It does my heart good to see that so many are preparing!
Problem is, there are many others that read my first post and think I'm wearing a tin foil hat!  They really don't see the precarious and dangerous situation we have allowed ourselves to get in.
The situation in Syria right now concerns me greatly.  Assad is getting pressure from his people and one way to stop that and unify them would be for them to attack Israel... and that could be the start of World War III.
The debt ceiling, the government defaulting or devaluing our currency, entitlements continuing to increase....( It's estimated that well over 60% of those currently on disability could in reality work, but they are taking the path of least resistance.
Folks say tax the rich, but what they don't comprehend is that if every person in the United States paid every dime of what they earned every year to the government... Bill Gates included, we still would only make a small dent in our national debt.   We have spent our way into a hole so deep, it seems there is no way out.  I laugh when I  hear folks say that during the 90s we had a balanced budget and surplus... dream on... the budget may have been balanced for the calendar year but we were still digging a hole of debt.  All that said...
If we can simply be wise in small ways and be prepared, there will be much less suffering and heartache... and our preparation ultimately will end up blessing the lives of others. (Because chicken people are a generous lot)