"Zombie Apocalypse" -- How will it happen?

[djmcmath]

A recent topic among my circle of friends is how the so-called "zombie apocalypse" will actually happen.

One theory: US Government fails to find more foreign lenders to finance it's increasing debt burden, so can no longer fund the government. Everything, including entitlement programs, shut down. When welfare checks stop coming out, the recipients riot, causing general mayhem.

Another theory: California leads the rest of the US on debt, and goes bankrupt as a state. Poor folk across the state riot in mobs, killing for food out of sheer desperation. The rest of the country is deeply divided between bailing out California and selling the state to the Chinese, inciting riots and violent protests elsewhere.

A third: Gun-control activists pass legislation which allows the government to legally confiscate all guns (or all semi-autos, or whatever). Violent pockets of Second Amendment activists take a desperate last stand against the government troops. The country descends into civil war.

... I'd be curious for the best theories from this crowd. I'm sure we've got the creativity to come up with something more realistic!


Dan

[bell]

Well.........first parf zombie thread.......congratulations.....

[red-beard]

I think theory number one is most likely. Except...I think they will come up with some sort of "trillion dollar coin" thing and keep paying the bills, while devaluating the currency. This leads to massive inflation, a stagnating economy. Crime will go up. And a new show will start on TV called "Welcome Back Kotter".

[ckelly78z]

Theory #1 seems the most likely, but where do the zombies come in ?

According to that show on Nat Geo, people are spending huge amounts of money and time prepping for all sorts of doomsdays from volcanoes, to oil crisis to financial meltdown.

[red-beard]

Zombies in this discussion means anyone without means that will do anything once civilization falls apart.

[djmcmath]

Originally Posted by red-beard

...they will come up with some sort of "trillion dollar coin" thing ...

I love it. Can we put Charles Ponzi's face on it? lol

[djmcmath]

Next question: Will there be a reality TV show about the apocalypse? 'Coz that'd be a real winner.

[scottmandue]

Zombies? Pfft... didn't you get the memo?

The Moneys take over... and the sooner the better I say!

You fools are stocking up on guns and ammo... I'm planting banana trees!

[bell]

There already is......its called cardashiasomething......lol

[scottmandue]

Besides that whole zombie thing can never happen...

I have the zombie virus safe and sound right here in this vial and it is not going anywh...

OOPS!

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Zombies? Pfft... didn't you get the memo?

The Moneys take over... and the sooner the better I say!

You fools are stocking up on guns and ammo... I'm planting banana trees!

A popular website recently asked its members what they were stocking up on for disastors. lots of elaborate plans and responses. Anonymously i posted "I`m just maintaining a list of preppers in my area." End of thread. By the way, can i have your address? :-)


My best likely apocolypse theory is that gas/crude supplies get withheld by our overseas suppliers to the point where fuel costs go stratospheric and truckers go on strike. Food supplies in most towns would run out in about 3 days according to many estimates. Hungry people, things get ugly.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by cstreit

My best likely apocolypse theory is that gas/crude supplies get withheld by our overseas suppliers to the point where fuel costs go stratospheric and truckers go on strike. Food supplies in most towns would run out in about 3 days according to many estimates. Hungry people, things get ugly.

Uh, you do know we get most of our oil from Canada and Mexico right? And we have enough reserves in the ground under us to run this country for a decade or so if need be.

[DanielDudley]

HMM. Self centered Americans decide not to pay for infrastructure, and become paranoid about personal poverty and the entitlements of others while living high off the hog.

They then secede after being brainwashed by so called ''News'', and convince themselves that everyone else is a zombie. Start shooting spree that leads to decline of a once great civilization, and then turn to cannibalism as a prime food source.

At this point they decide that raw brains are a prime delicacy, and pass on a slow, but debilitating virus to their kith and kin, thus consummating the self fulfilling prophesy that their own selfishness and paranoia created.

[BK911]

One of those end of the world shows was discussing some disease similar to rabies that would cause zombie like symptoms in humans. Not the undead type in the movies, but live people with scrambled egg brains and rotting flesh falling off their bodies. Could it be the next pandemic?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

HMM. Self centered Americans decide not to pay for infrastructure, and become paranoid about personal poverty and the entitlements of others while living high off the hog.

They then secede after being brainwashed by so called ''News'', and convince themselves that everyone else is a zombie. Start shooting spree that leads to decline of a once great civilization, and then turn to cannibalism as a prime food source.

At this point they decide that raw brains are a prime delicacy, and pass on a slow, but debilitating virus to their kith and kin, thus consummating the self fulfilling prophesy that their own selfishness and paranoia created.

Daniel, you need to look at our budget. The problem is not we are spending too little on infrastructure. The problem is our politicians made a bunch of promises that can not be kept. Reconciling this will mean a reduction in money going to these groups. And they are not going to like it.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by BK911

One of those end of the world shows was discussing some disease similar to rabies that would cause zombie like symptoms in humans. Not the undead type in the movies, but live people with scrambled egg brains and rotting flesh falling off their bodies. Could it be the next pandemic?

Look up toxoplasmosis. It is a parasite which does affect the brain. Imagine if a super strain of it came out!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Look up toxoplasmosis. It is a parasite which does affect the brain. Imagine if a super strain of it came out!

I see no mention of an incurable craving for brains.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Uh, you do know we get most of our oil from Canada and Mexico right? And we have enough reserves in the ground under us to run this country for a decade or so if need be.

Yes. We get less than half of our imported oil from "The East" but it would take a long time to develop our oil reserves here. If that went away and there were lines to Gas and a "peak oil" scare I could see prices getting doubled easily.

Remember this is my zombie apocolypse theory and as such is researched accordingly.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Yes. We get less than half of our imported oil from "The East" but it would take a long time to develop our oil reserves here. If that went away and there were lines to Gas and a "peak oil" scare I could see prices getting doubled easily.

Remember this is my zombie apocolypse theory and as such is researched accordingly.

I have heard it said that we reached "peak oil" 40 yrs. ago in the US when we went from net exporter to net importer of oil. If that's true, we're still doing pretty well. Everyone knows there's plenty more oil in places the NIMBYs and environuts don't want to drill. We can get it if we really need it.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Yes. We get less than half of our imported oil from "The East" but it would take a long time to develop our oil reserves here. If that went away and there were lines to Gas and a "peak oil" scare I could see prices getting doubled easily.

Remember this is my zombie apocolypse theory and as such is researched accordingly.

We produce about 36% of our oil needs domestically. At present, we import the most from Mexico. If we simply let the Canadian Pipeline be installed, we would be North American self sufficient.