TEOTWAWNKI

TEOTWAWNKI is a survivalist acronymn for The End Of The World As We Now Know It. It doesn’t mean the “end of times” in the biblical sense. It means our lives are about to change drastically, and not for the better.

The way things are going in the Mid-East and right here in our own country makes me think the survivalists might be right. What could be the worst case scenario? That would be an all out nuclear war, probably started by Iran or North Korea. Even if a bomb never fell in the US it would have far reaching consequences. Short of nuclear war, I think a more probable catastrophe that would change our lives would be the mismanagement of our government that causes a meltdown of government services. The government has intruded into our daily lives so deeply that if it were to disappear our living conditions would surely change. Banks would close. Oil production would cease. Money would be worthless.

The loss of the oil supply would bring the most immediate crisis. Trucks and trains would stop running. Grocery stores would be empty in three days. None of us want to admit that this is a possibility but there it is. What would you do if you no longer could get gas to go to the store? If you managed to get there and the store was empty how would you eat? Plant a garden, you say. It takes at least 45 days for a mess of peas to grow. Could you last 45 days with what you have on hand? Most of us could not.

So what are you supposed to do? You certainly won’t be able to turn to the government. If you live in the country you already know what you would do. You would turn to the land for your sustenance. The fields and streams of this country have supported humans for thousands of years. Country folks know how to do it. Most city dwellers, especially the young, don’t have a clue. I read a response to an article in some paper the other day written by an obviously clueless anti-hunter that told hunters that they should go to the supermarket to get their meat, where it is made without hurting animals. This is the mindset of those that won’t survive TEOTWAWNKI.

Any redneck can tell you that with a .22 rifle, a 12 ga. Shotgun and a few fish hooks he can eat regularly. But there’s more to it than that. If TEOTWAWNKI hits, those that aren’t prepared will try to take what you have accumulated. You must be willing and able to defend what’s yours. I truly hope that none of this comes to pass. But if it does, I am prepared. I will survive. The question is, will you?

The Chrysler Bankruptcy

Late yesterday the US Supreme court cleared the way for the Obama administration's orchestrated bankruptcy sale to Fiat. There's a big problem with that but it takes some explaining.

First, you have to know the difference between secured and unsecured debt and where they lie in the bankruptcy scheme of things. When the courts dole out the assets of a bankrupt corporation folks holding secured debt get satisfied first. That's what bankruptcy law says plain and simple. After they are satisfied the folks holding unsecured debt divide up what's left.

But under the Obama administration law apparently doesn't count. They gave most of Chrysler's assets to the labor unions who held unsecured debt. Bondholders, who held secured debt were given pennies on the dollar. Naturally upset, they took their complaint to the Supreme court. What's shocking is the Supreme Court backed Obama.

This is illegal, scandalous and just plain wrong. Think about what this does to the economy. What person in his right mind is going to loan any company capital to start or expand a business. Most loans are made with the assurance that if the venture fails the sale of the companies assets will help them recoup at least a part of their investment. Not any more.

The Obama plan gave 55% ownership of Chrysler to the labor unions. The secured debt holders were left with 29 cents on the dollar. What could have motivated such an illicit plan? Payback. From 2000-2008 the labor unions gave 23.7 million dollars to Democrats while giving Republicans $193,540.

To quote Newt Gingrich, "The issue of secured creditors' rights is bigger than Chrysler. It's an essential foundation of our capital markets. And fundamentally, this is about the law." Under Obama the law just don't matter anymore.

Shame On Me

I have been so disgusted with our government that I quit writing the View From Tanyard. Besides that, the fish have been biting. But I guess it's time to get back in the saddle.

Where to start? There's always politics but I hear so much of that I'm sick of it and you probably are too. With that, I'll start with my new dog. My old pal, Buddy the feist, passed on a while back. I didn't want another dog. But I really missed Buddy. I don't know when I became so sentimental but there you are. I came across this little lap dog and I couldn't resist. I named her Sadie.

I've had dogs for years. One time I had 26 hog dogs at one time. I had a policy not to feed a dog that couldn't earn its keep. So how does a lap dog earn its Keep? By keeping me company. She goes everywhere with me. Whether we're in the garden, in the woods or watching TV, she's right there. It's funny how time changes a feller.

Check back in a few days. I'm going to try to get a handle on writing again.