Where’s the Food? The Fear of Uncertainty
Sep 2nd, 2010 | By Andrew | Category: Food, Shortages | Print This Article
As the economy continues to sink deeper, forcing more people into unemployment lines, uncertainty is driving otherwise clear thinking people into a horde mentality that poses a growing danger to society. A recent episode in Tulsa involving a federally subsidized food distribution program is illustrative of the new reality of this uncertainty as increasing numbers of people begin to wonder where their next meal will come from.
Iron Gate, a church-sponsored food distribution program, and recipient of federal stimulus dollars, provides food boxes to eligible low income families. Typically these boxes, containing about 30 pounds of food, are distributed monthly for free to about 165 families who qualify based on their income and dependent status.
It didn’t take long for some bits of erroneous information to spread through viral emails and social media before the hordes converged upon the church to receive their share of free food. At the unexpected sight of 2000 people lining up one morning, the alarmed staff of Iron Gate had no choice but to suspend the food box distribution.
If you have ever witnessed the scene of a promotion van pulling up at a local fair and then throwing out samples of food, you may have been shocked at the sight of healthy, stampeding people to get their free bag. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine the ugly scene of a crowd of adults, stoked with the fear of uncertainty, as they jostle for position in a line for free food boxes.
It was a frightening situation heightened by a misinformed crowd jammed together in the hot Tulsa sun expecting something for free. The same scene is likely to be repeated in many other towns and cities as local food banks are reporting a 40 to 50% increase in traffic largely from first time recipients.
As these types of federal and state subsidized free food distribution programs continue to expand, the growing throngs of economically displaced people, fearing an uncertain future, will likely become increasingly panicked at the thought of empty pantries.
The societal danger is that as the crisis worsens, demand for food assistance will grow exponentially, both because of the food shortage and rising prices. As the economic uncertainty continues to spread the entitlement mentality will creep among those who are marginally affected by financial circumstances. Observers of the Iron Gate incident noted that the line of 2000 was comprised of a broad cross section of the economic strata that included many people without immediate need for assistance.
The bigger threat is that as a liberal-minded government continues to expand the supply of free food, it will actually aggravate the problem, by creating a growing dependency class and consuming an ever-larger portion of the market for food. It has the potential of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy which can only exacerbate the problem.
A family in economic distress can be pushed over the edge when there is fear as to the source of their next meal. While this may be a way of existence for hundreds of millions around the world, American families haven’t faced that kind of uncertainty since the 1930s. As more families join the ranks of the economically distressed, their collective fear could strain the tolerances of society and the ability for the government to provide for them. It is a frightening situation.
If you liked this article you may be interested in this product from our sponsor.
Loading ...
This is so sad that people who can but won’t help threiself take from them that can’t. What is the country going to look like in another year with the way Obama and the rest are destroying it? So vary sad!! All I can say is prepare now or we too will end up in lines like this!
The free and endless food idea is in more people’s mind than you would like to admit! Preparing for no food to be had is in less people’s mind than you want to think about. That is scary!!! I have some neighbors that trust God will help them if things go bad. They have very little stored and don’t even care. That is also scary!!! Hungry people will not follow their teachings of the Bible WTSHTF. Be prepared for the unexpected even from God fairing people.
hi there..i am new to this site…could you tell me what to do to prepare for the food shortage? Is there a page on this site that tells you what and how to store food? thank you much.
Endtimes, welcome to the site! You can look under the category of “Food” and then scroll down to “Storage”. Go down to the August 2nd article by Esther on “How to Create a Food Storage Supply…” We also have articles archived under each category as well, so go to the “Archives” tab and look around. If you have any suggestions or questions, you can always send an email to editor@offthegridnews.com. We try to answer email as quickly as possible.
Again, welcome aboard! Jump in and join the conversation!
You begin by stocking up on storable foods. E-Foods, Mountain House, Harmony House and The Freeze Dried Guy all sell storable foods. Next, stock up on flour/ sugar/ salt/ rice/ beans/ pasta’s/ cereals/ & canned meats & soups. Corn bread mix, bread mixes, biscut mixes, pancake mix…..you’ll use it.
Peanut Butter & Jelly, and plenty of it. Crackers & cookies. Try to avoid liquids stored in plastic. Get glasss containers. Juices (lots) that are 100% natural and without sugars. Coffee is another biggy. Coffee filters double as face masks, too. Toilet paper, and tons of it. It will eventually run out, so have a good pile of clean rags to use, that you can wash out a couple X’s a week. Bleach & Soap is a must have. Lots of it. Shampoo & toothpaste. Tampons & Pads, also. You can barter with everything you have….trust me!!
Water is next: You can get 55 gal barrels, or use your washed out milk jugs. Getting a Berkey water filter is another must have item. Get well water if possible, and stay away from the city tap water (flouride).
Medical is next: Have knowledge of basic first aid. Bandages, Peroxide, Antibiotic Oint, eye wash. toothache kit, snake bite kit, and watch videos on how to put in sutures. You’ll learn. Order a suture set with extra sutures that come with the needles. Few boxes of sterile gloves is another must have. This is just for starters.
Keep on buying food….you cannot have too much, ‘cuz you’ll have folks coming to YOUR HOUSE…those that refuse to believe we’re in trouble.
@Vindi, unless you store the wheat products you listed, they will go rancid probably in less than a year. Ever eaten a 6 month old cracker or tried to bake with year old flour? If you can, buy wheat and a wonder mill jr. hand crank grain mill. Then you will have all the fresh breads, pastas, etc. for 20 years.
I store my wheat in buckets lined with mylar bags and oxy absorbers. You can get the mill and bags at amazon.com
People will panic and look to the Nanny State, when that falls apart they will be looking for…well ours! We have been stocking up for a while, we never tell anyone what we have or where it is. Water is a must have as well, but I bet you all knew that! I think the Nanny State is putting out these “free food” (after all we are footing the bill for it…so is it free?) grabs to gauge what the masses will do in a panic. That may sound “out there”, but remember this is the same bunch that spreads flu and cold virus strains into the subways of NYC to see where it would go and what it would do. “Food” for thought. God does have the answer, it’s in the manual…you know, the BIBLE!
I agree with you Texas Twister and rdnkrfnk,I’v also been growing and storing dehydrated food..I’ve bought my dehydrated food at The Ready Store 1 800 773 5331 they have much more besides freeze dried food that last 20 plus years..Gas masks,gieger counter’s,medical supplies,solar radios,water filter devices,all types of bug out gear and survivalist supplies..Welcome to the New World Order where we import most of our food because of world trade..Our government pays our farmers NOT to grow food,this makes us dependent on food fuel,iron,and many more products from China..We have OUTSOURCED almost everything we need ..We have been sold out by Obama and our government..All the politicians are responsible for the problems we have now with illegal immigration,and the debt we’re in..Move to the country,learn to hunt and fish,raise a garden,and by all means read your King James Bible ,Pray and Trust Jesus..God Bless America and Israel
we currently grow most of our own food along with the wild game harvested our trips to the store are minimal and mostly just some comfort foods and staples like milk n cheese n bread we are tryin to get rid of even having to buy these things soon as i can get situated and have all the stuff for making cheese n butter our flour will still have to still come from the store i dont have enough room to grow the grains needed
See if any of your grocery stores sell 5 lb. bags of wheat. Then ask the manager if you can special order in larger quantities. We got 500 lbs., put up in buckets lined with mylar bags and oxy absorbers. you can buy a hand crank Wonder Mill Jr. grain mill from amazon.com All the bread, noodles, crackers, cakes and pies you want.
The death of the tens of thousands or even millions of people who (couldn’t be bothered to prepare)– is called the “CULLING” of the dumbest part of the herd. You can feel sorry for the young kids, of such people – and even help them thru giving to your LOCAL churches and food banks—but Don’t feel sorry for the adults– who didn’t want to prepare. Or thought the free ride would last forever. They who would (gladly steal from you or even kill you) for what you took the time and effort to do.
Tax funded (free food) that has been given to MASSES of our (poor) population has created an (even bigger) population of poor people. So don’t feel bad and Harden your hearts– because the time is coming when you MUST defend yourselves and your families from these soon to be hungry hordes of people…
By the way– saving during (good times) does NOT make you a hoarder—It makes you SMART!!!
The bible encourages people to pay off their debt/bills & (to save food) during good times to make it thru the tough times that eventually happen to everyone.
God Bless,
Well stated!!! It’s a pitiful shame when friends and even some family thinks you’re nuts, and they refuse to prepare. These are the very people that will be at my doorstep, begging for food. I’ve warned everyone for over 2 yrs. All I ever heard was “Gee, just what do you think is gonna happen?” I tried to explain, best I could. My daughters (36 & 41) get so angry with me, when I try to speak to them about stocking up on food, TP, and having a plan in place….being ready in case they need to get outta the areas they live in. I had to stop harping on the subject. I was alienating my own kids. They know I’m a “prepper”, and they know where I live. They can NEVER say they weren’t warned.
Hey there. Not sure what the future holds for us in America, but it ain’t looking so good. The politicians have made a mess of things and spent us into a deep hole. If we can clean the rotten apples out maybe we can get back to the basics. For me those basics are Love of God and country and helping out those in America and the world who need our help and appreciate it; those who do not want a free ride. I’m tired of being told that we in America should be ashamed of what we have . There’s been a lot of hard work and sweat by Americans to give us a quality of life, that is second to none. Also, they keep wanting to trash our medical system. Personally I have been having a hard time and recently underwent some medical tests. In and out in one day. If we lived in any other country but America, I would still be waiting for those tests and in all probability I would not be here to leave a comment. God Bless America. Yes, we have some things that need to be improved and worked on, but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We need to change direction before it’s too late. God bless america and God bless you. AP
Good article and posts and hello to all. Our current situation is no secret unless one chooses to be blind and ignorant to it all. Seriously big mistakes have been made over a period of decades and there’s no quick fix. Any American with doubts about the way things are heading need only go to the grocery store, the gas station, check on things at the bank, then watch the evening news. Doing those few things will certainly cheer a person up. All that crap considered, it’s not to late to begin taking steps to preserve and protect oneself and family. The basics count for everything. Water, food, shelter, fire and tools for protection and survival. It’s all doable, at least for now, whether one dwells in the city or the country. All of us need to try and prepare for whatever the future holds, it just might make one helluva difference. Being as self-sufficent as possible has it’s own rewards, does wonders for self-esteem and sure helps the ‘ol piggy bank. A widow box or patio garden can provide food, just as a 1 or 2 acre plot can. Not everyone can or wants to do their own butchering, but why not know how? Trash the credit cards and try to live on a cash basis. Lots that can be done. After pretty much a lifetime of city dwelling, we moved deep into the Ozark mountains to a small acreage a few years ago. We’re 10 miles from the nearest town, but we were driving farther than that to go places inside the city limits. Go figure. We’ve done it on a shoestring budget and only wish we had done it sooner. Keep the faith and yup, God bless.
thanks to all of you for the comments and idea’s. i am also one of those that tells our family and close
friends that things will go bad very fast soon and they think i am loosig my mind because they just go
about their daily routine and do not follow the news or read aout what is REALLY happening now.
i am i the process of tocking up on food but need to work on the water sitution asap. the powers that be
want us to have to rely on them because then they have better control. sounds crazy but look up
interment camps and read about them, very scarey. i am retired and have alot of time to read and gain
more knowledge.
prepare as best as you can and also be prepared to defend your family and self because it’s going yo
get real ugley real fast.
god bless and god bless america.