Monday, March 16, 2009

Toilet Paper Baron

Recently I've read several books about the demise of modern society. The first, The Road by Cormac McCarthy is probably the most famous of the two and we've discussed it here already, so the one I want to talk about today is





In this novel, modern American Society has collapsed as a result of an unpopular, un-winnable war, a bad economy and a series of bombings in major cities. The characters of the book are attempting to just stay alive in the returned-to-dark-ages landscape of upstate New York. There is no more electricity, telephones or law enforcement and the government is all but absent from their daily lives. Thugs and religious groups fight for territory and one pandemic after another sweeps the nation unchecked by medicine.


Let me tell you chickens, I don't want to be all "The SKY IS FALLING" but more than The Road, this version of the potential future seems all to scarily possible. What IF the world economy collapsed? What IF the oil producing nations all decided to hate us at the same time? What IF we were no longer able to run to Wal-Mart for a gallon of milk? How many of today's society would be able to return to a self sufficient way of life?


Could it get to this point, even? Aren't there meant to be stop-safes in our society that would prevent this sort of socio-economic melt down? If so, what are they?


We sit in our subdivisional houses watching digital cable thinking "oh, those poor African-bush people!" confident that this National Geographic life will never actually touch our own with no real assurances that it won't. It could, you know. A civil war with Mexico or dirty bombs in the major cities, a pandemic like the Plague, a discord with our oil suppliers and then what?


I don't know about your cupboards, but my collection of Slim-Fast shakes and half-stale Ritz crackers probably wouldn't help me ride out any sort of long term disaster. I better start hoarding Toilet Paper, too. That stuff will be worth it's weight in GOLD.

10 little kittens say Meow:

Bobby's Dream said...

I had the same feelings after reading "The Stand" by Stephen King. Those kinds of books scare the crap outta me. Stuff that can and probably WILL happen.

Hell, watch Wall-E and see what we are doing to ourselves. There is a message right there.

kristin said...

Thystle, I was enjoying this perfectly wonderful spring-like day.


:-PPPP You are a buzz-kill.



...but I'm still adding it to my reading list. ANd stocking up on scotch and tp. If it gets that bad, the wine just won't do.

Anonymous said...

Too deep for me this Monday. But the books actually sounds really interesting. Although I will admit that often times I find it easier to live in my own world where everything will be just fine...

BTW - how is Liz?!

Miss Thystle said...

Doctor's appointment went well, it was all a scare. Thank Goodness.

Miss Thystle said...

PS. The book is on the buy one get one half off table at B&N right now. Or possibly it was Borders. I forget.

Jane! said...

I live in the very happy state of denial. I can't even THINK about this or my head will explode.... ALL over your blog!

Bj in Dallas said...

two words

canned milk

Anonymous said...

I had a meltdown when Y2K rolled around. People thought I was crazy and I swore the planet was going to be in complete disaster mode(I'm dramatic like that).

...then I learned to take Calms Forte (my all natural panic attack medicine) and just ignore all the possibilities.

When I have my panic attack later on this evening I'll be thinking of you. :0)

Jeff9 said...

Doomsday advice: if the economy collapsed (op, did I say that?) and you couldn’t buy toilet paper what would you do? Get a bathroom bidet sprayer from www.bathroomsprayers.com and you won’t have to worry about it. The water will still be running long after the toilet paper stops reaching the store shelves and in the mean time you’ll be saving money that you can use to stock up on canned soup. Think I'm joking? Wait till you have to choose between those rolls of super-soft Charmin or a sandwich.

Mr. Crabgrass said...

NOW you know why I live for today.