I’ve been warning that there would be serious problems from Trump’s war because of the effect on oil, fertilizer, helium, natural gas and much more.

This was obvious: world use was higher than supply, and stockpiles would eventually dry up. Trump, for whatever reason (I favor blackmail, but hey, insert your reason here), refuses to make peace. Then the Saudi’s decided to hit Yemen’s capital aiport and Ansar Allah said “you’ve made us angry. You won’t like us when we’re angry.”

There’s some dispute over exactly who hit the pipeline (Sauds say Iraqi militias, Iraqi militia’s say “that’s not our honor” but it doesn’t really matter. Ignore BS about repairs, they remain no more defensible after repairs than they were before repairs are needed.

I expect to see shortages (already here for diesel in America and France), price increases and in some countries, food riots. No real supply management has been done, the geniuses in charge figured “let’s keep prices lower than they otherwise would be, and for sure we shouldn’t make sure farmers have enough at prices they can afford, or any other critical industry.” Add increased fertilizer prices, and BOOM!

So, Trump and co. have blown up the world economy, and 2027 is going to suck extra rancid ass. What to do?

The obvious thing is to stock up, if you can, but that’s not enough unless you’re rich and sure that your income stream is secure.

What you need is to belong to an actual community: people who take care of each other. It could be a very tight friendship group, it could be a large extended helpful family (not a lot of those still around), but the easiest way to get such a community is to join an active church. Active churches and their members give you a support network by default if you get involved. (Don’t just go worship, volunteer for something.)

“But Ian,” you whine, I’m not religious.

Get religion!

Kidding, kidding. There are churches for non-believers too.

So find a church that suits you and start going. Make friends. Be useful and helpful. When you need help the odds of you getting it skyrocket.

If you’re alone, or part of a small family group, you’re always one bad bump away from fiasco. In normal times this is bad. In the the times which are coming, well, it could be catastrophic.

Again: things ARE going to be bad. How bad will depend on where you are, and how stupid and unwilling Trump and MBS, the the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, are to make peace.

But I’m sure everything will work out. Neither of them are evil, stupid and have a track record of failure at everything except enriching themselves and clinging to power, right?

Act on this. It doesn’t have to be my suggestions, but do what you can: Shit Mountain just liquefied and started rolling downhill to where you live.

 

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