could we assemble a one-stop list of specific daily consequences of forthcoming "crash?"

I recognize that 1) we are living the financial consequences already; 2) there are 50 threads analyzing causes and hidden agendas; and 3) the "crisis" might be deliberately exaggerated to enable the BFEE to complete their destruction of the govt. I also realize that this is occurring in the context of our having reached peak oil (in all likelihood) and very spooky global climate change. And, if McCain/Palin are selected through election fraud, all scenarios go from bad to worse.

But could we start a practical list of pretty-bad scenarios that might affect, in the next 24 months, the five economic " quintiles," except perhaps the top 1%? I've followed peak oil listservs, and while there's an abundance of advice about permaculture, root cellar creation, canning, goat raising, global die-off (it runs the gamut), it's not exactly providing a realistic (for me) roadmap for the current situation.

From what I've gleaned so far, we might reasonably expect
1) inflationary depression, which means an acceleration of trends this year, including
2) increasing unemployment (no hiring, massive layoffs, with few funds for unemployment)
3) lower purchasing power of dollar in general
4) skyrocketing costs of energy (and perhaps shortages, rationing)
5) skyrocketing costs of food (and perhaps shortages, rationing)
6) increase in theft and violent crime (not the Wall St variety), including by those who've barely making it to begin with during "boom times" and are just trying to feed their families the only way they see possible
7) inability of almost everyone to get "credit" to repair anything, go to school, start a small business . . .
8) devaluation of private retirement accounts so that seniors are even more economically stressed and yet can't get jobs because they're going to the 30-somethings
9) continued escalation of health care costs

I could go on. . . I guess a lot will be derivative (oh that word) of these.

So, my strategy for dealing with peak oil so far has been to move near a capital city but in a smaller walking area in a nearby town, where there are farms within 30 miles, and the climate remains pretty stable. I've thought I'm going to have to concentrate on building more relationships within our community association so that we're collectively working on edible gardening, rain gardening, collective safety, bartering, carpooling, etc. I'm a single mom and can't "homestead" it on a plot in Western NC, although interestingly my daughter's 2nd grade teacher moved down here from NYC precisely to buy one acre, prep for peak oil (gun lessons, chickens and all), while enjoying the Triangle's metro area. I can't live that way, but the best way I've been able to plan is to think in terms of probable slow crash situations with prayers for technological breakthroughs.

If Palin gets in, I'm thinking I need to move my daughters, my native Canadian ex-husband, and myself to Canada (I can't keep the image of the Handmaid's Tale and the daughter being abducted at the Canadian/US border out of my head.) But that seems cowardly. African-Americans down here have had to put up with a lot worse, as my liberal mother reminds me, and we need to damned well stay. Perhaps.

But, without too much disasterizing and some specifics, could people try to predict the short and intermediate term daily consequences for the phantom middle class (and lower class) so that we can prepare ourselves if necessary? Maybe if only for the next eight weeks?

Is Dodd afraid we'll all make a run on the grocery stores?
Will schools close?
Will hospitals close?
Will crime run rampant throughout the streets because city services are bankrupt?
Will our power systems fail?

What's the horrid thing that's going to happen in one week? Will civilization come to a halt in a fast crash scenario?

Yes, this is the trillion dollar question, but it seems we could give each other some practical advice about how to prepare, sort of like for a hurricane, except a long-term to permanent one.

...not only by wanting to devise a strategy to somehow "make it through," but by the fact (at least in my case), that I'm no longer parenting with a partner, and the other parent could come to different conclusions, strategies....

sigh...

There is sufficient anecdotal evidence to suggest that we would not be able to get cash from other banks' ATMs, nor would we be able to present our checks at a different bank. This is because banks would essentially stop loaning money to each other, as almost happened last week.

Note that I'm not citing that as a reason why the bailout should be allowed to proceed.

but I am still looking for a good price on a shotgun. My father in law has one that he does not use so I may just bring that home for security.

Community of friends in a nice town in an interesting and pleasant location. Good food. What's not to like?

I know where you're coming from, but crime, food and health care uncertainty, and fascism? scare me. I do agree with the points made by Sharon Astyk (sp) and others about how some of what we describe in a post-crash scenario is a really a life we want now but are afraid to pursue. And there's also a deeper psychology to apocalyptic fears I won't get into.

I say community, but our current life makes it tougher . . . when you're putting in long hours, and everyone lives in this cubicled mentality (even at home), you've got to be careful not to come off as batshit crazy with new approaches and community initiatives.

Past that, as I've always said, frontiers have always meant open season on women. Maybe that should be a more serious, thought out post.

I haven't been on the PO listserves lately because I've been so obsessed with getting Obama elected. But really I sure am glad I've been prepping for PO for the last 5 years! This economic crisis has been in the making for quite awhile now. I learned about it first on the PO lists. (Which is really funny because I learned about PO from DU in 2004 during the presidential election!)

I am completely in zero debt now with money saved. I've been learning how to garden and attempting edible landscaping for 4 years now. This summer I secured my water needs with rain barrels and a water purifier (also in the event of a natural disaster). Still, I have no idea how this is going to turn out. There is still so much I need to do to be prepared but then again I could also become a target if I am too prepared. I do need to restock my food supply for the winter, though.

I mentioned to my Vietnam Vet husband that it might be close to time to buy a gun. I've never owned or operated one but as you imply--women do not fare well in rough times or as you say in frontiers. I'm even trying to talk him into getting a watch dog. I just bought and had installed some security lights around the house. When times get bad, crime rises.

I'm just an atomized 21st c neurotic Western mom. I so much appreciate the community and wisdom on this board, but thinking about what Peak Oil preparers are doing and being reminded by Goesto11 (great name) about the positives of community, my other new post notwithstanding, I've been in here all day connected to my computer and _this board specifically_, looking for connection and answers and some way to control what feels so out of control, instead of knocking on a few doors or working on the garden.

I so love the Internet, but I do think I'm using it to avoid doing the hard work of encountering the likely Republicans across the street.

I wonder if anyone can relate?

And keeping some cash on hand--the dollar's value may tumble, but keeping a percentage out until it appears to stabilize is good advice. Thanks.

You know what sucks? I have been talking about this stuff for a while now, and everyone thought I was being dramatic. I have also been wanting to get my ducks in a row and have some food, generator, etc set up so that I would be in a better situation.
BUT being a single mom and working my ass off is just barely getting us by, so here I am, a sitting duck. I agree with you that women are WAY more likely to be victimized when there is anarchy afoot... so maybe I should think about being armed first and foremost...?

I wanted to have a garden this year, and ended up having to move because the house I was renting may fall into forclosure...so here I am, just setling in to a new place, NO garden, and winter is coming...20' of snow doesn't seem so safe either...

I don't want to play into the fear - but this REALLY doesn't feel good.

How is this really going to play out ...? wil the trucks stop bringing food and gas to my little town because the money isn;t there for the truckers to fill the tank? Is the actual production of crackers etc, going to stop because the business can't get capital to buy the flour? what are we really talking about?

more answers, less fear, i guess only time will tell

Maybe I had better buy that dog sled to hook my big dog up to it. He is a natural runner.

I live in a multigenerational family consisting of women and teenagers. It is pretty evident that living with other women in community is better than being alone and scared, even if it means living next door to each other or sharing a house.

That was my recommendation! Of course, I think communal households of many different ilks are fine. I question the nuclear or even fractured nuclear household. Multigenerational is fabulous though I'm not sure they need be blood related.

I'm quite annoyed at both of my hubbies right now, but in the overall, I'm quite happy with my communal household (yes, my direct commuity is marital in scope but that isn't the only form communal living can or should take). I would love to have a female partner in this family (more than you could imagine).

Tribe - used to be the word. The women had the sacred duty of chilbearing and food and gathering and some argarian stuff, men did the heavy lifting and hunted, etc... it wasn't such a bad deal, because each member of the tribe was honored and revered for the role they played.
ALL involved knew that it was just as important to prepare flour for baking as it was to bring the deer meat home. Elders were also held in higher esteem. The elders were the ones who sat with the kids and taught them the "stories" ...as the parents did their work in the fields, etc...

I want that lifestyle ! I wish we were less SELF serving and more Comunity oriented as a society, but it will take alot to bring Americans to that way of thinking. The MEMEME has been ingrained in so many for so long...

*sigh* I keep hoping to find my tribe...

creating intentional communities (used to be called communes but now that's associated with hippies and somehow, that's bad). I think that would be especially important with single women/moms. Put two or three or four communally minded women together who can teach and help one another with the tasks of life and parenting and it just seems ideal to me. Having pioneer spirited women, even better.

Could be, though, with my communal household being completely male with the exception of me (even the dog is a guy!), I might be holding the concept of an estrogenic commune in too high esteem. Who knows?

That's what this is about. Grab all those entitlements from the middle class.

I have stocked up on canned goods and have a 100 gallon propane tank
that is filled. The next-door house has a really nice fireplace and
we have lots of wood. Nothing is in my name and my mailing address
is 40 miles away.

That's just to start...

It will come from the newly poor, unwilling to give up creature comforts, and with NO self sustenance skills other than Microsoft Office. Business men, "regular folk", people with management experience, etc. These people aren't afraid of risk, know how to lead, and more importantly how to be LED in teams, and will be highly motivated by the standard of living they are trying to reclaim. Old poor, unfortunately, just won't have effective organization skills.

Sorry, but you asked.

will make gangs to compete with today's gangs and there will be new gang warfare over the drug trade, at least that way the new poor could get a crash course in gangsterism.