Society Collapses

[Robert H]

I just read "dies the fire" Could have been done a bit better, but fun to read about land I grew up in, anyway.

 

[X-Head]

I guess if "society collapsed" you would have a very hard time paying the
rent I wonder how many survivalist types realize that your erstwhile
landlord would boot you out on your backside for someone who could pay
the rent?

This is pure speculation, but if "society collapses" that would by definition have to mean that government has fallen apart as well, to the point that they are unable to function and to perform their duties and obligations. Because if they COULD still function, then it wouldn't really be a full blown collapse of society, follow? So it's safe to say that in such a condition the authorities (police, sheriff, fire, paramedics) would not be able or available to respond to emergencies, or any other citizen problems, for that matter. That being the case, if your landlord needs his property back for whatever reason (extended family is displaced & comes to him for lodging, he looses his current residence to eviction, fire, flood, riots & looting, gangs, hordes of desperate starving people, etc.), unless you're married to his daughter or some other such strong ties, your and your family's collective butt will be out at the curb with passers by rummaging through all your stuff, regardless whether you were paid up 3 months in advance and had 9 months left on your lease. Why? Because even though he may like you, if it comes down to him or you, his needs will rank higher in priority to him than yours, and there's no local law enforcement available to stop him, and no judge to hear your complaint against him.

Just a theory...I have yet to actually test it.

 

[fixer27]

That may be a valid point about the landlord, however would you allow
yourself to be evicted with prepaid rent? I think the term "means to resist"
would come into play. As far as the landlord STBY the scenario is really
a two edged sword. What would he do if you refused? Call the Sheriff?

 

[X-Head]

Fixer,

Your point is well taken and you are absolutely correct: the lack of law enforcement most certainly works both ways. I really wasn't considering what steps the tenant(s) might take after that; just on what actions one could realistically expect his landlord to take in such as desperate situation. As the tenant who has paid in advance and still has a lease agreement in effect, you could insist upon staying and you would be morally and legally in the right 100%. However, the retaliation and/or daily harrassment might not be worth it; it would be a tough call. Certainly you'd be in the right to defend yourself, but what more could you do? To launch a preemptive or retaliatory strike or other offensive...well, you could do it, but he IS the owner of the property, after all. If he insists upon violating the terms of his own lease, then decency would require him to offer just compensation, including but not limited to paying the tenant the same penalty that the lease stipulated that the tenant pay/forfeit should tenant violate the terms, and also a full refund plus interest (whatever that would be in an economic crash--probably to be paid in real goods instead of useless green paper).

It would be a minor miracle though if both parties conducted themselves this honestly and fairly in a situation where there is no legal consequence for screwing the other party.

What do you think?

 

[fixer27]

I am afraid you just hit were the rubber meets the road, in a survival
situation the moral/ethical situation changes, why would the landlord
offer "just compensation" The imperiative on both sides would be to
protect your families interests whatever the feeling. What could a land
lord offer you to remove your family from shelter? Even when the rent
was due what then? What court etc would hear the case?
I am afraid it would come down UCMJ .223 applied liberally.
Better to make arrangements for space beforehand, at least a place
with fuel and water were you could pitch a tent.

 

[Dmmoorhouse]

you have to farm. plant crops, have apig or two and a couple of cattle. The beretta xtrema and sako finnlight become self defense.

Its about now that I would regret .243 instead of something bigger. Hand loading? how the hell would i learn that with no internet?

Face it friends, we are extinct in months , the red necks not the ants will take over. Anyone with a computer today aint gonna make it!

 

[Thomas Linton]

you have to farm. plant crops, have apig or two and a couple of cattle. The beretta xtrema and sako finnlight become self defense.

Its about now that I would regret .243 instead of something bigger. Hand loading? how the hell would i learn that with no internet?

Face it friends, we are extinct in months , the red necks not the ants will take over. Anyone with a computer today aint gonna make it!

I wonder if the head of the Sniper School at Pendleton has a computer. Probably does.

 

[crawfordew]

...................

Its about now that I would regret .243 instead of something bigger. Hand loading? how the hell would i learn that with no internet?

Face it friends, we are extinct in months , the red necks not the ants will take over. Anyone with a computer today aint gonna make it!

Oddly enough I was handloading LONG before PCs and the internet were around. If you think "rednecks" don't use computers & the 'net you should drop in at Frugal Squirrel's forum sometime!


Gene

 

[silenthunterstudios]

If something catastrophic happened, I would probably stay put until a few weeks before supplies ran out, I live in a rural area, the neighbors would help each other out, it would be a while before we went nuts and began a turf battle. Before that, I would go up into the PA mountains, but it would probably be a war up there too. I guess the only safe places would be extremely rural areas.

 

[Rainmaker870]

Historically, refugees never fare well - I see no reason for that trend to change. Wherever my permanent residence is at the time - past, present or future - I'm in good shape to survive the initial turmoil. I'm sticking it out wherever I happen to be.

 

[Cyblade]

Welp if my landlord shows up asking for rent I'd try to pay them with peppers, potato's and tomato's or whatever else I got growing if they say leave thats where it would get interesting. I live in a trailer the trailers mine the land is theres I cant move this big thing and without it theres nothing on the land to live in so I dont think they would really push me off. Justice will be decided by the person with the biggest gun, cause even now the cops take to long to show up in a disaster they would probably take all the guns and ammo they could grab from the station and go and protect their family.

 

[golok]

I would probably be a hunter/farmer. With all that knowledge accumulated over the years from sites like this one, it's time to put everything to the test.

It is also a great way of getting re-acquainted with Mother Nature and be one with the great outdoors.

It is certainly one way of living more on very much less!

 

[WayneH]

You could take steps now to increase the wildlife population around your home. Feed the critters and keep them around. If you are a hunter, hunt on other peoples land.

If society were to collapse, there will be a high demand on local resources such as deer, squirrels, rabbits. Having fenced in livestock could be a magnet for theives. I would say put in feeding stations, increase habitat, increase the population, and let your food roam wild.

 

[bishop85gt]

I'm set up, so I'll just stay right here. My well's artesian (don't need to pump it, it just comes out of the ground all by itself), lots of good soil, decent weather, relative isolation, nearest town within 100 miles is only 4000 people, defensible location, lots of trees for fuel, wild game of all sorts passing right by the house, you name it. We moved out of the city and it's the best thing we ever did. We now enjoy no traffic, clean air, lower cost of living, relative self sufficiency and beautiful surroundings. As a side benefit, we are now much less vulnerable to disasters of all sorts. If society collapses, I just let the dog out and unlock the gun cabinet, then go back to whatever I was doing...

Never be a refugee. Set yourself up now, while you are able to, and make a good plan. Know where you're going if you have to leave, and make sure there's something there for you when you get there. Better yet, make the choice to live somewhere that you're unlikely to have to leave.

I agree 100%.