After Currency Death

Never fear, our fearless leader, Pres. Obama, to the rescue  (NDAA Act).  Gov't/Military will take over ... oops, I meant take charge, and be able with incredible bureaucratic common sense, confiscate and direct resources , belonging to the average citizen, to the well-being of the masses.  All will be well (esp. if you're "connected").   But, just in case, I would prep a bit - maybe not extreme like on TV, but plan on 3 months or so.    Since I have a small ranch and can butcher deer and cattle, grow some veggies, have my own water well, I don't worry alot.  I do think power sources (electric, diesel fuel, etc.) could be a problem however - possibly a rationing system set up after the initial breakdown.  Another concern is medical issues - esp. for elderly folks.   Transportation could be an issue as well (lack of fuel, rationimg of fuel, checkpoints for travelers, etc.)  A stash of cash/gold/silver probably wouldn't hurt either.    The answer I give to your question is: Breakdown completely, no   ... temporarily, probably yes  ... pain for most folks, yes  (less for those at least halfway prepared... as the old saying goes... Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it)   Looking at history and other countries, when financial meltdowns/depressions/ currency devaluations/ hyperinflation/ governmental changes occur the general populace struggles for awhile, then gov'ts settle in, because any gov't (while it may be a king, socialist, democracy, dictator) cannot stand for long with civil unrest and no stability, and will therefore do what it can to stabilize (maybe with peaceful means or sometimes not).  We'll get a preview with the European situations.   Best wishes,  Spurs

"Stock in food producing companies is one thing I'm considering..."

consider some land capable of food production, seeds, fertilizers, equipment, fuel supplies,  practical experience, etc.  this might pay off in terms of personal survival if things get really severe.

a couple of acres and a rototiller, or a couple hundred (more?) acres and a tractor. 

if the supplies of diesel fuel run short, the trucks stop running.  when the trucks stop running, the shelves in the supermarket get bare.  high prices are one thing, but when the shelves are bare, price is irrelevant.  even a krugerrand won't buy a can of beans from an empty shelf.  it may get really ugly in the metro areas.

i think it likely there will be a period (six months?  a year or two?) when things get to crisis stage.  then a new stability will manifest itself - at a MUCH lower standard of living - and a long slow period of reconstruction from there.  how bad will the crisis stage be?  mad max?  something less severe?  no way to tell the future, but i think we'll have an opportunity to find out... if we are among the survivors.

Those who have the foresight to prepare, and especially those groups with a broad range of skills will prosper.

My theory is to look at how small towns and communities lived and functioned.  A doctor.  A vet.  A sheriff.  If a squad or group of 10-20 can cover all of the necessities for life they can also work out a division of labor - farming, medical, security.  Going it alone has it's advantages, but everyone has to sleep.  While your out fishing/gardening who's guarding the sleeping quarters?

Fred - I think it depends on the level of collapse.

If it's a slow, somewhat predictable devaluation of currency, then I think there where be enough of a support mechanism popping up to support local economies.  That could be barter transactions, town fairs, farmers markets, etc.  You'd also see some attempt at government price controls and regulation of commodity supplies like gasoline.  In that case the suburbs or semi-rural living might be fine.

If it's a true collapse that happens very rapidly, i.e., due to a natural disaster, EMP strike, plague, etc. - then I for one would not want to be within 150-200 miles of any major population center.   There are way too many people on food aid in  our cities and suburbs as it is, and they don't tend to stock up a pantry.  I don't see how you can avoid wide scale theft and violence.  A lot of people talk about living that far out, but it takes a lot of preparation and knowledge to be self sufficient.  99% of the people who talk about it don't have land, dwellings or even the most basic necessities secured - including me.  We have a location we can go to in such an event, but we don't own it.

Now that is a GREAT analogy.  I have had similar discussions about prepping with family members un in the Northeast who ask why in the world we'd want to have more than a couple weeks of food stored?  Why we collect necessities instead of stuffed animals? Why aren't we moving back up there to be closer to family and getting in some beach time?

Roark, we're trying to move in the same direction as you.  We are well prepared to ride out a year of turmoil, but beyond that is where land and self sustainment comes into play.  We were well on our way there, probably 12 months out from buying something, but then I lost my job.  No luck in finding anything since last March.  We are starting up our own web based supply company, and we are 90%+ of the way to going live.  But I suspect it will just pay the bills for the first year or two.  Not everyone wants to buy survival knives, grain grinders, freeze dried food  and other prepper related gear, and we're going to have to compete with 100 other similar sites out there.  The good news is that if the SHTF in a big way, I can absorb any remaining inventory for family/group use.

In short, we all see what's coming, and I feel like I got into a bad spot from an employment standpoint when I should be packing money and PMs away at a frenetic pace.  We are just going to need to trust that God's plan includes going out on our own and building a sustainable business.