I commend what you are doing. I don’t buy much either, except for “stock-up” items and books.
If we had a concerted, national effort, the revenuers would definitely feel the pinch. What would they do? Probably just print some more money.
Remember that inflation (printing money outside of what is needed) is actually a hidden tax, because it takes from you the purchasing power of the money you have and are earning.
So, when push comes to shove, they’ll take more of you money by printing more. We haven’t seen any real inflation yet, compared to all the money that has been printed over the past couple of years. That is because the velocity of money (how often money exchanges owners) is still very low and because app. 2/3 of the stimulus money (remember what an emergency/crisis it was supposed to save us from?) still has not been spent. It will be spent this year to help Dems out in the midterm campaigns.
When that money hits the streets and the velocity picks up, inflation will hit very hard not too long after that.
The Currency/Financial Armageddon can’t be avoided at this point. There is simply too much debt and continued spending and taxing and unemployment for it ever to just go away. And it’s going to be global. China is little more than an Enron at this point, smoke and mirrors. No one is going to bail the world out. All we can hope is that every nation slows down, licks their wounds, sorts through their destitution in order to rebuild prosperity, hope that it is real prosperity, and to do so without resulting to war, which is the ultimate economic/financial reset button world leaders and banksters love to use.
So, I advise everyone to stock up on the essentials now and, in addition to that, stock up on items you can use to barter with.
Well, it sounds like I’m doing just about all I CAN do at this point.
It is frustrating, though. I’m one that would rather have the financial pain for us NOW and get it over with, than this ‘kicking the can down the road’ that’s been happening, basically, since I was a kid!
This is the Misery Index (unemployment + inflation) from 1960 when I appeared on the scene:
7.96% Misery
http://www.miseryindex.us/customindexoneYear.asp?StartYear=1960&submit1=Create+Report
Today:
http://www.miseryindex.us/customindexoneYear.asp?StartYear=2009&submit1=Create+Report
12.72% Misery and rising! Of course, I survived The Carter Years *SPIT* when it was absolutely horrific, nearly 22% Misery:
http://www.miseryindex.us/customindexoneYear.asp?StartYear=1980&submit1=Create+Report
If the data stays true to form, we ain’t seen NOTHIN’ yet! (0bama was right about THAT one thing. Clueless Jerk!)