[billt]

They already are but it doesn't matter because of the shylark interest rates they in fact charge, (21%+). Bankruptcy filings are at an all time high, in spite of tougher laws that don't let people simply walk away from their debt. The credit card companies more than make up for whomever tanks by the people who gleefully pay the minimum monthly amount, (basicly intrest only on what they owe). But you are correct that if a depression hit of any magnitude it would in fact help in the total collapse of the banking industry. Our economy at present is so fragile it wouldn't take much to start, "The Domino Effect". Bill T.

[frozentorso]

Just a quick story on CC companys...a few years back I was late on a payment to a CC and my rate jumped from 9% to 29%. I tried to reason with them. Letters, calls, to no avail. I've been with them 10 years! They were willing to increase my limit every time I inquired about the rate. So I paid it down to $200 and leave it alone. So I've got a $15,000 limit and they get 29% of $200 instead of 9% of whatever I might use. Go figure. I keep it open for the rating.

[Chris]

Smart thinking there Torso.

[FREEDOM1776]

stock up with wiskey, beer, and ammo. would should be just fine It's the American way.

[Im283]

And my wife wonders why I want to buy a few hundred rounds of ammo every payday.

When gas is so high in price no one can afford to go to work just watch the crap hit the fan.

[billy]

zhtf! THE REAL THREAT!

[just_a_car]

Quote:       Originally Posted by billy

zhtf! THE REAL THREAT!

You totally need to petition Chris for a ZHTF subforum in the Survival Forums. Hehehe.

[billy]

im tellin ya

those robots and mole people.THE BIG THREE!

[Midas]

ZHTF! run in terror, the undead walk!

[tbonecpk]

ZHTF.... *sniff* *sniff* Do I smell a BBQ????? I say cook the zombies!!!!!!! lol

[ArkansasHunter]

If drug smugglers can smuggle drugs into the USA everyday.
Then why can't terrorist smuggle in weapons of mass destruction ?
With that stated I personally believe it's just a matter of time before our country is hit again.
Katrenia though a natural desaster is a good example of our goverments UNability to react and look what happened.
Imagine a suitecase atomic bomb going off in New York City or Washington DC
You talk about SHTF...It pays to be prepared...

I watched a program 3 weeks ago about why the dollar is the choice currentcy in the world and I wished I'd payed more attention to it.
Anyway if the other countries on this planet were to choose, say the Euro instead of the dollar, America's economy would crash to a point of no return and if China were to unload all the u.s. dollars and change to another currentcy the same would happen.
This is another possible SHTF.

If anyone out there knows more about this latter subject please add to this or let it die.

[Stopper]

Absolutely true, but china would loose it's biggest buyer of goods, for now at least. Apparently Iran is now saleing oil only in euros and not dollars - something Iraq did in 2000 and look what happened to them under the guise of well you know.

[maarten221]

SHTF in Argentina in 2000 or 2001, I think...economy crashed and looting started.

SHTF hit S. Africa slowly - it is still going on - started in 1996.

SHTF in Zimbabwe about 10 years ago - look at it now...every man for himself.

Granted these are all 3rd world countries now - they started out as 1st world countries with booming economies.

It would really take a spectacular event to cause this kind of collapse in the USA - the economy is too much of a steam roller. It would be a VERY slow decline.

Now there are mini SHTF situations....such as Katrina, but you can bet your bottom dollar that if you waste a looter coming towards your house, you will have to answer for it later on....especially if you are a person of paler complexion.

[just_a_car]

Quote:       Originally Posted by tbonecpk

ZHTF.... *sniff* *sniff* Do I smell a BBQ????? I say cook the zombies!!!!!!! lol

That's right tbonecpk... use a flamethrower...

but don't come crying to me when you're now dealing with flaming zombies due to them not dying very quickly. What's that? You don't think they'd die slow? Well, let's look at some basics of zombie physiology that would hamper use of fire:

1. Zombies don't feel pain. This would prevent them from really caring too much about the fire.
2. Zombies don't breathe. This is the leading cause of death in mortals from fire, suffocation and poisoning from the gases.
3. Zombies don't go into shock. This would prevent them from falling over, even if they could feel pain.
4. Zombies run on instinct. And what do animals do when confronted with fire? Run. If you're dealing with shambling hordes, now you're dealing with running flaming hordes. Congradulations, you're dead.

Using fire is the best way to dispose of a zombie once it's dead, so as to destroy the contagion, unless, that is, it's something like in Night Of The Living Dead where the chemicals just go up in the air, waft straight for the nearest cemetary and infect the dead bodies. I'm personally not willing to put my odds on whether they are or aren't that kind of zombie. Unless you're aware of what species of zombie you're dealing with, do NOT use fire. Just like pouring water on an oil fire, you may just be spreading it and making it worse.

ZHTF Motto: Be Prepared.

[bigandrich44]

I believe it will happen. When Katrina hit, did anybody hear about some people shooting at choppers with FA Ak-47's? That is when the S has officialy HTF.

[Cr@ckSH0t]

When civilians start shooting at chppers that are trying to help them, then you know the situation is one s covered f! Maybe so much that the s weighs the f down so much the screws cant hold it in and the f breaks and falls to the ground covering everybody under the proverbial f in s!

[maarten221]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Cr@ckSH0t

When civilians start shooting at chppers that are trying to help them, then you know the situation is one s covered f! Maybe so much that the s weighs the f down so much the screws cant hold it in and the f breaks and falls to the ground covering everybody under the proverbial fan in s!

Exactly, I've seen that type of behavior before.
What they tried to do was keep order from being restored - the less order is restored, the more they(criminals) would have free reign over the area.

[Cr@ckSH0t]

Sounds like my kinda party! Free beer and women to go around(as long as they arent the type of girls who grew up on a farm where daddy taught how to shoot and she has 3 6'5 brothers.....i MIGHT leave her alone...sounds like my kinda girl to)

[bigandrich44]

That was some crazy stuff with the flak on the choppers. But, I wouldn't live in New Orleans in the first place. If I did, I would have a canoe/boat tied down in the backyard with steel cables and a padlock.

[billy]

i was asked by my young nephew... uncle bill why do they live below the ocean? he meant below sea level and i couldnt answer him except to say its not very smart is it jake?