I'm starting to get the feeling that 2023 is similar to 1912 or 1935, all over again.
I don't know exactly how it will happen, and I certainly hope it does not happen, but with China and Russia getting closer together, and Iran and Syria and Saudi Arabia getting closer together, and Russia and Iran and Turkey getting closer together...things aren't looking great for the United States/NATO/ANZUS.
I think there are two aspects to this:
1) A world war in which the nations do not go full nuclear: The US and NATO and Japan fight China and Russia and Iran...Turkey will have to decide where they stand...but no one goes nuclear.
2) A nuclear world war.
This thread is about option 1: a non-nuclear (or limited local nuclear, e.g., in Ukraine) world war, with combat theaters in Eastern Europe, China Sea, etc.
I know what I must do to prepare for the nuclear holocaust...the only question is whether I do it. But, I'm thinking of the more limited scenario, in which my home in US flyover country is not directly targeted, but the world balance of power shifts to China generally after the US depletes its resources against China.
I haven't thought it all through, but I'm thinking there are two, maybe three major areas to prep:
1) Financial disruption.
2) Supply chain disruption.
3) Remote relocation.
1) Financial Disruption. It is hard to predict what the financial upheaval will be. What steps do you take to protect your wealth? Pull some of your cash out now (e.g., a 6 month supply)? Pull more out later if things escalate? There is a value to haveing cash on hand...especially if banks close. A world war will last longer than any reasonable period you could have cash for. Maybe convert some cash to gold to preserve cross-border value? But there is a transaction cost when converting wealth from dollars to gold and then back to dollars. Maybe silver is better, which is more usable maybe??? Not sure what else there is to do, except do the old "gain marketable skills" thing.
2) Supply chain shortages: I will ignore shortages for electronics for consumer goods (the military need will take them all). I would plan on doing without electronics. But, I would think pharmaceuticals will be a need I might not be able to do without. Perhaps a trip to the drug store to get what you can, and an order for fish antibiotics?
3) Remote location: I'm still working on that.
I don't know exactly how it will happen, and I certainly hope it does not happen, but with China and Russia getting closer together, and Iran and Syria and Saudi Arabia getting closer together, and Russia and Iran and Turkey getting closer together...things aren't looking great for the United States/NATO/ANZUS.
I think there are two aspects to this:
1) A world war in which the nations do not go full nuclear: The US and NATO and Japan fight China and Russia and Iran...Turkey will have to decide where they stand...but no one goes nuclear.
2) A nuclear world war.
This thread is about option 1: a non-nuclear (or limited local nuclear, e.g., in Ukraine) world war, with combat theaters in Eastern Europe, China Sea, etc.
I know what I must do to prepare for the nuclear holocaust...the only question is whether I do it. But, I'm thinking of the more limited scenario, in which my home in US flyover country is not directly targeted, but the world balance of power shifts to China generally after the US depletes its resources against China.
I haven't thought it all through, but I'm thinking there are two, maybe three major areas to prep:
1) Financial disruption.
2) Supply chain disruption.
3) Remote relocation.
1) Financial Disruption. It is hard to predict what the financial upheaval will be. What steps do you take to protect your wealth? Pull some of your cash out now (e.g., a 6 month supply)? Pull more out later if things escalate? There is a value to haveing cash on hand...especially if banks close. A world war will last longer than any reasonable period you could have cash for. Maybe convert some cash to gold to preserve cross-border value? But there is a transaction cost when converting wealth from dollars to gold and then back to dollars. Maybe silver is better, which is more usable maybe??? Not sure what else there is to do, except do the old "gain marketable skills" thing.
2) Supply chain shortages: I will ignore shortages for electronics for consumer goods (the military need will take them all). I would plan on doing without electronics. But, I would think pharmaceuticals will be a need I might not be able to do without. Perhaps a trip to the drug store to get what you can, and an order for fish antibiotics?
3) Remote location: I'm still working on that.