What does going down the tubes mean to you?

        Mostly it means losing access to clean water, and next waste water treatment, like where does our poop go in order to keep us healthy? Nobody wants to get cholera, like in Haiti, for example.

            Bottom line, we can have three days without clean drinking water before we die. Said another way, we have to drink clean water that does not make us sick.

            Next it goes to food, like eating to live. I personally believe we will shop out our local grocery stores within three days if times get hard. Then we are on our own. Now remember we can, worse case, go 30 days without food.

            Next it goes to security. Like if is your Family is OK health wise, then the bad and probably local desperate people may come to invade and rob you anyway. And there won't be a 911 to call; in fact the whole phone system may be down. Again, we are on our own, and so are you.

            Is this simple enough?

            Later one can even add in the food, shelter, and clothing ideas. But that comes later compared to the idea of "going down the tubes", and surviving that initial process alone.