I see the same cause for alarm that Dr. W does... When I track the FRED I see a spike in our monetary supply that almost insures that it will be worthless one of these days. In fact, we've already crashed, but simply do not know it -- being propped up by faith and the printing press.
Here is the graph I am talking about:
The amount of dollars being pumped into our system are absolutely astounding! And I do greatly fear that we'll see times like the Wiemar Republic in Germany, or more recently, the meltdown in Argentina and Brazil:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_in_the_Weimar_Republic
http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/hyperinflation-lessons-from-south-america/
If there is a huge supply of fiat money in the system, sooner or later -- unless inflation can be managed to equal out the money supply -- hyperinflation will kick in and the result is the same in every place where that has happened. Everything apart from durable goods and food are worthless, and durable goods and food increase in price so rapidly that between receiving a paycheck (assuming that one is still employed once manufacturers and service sector employees can no longer collect from their market) that the check may not cover the cost of anything if not spent almost immediately.
How do we prepare our people for such an eventuality? Truth is, we cannot... First, no one will really believe that it is possible to melt down as a nation (save perhaps a couple of the oldest members of the church that still remember the Great Depression and what that did to America). Second, we have essentially lost the necessary skills (and ability, even if skills are at hand) to live off the land as did our forbearer's. People don't know how to grow gardens and farms. They don't know how to raise animals and what to do with those animals if they somehow happen to raise them. We "buy" stuff, we don't "make stuff" and the moment that Wally-world runs out of product, we'll see mass panic. Neighbors will not be seen as friends -- instead they will be seen as "resources" for those strong enough to take what they need. How can we prepare people for that if they are not already?
I DO recommend that we start talking about "reasonable" efforts to return to helping each other via community gardens, raising small animals (rabbits, chickens, etc.) and learning alternative forms of transportation such as bikes, carts, walking, etc. If we do this now, as an exercise in good stewardship and an effort to be "sustainable" (not a bad thing!) we can see a resurgence of interest and ability that has been lost in the past couple of generations.
I also advocate taking a very biblical perspective on "community" for we will only survive as do those people in 3rd worlds, where "community" is the only means possible to meet the overall needs of the people. No one person or family will make it with an independent spirit. They simply cannot produce everything needed to live unless they are VERY intentional, but in community, one can do this, another that, and together, insure survival.
Is my stance "extreme"? Not really... We should have been in this place all along. We are now mere consumers, driven by the winds of the world to have whatever the world tells us we need to have instead of a people that steward God's world well, so as to make our lives better and more fulfilling in gospel community. I expect we'll learn this lesson well, but whether (like a person with diabetes) we learn this before we need to to avoid the big problems that comes once we do need to, or learn it the hard way with many tears and hungry nights, we, in all likelihood, will learn...
