The socio-economics of zombies

I don't have any evidence yet to back this up, but I think there is definitely a connection between economic and social upheaval and interest in the zombie apocalypse.

The same goes for all types of preppers: the gun nuts; survivalists; underground bunker-builders, et al.  

We also have to admit that this instinct of embracing mass death, or at least preparing eagerly for it, goes back a few decades in the West, especially in the U.S.

I can't prove it (yet), but I am sure that there has existed a sense of personal insecurity in the U.S. that sought some source: nuclear war; famine; plagues (natural and man-made); environmental catastrophe; and now, zombies. A corollary of that feeling of insecurity is a distrust in our government and institutions to 1) recognize the "real" danger and 2) tell us the truth about it, and 3) protect us from it.

It's all of a piece.  

I would love to see some socio-economic research about who is engaging in all this prepper stuff most actively. My guess is that the very poor and the very rich are excluded; it's likely most prevalent among the working and middle classes who have something to lose, walking the knife-edge of economic insecurity.

Researcher: Zombie fads peak when society unhappy

By Meg Kinnard

March 11, 2013 | AP

URL: http://www.salon.com/2013/03/11/researcher_zombie_fads_peak_when_society_unhappy_2/

A well-run government has the leisure to debate zombies

No, this is not from The Onion, and yes, you are reading the headline below right.

OK, granted, it's another question why Canada's elected leaders don't have anything better to do than debate hypothetical illegal zombie migration. Then again, they're not wasting their time debating whether to pay for the bills they voted for, to "sequester" their budgets, or to disapprove of Cabinet ministers' nominations because those nominees agree with the Prime Minister who nominated them. 

So on the whole I still give Canada's parliament the edge.

Canadian Parliament: ‘Canada Will Never Become a Safe Haven for Zombies’

By Taylor Berman

February 13, 2013 | Gawker

URL: http://gawker.com/5984147/canadian-parliament-canada-will-never-become-a-safe-haven-for-zombies

What a 'real' zombie apocalypse would require

So some dude at Harvard has written "The Zombie Autopsies," which all but legitimizes zombie-prepper paranoia.  

The key take-away is that any zombie infection must affect the human frontal lobe and the cerebellum in a very specific way. Since most people don't use their brains at all, it's not much of a stretch to think that some zombie virus would use it for them.

Then all our stockpiled canned goods, guns and ammo in our bunkers will have been supremely justified!  

Meanwhile, here are what truly Bad Brains look like: 

Zombie Apocalypse Prevention Comes Down To Understanding Zombie Bra-a-ains

By David Moye

December 14, 2012 | Huffington Post

URL: http://huff.to/U0K6nj

Hard to classify

OK, I admit it, I'm struggling with how to label this story.... Zombie preppers gone wild? Life imitating art? Accessible firearms escalate stupid argument to a life-and-death struggle? Rednecks are nuts?  

But here's the weirdest part: after he shot her in the back, the redneck boyfriend drove his girlfriend to the hospital for treatment. Like, he made his point, he shot her, that proves he's right and she's wrong and all the rest is bygones. He's now charged with attempted second-degree murder.  

Anyhoo... is season 3 of The Walking Dead the best ever or what?  Michonne should have finished off the Governor when she had the chance, am I right?  I sure hope he gets what's coming to him!....

"So you guys call walkers 'biters,' huh?"

Man Shoots Girlfriend in the Back for Not Taking the Possibility of a Zombie Apocalypse Seriously

By Neetzan Zimmerman

December 5, 2012 | Gawker

URL: http://gawker.com/5965883/man-shoots-girlfriend-in-the-back-for-not-taking-the-possibility-of-a-zombie-apocalypse-seriously

USG finally getting serious about zombies

Finally, the U.S. Government is getting serious about an inevitable Zombie Apocalypse.  Seriously:  

"This is a very real exercise, this is not some type of big costume party," said Brad Barker, president of Halo Corp, a security firm hosting the Oct. 31 training demonstration during the summit at a 44-acre Paradise Point Resort island on a San Diego bay. "Everything that will be simulated at this event has already happened, it just hasn't happened all at once on the same night. But the training is very real, it just happens to be the bad guys we're having a little fun with."

Hundreds of military, law enforcement and medical personnel will observe the Hollywood-style production of a zombie attack as part of their emergency response training.

Meanwhile, America's zombie electorate is finally getting serious about the 2012 presidential race, which affects the living and undead alike.  Not seriously.

(My favorite zombie-voter complaint from a zombie Soccer Mom: "47% of zombies feel entitled to brain stamps, and the government should just hand out brains to them.")

Seriously though, zombie soccer moms aside, Republicans have the most to fear from zombies taking over America, because as every good Republican knows, dead people vote Democrat.  No exceptions.

Happy Halloween!