WHY PREPARE?

Miles,

I would like to thank you for the valuable information on your web site and encourage any new visitors to your site to heed your recommendations.

Foolish Logic Or A Logical Fool?

What is a survivalist? Many have the view that they are uneducated, government hating, gun loving, poor, hicks from the sticks capable of subsisting on worms and bark in the wilderness. That certainly doesn t describe me. Nor does it describe the thousands of middle class working people in this country who have come to understand that there could come a time when they, and they alone, would be responsible for their safety and security.

If you prepare for bad times there are only two possible outcomes. Either you will end up needing the preparations you have made, or you will not. Lets look at each one.

What are the odds that your preparations would mean the difference between life or death? Is that the only criterion? Would it be worth the effort if it were just the difference between alive but terrified as you became a refuge with the masses instead of being in control of your destiny in the location you have chosen?

I don t know what the odds are and nobody does. However the odds of a home fire are 1 in 1200, which is a .00083 percent chance. Yet, most of us have home fire insurance. The odds of needing auto insurance are 1 in 250, a .004% chance and most of us have car insurance.

If the odds of a Weapons of Mass Destruction attack on this country was only 1%, you would be a fool not to at least take rudimentary steps to protect against it. One rogue nuclear bomb exploded in mid air to create and EMP black out scenario and your preparations certainly would mean the difference between life and death. I believe that a scenario such as that is much more likely than a home fire and much more life threatening. Not having insurance for such a thing seems pretty foolish to me. If you think the government will take care of you, you are a fool.

Is a 1% chance a valid number? What if I told you that there is a guy that went from a poor college student to one of the world s richest men by being and expert at predicting what the future held in the financial world. This man said We're going to have something in the way of a major nuclear event in this country," He said. "It will happen. Whether it will happen in 10 years or 10 minutes, . . . it's virtually a certainty."

For those a little rusty on your math, a virtually certainty means pretty much a 100 percent chance of occurring. Famed investment guru Warren Buffet said that on May 7, 2002. Buffet is arguably one of the most logical and non-emotional intellects of our time.

What if he, and Miles and the Department of Homeland Security and everyone else telling you to prepare are wrong? Say you go to the effort and expense and never need it? I would tell you that it s still worth doing.

Knowing that come what may you and your family will be okay gives a person comfort and confidence. That confidence is translated into the way you carry yourself in public. That benefits you in whatever you are trying to do to get ahead in this world. Does it not give you comfort that you have fire insurance even though you have never needed it?

An all out disaster is not the only threat we have in today s world. In my estimation parking lots, particularly at night can be dangerous places, especially for women. I don t want my wife or children running to the grocery store several times a week for a few items. Not only dangerous but a poor use of time, gas and so on. Our stored items have allowed us to keep grocery store trips to one per week during daylight hours.

Lastly, what if you think making preparations is a good idea but your spouse thinks its foolish. Pre 9/11 there was more of an excuse to consider such things extreme. And yet after that wake up call your spouse is still sleeping. That s a tough one. Now, everyone is telling you to do it. DHS, the Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire department all have devoted significant resources on their web sites telling the masses to be ready. Never allow a family member to make you feel that such thoughts are crazy and consider using some of these mainstream sources to educate them.

Short of that either prepare without their cooperation or find a new spouse. I am not big on divorce but the Bible does speak of being equally yoked . The thing not to do is nothing because that would be foolish.

Brian H