You read it right. And, frankly this is just a theory I am developing based on a conversation I had today with someone. Prepping is morally, the right thing to do. I say this because being prepared for ANY type of disaster no matter what you prep for will ease your decision to have to compromise your values and your morals if there is a man made or natural disaster.
For instance, I am certain, that those who are not prepared will make impromptu plans to loot, steal, and beg for whatever they need in an extended disaster scenario. By prepping, whether you decide to bug in or bug out, you elevate yourself above the masses of people that may be forced to compromise their own morals.
Exploring the moral dilemma of self preservation is one that I have been pondering for some time now. After many natural disasters that seem to make the news, there are quick reports of looting and rioting. Of course, this depends on the magnitude of the disaster. If it is not TEOTWAWKI in nature or what I like to call “isolated TEOTWAWKI,” meaning that the incident is isolated to a region, not unlike Katrina, where whole areas of that geographic area are considered uninhabitable going forward. Docudramas and Edutainment shows such as “The Colony” have illustrated that looting for survival may in fact be a bitter reality many will have to face in light of a TEOTWAWKI and/or live with the consequences once order is restored to an area.
Further, I am going to hypothesize that if someone is in a survival situation and make the conscious decision to loot for food, water, shelter, etc. then they have made the personal decision that it is okay, because it is for survival of themselves or their family. Conversely, if someone decides to loot physical non-essential items such as consumer goods for entertainment (stereos, TV’s, etc.) it can be hypothesized that the looter understands the consequences of their actions, have other intentions, and are willing to take the calculated risk.
My thoughts here apply mostly to urban and suburban sprawls with less consideration for rural areas. Not that rural areas are immune. They are not. If your Bug Out Location is in a rural area, and that rural area is susceptible to suburban and urban migration of refugees/locusts then you still may be at greater risk of looting. This is especially true if the looters have had to trek for several days on foot to make it to your area. Their morals and values will surely be compromised if and when they are not prepared to survive.
In conclusion, this post looks a lot like a looting post, but it really is not. Looting was used as an example of moral compromise because it will likely be the most common form of moral dilemma most people will have if order is not restored quickly. That said, I will reiterate the title, that prepping is the morally right thing to do for you, your family, and your neighbors.
Ok, what has this country come to? It has to be morally right to prepare for a possible disaster now? The truth is, it happens. It took FEMA over 1 1/2 weeks to hit the ground with supplies after Katrina. That was no post apocalyptic nuclear terror scenario. It was a real event. A lot of people died.
Look, the people of this country had better start reading their history a little better. There isn’t anything wrong with trying to prepare for an emergency.
As a people, we owe it to our country to prepare to keep it together in the event that some calamity happens. I hear about people buying assault rifles to protect what is theirs every day. How come we shun those who buy food and supplies for themselves and maybe a neighbor who needs help?
We used to understand that in America. Our Freedom is based on everyone who can, pitching in in a crisis. We were all brothers once.
BTW, if you relocate to an area that is going to have people foraging for food etc.. on their walk out of a disaster area, guess what? You are still in the crisis area! You may run out of supplies before you get a reinforced. Your little haven will become a resup depot for you as you pause before you continue on your way.
Personally, if you are on the fringes and are reinforcable in a disaster situation but do nothing to help others, thats just un American.
Hey, it’s my opinion. I’m entitled to it. I’m an American.
@Douglas — I could not agree more. I think my point was that there are so many unprepared that they will end up compromising their own morals to feed their families and friends. But I completely get your point. Where I live if you are stockpiling food, guns, or supplies of any kind, people think you are pretty kooky. I have found a small group of people that are preppers, and it feels good to be on the same page as others in my area, for a change.
Disasters? Heck! Look how many people go about their daily normal lives without any preparation for the normal issues of life!! They just go along in a blind dazzy and expect “someone” to provide for them! The mere concept of preparing in advance for themselves and their families draw deer-in-the-headlight stares (if you’re luck).
So why should a real disaster be any different for these people.
Great post as usual!
I think many people will find the need to take from others when they have to. I’ll assume the worst behavior from most people.
Part of this assumption plays into my idea that bugging in might be better. I just think being out on foot (potentially) lugging what one can on one’s back for a great distance to a bug-out spot might be more dangerous.
I’d almost rather deal with nature than hordes of hungry, scared, tired, and stressed people that will certainly be encountered along the way.
Thanks! I think bugging in, in the suburbs is a real dilemma for those that live there. Those that are aware of what is going on around them know the pros and cons of bugging in and/or bugging out. I understand not wanting to abandoning your home, and I admit to understanding keeping your family safe, especially if you have children too young to understand or help with preparations, leaving, etc. I am coming to terms, after speaking with several people with families recently that there seems to be more of a mindset to bug in rather than bug out for many reasons, including elderly parents, young children, with a last resort being a bug out. The thought of bugging in may be more prevalent than I had suspected for families. That said, you may see more posts on bugging in from me in the future.
In many suburban and near-urban (new term I have coined) you have to go through an urban center to get out of the area and that just may not be possible in an emergency (or too dangerous to try).
But you’re right. With small children especially being able to leave pretty REQUIRES using a vehicle. By foot is impractical. So if you can’t get away by car you just have to dig in and try for the best.
Looking forward to reading them!
I think its an easier decision if you are flying solo than if you are responsible for other members of your family. I know if I were to bug-out, my ‘crew’ would not make it far on foot unfortunately.
Now assume its the middle of Summer or the middle of Winter!
Its almost a non-starter. That’s why most of my planning, such as it is, is based on the staying put concept.
I have to take issue with the assertion it’s ok to loot for food/water/shelter for yourself/family. Technically it’s wrong. Getting over that and on to reality, looting from a store and looting from someone another person’s home/vehicle/property is two different things. Looting from someone’s home might mean you/your family live a little longer while those you looted from will not. In a SHTF situation, I find anyone attempting to loot anything of mine (or if I saw others getting looted and thought I could stop it w/o getting myself killed), I’ll do my best to stop them by any means necessary (which means bullets from a variety of weapons).
I totally understand there will be many unprepared people. I sympathize with them. But I would not hesitate to shoot them. Sometimes consequences really suck, like not prepping.
@Suburban Survivalist — I’m not sure anyone is advocating that it’s OK to loot and steal — I certainly wasn’t. Based on what we’ve all seen in the past, I’m assuming looting by others WILL happen, and that factors into my bugging in plans as well.