevy at September 22, 2011 04:29 PM (fyOgS)

Ever seen a guy across the street get attacked by a wasp?  It's useful in that it's hilarious to watch.

143 They can build bridges, over here-in America!

144 >>The Second Congo War was the bloodiest war since WWII. It involved eight countries and killed several million people, yet it wasn't called a "World War", and almost nobody outside of Africa even knows about it. Exactly. Because it was more or less a "local" war. In the grand scheme of things it didn't matter to anyone not directly involved and frankly, nobody gives a shit about Africa as long as the oil and natural resources keep flowing. That may sound harsh but its true. But the coming economic implosion is going to affect everyone, particularly the advanced countries as we have the most to lose. And our alliances bind us. If a war breaks out in Europe or the middle east or Asia, not only will we hear about it we will react. Remember, WWI started because of the assassination of a relatively obscure Archduke.

145 In all candor though, a reloading press, garden, and good waer storage are worth more than a cd right now.

146 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at September 22, 2011 04:26 PM (fyOgS)

 

Drink!

147

@32: "We're in a good position as a nation"

Hi! Have we met?

148 **Remember, WWI started because of the assassination of a relatively obscure Archduke.** so, about Qadafy...

149 140 84 79

"first thing we do, is we kill all the lawyers"

Reporters first this time

Posted by: Jean at September 22, 2011 04:31 PM (WkuV6)

I have to agree.  But you can't fault Shakespeare, he didn't know about cable news.  Having said that, I insist Megyn Kelly be brought to my castle, bound, and wearing nothing but heels and a hat of my choosing.

150 second: those warlords and going to pick the path of least resistance and most profit.  That's not in China.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:30 PM (x3YFz)

The path of least resistance isn't halfway around the world through Russian winters.

The Chinese historically build walls to keep other people out, because they think other lands suck compared to theirs.  Any Chinese Warlord will want China first and foremost.

151 147 Sometimes I type that in the first post early in the AM,do you still drink?

152 Back in 2009, the commenters here were being scolded for being angry. I responded back with a long rant why some of us were ..OK, maybe just me...angry.

I was seeing around me the lives of family and friends being turned upside down by losing jobs...and especially losing their own businesses. But more importantly, I was seeing and trying to make the point that these types of business concerns were bedrock to the to the economy...and that whole industries were just disappearing. ...whole economic sectors were irreparably crumbling.

...and this was at the time when people would not shut up about the cultural impact of that stupid fucking movie about alien Smurfs. There was post after post about it here.

Monty is right. It's DOOM time

153 138 FCI, If need be that will be Civil War 2.0...... Platitudes have a shbort half life on an empty belly.

154

@35: "Good RUM: Helps ease the DOOM."

Couple more days like today, and she's gonna have to be one busy 'ette.

155 30 million Chinese men with no hope for ever finding a wife

China can partially "outsource" that problem by importing women, not necessarily voluntarily, from places like North Korea and Vietnam.

156 I don't understand why some people insist that the modern world represents some sort of extreme variation from the way things used to be. Is it a form of nostalgia? Or is it a form of delusion that things were so much better "back in the old days". Every crisis experienced by the US since 1775 has been infused with "politics". With an army in the field and the port of Boston blockaded by the British and full knowledge that the entire weight of the mightiest empire then extant would come down on their collective heads, the Continental Congress was deadlocked over whether to declare independence. Sure, we look back upon those men who pledged their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor etc as heroes in a fateful drama. But many of them acknowledged afterwards that they were just men, just politicians, trying to do the best they could. And that's just one example. Representative government is messy and often stumbles before arriving at a good (not a great) solution. If you want to get "politics" out of governance, then you want the rule of a benevolent despot or the rule of technocrats. Tyranny is never messy on the surface, it's only when you look behind the curtain that you see a full on use of the police power of the state to crush dissent and force everyone into line. The camps are never down the street from you. I take comfort from the truism that Churchill voiced: Americans will try every possible alternative before arriving at a workable solution.

157 157 SB, The Japanese used Korea.

158

People can't get their heads around this impending crisis because of recency bias.

Humans look at their current environment and extrapolate from it. Most of us have known nothing but prosperity here in America (at least on a macro scale). The idea of America not being America anymore is unthinkable.

That's the worst part about it. Everyone's used to the way things have been when the way things have been for 30-40 years have been a lie supported by government borrowing and consumption debt (credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, student loans etc.). Total systemic debt has grown faster than GDP in every quarter since 1980 save one in 2009 when it crashed faster (see market-ticker.org any day of the week for that chart).

If all that leverage works its way out of the system, we're going back to 1980, or worse, because the shortfall has to be accounted for somewhere.

159 157 North Korean women would probably go voluntarily,at least they could eat in China.

160 152 second: those warlords and going to pick the path of least resistance and most profit.  That's not in China.

Posted by: tangonine at September 22, 2011 04:30 PM (x3YFz)

The path of least resistance isn't halfway around the world through Russian winters.

The Chinese historically build walls to keep other people out, because they think other lands suck compared to theirs.  Any Chinese Warlord will want China first and foremost.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at September 22, 2011 04:34 PM (FkKjr)

I hope your right.  I really do.

161

Aye Laddies, it surely be the time of  DOOM!

Hackers broke SSL encryption.Paypal and other Online payment systems at risk!   http://zapit.nu/DOOM 

There be no safe harbor now online. matey, keep your counsel close, your wallet closer, these be times of danger across the internet

162

Sooo, how's that whole "global economy" thingy working out?

163 161 157 North Korean women would probably go voluntarily,at least they could eat in China.

Posted by: steevy at September 22, 2011 04:37 PM (fyOgS)

or get a job at the PX

164 Can we have the slurpee drinker back behind the wheel? It would be better than the driver who has had 16 daiquiris.

165

I do know that one man is singularly unqualified to occupy the most important office in the world during that 3 a.m. emergency call. - Ace

 

Would that person happen to be a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure?

166

C'mon, how about all those enablers who supported the policies that cuased this disaster.  Obama may be a classic screwup but what about all the senators and congressmen, and presidents going back to Carter who haven't balanced the budget.  Drunken sailors look like Scots compared to our political class and the parsites that live off the government.

We need a balanced budget amendment and term limits so we do[t have a professional political class.

167 151 Cybersecurity has become an oxymoron in the US.

You know the simplest way to curtail the Chinese hackers? Me.

It ain't elegant but it stops them cold.

Posted by: Guy with Ax Poised Over International Cable at September 22, 2011 04:34 PM (IhHdM)

If it's stupid but it works, it ain't stupid.

168 Anybody want to take bets on which American city has the first crisis riots?

I guess we need a good definition of riot. Do our various flash mobs and Wisconsin attack-whitey-mini-riots count? Does the Great Madison Freakout count? I think storming a state capitol probably should. So maybe Wisconsin has already won.

But to be more specific -- which American city will have the first London-style multi-day riot? Where it takes the police 24+ hours to regain control?

Baltimore and Detroit probably aren't bad guesses. Though  the crazy pacific northwest leftist anarchists might surprise us with their violent tendencies. And LA always has the kindling ready to go.

169 @65:  And whatever shall I do with my excess male population of 30 million. Oh, hi, Taiwan!

Posted by: China at September 22, 2011 04:12 PM (136wp)

-------------------------

Hello, yourself. By the way, *we're* gonna get reincarnated, so kill all you like, we'll be back. 

170 170 Chicago could go,too.

171 146, amen

172 Obama may be a classic screwup but what about all the senators and congressmen, and presidents going back to Carter who haven't balanced the budget.

That's just crazy talk.

173 172 Steevy, Which would be ironic and damaging.

174 Hey, if it's all Bush's fault, shouldn't Europe be sitting pretty right now??

175 I guess we need a good definition of riot. Do our various flash mobs and Wisconsin attack-whitey-mini-riots count?

Must be a multi-day affair requiring massive police mobilization (and the requisite media "order" montage) and a press conference where Obama blames someone else for the situation.

My money's on Chicago as Rahm Emanuel is no Mayor Daley.

176

Baltimore and Detroit probably aren't bad guesses. Though  the crazy pacific northwest leftist anarchists might surprise us with their violent tendencies. And LA always has the kindling ready to go.

How would anyone notice if Detroit rioted?

177 >>>We are in a decent position. We have a wealth of natural resouces, regions with various climates condusive to growing almost every type of crop imaginable. Tons of arable land. Most of the worlds fresh water in the Great Lakes. A peaceful northern neighbor rich in natural resources  like oil and timber. So what you are saying is. When Rome burns and we get blown back to the dark ages we are well positioned? All true but pardon me, "our suck isnt as bad" isn't motivating.

178 176 No,he fucked them up too.,

179

@68: Screw policies. We need to be talking about Freedom.

http://tinyurl.com/443cwnd

Done and done

180 173 146, amen

Posted by: Middle class at September 22, 2011 04:41 PM (ZDUD4)

We can't grow dirt out here (eastern CO).  But, I've been putting off buying my own reloading gear.  Guess that's going to change.  Water is covered.

181 I do know that one man is singularly unqualified to occupy the most important  office in the world a 7/11 store during that 3 a.m. emergency beef jerky call.

182 **Hey, if it's all Bush's fault, shouldn't Europe be sitting pretty right now??** I know, right? It is as if the largest bailout/stimulus in American history has given us the worst post WWII recovery. weird. And you're saying that other countries that tried the same thing, without restructuring their obviously flawed systems are going through the same things?

183 Riot for what? More loot? Food? At the end of Atlas Shrugs the cities starve as the country is no longer capable of delivering food or energy to them. You can imagine what that'll be like. The Exodus from the cities will be interesting.

184 I wouldn't worry about China and their 30 million--they have to eat and starting a war against the world's food supplier is a bad idea. Plus, we owe them so damn much money it'd be like the bank taking out a hit on you when you own them $1mm. No, I'd say if China is going to start a war against anyone, it'd be in the region for land and it'll be India to counter-balance. This upcoming war really is something we must sit out no matter how many people start dying. 'Cause it is going to be a meat-grinder.
Probably the best thing we can do is suggest to the Chinese the "Saddam Gambit." You know, take over a ME country.  Two birds with one stone--no moslum terrorists and a happy China.

185 Oh, and there's another GOP debate tonight. Wonder if "What the Hell do we do now?" will come up?

186 182 T9, You can grow something in anything but alkali flats.... I know my next big investment is wild land in either the Ohio fothills or Canada.

187 My money is on the Northwest, specifically San Fran on up. Sure other more "urban' cities could riot like mad, but don't count out white liberal hipsters to go full on terrorist, there's no in between with them.

188 If it is all about to go - can we just slap a few Hellfires into the various ISI buildings in Pakistan, get it over with.

189

The "next" president hopefully won't say "I inherited this mess." 

If he has a brain in his head.

190 You can imagine what that'll be like. The Exodus from the cities will be interesting.

Where are they going to go? It's not like city people have any idea what lies beyond the end of their block.

191 Happy Days Are Here Again!

192 185 JoeInDC, Moron nation should hire out as farm defense forces. At the point the locusts start fleeing the cities protecting the seedcorn becomes as vital as any war for oil.

193
Taiwan: I can haz moar F16s????

SCOAMF: FYNQ

194 OMG, did anyone hear that R.E.M. is breaking up? That's way the world sucks! Shiny, happy people everywhere!
Posted by: The Robot Devil

Michael Stipe solo albums?! It's the end times!

195 **It's not like city people have any idea what lies beyond the end of their block.** I know, right...see Seinfeld where leaving the city was a magical journey involving renting a car. People will walk and wander along interstates, for a few dozen miles.

196

The "next" president hopefully won't say "I inherited this mess." 

If he has a brain in his head.

As President, sure.

But I'd love to see a debate where Obama makes that excuse and his opponent points out that Obama is handing him the worst mess in our history (and then gives The Plan).

197 92 Methos, Anyone within 60-100 miles of an urban center with 100,000 or more is in trouble.

198 185 Riot for what? More loot? Food?

At the end of Atlas Shrugs the cities starve as the country is no longer capable of delivering food or energy to them. You can imagine what that'll be like. The Exodus from the cities will be interesting.

Posted by: joeindc44 at September 22, 2011 04:46 PM (QxSug)

I'd planned for years to sell my house (in a rural area) and move into the city. Then, the housing market tanked. Then, I started paying attention.  I am not moving into the city and wish my place were more isolated. As it is, if/when things get bad, I'm going to have to make sure my neighbors  the strangers in my neighborhood don't know that I was prepared.  If the bad looks like it's going to last a while, my brother is also planning and he has 80 acres with a water source not too terribly far from me.

199 @194, well, the thing is is that the people outside the city will probably be better armed, have access to food, and still have actual community ties. It'd be like dozens to hundreds of mini-fortress towns around the country popping up.

200 >>>At the end of Atlas Shrugs the cities starve as the country is no longer capable of delivering food or energy to them. You can imagine what that'll be like. The Exodus from the cities will be interesting As in if they can make it to your doorstep they will try and take everything you have? Yeah that's what I call it, interesting.

201 No, I'd say if China is going to start a war against anyone, it'd be in the region for land and it'll be India to counter-balance. My punchlist: 1. Get dragged into a succession conflict in NOrkland; 2. Escalating conflict with Vietnam in SCS; 4. Burma for access to Indian basin - though they could probably do it without shooting anyone - just buy it.

202 I think we will be ok if we win big next year.. If things do not change we are screwed...

203 People will walk and wander along interstates, for a few dozen miles.

I can see Chicago on a clear day, but not much of anyone is going to walk this far. So, unless the trains are still running, I should have an adequate head start (to family further out and better positioned).

204 The threat of anyone using the internet to hack into our infrastructure and shutdown power plants and the grid is vastly overblown to the point of ludicrousness. It reminds me of that stupid 24 plot where they used laptops to take over Nuke plants and melt them down.

Absolutely stupid. But the government kept pushing it because they want to take control of the internet.

205 **As in if they can make it to your doorstep they will try and take everything you have? Yeah that's what I call it, interesting.** yup. I'm not saying I'm holed up in Fortress Joe here, just that surviving the end isn't all it's cracked up to be and that we should try to fight and stop it from happening. Or secede.

206 200 - some radios might be a good idea

207 Joe - just get across one of the bridges before the Virginians close their end for "maintenance"

208 And it's not unprecedented. Stalin killed millions of people in ukraine through actively induced famines. Take a city, cut off its food and escape routes. Wait a month. neutron bomb. ugh.

209 207 JoeInDC, Yup....what I was saying about "civil war version 2.0" if we win and they try to "protect the Earth" by continuing to wreck the economy with EPA time states vote with their feet.

210 Some people will have a full tank of fuel. If you are within one fuel tank of a metropolitan area, assume some of them will show up on your doorstep.

211

Baltimore and Detroit probably aren't bad guesses. Though  the crazy pacific northwest leftist anarchists might surprise us with their violent tendencies. And LA always has the kindling ready to go.

How would anyone notice if Detroit rioted?

Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at September 22, 2011 04:43 PM (JxMoP)

The crime rate would drop.

212

170 Anybody want to take bets on which American city has the first crisis riots?

Guaranteed Safe Bet: East or West Coast first with those pesky flyover Red States going last. Start with the entitlement mentality/illegal immigrants and maybe throw in a little of your minority/welfare culture and we'll be having some good old fashioned "Flash Mob" activity. OUTSIDE possibility of Detroit or New Orleans going first but I'll still put my money on those Blue Coasts.

213 If the bad looks like it's going to last a while, my brother is also planning and he has 80 acres with a water source not too terribly far from me.

That's the rub, for me. I know where there's water nearby, but so does everybody else.

214 There's a picture from Katrina showing drunks with guns, you loot we shoot. That's what I mean about sense of community. I think what most post-apocalyptic stories get wrong is that there won't be bands of marauding people, per se, but isolated armed communities. The marauders won't get far because they'll first loot TV's instead of food.

215 Buy and hold.

216 But this is depressing, poverty won't be that bad, it won't reach zombie apocalypse levels.

217 I've been predicting a new world war for a couple years now. It seems more inevitable now than ever.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 22, 2011 04:05 PM (TMB3S)

It only makes sense for us to slash defense spending. 

218 (although, didn't Ace link to a survival blog a few years back that talked about what is going on in the hinterlands of Venezuela under Hugo?), people were turning to crime there. I am sure it all works out well, most of human history is just peachy keen, and the post FDR 25 years of the Reagan revolution provided a level prosperity and security that we should all expect to continue without any commitment on our parts to the underlying principles that produced it.

219 This upcoming war really is something we must sit out no matter how many people start dying. 'Cause it is going to be a meat-grinder.

Posted by: Jimmuy at September 22, 2011 04:46 PM (ibeMV)

I agree, but I'm afraid whoever the President is will feel pressured to "do something".

220 The real hardcore urban zombies don't have cars. A few may be able to steal cars but most will not. They will use up the first few days looting big screen TVs and liquor. By the time the liquor runs out the smart ones will have already looted any available food from the stores.

Then the zombies will start rioting and burning, after which they will begin eating each other. The smart ones will make it to the suburbs and in States like MA they will be able to steal cars there because the occupants will be unarmed. Those will then have a 300 mile range.

This is why I have been saying anyone within a 35 mile distance from an urban area over 30K people needs to think about either moving now or having a quick getaway plan in place at the first sign of collapse. .

221 what is going on in the hinterlands of Venezuela

Their murder rate is through the roof.  Venezuelan slums are some of the most dangerous places in the world.

222 most of human history is just peachy keen, and the post FDR 25 years of the Reagan revolution provided a level prosperity and security that we should all expect to continue without any commitment on our parts to the underlying principles that produced it.

You said it, brother.

223

@83: "I'm not sure where it will start"

Turkey vs. Greece & Israel; Iran jumps in, other Arab states jump in on side of Turkey/Iran (and maybe even one or two against Iran), Europe sends harshly worded e-mails, but eventually has to get invovled; we get drawn in; China and Russia take advantage of chaos and get into their own shooting matches (China over Spratleys/Taiwan, Russia vs. whomever they decide to start shit with).  Russia could also get drawn in simply because a lot of stuff would be happening very close to its borders/sphere of influence.

Mexico could collapse and/or Venezuela gets froggy - stuff spirals out of control in the Americas.

Might be a lot like WWII - two major wars that are largely unconnected, even though a number of the same combatants are involved in both of them.

Not guaranteed, of course, but possible.

224 Just ordered another case of .223  Universal Currency

225

32's points are all moot. Too many "Wendys" in this country: http://tinyurl.com/3tx8m4p

 

226 Just ordered another case of .223  Universal Currency

Posted by: The Jackhole at September 22, 2011 05:17 PM (+qHxi)

And tonight I think I will order more 9MM

227 I think among the biggest threats domestically in a SHTF situation would be the drug gangs.

228 "This is why I have been saying anyone within a 35 mile distance from an urban area over 30K people needs to think about either moving now or having a quick getaway plan in place at the first sign of collapse. . " I'm within this distance, but I am a rallying point for family in the area. What's mine is mine, and I am equipped and prepared to do what I need to do to keep it that way. Not to downplay the idea of marauders, but I think the real problem will be people within the community trying to make people play by the old rules when they are no longer in effect.

229 230 KG, Maybe, but I suspect they will focus on "king of the hill" in the cities and the initial marauders will be the wanna-bes fleeing the slaughterhouse.

230

@92: "You're making the mistake of thinking they won't want to be not hungry.  You actually made my point for me.  In the long term China needs to eat.  It's hungry.  and your ass is a croissant with a cheesy center."

If China wants to eat, Russia is a far easier target than the US.  It's in full-on demographic collapse.  Transural Russia is resource rich, but almost unpopulated - ripe for a quick land grab.  The Russian military is not particularly effective (Chechnya and Georgia as examples), either.

231 231 FtL, And trying to kep a dead Republic together if it gets past a certain point. EUtopians called themselves "Roman" long after the Romans started calling themselves "Florentines", "Genoans", and "Venetians".......

232 The Russian military is not particularly effective (Chechnya and Georgia as examples), either.

Yeah, they're a bunch of drunks.  They'd be no match for the "People's" "Liberation" Army.

233 233 FCI, Yup, there may even be an opportunity for us to go populate it.

234 Europe sends harshly worded e-mails, but eventually has to get invovled; we get drawn in;

Did we ever get a definitive answer on the Madrid train bombing the weekend before the socialist was elected? I recall that the election seemed to shift on allegations that the then government tried to push attention to local actors when it was more likely al qaeda (I think it was AQ, I just don't recall how much media follow up there ever was).

I wouldn't be surprised if someone among the Iran axis took a lesson from that and applied it to the wrong party in an attempt to wave them off involvement.

235

@178: "How would anyone notice if Detroit rioted?"

The sudden rise in property values.

236 238 FCI, The more polite atmosphere......

237 I wonder how PC and contrite the Germans were after WWI. You know? The post WWI British were apparently pussies too. What does it take to turn a society from a pack of war weary survivors and academics into legions of killing machines? A decade of poverty and that degree don't taste so great anymore.

238

I largely agree with Meade and find him one of the more realistic liberal pundits, but I didn't care for his swipe about the economy being more important than a Republican debate months before the election. 

This only serves to shore up the shabby front put forward by Obama on his speech-date grandstanding.  Republicans didn't refuse to let Barry speak during their debate because they thought the debate was more important than the economy.  They did so because they knew Obama's speech was of no significance to the economy and that he was the one playing politics. 

The speech was so "important," in fact, that Obama has yet to produce his new plan and the Senate is taking its regular recess while it's pending.

Meade's a deep enough thinker to know better, but he still advances the "Roadblock Republicans" and "electorally opportunistic Republicans hoping America fails" memes. 

239

There is only one person who can even begin to solve the financial crisis.

That is Mitt Romney.

Rick Perry only kept Texas going by doubling his spending and taking stimulus dollars.  He doesn't have a clue about the economy.

Mitt Romney's specialty was bring back companies on the brink of bankrupcy.

It is time to get past Romneycare.

Every candidate has much worse problems than Mitt, Rick Perry most of all.

Stop pretending.  And get behind the only answer, maybe the markets would respond to Romney being the clear front runner.  Maybe we could get a Romney recovery even before the election.

240 Every candidate has much worse problems than Mitt, Rick Perry most of all.

Romney is totally unacceptable.

And FYNQ.

241

Someone whack me on the head if I'm missing something that's obvious to everyone else, but....I don't understand why no one will so much as look in Rick Santorum's direction.

He was a tea-party fiscal conservative before it was cool, is well versed in foreign affairs (particularly the ME), has been active in entitlement reform efforts, and seems to me to be one of the most decent and principled men to throw his hat in the ring in years. 

Okay, so he's not flashy or gimmicky.  Is there something else that makes him a dud?

242 So everyone is selling off risky investments.  Gold went down today.  Hmm.

243 come for the chaos stay for the barrel roasted hobo.

244 Obama = smart

Posted by: Mr. Maelstrom at September 22, 2011 04:04 PM (+ZX4J)

More like Maxwell Smart. A much dimmer version of Maxwell Smart

245

EyeTest at September 22, 2011 06:38 PM (ReC4P)

Because he isn't "cool".  All the cool kids know that you make fun of Santorum.

That's how you know that you're cool.

246

Didn't read everything above so excuse me if this is  a repeat...

 

If they they told the truth, as it were, they may then be guilty of inciting riots.

 

Just sayn'

247

There are so much to learn from your post here, Uma, well done.

248 When you said "Meade," I thought you meant Althouse's husband. It's "Mead."