I'm not talking "short' as in commodities short. Reserves get hit hard in the seasons of spring and fall, especially in the eastern US. Now that Naval activity had picked up there's some depletion from that but most boats refuel at ports of call around the globe.
Media is stirring the stick as hard as they can, a small war going on, economy slipping, people refusing to work, nasty viruses making people sick, some REAL food shortages, lots of natural calamity with weather affecting food production, War affecting good distribution and next year production of grains - easy to go into panic mode.
Now if stuff hits the fan and you are not prepared I'll give you a peanut butter sandwich, if I like you or know you I might even put jelly on it and a glass of purified water, but try to take my stuff because I worked for it, saved up and put up and stored up - the outcome will be very different, I shudder to even think about it.
90% mental, 10% physical and 10% things/stuff/food and medicine.
Having a kit in the car to get home I think is something everyone should do - everyone, mom, dad, children. And you need to know how to use your kit, every item. Every item should be able to be used for multiple uses, everyone should be trained in first aid and medical procedures that each person can buckup, learnup, and physically perform.
Self reliance and no FEAR, is essential.
Physical fitness should be emphasized, and basic (or advanced) hand to hand combat skills for the purpose of protection need to be learned. My Dad served in Korea in the USAF and he said the most terrifying thing he had to deal with on the ground were the hungry kids that would attack for food in gangs.
My final two cents.
