Times have certainly changed over the past few years. The extent of which became apparent to me this last month when my Massey Ferguson tractor sprang a major hydraulic leak from the pump area. First came the shocking price increase for a five gallon can of hydraulic oil, then the virtual shortage of local repair facilities and dealers available to service the machine, and finally the delays to obtain an appointment due to parts backlogs and mechanic shortages.

This morning I found myself contemplating how folks deal with issues when they own a foreign made tractor such as Kioti or Mahindra. Heck, I even heard on the news that our “All American” John Deere manufacturer is moving to Mexico… who’s next? Mack and Caterpillar are facing huge parts shortages as well, according to my diesel mechanic son. With the automobile, medical supply and food shortages it would appear that no industry has been spared from this mysterious calamity. My recent experience with a week long loss of internet has made me realize how dependent I’ve become upon rapid communication and information, especially the weather forecast!

On a related front, civility seems to have reached a new low as well, road rage and short tempers along with rude or no customer service appears to be the new normal. If there’s to be any comparison made between the great depression and our future situation anticipated by economic experts, social order will be the biggest loser. Now is the time to be building local community relationships in preparation for historically fewer resources and more difficult times, when reliance upon our neighbors will be key to emotional and perhaps physical survival. Extremely few families can raise, process and store livestock and dairy products, while gardening a years worth of produce, hay and grains. Barter and cooperation will be required to weather the coming depression.