Days away from local hard times
Have you noticed how our world has ventured onto the thin ice known as JIT (Just In Time)? At any given time, we’re all only a matter of days away from the kind of hardship one used to associate with disaster.
A case in point: Haiti, where the earthquake destroyed their structure and their infrastructure, in a matter of minutes. Today, the UN has implemented a new set of rules for distribution of foodstuffs, where there will be central points that only the women of a household will be welcomed. One small step to cut down on looting, warlord rule, any number of wrongs against the citizens by their neighbours. Rule by riot.
In parallel, one of my bus books deals with the manner that society might go straight to hell in a handbasket if the supply of oil was suddenly threatened. Because, like it or not, good old JIT is the order of the day. Look around your neighbourhood. If the trucks that supply your local supermarket couldn’t get through, how many days would your desire to buy last in front of empty shelves? If you couldn’t buy bread, how apt would you be to fire up the oven and start kneading for your next meal?
Reality is rough. Most of us would find that our home supply of food isn’t enough to keep us with three squares for more than a few days. After the disinterest of cleaning out the last of the canned beets and pea soup had passed, what would be left? A breakdown in transportation would close our stores and leave the crowd wanting more. No need for a disaster. PEI faced several bridgeless days earlier this winter, and the word was already out that supplies were lean over at the local super store. We no longer have a barnful of pigs and chickens, or a cellar full of potatoes to fall back on. Not to wax dystopian, but would you want to rely on our current government if times got tough?
