How To Survive A Total Economic Collapse--A Post By Kurt Ziegler, A Friend And Senior Software Company Executive

Through a somewhat circuitous path I came across this survival guide for Total Economic Collapse. The path puts even more credence to the guide in terms of what some feel about the press; our source of information about how our government is posturing to deal with upcoming unrest. It started all with a link to http://dailyinterlake.com/articles/2009/01/11/opinion/columns/columns01.txt regarding: A Sarah Palin vs. the Media: The rematch. It was really an editorial of how the press picked the President with biased/opinionated “positioning” but one of the comments in the editorial is about state national guard units had been federalized and that 20,000 US troops had been ear-marked to be deployed in case of 'unforeseen economic collapse' caught my attention. This gave me cause to do some research. It turns out that the comments were true.

The Washington Post December 1, 2008 reported the U.S. military expects to station 20,000 uniformed troops inside the United States by 2011 to help state and local officials respond to and assist in homeland security. The Pentagon’s plan calls for three rapid-reaction forces to be ready for emergency response by September 2011. The first 4,700-person unit, built around an active-duty combat brigade based at Fort Stewart, Ga., is already available to be deployed domestically.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/30/AR2008113002217.html

This caused me to also Google "economic collapse" and it came up with How to Survive Total Economic Collapse. http://www.ehow.com/how_2130484_survive-total-economic-collapse.html in eHOW, a site that has no political agenda; it simply has explanations on how to do about anything you can think of including How to Apply for an Analog-to-Digital TV Converter Box Coupon

The 10 steps of Surviving Economic Collapse instructions are:

Step 1: Read. Educate yourself beforehand if possible.

Read everything you can on how to survive a total economic collapse. Start with "Financial Reckoning Day: Surviving the Soft Depression of the 21st Century" and "Empire of Debt: The Rise of an Epic Financial Crisis", both by William Bonner, for a historical perspective and very well-written analysis of the current situation. Also read "The Great Bust Ahead: The Greatest Depression in American History" by Daniel A. Arnold.

Step 2: Plan. Make a plan for how to survive a total economic collapse.

List your debts and assets. How quickly can you pay down your debt, while still purchasing necessary supplies? Your goals should include no debt and the procurement and storage of valuable assets. Your preparation timetable should be as short as possible.

Step 3: Nix debt. Pay off debt and avoid new debt by paying with cash instead of credit cards.

Concentrate on paying off high-interest debt, loans with adjustable rates and unsecured debts first. Sell expensive vehicles that have loans to pay off what you owe, and buy cheaper replacements using cash. In order to survive a total economic collapse, you need to have assets, not liabilities. (Note: storing food and resources are higher priority than paying down debt for families of modest means.)

Step 4: Buy Silver. Change liquid savings into silver and gold.

If the dollar collapses, having precious metals will preserve your money and it can be used as currency or can be exchanged for a currency with value, such as Swiss francs. As the dollar continues to lose value, silver dollars preserve their value or go up in value, thus protecting your assets in the event of a economic recession, allowing you to financially survive a recession or depression.


Step 5: Invest wisely. Re-evaluate your stocks and mutual funds.

In order to financially survive a total economic collapse, your investments must be secure. Consider putting some of your stocks into gold (GLD) or opening a precious metals IRA. Research stocks that will survive a total economic collapse through sites like Daily Reckoning Day.


Step 6: Store grain and buy goods such as guns for hunting and personal protection.

Purchase goods and valuables such as guns for hunting and personal protection, and basic food supplies such as whole grains and legumes, which are easy to store. Invest in water purification bottles and tablets, and keep some bottled water on hand to meet immediate needs in the event of a shortage. All of these will make it more possible to survive a total economic collapse.


Step 7: First aid.

Prepare a First Aid Kit, sewing kit and other practical necessities of daily life to aid in survival of a total economic collapse.

These are good things to have on hand anyway, for regular daily life as well as unforeseen emergencies.


Step 8: Build community.

Get to know your neighbors and build a community wherever you are. In the event of total economic collapse, life will become very local and survival will depend on working together with others, beginning with families.


Step 9: Grow food.

Grow some of your own food and raise animals for meat. Chickens and rabbits are small and easy to tend. Chickens provide eggs as well as meat and are excellent sources of protein and fat, both critical for survival. In economic downturns such as a recession or depression, being able to produce food is a important skill to have.


Step 10: Barter.

Learn how to barter, and stock items to trade. Think about necessities (wool blankets, soap, boots, duct tape, ammunition) as well as luxuries (chocolate, tobacco, alcohol). Useful tools will be more valuable than money if there is a currency collapse. Useful barter items will be helpful to have on hand as you prepare to survive an economic collapse.