# What's (supposedly) going to kill 281 million Americans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165 "2014-08-09T14:00:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/21 "2014-08-09T23:43:35Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Increased investment in food commodities will result in increased food production and food surpluses, not shortages. Econ 101. Unless you think somehow that financial institutions are going to sit on perishable commodities as an investment, which is insane. “Perishable commodities” comes pretty close to being an oxymoron. Most commodities have a very long shelf life. Investors in food production can control the size of the harvest in order to maximize profits from the sale of limited quantities. I’m not saying they do, I’m saying they can, especially if they grow into large enough conglomerates and consortia that non-corporate producers cannot significantly influence the total output. In the past 15 years, the wholesale price of butter has gone through four different swings of a nearly 2:1 magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/22 "2014-08-09T23:55:51Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Which of those three are not verifiable facts? Where did I say it was? It’s certainly true that food prices are going up and banks have been investing in food (although I think the linkage is in that order and not the other way around). I just don’t think we quite as close to the edge of the apocalypse as Mr Deacon does. I don’t think we’ll see food riots, mass starvation, the collapse of the government, and the general breakdown of society here in America within the next two years. We’re at least five years away from that point. And while aquaponics might be a interesting new method of gardening, I really doubt it’ll be the foundation of the new ruling class. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/23 "2014-08-10T02:02:39Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Where did I say it was? You didn’t. I just offered a challenge to anyone who thought the three points represented an unsustainable scenario that by itself placed the proposition in the realm of absurdity, which is where a great many seem to think it lies. The position may very well be absurd, but not for those reasons. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/24 "2014-08-10T08:32:08Z")
“Housewife in \ discovers _amazing_ **life-loss secret** ahead of 281 million Americans!” ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/25 "2014-08-10T12:50:37Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Maybe the crackpot website’s theory is that Obama is playing the reeaaaallly long game on this one. The guy did say that collapse was coming within 18 months. When was the video posted? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/26 "2014-08-10T14:16:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And while aquaponics might be a interesting new method of gardening, I really doubt it’ll be the foundation of the new ruling class. It’s not really as new as people think it is. Having done some hydroponics (that’s a necessary half of the whole aquaponics thing), my conclusion is that it’s freakin’ easier to garden in dirt and “victory gardens” are a much more viable approach. Aquaponics requires various supplies and a lot of human labor, especially if you aren’t using electric power (what, you think think the Evil Overlords manipulating food supplies to the point of killing hundreds of millions are going to give away free power?). ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/27 "2014-08-10T14:18:54Z")
I don’t understand how this thread hasn’t already attracted a few August, 2014 joins. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/28 "2014-08-10T15:11:17Z")
> [@dba\_Fred](#): > > “Housewife in \ discovers _amazing_ **life-loss secret** ahead of 281 million Americans!” Illuminati hate her! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/29 "2014-08-10T15:41:55Z")
> [@dba\_Fred](#): > > “Housewife in \ discovers _amazing_ **life-loss secret** ahead of 281 million Americans!” What I find odd is that those housewives often “live” quite far from my town, like the software can’t figure out where I’m at. This is especially inconvenient when the pitch is “Have sex NOW.” If I want sex NOW I don’t want to drive 35 miles to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/30 "2014-08-10T16:13:21Z")
If, for example, you live in a suburb of Chicago, your ISP’s connection to the internet might be in downtown Chicago, so that’s where the advertiser thinks you are. Or if you live in Albuquerque but work for a company based in Philadelphia, all connections might appear to be coming from Philadelphia. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/31 "2014-08-10T16:50:36Z")
But they often get it right. Not that I believe that the young lady in the ad is where she claims to be and is the woman I’d end up with. Classic bit nobody’s seen: [Quaid Brothers on The New Show Naughty Lady Sketch.wmv - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbgWDz5_LJ0) I also assume she’s not as pretty as Catherine O’Hara. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/32 "2014-08-10T18:53:36Z")
I’m not worried whatever it is. I have gold and hybrid-free seeds. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/33 "2014-08-10T21:08:41Z")
I have a sneaking suspicion that if one were to deduct the numbers of certain segments of the US population, one would end up with 281 million particular white folks, if you get my drift. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/34 "2014-08-10T22:51:52Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > ``` > Funny how all these evil plots all seem to kill Americans in multiples of 281 million. That must be some Biblical number that signifies the anti-Christ. > > ``` > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > The guy did say that collapse was coming within 18 months. > [@Monty](#): > > I have a sneaking suspicion that if one were to deduct the numbers of certain segments of the US population, one would end up with 281 million particular white folks, if you get my drift. Maybe “281 million” does refer to some real demographic. But on the other hand, maybe it’s just a number that advertisers believe to be attractive (there’s the 1 and the 8 again, in “18 months”). Perhaps it seems Authentic because it’s not rounded to the nearest ten. Similarly, the “weird trick” language quoted in an earlier post is all over Internet ads aimed at the less-educated. It must work–it must generate more clicks-through than does other phrasing–or it wouldn’t be so ubiquitous. The whole idea of banks being given money by Evil Obama and then cornering the market on Food, is going to appeal only to people not in the habit of thinking things through. But there is no shortage of _that_ demographic; local Bank of America and Chase and Wells Fargo branch managers had better be prepared for armed hoards seeking the butter and Cheetos and Jimmy Dean sausage packs piled up in their back rooms! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/35 "2014-08-11T01:47:20Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > I dimly remember reading somewhere that ultimately every death can be attributed to heart failure. Robert Heinlein _Between Planets_ And why South Carolina? Dammit, I just bought a house down here! This sucks! ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/36 "2014-08-11T21:08:39Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > The guy did say that collapse was coming within 18 months. When was the video posted? 17 months, 29 days ago…OH MY GOD! I’m suddenly very hungry. And rioty. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/37 "2014-08-11T21:22:01Z")
> [@GoodOmens](#): > > 17 months, 29 days ago…OH MY GOD! I’m suddenly very hungry. And rioty. Food fight! ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/38 "2014-08-11T21:51:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > “This will make the most hard-minded patriots blood curl.” > > 1. The government gave banks money. Banks invest in food commodities. This creates a food shortage. > > 2. Rising food prices cause riots. > > 3. You can produce your own food with [aquaponics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics). Access to your own food supply will allow you to seize power after the government collapses. 1. Profit?? 281 million dead - that’s a lot of mortgage failures and foreclosures. Surely the end of the world - I could have sworn that just happened. > [@OffByOne](#): > > Normally, I could give you the short answer for only $199.95, but because I don’t know when the government is going to shut this web site down (because THEY don’t want you to KNOW!), I’m willing to let you know for just $49.95. It’s THAT important! That’s it, $49.95, but if you act right now; we’ll send you another basket of conspiracy [del]theories[/del] [del]facts[/del] whackdoodle that will [del]curl[/del] curdle your blood. Just include separate shipping and handling. And as an extra bonus, we’ll be sure to include you on dozens of mailing lists so Y O U W I L L B E I N F O R M E D :eek: unlike the sheeple around you. Don’t delay as this will be a “limited” (haha) time offer. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/39 "2014-08-11T22:21:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > “This will make the most hard-minded patriots blood curl.” > > 1. The government gave banks money. Banks invest in food commodities. This creates a food shortage. > > 2. Rising food prices cause riots. > > 3. You can produce your own food with [aquaponics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics). Access to your own food supply will allow you to seize power after the government collapses. But you can buy that food with your hoarded GOLD COINS!!! (I’d put a smilie here but they are all so horrible for this) ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165/40 "2014-08-11T22:36:10Z")
I found this one [http://www.usdeception.com/tsl/](http://www.usdeception.com/tsl/) It seems like similar materials are being used to sell all sorts of different survivalist products ---- this one is hawking a book and some sort of video seminar and he’s blathering away about how unemployment statistics are skewed because they don’t count those freeloading infants and geriatrics so we really have massive unemployment and runaway inflation even though we are being kept in the dark – and if you think you’re safe because you’ve stockpiled your own hydroponically grown food you’re going to be herded up and put into a FEMA concentration camp so you really need these books and tapes… or something like that, this stuff is really hard to read – I think a lot of is substantially different from the link on the “Evil bankers are hoarding your Twinkies” site [Pocket Farm](http://www.backyardliberty.com/vsl/index60.php) but they have the same photos of shrinking food packaging. Apparently there’s a lot of money to be made by predicting the collapse of society. Sorry this is disjointed but these links make my brain hurt [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-supposedly-going-to-kill-281-million-americans/695165.md?page=3)