[TheForge] Copper-Yak

[Andrew Vida]

Ben Barrett wrote:
> Possibly, illiteracy is down by the numbers, but I'd posit that the
> basics (RRR's, ability to focus and follow instructions, ability to
> improvise and problem-solve) as well as general worker attitude (among
> US-born citizens, anyway) are WAY DOWN.

	I can confirm that this is so.  I have several friends who, by some 
dint of insanity or a God whose sense of humor has fallen into madness, 
remain as teachers 23 years after I quit.  One works at Brooklyn Tech, 
purportedly one of the best public high schools in the nation.  The 
stories I get of his daily grind with students who cannot or will not 
follow instruction, fail to "get it", and have parents who whine at him 
any time he attempts to force the little bastards to become something 
better than middle class suburban trash.  It is in-sane.

 >  Then again, what do I know?
> I was toddling around almost 30 years ago with the chickens and my
> pony on a small homestead, not experiencing the work force.  My
> less-than-common upbringing helped some, but I think I have been
> "infected" with some of the same all-to-prevalent culture we're
> hinting at.  I have my own business now, which is a big step up from
> giving away 40+ hrs/wk of my time, but often I feel like a bad
> manager/businessperson... and sometimes like a bad worker!  :)
> Yeah, we're not YET at the point of having issues with drinking
> water.... we prolly won't see any real shelter issues but our
> infrastructure has been over-built in many places, and we are becoming
> mal-adapted at survival, which has the risk of bumping us back a big
> notch or three... for example, every winter I hear about a number of
> older folks freezing to death in their apartments or home when the
> power is out for extended periods.  There are a lot of other issues
> that brings up, but that is a stupid thing to have happen in our
> western culture, we should all take better care of each other
> collectively... my real point though is that we rely too much on our
> infrastructure.  Not to blame the air-quality folks, but c'mon
> fireplaces and other burning-stuff-for-heat-and-cooking are crucial at
> least as a backup, and the cities have pushed out most of the
> potential for simple living (beyond fire life).  So yeah, soviet bloc
> is prolly a better status although I'm sure it'll rile up some other
> camp ;>

	Well, I live amongst honest-to-God hillbillies.  Most are fairly simple 
folks, judging by certain myopic standards - but they are NOT stupid, 
and one thing they know how to do is live off the land.  If there is a 
serious crash of this economy, people in places like NJ, the ones who 
don't die off rapidly, will be coming to places like this looking for 
food.  I don't think they will be met with open arms.  More likely 
firearms. :)  I always found it amusing to observe suburbanites who are 
fond of making mean fun of hill folk.  It will be interesting to see who 
has the last laugh if the worst happens.  Probably won't - or at least I 
sure hope it won't... one never know.