Article Review: 'We Should All Be Preppers' - The Atlantic
I almost can’t believe it! But at the same time I can.
In the years leading up to 2020, those that have prepared for the potential of an unforeseen crisis have been lambasted, criticized, and mocked. “Doomsdayers,” “Prepper Crazies,” “Nut Jobs,” you name it, we have been called it.
“We pay for all other kinds of insurance and its deemed acceptable - required in many instances - but establishing crisis insurance in the form of extra provisions makes you crazy. How does that work?”
- Prepared Americans | Heather and Lamare
It took a global pandemic, unlike anything we have ever seen, for people to understand the rationale of being prepared, as highlighted by Bradley Garrett’s article. This alone gives me pause. The media’s depiction of Preppers has always been within the framing of someone who is not playing with a full deck of cards, someone driven by unscientifically supported ideas, or someone aligned with an extreme or fringe political or religious ideology. Are there some of those folks running around, sure! They even made their way to popular television shows. I would argue, however, that these people are few and far between and the vast majority of prepared individuals approach this issue with a bucket full of common sense.
There is a credo I have heard for quite a while, “Don’t find yourself standing in line for canned beans being handed out by FEMA or a food bank.”
Don’t Be Caught Unprepared
Taking steps to ensure you are not dependent on emergency handouts does not make you crazy, it makes you smart!
I don’t find myself upset with Mr. Garrett, but I do find myself frustrated. Why demonize those who chose to prioritize disaster preparedness for so long!? What harm are they doing to anyone by making sure they have extra food, water, emergency power generation, redundant communications, and weapons for personal defense? The obvious answer is, none!
In the months after COVID-19 has gripped the planet, in all of its unexplainable destruction, Preppers have now seen it fit to take a victory lap. A cursory Google search will provide results of videos where Preppers are asking, “I’m not so crazy now, am I?” As much as I find it a bit petty to pat oneself on the back, I can understand how it feels good to be vindicated.
Just think about it! We pay for all other kinds of insurance and its deemed acceptable - required in many instances - but establishing crisis insurance in the form of extra provisions makes you crazy. How does that work? Follow my logic here.
Although it’s the law, we pay for car insurance in case we are in an accident. We pay for renter’s insurance for apartments. We pay for home-owner’s insurance in case something happens to our home. We pay for home warranties to reduce the cost of repairs on our major home appliances when they are damaged. We even pay for cell phone insurance so that we can get a new phone if we damage ours.
BUT… you are a crazy nut if you budget some funds and make sure you have the means to survive in the aftermath of a crisis.
How, as a society, did we get here?
I remember listening to my father talk about how it was common place for families to have provisions stored in case of an emergency. It didn’t really matter what the emergency was, the intent was to make sure you could survive for a while after normalcy was disrupted. I think what changed is that we have been indoctrinated with an idea that Uncle Sam is supposed to take care of us. That in the face of disaster, the Federal Government will muster its resources and make sure that we are clothed, fed, and have shelter.
Our grandparents knew otherwise.
The only thing our generation seemed to be prepared for in 2020 is an Instagram picture or Tik Tok dance video. In that, we have failed!
What Many Americans Saw After the Unprepared Raided Stores…
What makes this even more insane is that we have known for decades that our supply chains are extremely fragile. In fact, we live in the ‘just in time’ resupply era. Most preppers are aware that every major city only has 72 hours of food on hand before resupply is required. Depending on where you are when a major disaster hits, this becomes immediately evident as the masses rush off to buy bread, milk, eggs, and toilet paper.
We have seen this movie play out a dozen time and regardless of how illogical it is, it’s accepted. But you better watch out for those crazy people with a bugout bag in their car or several months worth of storable food at home.
As much as it’s nice to see the mainstream media finally vindicate the lifestyle preppers lead, I realize that I actually don’t want it, nor do I think the collective of preppers need it.
To Bradley Garrett, thanks for telling us something we already knew! In 2020, you are correct. People should be self reliant… within reason. People should be able to sustain themselves after an emergency. And, as during the Great Depression and the World Wars, Americans should have always been encouraged to be prepared.
The term ‘Prepper’ should be synonymous with being American. There should be an expectation that we take a degree of our own resilience into our own hands.
Preppers, take a short bow… now be prepared to share your knowledge and experience with those who have just had their coming to Jesus moment.
