learning from the 3rd world

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Just got back from a week in Haiti. I was there in 1995, just after the embargo. These folks are in the same condition we may find ourselves in the future. Almost no power, marginal food production, little good sources of water. The point. These people have lived this way all their lives. They have adapted. How long would it take us in the developed world to adapt to this lifestyle ? A generation ? More ? The folks, myself included, on this forum, for the most part don't know how to survive this way. The GI's have a leg up on the DGI's, but how much help will that be if it were to turn real bad ? When I was there in 1995 (note NOT 95) people sat by the road trying to sell mangos to people who were trying to sell mangos, to people who had no money. Is this US in the not too distant future ? Prepare for the worst you can think of. We can prepare, but we can't be prepared. Learn how to do something with your hands that will be useful to others. Teach your children. May God have mercy on us all!

-- reed moore (reed_moore@postmaster.co.uk), March 13, 1999

Answers

The American mentallity is "it can't happen to us!" I believe it can and will. Why do Americans think they are so superior to others that nothing can touch or harm them? When/how did this philosophy evolve? My grandmother nor my mother have this theory. It seems like it is the baby boomers that have the conviction of immortality and prosperatiy.

Because of this beleif of infallability, their fall will be harder. Many will not make it, not from being physically incapable but from being mentally unable to cope.

Me, I am going to raise chickens and veggies.

-- Linda A. (adahi@muhlon.com), March 13, 1999.


Reed; We must not forget that ingenuity comes to the fore when folks are faced with life or death predicaments. Good post. Thanks,

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 13, 1999.

Your statements just don'nt make any sense. Do you really think that when the clock strickes midnight on 12-31-1999 that all knowledge will be removed from our minds.

I'm not saying that Y2K won'nt bring disruptions, I believe we will have disruptions and they may be quite severe. The problem is not that Y2K compliance is impossible, the problem is that we can'nt fix all the broken code in time to forestall serious problems. But the code can be fixed. Work-arounds can and will be developed.

The people in this country, and the world for that matter may be in hard times starting next year, but those with technical skills will be in demand. They will fix the problem, in time. I suggest you do a little more research, the future is not as dire as your prediction.

-- Watcher (anon@anon.com), March 13, 1999.


Americans may have a good life and a soft one but read the history of our people. Very forgiving and able to rebound!

Use the mind, be surprised what you can come up with in a pinch!

We will survive if the worst happens and we will come up on top...again! Imagine that!

Think, but don't let worry overcome you!

We win!

-- Mark Hillyard (foster@inreach.com), March 13, 1999.


May not depend on "us"... Too many people live in the cities; too much farmland has been paved/built over; with 98% of the seeds hybrid, TOO many people will starve; too many people are territorial and may have a hard time understanding why they should feed the affluent stock broker, banker .. politician , who have never dirtied their hands; too many banks may go under, starting a panic none can stop; AND too many people believe that caracter, lying under oath and seducing young women while married REALLY DOESN'T COUNT !!! Eagle

-- Harold Walker (e999eagle@freewwweb.com), March 13, 1999.


Well said, Mark.

Let's not forget our heritage and our forebears, who carved this land out of a wilderness. We may be soft now, and I'm sure we'll lose some folks, but we'll toughen up quick - just wait and see.

-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 13, 1999.


Haiti has received millions of dollars in food aid since the US became their policeman. What country has such stupid politicians to send us food aid after Y2K? I can think of several countries that would like to send us the plague.

-- Who will bail us out? (Been@There.com), March 13, 1999.

Excuse me. WE are NOT our forebearers. They had a far different skill set and physical and mental conditioning. The future may be much shorter for those on medication, or who have heart attacks, strokes, accidents. etc.

-- curtis schalek (schale1@ibm.net), March 13, 1999.

Need to check out the pubs from VITA. Enough said....

-- j (sandpine@juno.com), March 15, 1999.

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