When I heard Kamala Harris say that she was going to address high food prices with price controls, I thought that she could lose the election. The reason was that food prices are the central issue, and this did not sound convincing. Donald Trump promised lower taxes and thus higher incomes. This was made believable by his claims that he would shut down the federal bureaucracy.
What he will and won’t do I cannot predict, but I can predict one thing with certainty: no tinkering of any kind is going to change anything. In fact, at this point, the best organized countries can bandage for a short time, but that’s all. Over the next few years, the truth of our situation is going to become obvious: alterations in climate are going to continue to challenge food supplies worldwide, and this is going to become extremely serious. People all over the world who have never known hunger, will come to know it.
What has happened in US politics is a reaction to rising food prices, which are themselves being caused by what now look like complex supply issues, but which will eventually be revealed for what they really are, which is production-related changes.
The Trump revolution could be a fundamental one, as its causes are very much like all but one of the really significant ones in the past: they were all caused by economic disruptions that can be traced back to changes in food supplies. The one exception is the Russian revolution, which was caused by the loss of a war by a regime that was not capable of effective government.
The French Revolution came about because France, at the time the most prosperous and powerful country in Europe, experienced food shortages due to persistent drought. At the time that this developed, nobody in France had ever known famine and they reacted with predictable fury, toppling the kingdom without any clear means of replacing it, which resulted in more than a hundred years of turmoil and three lost wars. The revolution took place in the later part of the 18th Century, and society did not begin to really stabilize until the latter part of the 20th. As is true all over Europe and the rest of the developed world, floods of immigrants are once again causing instability. This immigration pressure is due to the same cause that drove the Germans into the Roman Empire so long ago: climate change that resulted in declines in food supplies.
Let’s take a closer look at how this worked during the greatest revolution in history, which was so vast and so profound that we don’t even think of it as a revolution. But that’s exactly what it was. This was the collapse of the Roman Empire, a long process that started with a change in weather patterns that devastated and eventually crushed the Roman economy, society and, in the end, its age-old culture.
From about 500 BC, a slight change in solar output led to something called the Roman Climate Optimum. This decline in solar output slightly cooled the Earth and caused the Mediterranean basin to become more conducive to farming. Food supplies became reliable and plentiful. Populations expanded, and this situation continued for the next 600 years. But in 100 AD, solar output increased, and, as is happening now, drought spread across the world. (Now, this mostly due to the tremendous rise in human population and the pollution stresses caused by the heavier population load.)
The Mediterranean basin was no exception to the ancient drought, and harvests declined in the Roman Empire. The resultant food stress caused discontent and weakened people’s immune systems. Plague followed famine. Some of these plagues were absolutely extraordinary. Whole regions of the empire were depopulated. Meanwhile, in the Steppes of Central Asia, pasturage dried up, which caused the horse-dependent societies there to move westward. This, in turn, forced the Magyars (Hungarians) to move into the territories of the Germans. They then poured into the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, which had been depopulated by starvation and plague. The result you can see very clearly: it is found in the ruins of the Roman world, which haunt Europe to this day.
In other words, the weather did it all, and the weather is doing the same thing right now. We need to be clear that this is not going to change for the better. Drought and extreme weather are our new climate regime, and they are only going to get more extreme. We are not in a cycle but rather a period of fundamental and permanent change. We have no choice but to face this and adapt to it as best we can.
Right now, we are running from it, which is very understandable but, over the next few years, it will become clear that this will not work, not in the U.S., and not anywhere. Soon, to save ourselves, it will become apparent that we, as individuals, families, communities, nation-states and as a species, are going to have to do our best to adapt to what we can no longer fix.
More money in our pockets will not matter any more than will things like price controls. Politics will not be able to change anything. Insofar as change is still possible, and it is, though only in a limited way, it will be up to our inventiveness and intelligence. However, there is essentially no time left. I am not talking about something in the future. It is happening now and will continue to do so, and will continue to get worse. We are very intelligent, though, and very inventive. We will still be able to help ourselves somewhat, should we decide to stop denying (the U.S.) and dithering (most of the rest of the world) and start acting.
We belong to the Earth. She does not belong to us.
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Thank you for this essay. Over the past 20 years in the USA, the monthly prices my family has paid for rather humble macrobiotic staple foods like grains, noodles, tamari sauce, vegetables, nuts, and some fruits have trended relentlessly upwards. Our expenses for processed foods like vegetable pizza have in some cases increased even more. We get a discount when buying grains + dry beans by the sack at the Santa Monica Coopportunity store … that’s about our only real cost savings. On the food front, this week’s good news is that after a 2-year hiatus, Trader Joe’s stores just resumed selling their frozen vegan turkeyless roast. We bought 4 of those yesterday, but be aware that when that product sells out, TJ’s will not restock them until November 1st next year. Even meat eaters may want to consider buying these roasts … virologists I follow on the X social media platform just reported H5N1 illness in California turkeys.
Eating less meat will be reality not an option going forward. It will simply be priced out of most people’s budgets. A healthy consequence for us and the planet.
Very thoughtful essay.
You’ve mentioned in the past that the Visitors may attempt to help us if things become very bad. I also wonder if they would be willing to resettle some of us who are open to leaving Earth.
I asked my wife this morning if she would relocate off planet if offered a chance by the visitors. She did not hesitate and said yes.
I would too.
A poignant journal. Grow what you can and preserve it. As home gardeners and hobby farmers, families or even neighborhoods can create micro climates that ease the stress of heat and drought unlike big ag. The buy local meme will constrict down tighter and really mean something.
The Arab Spring wasn’t mentioned but Whitley has mentioned it in the past. This will repeated over and over in our future.
Such a wise posting Whitley. I just wish there were more concrete steps we could all take.
Has every developed nation suffered under despotic rule at one time or another? Perhaps the U.S. was destined for it. It has to experience it first-hand in order to reject it going forward, but not before a lot of innocent people get hurt or even die. In all of recorded human history, why do countless lives have to be destroyed in order for us to learn the hard lessons?
While it’s true that rainfall patterns will change, and some crops come under stress, overall global rainfall is set to increase and once-dry areas become lush.
There’s very little public conversation about opportunities and gains, mostly it’s about losses.
There certainly will be disruptive change, but migration won’t simply be away from drought areas it’ll also be towards new rainfall areas. It’ll also be into area where population has declined. China population is supposed to half by 2100 – that’s a lot of vacated space and farmland.
If I were planet Earth and I wanted to increase the amount of life on me I’d increase CO2, warmth and precipitation – all of which is happening.
I’d get some apes, I’d make them get smart, and I’d let them dig up all the old buried carbon and burn it. There would be initial losses, maybe including the smart apes themselves, but long term that’s a recipe for growth and biodiversity.
But I’d also be wary of disrupting human society because they have nuclear weapons.
And there could be severe disruption from something like the AMOC shutting down.
So let’s say that the NHI are human time travellers.
That means that not only did they survive whatever is to come, but they developed mega tech too.
Which kind of makes it look like the future is set, and it doesn’t hold total extinction for us.
My next question is – what sort of Earth do they travel back from – is it one fully populated with diverse organisms?
If so – who has seen this? They take people on trips around the universe, to other planets, but how about a trip to see the Earth wildlife of the year 3500 – or whenever? Has anyone been there? Can’t think of anyone who says they have but then I’m not well read.
OK let’s also say they are masters of genetic control – then do they control the genes of all future Earth life? Is the Earth of the future a bespoke planet the likes of which transhumanists dream of?
If so what’s the problem with extinctions – when they can just reconstitute everything? Or can they?
Fair warning: Many may be angry with what I am about to say.
Let’s discuss the elephant in the room. No, not politics, but the character of the American people. Now, everyone wants unity and to play ‘nice’. Right. Everyone is really just scared to death of what our re-run president will do. So as LBJ used to say, we should “go along to get along.” (January 6th was just a bunch of nice people “going along to get along”.)
For the last couple of days I’ve been seeing various news organizations, pundits, what-have-you, talking about everything that Harris and her campaign got wrong. No one seems to care about the known liar, manipulator, misogynistic, racist, sexual-abuser that was just elected president, or about all of the criminal and civil charges that are being dropped, because, well, he’s the new (old) president-elect and the Supreme Court recently insured he will have free reign.
I can’t imagine the sheer terror that E. Jean Carroll is going through right now. By the way, she won her civil trial against him for sexual abuse, but no one cares.
Harris is far from perfect. But as far as I know, she has not committed any crimes, nor molested anyone. But she has led a life of service, was an AG in California, and the first female vice president of our nation.
The American people don’t want to admit that they can’t (won’t) elect a woman as president. Three presidential runs, he beat the two women candidates, but Biden had the edge the last time around. His running against a woman of color this time ensured he would win again this time. Even women don’t quite trust their sisters to get the job done. They would rather elect a wealthy, know-nothing, reality show ‘star’ , albeit former president,who thinks, “If you’re a star, they’ll let you do anything.”
In addition, most world nations have had female leaders, but the world’s second largest democracy can’t seem to get there. That would be us.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_elected_and_appointed_female_heads_of_state_and_government
So, has the USA sold its soul in exchange for lower food prices? It’s much more than that.
Yes, I totally agree. That, and that at least 50% of the U?SA does not know how to do their research. They default to racism and misogyny. It’s more than that. It is a perfect storm of ignorant grievances topped with the weightiest burden of racism and misogyny. I am also terrified of what will come of our schools.
Not just our schools, but public health, and medicine too, as well as social services…And, you’re right, no one researches anything, so besides ignorance, I’d also include laziness. That’s where we are.
Unfortunately racism is alive and well in this country. It’s always been that way. Trump exposed it and used it to his advantage once again.
Leftists have sold their souls a long time ago. Hopefully our schools can be rescued from the Woke Mind Virus, although a tremendous amount of damage has already been inflicted on our children and grandchildren. Especially under the Grusome Newscum regime here in my state of California.
Well now, as a Brit I’d like to throw my iron in the fire on this migration issue. It is, after all at the core of everything surrounding Mr Trump, like it or not.
Food shortages. I see no widespread evidence of this though I agree that prices are rising everywhere and, in time, starvation WILL be an issue. An issue that will suit some groups nicely. I see illegal migration to the West raising two turbo-charged spectres. Strap yourself in, here we go. Sex offences and general crime. Here in the UK, sex offences against females and children have exponentially risen. Don’t get me started on street crime. This is a clash of cultures. Here in the UK we get the media showing photos of illegal migrants sneaking across the channel… young couple with a baby or toddlers, looking hungry, yet in the background are 30 dodgy looking military age men. I’m supposed to ignore this?
Mr Trump is an actor. The real men in the room don’t exist. This ‘importation of distraction’ is precisely that. The elite will import something else for you to worry about as the environment collapses. Look, I’ll be up front with you, I believe that you need to get hardcore to stop this imported murder and rape. It is exactly that effect on the ground. Ask any woman in an area affected by illegal migrants/globalist pawn depositing. UC is not a political site but the cyclic environmental collapses are, in my opinion, linked to the consciousness of the Sun and our solar system’s journey through arms of the Milky Way galaxy. The elite likely know this and are acting ahead of the curve to ensure continuity of their own prominence.
I prefer to protect quaint British villages from vile rapists and foreign racists, for, that’s what many are. Yet, incredibly, quite incredibly, I’m the bad guy for having a pair of eyes. I’m sorry if my words run close to the wind but please do me a favour and show my post to a good cross section of folks living in the US and the West and ask them if they agree with me before cancelling me. I believe you’ll find, here in the UK, many Caribbean, Pakistani, Indian and other Commonwealth immigrants to the UK from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s agreeing with every word I said. I live amongst these good people. They are the best of the best and have my back.
I’ve said my bit and I have no hate in my heart. I know manipulative social strategies when I see them and everyone is being pwned. Both established citizens and migrants are being played. Everyone loses. I oppose this elitist manipulation of ‘meat puppets’. I chose life and the light of awareness, as well as quite obviously not being afraid to comment on the elephant in the room.
I openly invite reply and welcome correction.
Peace.
The link between food shortages and its price probably isn’t a direct correlation but I’m sure they’re close relatives. I do think we are seeing climate change impact the ability to produce food in regions that have traditionally grow certain crops. Because of global supply and big Ag the “local shortages” of food are quickly ironed out. As climate change progresses and larger areas are impacted the world will struggle to feed everyone. Our current condition of long protracted droughts with interludes of deluges will eventually explode into the AMOC shutdown and the methane ticking time bomb. This will change everyone’s life simultaneously. When is unknown.
OK, I read this post twice and remained calm.
It was my understanding that rapists and sex offenders need to be convicted in court before accusers are allowed to name and shame but, I’m afraid, what I just read wasn’t great.
I can’t say that I am not troubled by some things, to say the least. Yet, I remain calm.
Let’s talk about this. When I see hate. Pure hate. I say this… let’s talk.
Peace.
I knew she would lose. Despite our letter campaign and donations. We tried…even had our college girls to vote in our state… how anyone who read Project 2025 would vote for dumpf is beyond comprehension. And for a women to vote for him? Why that’s like a hen voting for Col. Sanders!
On this Veterans day, I think of my grandfather – who parachuted at D-day and was a POW fighting fascists, I wonder what he’d think if he knew we have one as president now.
Sorry , but I don’t care if I offend, If you don’t share my core values I have no reason to befriend you.
Yes, our species has experienced climate change, but, not of the magnitude where we won’t be able to recover. We are feeding into a positive feedback loop. I feel that my original thought of sequence skips in climate change is wrong. It’s going to get chaotic. Remember victory gardens? Get to it. Get into canning. Dry stuff out and learn how to purify water. Hold on to your seats, there is no other choice but to ride it out. 45 and his administration are not going to be in control enough to do anything. The last thing they will be thinking is providing for us. Insert right wing cliches here.
Enjoy your dry frozen canned food as ‘imported thugs’ kick your door in and kill you and yours.
The elite have done this for thousands of years and it always works. You’re toast. Sit back smug as you like, you’re done. You’re done and you refuse to see it, as you always have. Football game on? Politics? Take a look…don’t look at who’s breaking in.
Sure, lock and load but then, inevitably, our planet hits denser quadrants of the milky way galaxy and extinction level events get their moment.
Me? I see it all, I get it. Sure. Wanna rob me? Come take it…
Peace.
I am so sad. Thank you Whitley. First thing I thought, “ What is Whitley thinking “. I hope you’ll continue posting. What was your first thought when you saw the results? Who were you thinking about?
We need Unknown Country hoodies.
There’s a UC hood?
Peace.
Well now, as a Brit I’d like to throw my iron in the fire on this migration issue. It is, after all at the core of everything surrounding Mr Trump, like it or not.
Food shortages. I see no widespread evidence of this though I agree that prices are rising everywhere. I see illegal migration to the West raising two turbo-charged spectres. Strap yourself in, here we go. Sex offences and general crime. Here in the UK, sex offences against females and children have exponentially risen. Don’t get me started on street crime. This is a clash of cultures. Here in the UK we get the media showing photos of illegal migrants sneaking across the channel… young couple with a baby or toddlers, looking hungry, yet in the background are 30 dodgy looking military age men. I’m supposed to ignore about this, why?
Mr Trump is an actor. The real men in the room don’t exist. This ‘importation of distraction’ is precisely that. The elite will import something else for you to worry about as the environment collapses. Look, I’ll be up front with you; I believe that you need to get hardcore to stop this imported murder and rape. UC is not a political site but the cyclic environmental collapses are, in my opinion, linked to the consciousness of the Sun and our solar system’s journey through arms of the Milky Way galaxy. The elite likely know this and are acting ahead of the curve to ensure continuity of their own prominence.
I prefer to protect quaint British villages from vile rapists and foreign racists, for, that’s what many are. Yet, incredibly, quite incredibly, I’m the bad guy for having a pair of eyes. I’m sorry if my words run close to the wind but please do me a favour and show my post to a good cross section of folks living in the US and the West and ask them if they agree with me before cancelling me. I believe you’ll find, here in the UK, many Caribbean, Pakistani, Indian and other Commonwealth immigrants to the UK from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s agreeing with every word I said. I live amongst these good people. They are the best of the best and have my back.
I’ve said my bit and I have no hate in my heart. I know manipulative social strategies when I see them and everyone is being pwned. Both established citizens and migrants are being played. Everyone loses. I oppose this elitist manipulation of ‘meat puppets’. I chose life and the light of awareness, as well as quite obviously not being afraid to comment on the elephant in the room.
I openly invite reply and welcome correction.
Peace.
Just finished reading the many comments and want to post a few thoughts. I have been in an emotional slump since the November 5th, election returns. It is more like a foreboding. Today’s thought for the day reads…
Sunday, November 10
“PRAY, rather than worry.”
Edgar Cayce reading 760-31
Well, to be honest, I am struggling with that. I am pretty sure my attitude will change with time.
While reading the many comments, the movie…On the Beach… crossed my mind. I am going to PRAY, PRAY AND PRAY that humankind can get though the next several years. AND, there are enough good people out there working for humanity and our survival.
Bing Videos
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?view=detail&q=MOVIE+ON+THE+BEACH&mid=487EEBFEB083A05A6BF0487EEBFEB083A05A6BF0&FORM=VIRE
We have a had a large “victory garden” for most of our marriage. It was because we enjoyed the better taste of our vegetables that we proudly grew and gave to our neighbors. Just this weekend we cooked down tomatoes for sauce and made pesto and Italian hots.
We live in suburbia and I can say in our neighborhood of 60 homes. No one has a vegetable garden! Oh sure some try with 1-2 tomato plants, but they never make it. No one is mulching. I’ll comment that this is the first time in 10 years we have had to water our garden ( zone 7a) Such a drought for past 6 weeks, broke by rainfall. There was a time I had a hobby farm fantasy ..somewhere distant in the woods.. away from suburbia.
It will get ugly. So many don’t even know how to grow their own produce! We have figs . lemons, basil, toms, all kinds of peppers and egg plants ,paw paw trees, raspberries ,sage, etc.. Its got to where we can cook many of our own meals.
But then winter comes and we have starvation spring. Americans are NOT going to make it. The craft of growing your own food was lost after WW2.
Convenience in place of joy. If you wish, read about being self sufficient ( not some nutjob prepper site) Check out Frugalwoods website. Its a lifestyle. I tried mushrooms this year but so far nothing. Even a small victory garden takes learning & experience; earth know how. I pity our future , when it gets bad. We don’t feel the food prices pressures yet, but we are professionals and our garden in summer &; fall spares us from pricey grocery bills. We don’t have a meat bill, but fish and ; chicken are now getting pricey.
Good luck to all… keep your head down and live low… even a half step to self sufficiency is good.
Zoroaster. Origin of end times myths. Zoroaster became a prophet after talking to spirit beings, telepathically. His religion, and the ones influenced by it, take for granted that the world will end in purifying catastrophe. Dead cert.
Some would say that’s them there Ancient Aliens at work.
However other, modern, otherworldly beings are giving people warnings that they must avert the coming catastrophe.
In other words not a dead cert.
So why do we have these two narratives?
1) Religion – end of world guaranteed and essential
2) NHI – end of world depends on our virtuous actions
Both seem to be coming from supernatural beings of a kind. Are they the same kind?
What’s going on there?