The Economy – Unemployment, and Conversations With ‘Pop’ Smith

The Economy – Unemployment: The bulk of the unemployment story lies in The Drudge Report (drudgereport.com) headlines today, “UNEMPLOYMENT 9.8%: WORST SINCE JUNE 1983 …  -263,000 LOST JOBS” … and “17% rate including laid-off workers taking part-time work or given up …”.

The above headlines paint a grim picture of American unemployment “ But wait!” as they say in the TV commercials, “There’s more!”

The more is structural unemployment.

Structural unemployment by one definition runs along the lines of “Unemployment caused by changes in the structure of occupational opportunities, such as when a steel factory closes …”

We might add: such as when they’re no longer making Pontiac’s or Saturn’s (in the context of reduced U.S. auto manufacturing as a whole) or closing the washing machine factory and shipping the jobs to Mexico. But maybe it’s the poet, as is often the case lately, that really has it nailed: “The steady jobs are leavin’ boys and they ain’t coming back – to your home town.”

We here at PrudentHome, wouldn’t be surprised to see “civil unrest” right here in “ …  you home town.” (or in a home town near you) by Christmas and almost certainly within the next year.

Conversations With ‘Pop’ Smith: continued from last week – We were talking about family preparation being geared to roughly four levels of challenge:

1. General Preparation for standard/short-term events such as bad seasonal weather
2. Medium-term events such as a “Hurricane Katrina” or a deep recession
3. Long-term events such as a hard depression or a long term oil embargo
4. War and/or social breakdown.

Again, none of these events are mutually exclusive.

All of the events discussed above require that you prepare to provide your family with shelter, water, food, medical care at some level, and security at a minimum.

This all sounds like quit a bit of effort, and it is, but if you prepare the basics for level one, you have then established a base upon which to build for the greater challenges level two will demand. This follows through using the new, expanded base for number two to prepare for the increased challenges demanded by level three, etc. etc.

We’ve now slipped into a new understanding of preparation: preparation isn’t a static condition but very much a dynamic process.

Just like owning a house or a boat, you have to maintain them and adjust you maintenance, and perhaps expansion, to changing conditions and your changing needs.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, you’re never going to be 100% prepared for any event; you’re going to have adjust to learning to adjust. It’s kind of like a retired Marine Corps (special ops) buddy of mine says: adapt, improvise, and overcome. Sound advice and sound attitude.

Oh, there’s one other thing along the line of adjusting; you might notice that with each increased level of challenge, comes an increased level of stored goods – both in quantity and quality. The very same thing can be said for your skill levels: e.g., while a very basic level of first-aid might get you by in level one or two, you’ll probably want something more for level three and as much as you can acquire for level four.

This is a real general overview of family preparedness but I hope it’s helped a little.

Until next time; keep your eyes on the horizon as the weathers changing fast.