[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yes I am seriously stocking up on both. As well as other things that might prove useful - gas, water, etc. Enough where I know I can ride out any shutoffs/rationing for a time. I see a plausible scenario as one where the economy gets so bad that there's rationing and people are cut off from the things they're used to having. Given the nature of where I live and the "quality" (and I use that term loosely) of the people that live in reasonably close proximity - within about 5-10 miles - I think it's quite possible that as the depression worsens, that might turn into "ground zero" for looting, rioting, civil unrest, etc. Yes, I really do. Compton is only a few miles up the road. North Long Beach is about 3 miles away. Hawaiian Gardens not that far either (sounds like a lovely community but it's really a gang-infested dump). South Central. Watts. Parts of Gardena. Lots of trashy neighborhoods with a lot of not-so-civilized/thuggish/goon-ish type people living not that far away. Wilmington, Carson, Downey - all these communities are "okay" but have large populations of poor/uneducated types living there.

As this depression gets worse, I fully expect that there WILL be angry "flare-ups" in some of these places. They could spread very quickly (i.e. "zombies"). You saw what happened here only a few years ago with Rodney King and the O.J. Simpson trial (the first one). You saw what happened after Hurricane Katrina. I don't doubt for one second it couldn't happen again due to rampant poverty starting to really take hold. Also don't discount the racial aspect - we've got a black (or partially black) president who is increasingly starting to catch a lot of heat for inaction and wrong action. If things get really bad (they well might) do you honestly think a lot of the uneducated types won't start making broad generalizations about how "it's the blacks' fault"? Lots of racial tension between blacks and browns here. LOTS. Could lead to some really nasty arguments (and worse) quite easily. A lot of these people (all races, all groups) living around here aren't educated and gravitate towards gangs - violence and intimidation are the only tools they've ever known to "get respect" or to effect change in their lives. So the frequency of occurrences of violent behavior will increase.

As a result of these actions - if they get bad enough - I can also envision a scenario where large areas of southern CA are quarantined by law enforcement, the National Guard or other forces - possibly even placed under martial law to "crack down" on the unrest. I can certainly see a scenario where food, water and fuel are rationed. The purpose of my "stocking up" is to protect myself against those who would see me and my past success as a "resource" free for their taking. It is to protect myself against those who might blame me as a "successful" person as part of the problem and (mistakenly) lump me in with those "rich folks" that are the genesis for all these problems because I happen to be white, educated, have some nice things and don't belong to a gang. If the zombies can't get at Wall Street directly, maybe simply lynching a few of those "rich white boys" will appeal to them. Don't think it can happen here? Think again. Yes, it can. Not saying it will (in fact I think the probability is low) but there is enough of a probability to concern me. There's enough of a thug/gang/scumbag problem in and around this city where sitting idly and helplessly by and expecting the same government that's promulgating this mess to save us is quite completely stupid. I don't trust people. I ESPECIALLY don't trust people in dense, urban settings such as the ones that are so prevalent in the endless urban sprawl of southern CA. Lots of people here are inconsiderate/rude/stupid/aggressive enough during GOOD times - how do you really think they might behave when they have to stand in line for six hours for a roll of toilet paper?

So I see it as (1) protection from "zombies", (2) buying time in a "safe haven" to assess any large-scale government crackdown/mobilization - enough to make my move and get the hell out of here if it comes to that. Of course by the time things get this bad it's likely I'll be long gone from soCal anyway, but there's a chance I might not be too...

To put it simply - in the words I had burned into my mind as a scout - "Be Prepared". Not necessarily "Be Paranoid", but definitely be prepared.