Comments on: How Bad Can It Get? http://www.middleclasslifeboat.com/blog/2008/04/16/how-bad-can-it-get/ Raising a Collective Middle Class Voice for Change with Paul & Sarah Edwards Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:21:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Is the American Middle Class worried yet? « The Decline of American Civilization http://www.middleclasslifeboat.com/blog/2008/04/16/how-bad-can-it-get/#comment-45 Is the American Middle Class worried yet? « The Decline of American Civilization Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:50:38 +0000 http://www.middleclasslifeboat.com/blog/2008/04/16/how-bad-can-it-get/#comment-45 [...] the American Middle Class worried yet? Jump to Comments Sarah Anne Edwards’ MIddle Class Lifeboat Blog pokes at the fat cats who are stubbornly clinging to sustaining the lifestyle of the status quo [...] […] the American Middle Class worried yet? Jump to Comments Sarah Anne Edwards’ MIddle Class Lifeboat Blog pokes at the fat cats who are stubbornly clinging to sustaining the lifestyle of the status quo […]

]]> By: Sarah http://www.middleclasslifeboat.com/blog/2008/04/16/how-bad-can-it-get/#comment-43 Sarah Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:21:41 +0000 http://www.middleclasslifeboat.com/blog/2008/04/16/how-bad-can-it-get/#comment-43 Thanks, Stephen, for sharing your own plans and concerns. I believe that doing all one can to build our lifeboats and stock it for a long voyage is the route to inner peace in our time. The most difficult time for most is in the interim between when we realize a big storm is upon us and the time when we are secured, as you are, in our best possible lifeboat. From all the interviews we did for the book, I know one's secure lifeboat will be different for different individuals and families. Some will be away in small communities, others will be in neighborhoods within larger communities, and so forth. I also know that life circumstances can make it is far harder for some to create a lifeboat than others. I empathize with your feelings about the walls of Denial and Willful Indifference. I think as a society we are still in the early stages of reacting to the impending storm. Many people still deny its existence. Others are discounting its significance, holding on to wishful thinking, reacting with anger, blame, etc. Linda Buzzell-Saltzman and I wrote an article about the 5 Stages of The Waking-Up Syndrome sharing our observations about the process one goes through, ending with taking action and getting one's lifeboat underconstruction. Paul and I have held many showings here in our community of movies like What a Way to Go and End of Suburbia, The Inconvenient Truth, etc. They have led to interest, discussions, etc. Even a Let's Live Local group has formed. Our 1st project is a wood pellet coop. It's almost fully subscribed now. Granted it’s slow and the storm is building, but I remain hopeful we will all be able to create our lifeboats, hopefully with the help and support of others in our communities. You are proof it's possible! Thanks again. Sarah Thanks, Stephen, for sharing your own plans and concerns. I believe that doing all one can to build our lifeboats and stock it for a long voyage is the route to inner peace in our time. The most difficult time for most is in the interim between when we realize a big storm is upon us and the time when we are secured, as you are, in our best possible lifeboat. From all the interviews we did for the book, I know one’s secure lifeboat will be different for different individuals and families. Some will be away in small communities, others will be in neighborhoods within larger communities, and so forth. I also know that life circumstances can make it is far harder for some to create a lifeboat than others.
I empathize with your feelings about the walls of Denial and Willful Indifference. I think as a society we are still in the early stages of reacting to the impending storm. Many people still deny its existence. Others are discounting its significance, holding on to wishful thinking, reacting with anger, blame, etc. Linda Buzzell-Saltzman and I wrote an article about the 5 Stages of The Waking-Up Syndrome sharing our observations about the process one goes through, ending with taking action and getting one’s lifeboat underconstruction.
Paul and I have held many showings here in our community of movies like What a Way to Go and End of Suburbia, The Inconvenient Truth, etc. They have led to interest, discussions, etc. Even a Let’s Live Local group has formed. Our 1st project is a wood pellet coop. It’s almost fully subscribed now. Granted it’s slow and the storm is building, but I remain hopeful we will all be able to create our lifeboats, hopefully with the help and support of others in our communities.
You are proof it’s possible! Thanks again. Sarah

]]> By: Stephen D. http://www.middleclasslifeboat.com/blog/2008/04/16/how-bad-can-it-get/#comment-42 Stephen D. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:21:16 +0000 http://www.middleclasslifeboat.com/blog/2008/04/16/how-bad-can-it-get/#comment-42 David S. is definitely not alone. About six years ago, I noticed that the discretionary money supporting my antique business was slowly drying up and operating costs were going up. Two years later (and still unaware of Kunstler's THE LONG EMERGENCY), I had a gut feeling that I had better begin to liquidate my not-inconsiderable art collection and build a liquid retirement fund. Today, the collection is gone, I've met and talked with Richard Heinberg (a real gentleman), read and reread Kunstler, Klare, etc., and get my daily news from a great variety of sites and blogs such as Carolyn Baker, The Oil Drum, Michael Shedlock, Life After the Oil Crash, etc. At this point, it is reasonable to expect that I'd say I was very worried, but I'm not. There is nothing that I can do that is going to stop the Titanic from going down and I have done all I can to build my own lifeboat and stock it for a long voyage - likely on my own. However, I would like to offer some observations on things that still frustrate me. My neighbors here in rural Oregon live day to day on minimal incomes and with zero curiosity about the world around them. In the closest city, there is a great deal of "green talk" and outrage at Big Oil, The War, etc. but very little practical planning. People both rural and urban seem to have a visceral sense that "things aren't right" but have a childlike hope that the next election will set things right and/or technology will pull a rabbit from a hat, etc. but, to a man, have taken no concrete steps toward securing their future in an emergency, e.g. food, medicine, personal security, etc. Most, even if they talk the talk of emergency planning have little to fall back on if the banks close or the trucks delivering food stop running or the emergency services that they took for granted no longer respond. More serious problems like the electrical grid going down for a while or forever snap on the switch of "I can't control that, so I don't plan to worry about it." And they don't. Having given away at least a dozen copies of THE LONG EMERGENCY (to very small effect) and having repeatedly bumped up against the walls of Denial and Willful Indifference, I've quietly retreated to my lifeboat and spend a lot of time planning my Victory Garden and tweaking my preparations. It isn't all about oil or natural gas. Now it's about wheat rust, starvation, avian flu, water shortage (e.g. the Middle East and Atlanta); lack of leadership; an overindulged, uncritical and hedonistic US citizenry; the rise of nationalized oil; a failed economy and financial system; an unwillingness to confront many issues such as a very real threat from Islam's core philosophy; a raped planet; climate change (Even George finally got it) and a host of other Horsemen who are already mounted and clattering down Elm Street and Wall Street. I plan to take time out from paddling to vote for Ron Paul but then I'm back on the oars. The suction from a ship the size of this one is going to be huge. David S. is definitely not alone. About six years ago, I noticed that the discretionary money supporting my antique business was slowly drying up and operating costs were going up. Two years later (and still unaware of Kunstler’s THE LONG EMERGENCY), I had a gut feeling that I had better begin to liquidate my not-inconsiderable art collection and build a liquid retirement fund. Today, the collection is gone, I’ve met and talked with Richard Heinberg (a real gentleman), read and reread Kunstler, Klare, etc., and get my daily news from a great variety of sites and blogs such as Carolyn Baker, The Oil Drum, Michael Shedlock, Life After the Oil Crash, etc.

At this point, it is reasonable to expect that I’d say I was very worried, but I’m not. There is nothing that I can do that is going to stop the Titanic from going down and I have done all I can to build my own lifeboat and stock it for a long voyage - likely on my own. However, I would like to offer some observations on things that still frustrate me. My neighbors here in rural Oregon live day to day on minimal incomes and with zero curiosity about the world around them. In the closest city, there is a great deal of “green talk” and outrage at Big Oil, The War, etc. but very little practical planning. People both rural and urban seem to have a visceral sense that “things aren’t right” but have a childlike hope that the next election will set things right and/or technology will pull a rabbit from a hat, etc. but, to a man, have taken no concrete steps toward securing their future in an emergency, e.g. food, medicine, personal security, etc. Most, even if they talk the talk of emergency planning have little to fall back on if the banks close or the trucks delivering food stop running or the emergency services that they took for granted no longer respond. More serious problems like the electrical grid going down for a while or forever snap on the switch of “I can’t control that, so I don’t plan to worry about it.” And they don’t.

Having given away at least a dozen copies of THE LONG EMERGENCY (to very small effect) and having repeatedly bumped up against the walls of Denial and Willful Indifference, I’ve quietly retreated to my lifeboat and spend a lot of time planning my Victory Garden and tweaking my preparations.

It isn’t all about oil or natural gas. Now it’s about wheat rust, starvation, avian flu, water shortage (e.g. the Middle East and Atlanta); lack of leadership; an overindulged, uncritical and hedonistic US citizenry; the rise of nationalized oil; a failed economy and financial system; an unwillingness to confront many issues such as a very real threat from Islam’s core philosophy; a raped planet; climate change (Even George finally got it) and a host of other Horsemen who are already mounted and clattering down Elm Street and Wall Street.

I plan to take time out from paddling to vote for Ron Paul but then I’m back on the oars. The suction from a ship the size of this one is going to be huge.

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