Letter Re: Confronting Kleptocracy–Identifying the Looter Mentality

Dear Mr. Rawles, I would like to make a few comments on your post titled “Confronting Kleptocracy – Identifying the Looter Mentality”. Although my education and profession are in medicine, I have been long interested in social anthropology particularly as it applies to the average “citizen” confronted with a breakdown in modern society. As you are well aware, our society exists by means of a fragile web of precisely balanced interconnected dependencies. This web was not created overnight but has developed over several generations. At present we enjoy life at a time where the poorest people in our modern culture …


Economics and Investing:

Over at Zero Hedge, Tyler Durden asks: Is The Federal Reserve Insolvent? (He’s warning that monetization is the logical next step. So beware of inflation ahead!) Ben in Tennessee sent us this from The Market Oracle: The Coming Dark Ages. GG suggested this one: Bernanke’s Dilemma: Hyperinflation and the U.S. Dollar. Also from GG: Doug Casey on Surviving Financial Apocalypse Now Items from The Economatrix: Are Unemployment Benefits No Longer Temporary? Jobs Outlook May Be Too Optimistic Public Pension Funds are “Going to Vegas” National Debt to be Higher than White House Forecast, Says CBO Senate To Pass Jobless Aid, …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Marjory of BackyardFoodProduction.com is co-hosting a “Sustainable Living Meetup” in southeastern Idaho on Thursday March 18th. This is a chance for preppers to to meet, network, and share resources. (If you attend any event of this nature, of course all the usual OPSEC provisos apply. For example, I wouldn’t recommend mentioning your surname to strangers.) The meeting will be held at the Aurasoma Conference Center in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, starting at 6:30 pm. Marjory says: “Bring a potluck item that you have grown, or just like to eat.” For further details, contact Marjory through her web site.    o …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"What our generation has forgotten is that the system of private property is the most important guarantee of freedom, not only for those who own property, but scarcely less for those who do not. It is only because the control of the means of production is divided among many people acting independently that nobody has complete power over us, that we as individuals can decide what to do with ourselves. If all it be nominally that of ‘society’ as a whole of that of a dictator, whoever exercises this control has complete power over us." – Friedrich A. Hayek


Notes from JWR:

I will be interviewed by George Noory tonight (March 11th) at 10 p.m. Pacific Time on the Coast-to-Coast AM show. The syndicated show is heard on more than 520 AM stations as well as XM/Sirius Channel 165. This interview will be about my book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times”. The conversation is scheduled to be a two hours long, so we’ll be able to cover some preparedness topics in considerable detail. — I just noticed that we hit the milestone of 18 million unique visits. Thanks …


Home Childbirth from a Prepper’s Point of View, by Ranger Squirrel

I’ll discuss bringing someone into the world the old-fashioned way. I realize that as a man I may not be considered by some readers to be the most qualified person to write this post – but hear me out.  I have four kids, all four of which I’ve helped to deliver, the last two of which were done at home, three of which were assisted by midwives, and one of which was done without any assistance at all.  I’ve also had EMT training, including classes on emergency childbirth.  Nothing in this article, however, is medical advice.  If you need medical assistance, you …


Some Needful Things

I’m often asked by my consulting clients about my specific gear recommendations. I’ve noticed that I repeat mentioning a lot of these, so to save time in my subsequent consulting calls, I’m posting the following list (in no particular order): Gamma Seal Bucket Lids. We use these constantly with our bulk storage wheat. rice and beans. K & M Industries waterproof match cases. The best, made by a Mom & Pop business Gerber Omnivore LED Flashlights. These can use AAA, AA, or CR-123 batteries. Sadly, they’re made in Mainland China. Maxpedition gear bags. Incredibly tough and well-made. Dakota Alert infrared …


Letter Re: Sanitation–It Takes Picks and Shovels

Hi James, Since I returned from Haiti, I have given a lot of thought about the field sanitation problems that would occur when the Golden Horde after a disaster starts entering an area to set up camps. I live in a pretty remote area that would be attractive to people leaving larger communities. This area is one where hunting and winter snowmobiling is popular. What can be envisioned is people who can make it this far, who are familiar with the few water resources, and the limited game would probably wind up. There is also a national wildlife preserve nearby …


Economics and Investing:

Paul W. mentioned an insightful article by Janet Tavakoli: Washington Must Ban U.S. Credit Derivatives as Traders Demand Gold. (Long-time SurvivalBlog readers are already familiar with my strong warnings about the derivatives time bomb. Newbies, please take a look.) Eric S. suggested this piece by Chris Nelder: Peak Oil Demand Is Coming, But Here’s Why It’s Not Good News Reader David D. spotted this Wall Street Journal article: Commercial Real Estate Owners Beginning To Walk Away From Properties Items from The Economatrix: Job Openings Up Sharply in January to 2.7 Million Failed Banks May Get Pension-Fund Backing as FDIC Seeks …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Mark P. spotted this: For Pennies, a Disposable Toilet That Could Help Grow Crops.    o o o There are now just a few days left in the Ready Made Resources 25% off sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans. They are offering free shipping on full case lots. These foods are delicious, compact, and have a 30 year shelf life. Order soon!    o o o Two news items about Nanny State Britannia: Countryside ban for children because mums cannot read maps and hate mud, and Britain May Force Owners to Microchip Dogs to Curb ‘Weapon’ …




Make it Modular and Make it Out!, by Ranger Squirrel

One of the skills that has served me best in life is my tendency to make everything modular.  I think I learned it in the Army, but regardless of where I picked it up, it has saved my rear end at home, at work, in emergencies, and even in my hobbies.  Let’s pick on Average Joe for a second.  Average Joe is exactly that.  He likes a beer now and again, listens to classic rock and some country, and works in a job that just barely pays the bills.  He has a commute of about 50 miles round-trip every day …


Lest Any Man Should Boast: A Christian Survivalist Perspective on Race, Religion, and Reason

I often get letters and e-mails, chastising me for being an anti-racist. I call these “nasty-grams.” I get several of them each week. Some folks, it seems, are deeply offended that I look upon everyone as equals. The truth is that people should be judged as individuals. (That is one of my core Precepts.) Anyone that makes blanket statements about other races is ignorant that there are both good and bad individuals in all groups. There is no inherent superiority in any skin tone or facial feature, any more than there is in any particular hair color. I have accepted …


Letter Re: Confronting Kleptocracy–Identifying The Looter Mentality

Dear Mr. Rawles, To follow up on your recent blog article, it is sad that we live in a society where people will lower themselves to such activities as crime on the streets. That crime is regrettable, but in the aftermath of TEOTWAWKI, looting will be an absolute unacceptable crime. It will become rapidly, a capital crime. Just as in the 19th Century, horse theft was punishable by death, so will be looting in the aftermath of any societal breakdown which results in any of the scenarios envisioned by either you, or your readers. Essentially, “Rule .308” will apply in …