Our electrical infrastructure has been in crummy shape for years. The many thousands of transformers that service these systems range from on like that outside hangs on a telephone pole to huge monsters weighing many tons. And there are only a few places that make the big ones. As one who worked in a power plant I have seen one of these monster transformers taken out of service by a squirrel. Yes a little nut eating critter. I've had the breaker blow on the one outside the house again by a squirrel. Course neither lived to tell the tale. MSN had an article on a coronal mass ejection in todays website. While the gov't has taken efforts to protect their installations, little or nothing has been done to protect out aging installations. While I wouldn't quite go so far as saying we'd be catapulted back to the 14th century in the event described we would definitely end up back in the 1800's for sure. And how far are we from starvation?,some experts say 3 days. As that's how long most stores and people keep food in their house. Forget the refrigerators and freezers as unless you plan on having a block party the stuff in them will be quickly become garbage. My mom always kept various canned goods stored in the basement, made her own bread, and came from pennsylvania farm people. If something like a huge solar flare took out the grid. Even if you planted a garden you'd probably be dead before you harvested anything off it. Granted some folks who sometimes are laughed and made fun of, the preppers in stockpiling away food, toilet paper, and other daily things would now be saying "I told you so". And they'd be right. I'm not being political here as that is not my intent. But having a garden or a stored supply of food and other things necessary would make the difference between living or dying. it's not what the gov't should do, but what you should do for yourself and your loved ones. Frank
