Another form of imprisonment that has been underway is the devaluation of the dollar. If you have accumulated any wealth in the United States it is becoming increasingly less transportable to other parts of the world. Therefore you are by definition faced with a standard of living drop should you decide that you would prefer to live elsewhere.

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MBlovr
'59 180 Dad's original
'59 180 Dad's 2nd one
'67 250SE Dad's last one
'59 220 SE My first one
'62 220SE Coupe second one
'89 190E 2.6 5spd third one
'06 E350 4matic (sold)
'10 E350 4matic

I have been wanting to buy gold bullion for awhile now. I think the smallest amount to buy is like $5000 worth, I can't seem to cough up that much money. Do you think acquiring good pieces of gold jewelry/coins would serve the same purpose?

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

Gold is in a bubble now I would wait for it to pop.

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2006 CL500
2009 C300 4matic
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Its easy to work/live anywhere in the world, you just need the right skill set and intelligence. My friend travels to Europe and probably the Middle East soon to fix helicopters. Where the birds are broke he goes.

Most decent sized company's have operations in several countries, usually there are not shortage of overseas positions that need to be filled. Eastern Europe is very popular now for manufacturing. Lots of ex Soviet factories with skilled metal workers with not much to do.

This thread sounds like whining.

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2006 CL500
2009 C300 4matic
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Can you shoot me a pm about where he works? Fixing helicopters is my trade.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

I think we have seen a bubble. It burst and now the economy will take time to recover. It may never be that big again, but life will do on pretty much as we see it now but with less disposable income for alot of folks.

As far as the earth, we are now killing the environment but if we back off it can recover. We just need to figure out how to get people in Brazil and Madagascar to stop burning off the jungle and keep reducing our emissions.

Will the earth be destroyed by atomic bombs? I don't think so. Will a city be destroyed by one? Perhaps.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Europe for one, will be just as ****ed as the US, when the oil runs out. Trucking supplies around the place is just as prevalent in Europe as here. That is a worthless comparison.

Some of them are posibilities, other's are not. Most of his diatribe is the usual "isn't America dreadful" bs that a certain type of ignoramus spouts when they get the religion (usually in college) and they go on a self fulfilling journey to other parts to justify themselves.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Statistically, it is highly likely they exist. Whether the are less advanced and you don't see them or whether the are more advanced and avoid you might be the reason you don't see them.

The question is whether you have valuable skills or not. Valuable is deemed by them. For instance, if you are an RN, you have a special visa that will get you here in 3 months or less, IIRC. OTOH if you are an alky, well........

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

When does it run out? If it runs out in 10 years, sure. IF it runs out in 300 years, well.....

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Some people are interested in differant topics, that is why it is an open discussion. This topic has more interest to me than someone whining about home depot..or being tail-gaited.
To each his own..Peace.

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CHILCUTT~
The secret to a long life. Is knowing when it is time to leave.

It looked like the OP's link was to a site that's probably one of many backed by George Seros...

I'll leave it right there.

Let the mudslinging begin.......

N O W !

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M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Ah yes..the principle of Reflexivity...

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CHILCUTT~
The secret to a long life. Is knowing when it is time to leave.

It is hard for the average individual even after almost a full lifetime as in my case to make meaningful conclusions in these areas. Although there is little doubt in my mind that the governments at all levels in north america are assuming more power and control in almost all areas of the economy.

Actually there presense is growing very fast in response to the almost continious bush fires throughout the economy. Historically when a vaccum was formed it was always generally naturally filled in. There may be far too much interference presently to follow historic patterns. The efforts and money instead are perhaps being spent to prop up unsubstainable practices .

The past systems of checks and balances seem to be circumvented more and more as time moves along as well. The governments are either going to be successful or format perhaps the biggest crash or change ever in north american history eventually.

Technically the ideal of a free market type of economy may be history at some point as well. The concept it is already damaged to some extent now in my opinion feels about right.

The average standard of living has improved substantually over the years as well though. Or at least fairly steadily in my lifetime. It is almost like we demand the same thing to contiinue straight ahead. Even if the realities are it is not economically possible.

We are also entered into the period of finding out if the increased standards of living we have already experienced have been paid for up to now. The best face I can put on that is they may have been by the loss of our industrial base as it once was. Yet that may only have been a partial payment.

If we have experienced horrific industrial losses just to enable this it is almost criminal or the most severe short sighted outlook by people deemed responsible by the electorate. Whatever happened to common sense.

We canadians for example are reciently criticised by the united nations for alowing poverty to exist in so wealthy a country. Like most north americans I row my own boat with very little feeling of responsibility towards others outside our family. If nothing else this gets a class system started or reinforced. The propaganda has enabled this.

Yet when visiting larger canadian cities seeing people living in the streets and children with so litttle oportunity is somewhat distressing. I am only too well aware that my generation absorbed a large percentage of the wealth. We also seemingly allowed the economic destruction to occur. Why we did not demand more from our elected representatives was a failing of signifigant proportions by us as well. Instead there was encouragement to get as much as you wanted by the individual.

I have done some research over the last couple years and being an RN fit's all of my requirements of a new career. It has the job growth, stability and earning potential I like. And the deciding factor is the ability to work anywhere. So I applied and was accepting to nursing school. It's going to be a big step from helicopters to nursing.

I have read that peak oil is a myth... I am not too sure what to think about that.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

Possibly a wise choice. A registered nurse can work almost anywhere they choose as you mention.