Two years ago we wrote about our take on a future that would resemble the world of Mad Max. For those of you unfamiliar with the movie on which this scenario is based, it’s a fantasized snapshot of a future characterized by violence, fear, and brutality. In such a world, the three priorities in life will be food, guns, and ammo.

At the time, this was not our view of how we need to think about or plan for the future. Our reasons were:

We said: You can’t build a wall high enough or have a gun big enough to withstand the kind of weaponry too readily available today. If we want a secure future, our best bet is being part of a sustainable community of people who work together to support each another in providing for our basic needs and well-being, including physical security.

Update: We still hold this view and have working in Let’s Live Local to achieve it.

We said: In a Mad Max world, to defend against nations and terrorists who bear grievances or perceive gains by vanquishing America … it is doubtful the population could produce enough wealth and resources to support such a military.

Update: The current concern about the size of the U.S. debt. A recent article in the Economist portrays debt in many nations of the world.

We said: Do we want to risk the emergence of a Mad Max world?

Update: Events indicate it is happening:

Flash Mob Robberies
Stealing copper piping
Foraging for food in public parks
Dumpster Diving
Rioting in London

Finally we asked “shall we begin now to build resilient local communities based on renewable energies that will enable us to adapt to a declining amount of cheap fossil fuel? For myself, the latter is my choice. In part, because surviving in the social order or disorder of a Mad Max world would not allow me to be the kind of person I am willing to be.

Update: We still hold this view.

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