In recent discussions surrounding the upcoming 2024 election, a notable trend has emerged— the growing concern about being prepared and the potential aftermath of the election. This phenomenon sheds light on a unique intersection between political uncertainty and a subculture often associated with extreme preparedness. This article from USA Today discusses growing trend.
The Rise of Prepping
There are two interesting takeaways from this article. The first is the increase in people who have started preparing for unexpected events.
In the past 12 months, 39% of millennials and 40% of Gen Zers reported having spent money on prepping, according to Finder.com, which has collected similar data since at least 2017. Overall, almost 30% of Americans surveyed reported taking some steps toward emergency preparedness last year, up from about 25% in 2017, according to the annual Finder survey.
The second is the different political perspectives of why people are preparing.
“On one side, people think Trump may bring a New World Order and ‘they’ will come and get us, so we need to be ready,” he said. “And then on the other hand you have the communities who think things will get just get worse so we have to help ourselves.”
Election 2024: Heightened Concerns
Against the backdrop of political polarization and increased global uncertainties, the approach of the 2024 election has triggered amplified concerns within the prepper community. The article explores how these concerns are rooted in fears of civil unrest, potential fallout from contested election results, or other societal disruptions.
Strategies for Being Prepared
The article covers a wide range of strategies people are employing. Some people are focusing on community, while others are going all out building “bunkers” of supplies. Its not practical for most people to build a doomsday bunker. However, there are many practical steps you can take to be better prepared.
Any preparations you can take today increase your chances for survival, and help your community as a whole.
“If you can be prepared, you won’t be a drain on the resources needed to help the people who didn’t prepare,”
The article wraps up summarizing the complex relationship between being prepared and the fears surrounding the 2024 election.