My mood is black. Help.

Peak oil. Global warming. Iraq. Right wing religious ideologues. Election irregularities. Iraq. Bush. Rove. Dobson. Falwell. Robertson. Iraq. Iran. The budget deficit. Global warming.

I was talking to my dad, a very moderate sometimes-democrat sometimes-republican in his 70s, and he can't stand bush either. I was talking to him about all the things I have on my mind, and I thought I was sounding like I was spouting doomday rhetoric, and I expected him to say something like it wasn't that bad, but he didn't, he basically agreed with everything. By the end of it I was feeling truly bleak.

Global warming? Tied to oil.
Iraq? Tied to oil.
Bush? Tied to oil.
Our economy? Dependant on oil.
Every industrialized economy? Dependant on oil.

Peak oil.

The lifeblood of every modern economy becomes more scarce and expensive. Potential for massive conflict for access to what's left.

Global warming. More disruption.

My mood is black. I sense a very very bad time for all may be closer than we think, and irreversible.

help.

until I remembered the words of Sharif Baba, a Sufi shaykh: Don't worry about politics, worry about soul. For nonbelievers, it might seem silly, but in doing my spiritual practices I feel better. Not good, not a feeling that good is going to happen, but that I'm getting ready to face whatever will happen. It will be a big test for all of us, all the world. I just hope that in my small way I can help make things right again, and make the world understand that we are all interrelated. Ho Metaquiason!

First it will take anywhere from a couple of weeks to months to get over your initial shock over all of this. Then I suggest you get yourself COMPLETELY Out of debt and out of a highly populated area. Set yourself up to be as self sufficient as possible and as Much "off the grid" as you can get. Go to these place for info:

http://peakoil.com/forums.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/energyresources/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RunningOnEmpty2/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RunningOnEmpty3/
http://homesteadingtoday.com/vb/
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/

Start getting ready.

...also I have heard any investing that you have to liquidate and buy gold coins...any other gold can be confiscated by the governmnet in times of emergency.

I am not advocating this..please do not misunderstand...I am just passing on some financial information I have heard on the freedom network in my area.

..and if it makes you feel any better, I have those days too. I got involved in the 9/11 movement...it helps when you feel like you're taking action.

the other thing to do is get away from it for awhile...this doom and gloom is not good for your health....rent a comedy and laugh for awhile...I always keep a dose of Jon Stewart around...nothing like great political humour.

I am older and I fear more for my children than I fear for myself....but they also are aware of the problems and I worry that they do not think they have much of a future....

keep your chin up
keep your strength up....we're gonna need it
smile...you are amongst friends

Yeah I know we have to fight the BFEE and their BS but we also need to enjoy life from time to time too .

I'm usually somewhere between Realism and Optimism, but I've had a sinking feeling for the past week or so. My usual political online stomping grounds have gotten really, really depressing lately..

And, what's worse, I actually find myself rooting for some of these things to happen. Not necessarily Peak Oil (yikes!), but debt sell-offs by China, for example. The EU challenging America economically on as many fronts as possible, for another example. Unemployment skyrocketing. A stock market crash?

What would it take to wake people the fuck up? Are Americans really this retarded?

I guess I'm learning how to handle loss. It's only been since 1992 when I started paying attention (when I was 14), so 1992/1996/2000 all got me used to winning elections. I thought I'd cry my eyes out after Black Tuesday, but no tears have come. The prospect of people living longer and longer, combined with the idea of Bush putting some young, 40something Scalia clone on the bench scares the bejeesus outta me, but no tears, no bawling. Just anger.

It's like being numb, like not really giving a damn about the American people any more. I'm not one to feel anger towards my fellow citizens, and I didn't think that the anger would stay for very long, but it's still here in my mind, and it's still pretty strong. Strong to the point where I'd, say, laugh in Republicans standing in bread lines. Something I usually wouldn't do.. since they're still human and all.

I'm looking into preparing for the "irreversible" changes you're talking about. Planning an off-grid home in a rural area. A food garden. Some livestock. Killing debt. We may be in for some scary times, indeed. And I'm not entirely convinced that we don't, in a collective sense, deserve them.

to kick out our so called leaders and get back to the principals by which this country was founded. I believe we will have to do so by force, and I believe it will come to that. After the next fake terrorist attack, they will turn this place into a NAZI Germany nightmare and there will eventually be a revolt. The democratic process in this country is DEAD. It needs some blood to refresh it, as Thomas Jefferson would say. You will either see what's coming and get ready for it or be in store for the toughest times since the Civil War and maybe even be killed.

Remember that you are not going to go through any of this alone. All of this will be a community wide experience. Learn how to cook dry beans and how to sprout seeds. If you are in California remember in most of the state some food will grow year round even if it is cabbage and onions.

One of the most bizarre but hopefull experiences in my life was when I was in jail awaiting charges and realizing that the other people in with me were looking out for me. I had been really depressed and people were sent over to talk to me on a regular basis.

People will take care of you. You will have the opportunity to care for others. Now is a time to build a skill set, maybe a set of tools that will enhance your opportunities to care for others.

Go to a meeting in your area of like minded folk. Good luck.

not only will you be wasting more oil faster thus getting rid of the object of desire faster (because when it's gone, no one can argue over it) you'll get a nice shiny plastic toy in the bargain! :D

will it fix our problems? no. will it save our world? no.

our problems due to this product are too big and complex and advanced to be resolved in the position we are in. we are running off the cliff full bore against our will by a selfish group of people. might as well enjoy the scenery while you plummet :D

go wear black, but at least wear colorful make-up.