How The Next Great Depression Will Be Different
If and when there is a ‘next’ Great Depression (some may argue that we’ve already entered the next one – although hidden from sight), the question is “How will it be different from the first?”
The current labor force participation rate is somewhere around 62% in the U.S. and the current (NOV-2016) combined U3 & U6 unemployment numbers reflect 22.8% (source: ShadowStats.com). Apparently there are about 41 million people receiving food stamps while nearly 14% of Americans live below the ‘official’ poverty threshold (hinged to income and family size).
The U.S. National Debt is just about to turn over to 20 Trillion dollars. Unfunded liabilities are currently 104 Trillion dollars (source: usdebtclock.org). On average, each household with a credit card carries more than $15,000 in credit card debt, and the average U.S household with debt owes $130,922 (source: time.com).
According to a recent Federal Reserve report, nearly half of Americans couldn’t cover a $400 emergency expense without borrowing the money or selling something. Additionally, almost 30% of people report having a zero balance, and 62% have less than $1,000 in savings, according to a recent survey (source: GOBankingRates.com). An additional 21% report having no savings account whatsoever.
We as Americans are really not wealthy. Rather, we as Americans are drowning in debt while putting on a facade of phony wealth. Most do not own anything. The banks do. And guess what? The banks are in trouble too. The Federal Reserve (a private organization) has essentially been propping up the banks (and ‘the market’) since 2008 – and it’s all based on more gargantuan debt.
When civilization collapses, he predicts, the world will go back to barter. Urges everyone to have a disaster-preparedness kit containing enough food, water and other supplies to last 72 hours. This is sensible advice, and prepares have a point when they mock those who ignore it.
While most Americans are entirely clueless about the big picture here, one day (or over a period of time), we may descend further into a ‘Greater Depression’ as so many of the so called ‘asset classes’ collapse in value as they seek out their own ‘true value’ when they cannot be propped up anymore.
Okay, back to the question at hand… How will the next Great Depression be different?
Recently, a commenter here said,
The “great depression” lasted somewhere around 10 years…. 80% of the population lived on farms-ish, I would bet that 90% of those had a HUGE-deep-pantry, and already had Gardens and Livestock. In 1935 there were around 127 million in the US, now 320-ish million, IF the “greater” depression hits and 80% are in the cities….. Just something to think about.
Someone else said,
“…but the greatest loss is the knowledge of survival. In the “great depression” many survived by riding the rails to areas that needed farm labor – try that with most urban dwellers today. Not only are they not physically able but are totally ignorant about agriculture, nature, and most of all, being able to cooperate in a rural society.”
A few of my own thoughts…
Back during the Great Depression, people had a MUCH GREATER sense of morality, work ethic, and practical skill sets than they do today.
There is a tremendous number of people today who have not experienced real hardship. They have been coddled, they have had things handed to them, and they EXPECT to be taken care of. They get angry when they don’t get their way.
During the days of the Great Depression, people on ‘assistance’ had to line up to receive their benefits. It was very visible. Today, ‘digital cards’ hide all of that. The numbers of those receiving benefits are hidden from view and all ‘appears’ as normal…
Today, it’s easy to get a bank loan for just about anything. Back during the days of the Great Depression, people taking on loans was significantly less. They had to save and work for ‘it’.
Family farming and agriculture today is essentially non-existent compared to the years of the Great Depression.
People have no idea how large of a garden and the right kinds of foods which will produce adequate calories to help over-winter for their household. A few tomatoes and squash in a 10×20 garden is not going to cut it…
How many people today know how to preserve their own food (e.g. canning)? I would say VERY, VERY FEW.
Because most Americans suffer from extreme ‘normalcy bias’, a Greater Depression will be shocking and devastating to say the least. Many will lash out as the cities burn… (perhaps literally).
People today are NOT educated the same way as back then. Practical skills are all but ‘gone’. Used to be that many would learn some technical trades in High School and some would go on to a trade school afterwards. Whereas today, ‘everyone’ (even those who really aren’t that bright) has to go to ‘college’ where they’re taught diversity training, political correctness, ‘Dem’s Good – Repub’s Bad, etc…
Today, our manufacturing base is GONE. Back during the Great Depression, we made ‘stuff’. When a nation makes their own ‘stuff’, that’s a good thing…
In conclusion, my general opinion is that the next Greater Depression will be a complete disaster, and it will become violent as the waves of desperation wash over the land. We are a different people than back then, and it’s going to bite us in the a$$…
Prepared For A Time LONGER Than The Great Depression?
The upcoming ‘Greater Depression’ may likely last even longer than ‘the Great Depression’ of the 1930s and will have far worse consequences for more people than ever before.
The Great Depression that took place during the 1930s was a severe worldwide economic depression, the timing of which varied across nations; however, in most countries it started in 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s. It was the longest, deepest, and most widespread depression of the 20th century.
If (when) the next ‘Greater Depression’ hits us smack in the face, you might want to be prepared to survive a minimum of 5-10 years, relatively on your own, without .gov assistance.
During the time of the Great Depression, many families lived on farms of varying sizes and functionality. Today, the vast, vast majority of people live in urban and suburban areas and most have not ever been to a farm. The extent of their knowledge of farms is the extent at which they may have seen pictures on Google, Bing, or Yahoo…
During the 1930s, many or most people knew how to take care of their basic needs on their own. Many or most people knew how to grow a successful garden. Many or most people were familiar with the physically laborious way-of-life during that time when luxuries were few and hard work was the normal reality. People (in general) were not as ‘soft’.
During the 1930s, many or most people had a sense of morality and decency that pales in comparison to today. That morality certainly curtailed what could have been much worse with regards to societal problems during that time.
The American culture was vastly more independent and self-sustaining than today (putting it mildly), whereas the modern way-of-life has become extraordinarily dependent.
Government during that time was still relatively small and non-intrusive, whereas today’s government is intermingled with most everything that we do, debilitating individualism and regulatory to the extent of crippling.
A ‘government class’ has exploded into a gargantuan chunk of our society – creating dependence rather than independence. A ‘Greater Depression’ during today’s modern times would become particularly devastating to all those who ‘depend’.
During the time of the Great Depression, the world was severely affected. Today, even more, most of the world’s nations will be affected – as they are financially and economically hinged with systemic risks in ways that were not even dreamed of back then.
I cannot help but contemplate how much worse it would be today than it was back then in the 1930s, especially knowing how bad it actually was during that time. We tend to think and believe that no such thing could ever happen again, especially given today’s safety nets and the seemingly endless crops of dollars continually harvested from the unseen fields of money trees. We are so far removed from the hardships of yesteryear that these thoughts never enter the minds of most. However, it may be wise to at least ponder the thought…
Oh, and one more thing… remember what got us out of the Great Depression? WWII.
History may or may not repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes…
Are you worried about your future? Are you worried by the many disasters that you face in your everyday life? Worry no more. The Lost Ways comes in to solve your woes. This program was created by Davis Claude and its major role is to prepare and teach you how to handle worst-case scenarios using the least independence. This program will therefore motivate you to protect your family and friends during the worst period without the help of the modern technology.
Remember, calamities are everywhere: at work, home, school and many other places. These calamities cause tension and leads to a decrease in productivity. This may finally lead to a reduction in life. Fortunately, the lost ways review will provide solutions to these situations. It will give you the tips for preparing yourself when nothing seems to go as expected.
Generally, most people are optimistic. This makes them unprepared for failure. However, the best thing is to prepare for worst times. It is important to tell your kids about earthquakes, fire outbreaks, extreme weather conditions and other calamities. Tell them how to deal with these calamities in case they occur.
SOURCE : modernsurvivalblog
A world war may not be necessary to cull the population sufficiently after the next depression occurs. Within a month of collapse the major cities WILL burn with rioters and looters running amok in general, not just in poverty stricken areas. Attempts to maintain order and security with police and National Guard troops may be attempted, but the scope and scale will overwhelm their measures quickly. Many folks will abandon their previous roles in order to protect their own families in the maelstrom. Those who are ill prepared will not survive more than a few months due to lack of water, sanitation and violence. The elderly and ill will succumb first, followed by the weak, mild and timid. Those who have eschewed firearms and relied on others for sustenance and protection will be especially vulnerable. The good news is those who do survive and even thrive during such harsh times will be the same stock as those who founded the nation. It would be the rebirth essentially of another Greatest Generation. If we manage to avoid being overwhelmed by a foreign power during the time of turmoil, the future would again be bright at some point. Hopefully the subsequent generations would heed the mistakes of the past and not follow the same ruinous path of today