I suspect Economic Collapse and Food Riots are most likely what we'll see first here in North America.

Economic Collapse: Although the Canadian Dollar has held its own and is considered one of the better currencies in the world right now, its only a matter of time before our own economy implodes. Canada has become a Welfare State where living on Welfare is a Career Choice. The Area I live in 30K+ Population, very few people actually work. The majority of the population (mostly large families) live on welfare. From what i've seen and heard this seems to be the story nationwide. As our unworking welfare collection population grows, the actual number of people working continues to shrink as a growing number of them move into retirement age. We have a growing number withdrawing money from the system, a shrinking number putting money into the system. A system like this cannot be sustained very long, it's only a matter of time before the whole thing collapses around us.

Food Riots:

Someone I've known for 15+ years approached me at work the other day at informed me that the world is a very scary place. Although I don't totally disagree, this statement out of the blue kind of took me by surprise. He went on to mention that the United Nations predicts that the World Population will break 7 Billion on October 31st and that 3 Billion of this population will be under 18 (in researching his claims the actual numbers are 43% or approximately 3 Billion people will be 25 years old and younger) and that we will see Sky Rocketing Food Prices and Foods Riots before long.

I just kind of laughed as we've already seen food riots in the far east, and food prices have been climbing worldwide for sometime. I simply suggested that he start preparing now to ensure that he and his family were ready for whatever may take place. He simply said all he needed was a garden and a gun and he and his family would be fine.

He'll definitely need a gun if he plans to keep his garden when so few people are actually prepared.

Doing a little research, with todays technology the world can easily sustain a population of 10 Billion but that would mean lowering the living standards of many to level the playing field and we all know that will never happen voluntarily.

It is funny how there can be a group thought ( if you want to call it that) to events. I had an elderly man start talking randomly to myself and 2 others on the bus the other day and putting away food etc. I just sat there listening to him, he was probably mid 80's but he kept saying "something" is coming and people need to get smart, put things away like they used to, start growing their own food, things are running out etc... this merged into a conversation about how oil dependent our economy is and that we were headed for bad times soon... and then I had to get off the bus at my stop. You could have heard a pin drop, people were listening but no one was interjecting, we were just nodding or agreeing with him...

It is on people's minds though... I am catching snippets of conversation here and there. People feel uneasy ...

Other than a speeding up of the housing industry I was not aware, prior to October 2008, of much going on with the economy. I became vaguely aware of the Lehman Brothers situation, with no thought of the consequences of what was going on. But then when the the US and the world were on the brink of total collapse I was not only scared I was pissed. I am not a believer in conspiracies regarding the NWO, or the Illuminati, or such, but I am a great believer in colossal incompetence, born out of greed and narcissism. It pissed me off that the world could be driven into the ground by these people (bankers, politicians, real estate agents, everybody grabbing for more, more, more) Since 2008 I've done a lot more reading and paying attention (but oddly enough, only became a prepper since March, and that was motivated by earthquake preparedness).

I realize why my mother always had such 'bizarre' ideas: don't put money in the stock market, don't leave money in the bank, don't have debt... She would have loved the internet and all the prepper sites. She tried in her own small way, but she was pretty much on her own with some of her ideas. Although, once they did buy a house (I was grown up and long gone) they grew veggies, rhubarb, apples, plums. My dad is very handy at fixing things like cars, which he says is because he was always so poor he had to learn how to keep them running. He made his first welder from an old car engine and a Sears buzz box, ran a business with it until he could afford to buy a real Lincoln welder. My mom grew up during the Depression, her father refused to go bankrupt, he knew people were relying on him to pay his bills. (He was a captain on Lake Winnipeg, transporting goods) Her mother took in all the nieces and (mostly) nephews. Which was a real hardship for my mom as a teenager, everyone else came first because they were so bad off. But I digress....

Part of me wants to believe that we are going to be okay in Canada. Maybe not the heavily populated areas near the US border, but in general I think that when the US goes up in flames we'll be able to hang on for awhile. On the other hand part of me feels there could be a lot more civil unrest (riots, lawlessness) all over the world, it certainly seems likely in the US. While I think some people will riot, steal, or mug other people because they are hungry I think a lot of morons will take advantage of the chaos just for the hell of it. (the recent Vancouver riot comes to mind) Morons. Yeah, it's gonna suck.

CBC Doc Zone did a great documentary of the 2008 global slowdown ( aired in 2010 I think) "Meltdown - The Secret History of the Global Financial Collapse"
Youtube has it in 4 parts, in all 3 hours but worth a watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWU65Zbka4E&feature=related
(Links 2, 3, 4 are posted at this link in the sidebar )

I am inclined to think it will hit other countries first as well ~ but we are so closely inter-linked and dependent on imported goods, fuel etc, it wouldn't be very long at all, if not days for a collapse to impact us here as well. The economy appears to be a house of cards...

Just came across this news article

Insight: Lessons for U.S. from Canada's "basket case" moment

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE7AK0EP20111121?sp=true

I didn't follow politics and the economy in the 90s, but I do remember some of the things going on at the time. Not being a sophisticated newshound I didn't understand the situation, this article explains what and why they did certain things. Which explains why we were sitting pretty (compared to other countries) during and after the global financial collapse.

p.s. I agree, paintergirl, that CBC Doc Zone documentary ROCKS.

The economic collapse is about to preempt all other theories with fact. If you are not prepared yet,with a three day supply in the stores, you don't want to spend those three days in line at Costco. The biggest thing I do not think people realize is the consequence of a "Bank Holiday". My Grandmother and Grandfather (RIP) always said to put your savings somewhere other than the Banks. The old mattress thing. Why did they say this? Because they lived through the 30s and 70s. I hate acronyms (the PATRIOT Act is the latest) and terms such as Bank Holiday. But the reality with a Bank Holiday (Banks going bust) is that the door is locked prior to any warnings being given. You will not have access to your accounts, savings or chequing including your safety deposit boxes after the door is locked. This does not take into account the outright thievery of the banks such as with the case of MF Global. Using banks now is worse than playing the market in my view. Wait until the truth regarding the bank bailouts is truly reported. And hang onto your own wealth for a couple of years, just in case. You should have seen the look on my Bankers face when I hedged most of my equity into precious metal, just for a couple of years. We may be seeing more of that look very soon. He really did not want to see that PM leave the Bank premises. Basic strategy. If the Bankers hate it, I probably will like it. Red Flag: Short term credit drying up. The store shelves are filled by the use of short term credit.

Just a warning that the comment moderators in the mainstream media are blocking quotes from Thomas Jefferson such as this one “Everything predicted by the enemies of banks, in the beginning, is now coming to pass. We are to be ruined now by the deluge of bank paper. It is cruel that such revolutions in private fortunes should be at the mercy of avaricious adventurers, who, instead of employing their capital, if any they have, in manufactures, commerce, and other useful pursuits, make it an instrument to burden all the interchanges of property with their swindling profits, profits which are the price of no useful industry of theirs. The central bank is an institution of the most deadly hostility existing against the Principles and form of our Constitution. I am an Enemy to all banks discounting bills or notes for anything but Coin. If the American People allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the People of all their Property until their Children will wake up homeless on the continent their Fathers conquered. I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies... The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs.”
― Thomas Jefferson,
Seems like deja vu all over again but probably more apt today than yesterday. Except this time they are censoring 200 year old comments from their own Founding Fathers. I think TJ had it just right. History made those people willing to say the truth into Founding Fathers. Now they are censored. It seems some things have not changed in 200 years (Bankers). And why really are TJ's comments censored? He also said “A little rebellion is a good thing. ” And, “Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry.”
He had a good one for preppers too “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.”
― Thomas Jefferson
The US would do well to return to its roots was all I was trying to say. Now it is off to the moderators office for me. The MSM must be held to task as they do the public a great injustice during these times. We have been there before, this is nothing new except it is now MF Global in scope (pun intended). Now technocratic bankers are replacing the politicians in Europe. I wonder what TJ would say if he were alive today? Possibly, "I told you so, now look what they have done". If we cannot learn from the past we will repeat it. Do not be blind to the Bankers deceit. I fear in the future when looking for a definition of corruption they will look at the present western financial system. After unconciously shaking their head at how this could have happened, all will silently nod their approval as proof of the corruption.
PS: the censorship is worse in the Canadian MSM.

I agree completely that things are awry. I posted in this section about my workplace letting about 50 people go over the past month. Obviously, one workplace is not necessarily a microcosm, but it seems to be accurate in this case.

Companies are increasing demands on their employees as fewer staff members perform the same amount of work. They are cutting salaries (often illegally) and people are just taking it because they know how unlikely it is that they will find another job anytime soon.

I am near the US border and it concerns me. The US is going downhill on a greasy slide and I fear that Americans will think that all is good up here in the Great White North.

The desperation is growing quickly.

Daisy, I remember what happened during the Vietnam conflict when all the concientious objectors fled north. North is their default direction and it also proves that the American people and their government can have a disconnect. I have found that I can trust the people more than the government in this situation. As it turned out, those kids were right and they indeed changed the social fabric of British Columbia. Most of us in Canada are within 200 km of the border anyway and that is only half a tank of gas so I sympathize. But I believe it is not the people, people. I hope I never have to make the decision but if US forces are chasing people north I know who I would choose to help. The ones with the kids.

I've been watching what's been happening with the global economy for some time now. One of the things that I've noticed some of the experts saying is that the U.S. economy is actually worse than the European. People generally aren't noticing this because we're all focused on the European economy. If the European economy tanks, the U.S. economy will follow it down the tubes. Since our economy is so closely tied to that of the U.S., I've gotta wonder where that leaves us. A lot of people would say that our economy is more global than that, maybe it is. We may have a footprint in the global economy but no matter how you look at it, the U.S. is still our closest and largest market. Also consider this, we talk about defending our homes and supplies from looters should TSHTF. We have a relatively small population and a lot of resources, unlike our neighbour to the south. A neighbour who, in the past, has shown aggressive tendancies. I wonder how long 'til the looters come calling.
One thing is for sure, when the American economy goes under, I'm moving out to the cabin full time.

Absolutely, I grew up with the words "Manifest Destiny" ringing in my ears. If the Americans decide to overrun us for our land and resources, we are hooped.

Hope they have good plastic surgeons, as I plan to take noses and ears with me when I go down.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not worried about the average person coming up from the lower 48. It's the U.S. government and their military that I think will cause us grief. The things they've been doing in the last few years is scary.

My view on the “economic collapse” is that it has already happened.
All over the world economies are in upheaval. The Euro isn’t working, the US dollar is in trouble, the Canadian dollar is also in trouble, unemployment is higher than ever before, mortgages are being defaulted on and good folks are losing their homes. Real estate prices in 2 major cities here in Canada are being kept artificially high based on the influx of off-continent buyers and personal debt has never been higher and bankruptcy fillings are at the highest in history.
This basically leads me to believe that huge debt with a huge amount of defaulters will leave banks holding the bag and unless they can sell the foreclosed homes they are going to fail.
Unemployment, huge debt, home foreclosures leads me to see businesses failing, banks failing and big troubles ahead.
The reason we are not in the midst of the worst depression in history is because every country is being artificially propped up by the world bank.
Once the whole thing reaches critical load I believe in one way or another...”The shit Will Hit The Fan” and be flung far and wide and those not prepared for this will suffer.
In my mind I am not being Chicken Little and in a way "the sky is falling" and since 2007 I have been building my own personal umbrella and I hope that others are too.
One thing I say to others when we talk about me being a prepper or survivalist depending on their point of view is, if I or everyone prepares for the SHTF and it doesn’t what is the worst that will happen? We have some extra food, we are drinking better water, we have paid down or off our mortgages or in some cases they are off the grid and living one heck of a healthy lifestyle.
That would be hard to take, right?

Hi folks,

I'm glad to see this thread. The economic collapse is upon us. It is just happening in slow motion, as government/banksters are doing everything in their power to keep the system going.

To help you understand what is going on here is my suggested reading list: (for starters)

- "An Inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations" by Adam Smith. Reading this book will teach anyone everything they need to know about economics. No math skills required. It was written by and for a general audience and it is all common sense. This is the single most important book you can buy if you want to understand the economy, and how we've broken it.

- "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis. This gives you excellent insight into how banksters created the 2008 crisis...and how a few profited by the collapse. It also talks about how the regulatory framework is completely inadequate.

- "Crisis Economics" by Nouriel Noubini. Presents a clear and concise explanation of why our markets are broken and what can be done to fix it. (But isn't being done)

- "Essay on the principle of population" Robert Thomas Malthus. Talks about the limits of population.

- "Economic consequences of the peace" - John Maynard Keynes. The man predicted World War two, by telling the allies that as victors of WWI, they squeezed a defeated Germany too hard and left them with nothing but the anger and desperation that would force them to go to war again.

My prediction is not "collapse" per se, b ut more of a return to how people used to live. The only real danger is our collective assumptions about what the future will look like.My suggestion to prepare for this, because there is still time is to:

- pay off all debt as soon as possible.
- Get out of condos and get into a small efficient freehold bungalows as soon as you can. Make sure it has a big enough yard for a garden.
- Make sure your home is not in a flood plain, or a seismically active area.
- Urban or rural doesn't really matter...but commuting from one to the other will kill you. Live where you make your living.
- Install the most efficient appliances you can get. Have multiple redundant sources for everything. Backup heat, with a woodstove.
- Insulate, waterproof and repair your home so you can live another 50 years in it with no major renovations/restorations required.
- Get a full set of hand tools. Saw, hammer, screwdrivers, socket sets, sledgehammer, hacksaw, files, knives.
- Stock up on non-perishables as much as you can. Rotate everything.
- Make two incomes...live on one. Use the other for preps and savings.
- Keep some significant cash out of the bank.
- Keep some significant savings in gold and silver coins in your physical possession.

Good luck everyone and hold on tight.