Originally posted by marg6043
This brings me memories also my husband and I also use to look for pennies to pay for gas back in the seventies

Those where the days of 25 cents for gas.

Ahhh Yes !!!!
If gas was 25 cents a gallon now
then I could afford to pay off my credit cards

also on another note, does anybody know what the
minimum wage was during the 70's compared to
the 25 cents a gallon gas ??

All I need right now is a way to make my vehicle
run on salt water and I'd have it made

So for those of you who are much more educated on this subject than I...
My husband and I (with kids) are considering giving up the "American Dream" for a while and falling off the grid, running for the hills (or mountains). We dont mess with the stock market's but we watch them and quite honestly we would rather rent, buy running used cars with cash and have a nice garden in the back, is this advisable? What is the middle class "American Dreamers" looking at? What is reality here and for how long?
The information is confusing to the common citizen, CNN/Fox is commenting on the $100 oil but not telling us what it means, they are tap dancing. It's either doom and gloom or everythings fine?
I respect ATS opinions and would be grateful for some straight answers on the future of the Married with childrens, the middle class and any and all insights into the best ways to ride the storm out for those of us who are not prepared, which is more than likely the majority of America, including myself.
Of course up until March of last year (my join date) I had not a clue as to what was going on in this world, at times I wish I could go back to sleep it would be easier.

Originally posted by infinite
I am working on a theory, the basics is this;

This economic problem is being allowed to grow in order for the economy to dominate the 2008 Presidential elections and not Iraq.

Think about, as US voters, would you be more worried about the economy or Iraq?

I'd have to agree with your logic here. Especially if oil is not really in short supply, but rather being manipulated. You then have to start asking why? Your answer is the most cogent and points to a viable investment plan.
If the Presidential elections are the target (get in a Democrat) then after the election all hell should break loose. It would not be unreasonable to expect the total collaspe of the US Dollar (will be blamed on the markets and other distracting factors, but oil will be the catalyst) and wonderful democratic ideas of going to another form of currency similar to the Euro. Something like an "Amero".

So gold would be one viable way to preserve your assets during the switch.

To do this without a civil war, we will need some very powerful distraction which will inflame patriotism like during 9/11, only larger. The first step would be an incursion into Iran, something big.

Originally posted by SEEWHATUDO
So for those of you who are much more educated on this subject than I...
My husband and I (with kids) are considering giving up the "American Dream" for a while and falling off the grid, running for the hills (or mountains).

This would fall into the survivalist camp, and you can google many good exit plans, locations and style of home. It can even be done without looking like a complete fruit-loop, as you can hug a tree and claim you going "green" and reducing your carbon footprint.

I would look for high ground, more internal to the US. Someplace you can carve out a nice cavern, make sure you have good solar access and enough property to grow food and collect water.

There are many, many underground facilities that the Government has in Colorado and New Mexico, so they must know something we don't.

Originally posted by SEEWHATUDO
So for those of you who are much more educated on this subject than I...
My husband and I (with kids) are considering giving up the "American Dream" for a while and falling off the grid, running for the hills (or mountains). We dont mess with the stock market's but we watch them and quite honestly we would rather rent, buy running used cars with cash and have a nice garden in the back, is this advisable? What is the middle class "American Dreamers" looking at? What is reality here and for how long?
... I respect ATS opinions and would be grateful for some straight answers on the future of the Married with childrens, the middle class and any and all insights into the best ways to ride the storm out for those of us who are not prepared, which is more than likely the majority of America, including myself.
Of course up until March of last year (my join date) I had not a clue as to what was going on in this world, at times I wish I could go back to sleep it would be easier.

Seeing the problems in America doesn't take much of an education to figure out that the "American Dream" has grown is less and less attainable. You are observant and you're questioning the "logic" behind the marching-orders that We The People have been told for decades.

More and more people are realizing that the marching-orders are little more than a "game" -- a game that is completely rigged for a select few. The majority of middle class has been conned into thinking that if they work hard and keep their collective noses clean, they will succeed and they'll get their "American Dream". In the name of American progress (read: Corporate Greed), that "American Dream" was killed off when the US allowed outsourcing and the insane trade deficit. Instead of Americans working in manufacturing, it all goes out of the US to people who work very cheaply 7 days a week. The "American Dream" is only realized by the CEOs, the other Black Suits, Hollywierdies, and the trust-funders.

If you do your own taxes (or pay close attention to how it all breaks down), one of the main reasons that people buy homes is because the Feds' marching-orders tell us, at tax-time, that you can deduct the interest off of your mortgage. Of course, the interest deduction boils down to the TAX off of that interest. It's all a numbers game and part of the "game" is whether or not you have figured out if you want to play that "game" or live without the added responsibilities of owning a home. Face it, if you are the average home-buyer, the home you buy at the purchase price is not the final cash-outlay at the end of your 15 to 30+ mortgage -- gotta remember all of those interest payments. That's the "game". Owning versus renting is something you will have to determine based on the rules of the "game" and whether or not you want to play.

Being debt-free is one of the biggest liberators in America. If you have debt, my #1 piece of advice would be to get debt free ASAP. I am speaking of credit card debt or car debt, etc. Pay these debts down until you pay it off. Stop giving your hard-earned money to the big-banking industry -- they're not worth it! My mortgage was paid off in 13 years....we kept making principle payments out of schedule. We have no car payments. We are debt free and living on 1 salary by choice (plus investment income that keeps being re-invested). We have a BIG garden, a greenhouse, and solar.

I believe in the philosophy of living low and keeping things simple. If you can live without plugging into America's commercialized-consumerism, you are not only wiser but much better off financially.

Well, one thing is for sure about the upcoming economic crisis: There won't be a shortage of jobs for economists. So hey, if the recession gets to your job, and you get layed off, just pick up a PhD in econmics and grab a spot on the comfy chair to watch the end of the world.

I will go on the record with my prediction. Oil will continue to rise until summer then unexpectadly decline just in time for the ...you guessed it...election!

WE should start a list on why the prices of eveything is out of control.

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