I know where you're coming at Laramie.  I've looked into the "prepping movement".  I can understand what they're saying.  There's nothing wrong with preparing for uncertain times.  However there seems to be a temptation to look at prepping as a mere natural route to survival, and forgetting who is the one who really feeds us.  The one who has counted every hair on our head.  That said, there's nothing wrong with being prudent.  If these preppers are right it would seem to me more important to be able to hunt, forage and prepare food then it would be to store food.  If you think about it, stored food could easily be confiscated by the government or stolen, etc. So here is a  counter look at prepping for doomsday via some maxims and counsels of St.  Saint Benedict Joseph Labre.....

The Providence of God is never wanting to him who confides in God as he ought.

With regard to corporal provision, we should not think of a future day, according to the advice of our blessed Redeemer: "Be not solicitous for the morrow." God who provides for today, will also provide for tomorrow.

Those only are to be called poor and unhappy, who are in hell, who have lost God for eternity, not those who are poor on earth.


Particular sentiments concerning true poverty, which the Servant of God wonderfully loved and practiced:

The poor should live by alms.
A little suffices for the support of the body; what is superfluous, will only serve to furnish the worms with a greater feast.
A poor man does not seek a bed in order to sleep, he throws himself down anywhere.
Conveniences are not for the poor.
Poor people should not use a loaf; they should be content with fragments.
The poor should not carry money in their travels.
The poor should not eat dainties.
The poor should not be well clad.
The poor should not drink wine: it is not necessary; water suffices to appease thirst.
[Antonio Maria Coltraro (d. 1797), The Life of the Venerable Servant of God, Benedict Joseph Labre. (Oratorian series: "The Saints and Servants of God.") London. Thomas Richardson and Son. 1850. pp.354-56.]

 

http://www.bowdoin.edu/~hholbroo/index8.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Joseph_Labre

Here is an interesting book on learning how to live and survive in the wilderness with nothing.  It's a fascinating read that might be an alternative to stockpiling food and supplies.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967877776/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0967877776&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20

 Peace....

The establishment already knows how to manipulate people's wealth. It is not going to look under mattresses but a mob might. People should become self-sufficient as a matter of course and not depend too much on others. The only difference between the establshment and the mob is subtlety. Both will see you as a resource to plunder, so you must defend those resources. The naive will be crucified.

I don't know about how most people feel but I'll be damned if i'm holed up in some bunker peeking out a peep hole and subsisting on water, beans and cans of tuna fish living in fear the rest of my life.

Maybe it's not too Catholic for me to say this, but if the end comes, I say let it. But before I go I will take out every savage plunderer who comes my way before they get to me.

Sometimes it's not about surviving and living, but dying nobly.

Besides, people get too caught up into this world.

Howdy Cathinfo folks.  I thought I'd address this in the trad community and see what minds think.



I was just listening to James Wesley Rawles in a discussion with Alex Jones.  The two were talking about how important it is to have all sorts of bull#### that you need to buy in order to be prepared to survive the economic collapse.  

If you don't have any money, then you get the honor of being a statistic in these wonderfully horrible times that are approaching.  Because, without money, you can't buy those propane tanks and guns and dutch ovens and freeze dried food that will keep you alive.  Don't have a basement to store your stuff in?  Don't even own a house?  I guess you'll be a refugee until you die.  

This prepping for the end of America #### pisses me off, sometimes.

Nevertheless, they are correct.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Start doing what you can with what you have.

Priority #1: Get a gun with a common caliber (e.g., Glock .40 for $500)

Priority #2: Buy a box of bullets every 2 weeks (50 bullets for $30)

Priority #3: Buy a 50 lb bag of rice each month ($19)

Priority #4: Get 20 cases of bottled water ($75)

Priority #5: Start a  canned food pantry with an extra $20/week

The point is that the Mormons are right about this one thing: With discipline and a plan, you can get a nice little stash quickly.

All the other expensive toys (e.g., Night vision goggles; rural retreats; livestock; etc) might be beyond you for now, but the stuff above will protect you and yours more than if you just pout.