[Chaparral]

If I were an elite I would play my cards close to my vest pocket. That is the sensible thing to do anyhow, regardless of one's situation because all life, whether it is dealing with city inspectors, contractors, in-laws, tenants, buyers, sellers, agents, neighbors or relatives is a poker game. It is all negotiation, cost-benefit analysis (subconscious or otherwise), warfare and deception. It is all cryptic coloration and mimicry and ambush and sneaking out the back door with the silver ingots.

I'm sure some of the "elite" are quite aware of PO. I'm also sure that some, especially the spoon fed descendants of some of them are not.

Regarding the question of the post peak scenario: a totalitarian state versus anarchy, it seems that most of us here are preparing for anarchy. The child of the elite or they who aspire to be among the elite might start networking in the corridors of power, looking to become a part of that fascist state and get their bread buttered by it. If I aspired to be among the elite, I might figure out how to become one of them and make myself useful to them. I would try dilligently to not be perceived as a threat, nor as a useless eater. It will be a gamble, but then again, so is everything else.

If I were an "elite", my strategy would be dependent on the scenario closest at hand. If it looked like telecommuting, rail transport and a "back to the land" movement might keep the lights on, I would push for the powerdown and switch-over. If I felt that we were in overshoot, I'd make sure a couple of skyscrapers got knocked down by Eastasian terrorists so that the good citizens of Oceana might rise up and bring freedom to the Eastasians. When enough of the good patriots came back in pine boxes that the poverty and unemployment problem was lessened, perhaps I might change strategy. All things are fluid. It is a game of constant motion, of skill and of chance. It is like prisoners dilemma combined with musical chairs combined with rock-paper-scissors combined with chess and Texas hold 'em.

[MonteQuest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Declan', 'Y')es Jack, it is indeed possible that the Republicans and the Democrats are in fact serving the same masters and that the whole "competition" thing is nothing but a sham to keep people occupied and distracted.

[vision-master]

When the right to keep and bear arms is compromised, we are fucked. Actually the Feds went house to house and rounded up weapons after Katrina even though Martial law was not declared. Note: the wealthy could hire security guards with weapons – that was ok. Glad my shotgun does not exist.

[Declan]

That's what I am thinking too vision-master. We can make all the preparations we want but if the government reserves the right to come along and take it all away, what good is preparation?

The US, Canada and all the western countries are regulated to the last square inch. Canada has some unexplored wilderness left still and some people might leave it all behind and try making a new start there but that's about it for options when it comes down to being part of the " new society" or not.

Even if you won't want to comply with the new Draconian rules and regualtions, you won't have a choice, because over the last half a century, the governments have slowly acquired complete control over every aspect of our lives.

We talk about our guns and what we're going to do when things get tough but what if the first thing the government does when the crisis becomes official is to come around and take all guns away, for the safety of everyone, of course...?

How many of us would be prepared to give up life as we know it and join some sort of rebel army and try and stand up to the tyranny?

1%? ...If that.

We are going to bow our heads, hand over our guns, give the government a list of all the provisions we have and try and stay under the radar.

We'll justify it by saying "I got a family. I can't afford to be a hero." And you know what? Who could blame us? For so long now we've been living in this systemic inter-dependency that we no longer posses the mental strength to do without.

[vision-master]

The last generation to make a stand against "established order" was the Hippies in the 60’s. Since then, we have become ever more complacent.

[grabby]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smiley', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '1').

2. How would those at the top go about keeping their “thrones” in a Post-Peak world?

[Declan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('grabby', '
')

If you are a street bum that smiles and is friendly you might live.
....

I choose not to have a gun or sword, when I realized that most people won't have one, why would I want to shoot them? They have enough trouble. No one is going to shoot a friendly bum minding his own business. B all. the only most likely survivor is the humble bum left.
....

The best lifestyle will be the friendly, kind, helpful working bum without a gun. Everyone needs a good friend.

[grabby]

I try not to imagine after peak as much as possible, I get nauseated sometimes. Better not to know right now.
But, good point concerning bums, we should not make them our ideals.
Well, bum is inaccurate in the ideal situation, its just easy to spell. Clowns are more evil and psychotic, Bums are lazy thiefves so we don't really want to be bums. Those are both kind of lazy, so they are not good icons. Actually. anyone who panhandles should not be indulged, it makes them worse., but if they are willing to work that is another story.
I would call the ideal position a triple H. - or - harmless happy homeless. Or at least as happy as you can get in the situation. (No work no taxes)

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he trees might be full of dangling corpses.