Well I just read the thread and have to say there is a lot of good information here. For me, I did not grow up all over the world or the US. I have lived in the same area my whole life, a place that my Papa grew up in too. When I was younger my Papa, who was 11 years old when the Depression hit, passed a lot of things on to me as far as surviving in hard times. I hope we never see times like what the old generation did but I feel that we are on a road to repeat it, if not live a worse version.

Arch, I saw the pamphlet that you posted about supporting the Constitution, and I do believe in the ideas of our founding fathers so I guess I am "bad". It is unfortunate that roughly a 5th of our population is getting assistance and not contributing. What a shame.

Agreed. The most important factors in this entire equation are mind and body. Train them both or perish

Jeff, we all have varying backgrounds but can learn from each other as a result.

We moved ALL THE TIME when I was young. This situation certainly affected the development of my personality. For example, as a young man, changing schools four times in two years along with never have a "sense of place" unquestionably created a necessity for me to be assertive.

By the time I was 5 years old we had lived in Indiana, Kansas, Alabama, Virginia and Maryland. Then we went overseas.

I understand Ish's dislike for the political commentary, but I respectfully assert that a conversation about Survival CANNOT be divorced from our current political climate. Politics (more often than not in the course of human history) has caused the very catastrophes we'll be required to survive.

I wholeheartedly agree with the need for conditioning - physical, mental and spiritual.

When the body fails, the mind takes over.

When the mind fails, the soul takes over.

Just my .02 worth.

I agree. I believe (from my DEEP research on the topic) that the next round of difficult times might be far worse than anything we've experienced to date.

Be prepared.

The following pictures are of two different PSK / Belt Orders I've experimented with.


NON-TRADITIONAL

The PSK (Personal Survival Kit) of this belt order is contained inside the Maxpedition Octa Waistpack. The balance of the gear is attached to the exterior of the Octa.







TRADITIONAL

The PSK is contained in a pouch that attaches to a pistol belt.







The belt itself is a Blackhawk Improved Pistol Belt with various other items attached to it (including the PSK).






[color:"red"][b]NOTE: These are OLD pictures. The content of our PSK's has changed. Some items were tested and rejected (like bottled water purification tablets), and other items were added. These are for "generic illustration purposes only". [/color]

Good to see you put a couple lighters in there instead of just a fire steel. I had a friend (he's a Recon Marine) who made fun of me for using a lighter on our last camping trip. For background, his gamertag on XBox Live is "Survivor-Dan."

My father was Recon (from the Vietnam era) and carried a lighter everywhere he went.

Please read the fire section of my OP <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/loopy.gif" alt="" />

Don't get me wrong...I don't "dislike" anything. I prefer it, actually.

My comment was merely to suggest that you can still get a point across without the possibility of offending anyone. Discussion of politics often brings up sensitive issues and can solidify walls between friends. The point is...it doesn't matter who's correct...Darwin will win out eventually <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ish, instead of Darwin maybe you should support Murphy on this one...(as to not offend anyone by referencing an anti-religious figure) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Murphy's Law

"Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong"

See the inherent problem with trying to be politically correct?

We can't express our opinions without spending more time proofing the content for something that "might offend" someone than we spend developing the concept itself.

As long as we're all respectful there shouldn't be a problem. Don't approach this topic in hopes of "converting" a member to XYZ. Approach the topic in hopes of "educating" the person to make their own informed decision.

Ish, regarding politics being divisive...that is the problem in America today!

We all (myself included) buy into the "left right paradigm" wherein we spend too much time fighting each other instead of identifying the real problems.

This ties into my above comment about spending more time editing content for "pc offensive material" than developing the concept itself.

As long as we are preoccupied with making gray/neutral statements or fighting over black/white statements...we'll never be able to identify / defeat the real problems facing us.