The BIG QUESTION

[Barnacle Ben]

I saw Waterworld, does that count?

[Barnacle Ben]

Oh and Judge Dredd.

[L K Day]

Never been much of a "survivalist", guess I've just been too busy, working, playing, surviving day to day to spend much time thinking "what if?". When I do think about it, however, I realize I'm pretty well set up to manage even an extended period of time without basic services. We have access to water and enough food and fuel on hand to last several weeks. This is without any real planning, just a fairly typical homeowner with lots of "stuff". If pressed we could start harvesting the deer that wander through every evening.

But, know that the really big earthquake could happen any time. I hate to think about the enormity of the disaster that would unfold if something like the earthquake of 1811? was to happen in the midwest/midsouth today. It might be a good idea to be at least somewhat prepared.

Oh, and I love those post-apocalyptic movies. Been checking the listings regularly but if "The Road" has come to Bozeman, I missed it. I'd hate to have to deal with that shit in real life though.

Just checked the listings, The Book of Eli is in town, guess I'd better see it before it's gone.

[mike_anderson]

Interesting discussions on home ownership. A few key points are missing.

First, one shouldn't assume that money invested elsewhere will appreciate any more than a home will. When the housing bubble burst, the stock market also lost half its value. Also, if a company folds it's stock value will be zero, a home's value never falls to zero unless you discover it was built on a graveyard.

Second, you need to consider the interest rate and inflation. For my last mortgage, I got a 4% interest rate on a 30 year mortgage...if inflation goes over 4% (which the chicken littles around here are alluding to), the bank will be paying me to own the house. As it is, I'm only paying about 1% interest, adjusted for inflation. The inflation rate also negatively effects stocks. If you're making 6% interest in the stock market, subtract the 3% inflation rate, and you're only making 3%.

To sum up, if we really are entering a Mad Max apocalypse, you should collect as many real objects as you can (whether you own them or not) and forget about your debt. Once the government is dissolved, debt won't matter. And that's why the richest people should pay the most taxes...they have the most to gain by maintaining the status quo.

I'm wondering what the tipping point is? How many people have to lose their jobs for a Marxist revolution to take place. Eventually people are going to figure out that there are a very few people hoarding an obscene amount of wealth.

[michaelarmand]

I'm wondering what the tipping point is? How many people have to lose their jobs for a Marxist revolution to take place. Eventually people are going to figure out that there are a very few people hoarding an obscene amount of wealth.

Hmmm, I think it will be a conservative revolution taking place if the job losses continue.

And I am amused by the "hoarding of wealth" comment. You simply do not understand economics. First, liberals mistakenly perceive wealth as finite sum that must be “allocatedâ€

[pigsteak]

My retirement accounts are back higher than before the crash of 2008. You just have to actively manage the money, and not assume some sell side broker has your best interests at heart.

anderson is correct...the discussion was over simplified, and I would own a home 10 times over before ever renting again. But a house is a place to live, not an investment.

[Andrew]

Michael, nobody was talking about socialism. I am not sure why you brought it up.

[Clevis Hitch]

Anybody know of a good cheap water purifyer. I need something thats portable, my plan is to pull the truck down to the water source and take on a couple hundred gallons at a time. I think that the water purification is the only piece of the survival puzzle I haven't nailed down yet.

[L K Day]

Chlorine is pretty cheap and very portable. A bottle of Clorox will treat thousands of gallons of water. Boiling works as well, just need a fuel source, but a saw or an axe should provide plenty of that.

*Ratio of Clorox Bleach to Water for Purification

2 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per quart of water

8 drops of Regular Clorox Bleach per gallon of water

1/2 teaspoon Regular Clorox Bleach per five gallons of water

One gallon of Clorox will treat 3,800 gallons of water

Alternatively, boil water for 10 minutes plus one minute for each 1,000 feet of elevation above sea level.

[michaelarmand]

Michael, nobody was talking about socialism. I am not sure why you brought it up.

Andrew, you missed the remark about a "Marxist revolution"? You know Marxism is socialism, right?