If This Is A Top, Maybe We Should Think A Bit About What's Ahead

Hi again, everyone. Papa Boule here.

About every 60 to 100 years, humanity goes nuts for a decade or so. I mean paranoid hysterical looney tunes, line-em-up-and-shoot-em-in-the-head crazy.

Crack open a history book and you'll see. You won't find a single century without at least one or two decades of humanity crazily inflicting the worst atrocities imaginable on itself.

And it looks like we're part of a "lucky" generation that gets to see how those kinds of times develop and unfold. We appear to be in the beginning stages of one of those periods.

We have an economy poised to collapse -- if not now, in the near future.

We have a government that has arrogated the right to kill its own citizens (and torture and kill anyone else it wants to) without hearing or trial, and the citizens are okay with it -- scarcely a peep of protest or concern.

(If I were asked to identify one event that signals that the era of the Enlightenment is over and a new Dark Age is beginning, it would be that.)

We have an increasingly polarized and emotionally charged political landscape. And an increasingly polarized economic landscape as well.

Within ten years this country will be completely changed. And there's no guarantee whatsoever that it will be for the better. It could easily be for the worse.

How in the world do you prepare for the unknown? All I can do is share my own ideas, and how I'm preparing. There's no guarantee they'll work. They're just my best guesses.

1. There are going to be plenty of things to be upset about. I'm preparing emotionally by cultivating a habit of letting things go. If you believe in a Higher Power, now's a good time to get into practice of releasing worry and concern to Him (or Her, or whatever you believe in). Protect yourself by developing such habits, and you will be a great example, and better able to be a leader and helper for others during difficult times.

When the news gets really tumultuous and troubling, I intend at some point to just turn off the TV and close the laptop and take a break. I expect the only news I'll really be interested in or need will be the weather forecast.

2. I'm setting aside some cash. It's not a hoard, just some to cover expenses for a while. I'm talking actual cash, in no larger denominations than a twenty. No need to rehash what has been discussed many times about catastrophic deflation, and the possibility of bankrupt banks and limited access to money in bank accounts.

3. I'm thinking about job opportunities. Yes, job opportunities. People can and do make money in hard times. For example, after the crash in Argentina, the private security business boomed. Discount (but nice) clothing stores did well. Teaching classes on most any subject did well. (People had time to fill. Surprisingly, they took classes on most any subject, not just new job skill courses.) Child entertainment did well. (People tend to do nice things for their children no matter how hard the times.) People with vans started shuttle services. The point is, opportunities will be there if you are flexible and willing to try something new.

(Edit: Credit to FerFAL and his blog "Surviving in Argentina" for much of the info here.)

4. I'm prepared to adjust my thinking on what is a "good price," and what the value of a dollar is. For example, let's say I own some rental property, and I have a tenant who is paying $1000 a month. If money deflates and the value of a dollar increases by a factor of 10, he's going to have to take a big pay cut at his job. And I'm going to have to cut his rent. I'm prepared to recognize that though I might only collect $100 a month from him after the cut, that $100 will have the same spending power as the $1000 I previously collected. I'm also prepared to adjust for the reverse, if, after a period of deflation, we get runaway inflation.

5. I'm prepared to stay cool and avoid getting swept up in any demagoguery and ethnic blame that may flourish during really hard times, no matter who is singled out as a target. I hope others are likewise prepared, and willing to keep a level head and stay compassionate.

6. I've accumulated lots of different shades of gray clothes (not quite fifty shades, though). Now that one may strike you as odd. But here's the deal -- hard times bring rising crime. And one way to avoid being a target is to be a "gray" person who doesn't attract attention. And it seems silly, because it's so literal, but obvious -- actually dressing in muted colors like gray is a great way to be less of an attention-getter. Gray attracts less attention than black even.

And on a somewhat related note, I've read a time or two that long guns are not a good idea in periods of high crime. If crime escalates, law enforcement is going to be stressed out and on edge, and they're not going to feel real comfortable with citizens walking around with rifles and shotguns. Making the police nervous when they're already nervous is just not a good idea. Better to conceal carry a handgun, if you feel safer with a gun.

All this talk may be jumping the gun (ouch) if this isn't a top, or if another way is found to extend some more. But I'd rather think about these things in advance and be prepared in some way, even if just emotionally, than to be caught totally by surprise.

Trade safe and play nice, everyone!