Oscar winners, sports stars and Bill Gates are building lavish bunkers — with amenities ranging from a swimming pool to a bowling alley — as global anxiety fuels sales and owners "could be the next Adam and Eve."
Given the increased frequency of terrorist bombings and mass shootings and an under-lying sense of havoc fed by divisive election politics, it's no surprise that home security is going over the top and hitting luxurious new heights. Or, rather, new lows, as the average depth of a new breed of safe haven that occupies thousands of square feet is 10 feet under or more. Those who can afford to pull out all the stops for so-called self-preservation are doing so — in a fashion that goes way beyond the submerged corrugated metal units adopted by reality show "preppers" — to prepare for anything from nuclear bombings to drastic climate-change events. Gary Lynch, GM at Rising S Bunkers, a Texas-based company that specializes in underground bunkers and services scores of Los Angeles residences, says that sales at the most upscale end of the market — mainly to actors, pro athletes and politicians (who require signed NDAs) — have increased 700 percent this year compared with 2015, and overall sales have risen 150 percent. "Any time there is a turbulent political landscape, we see a spike in our sales. Given this election is as turbulent as it is, we are gearing up for an even bigger spike," says marketing director Brad Roberson of sales of bunkers that start at $39,000 and can run $8.35 million or more (FYI, a 12-stall horse shelter is $98,500).The people who are voting for Clinton (because she claims wants to increase taxes on the rich) are preparing for what a lot of them can see coming. If these were just fallout shelters, I would think them paranoid, but they clearly are expecting the collapse of civil society brought on by their support of progressive ideas.
If they had just misunderstood Blast from the Past, this might be okay. In addition to being an entertaining comedy, it was also a commentary on the collapse of our civilization since the 1960s.
I can relate. Every time in the last three years Mr. Putin does something sales of my book on US Nuclear weapons goes up. Its a 20 year old book priced at $50.00 a copy and I still get some 75 sales a year. The publisher is even planning a 2nd edition for next year with full updates on the proposed new systems to counter Chinese and Russian moderization.
ReplyDeleteAs Rome was nearing collapse, the rich and privileged moved out of the city and began building walled estates. Many on top of hills, accessible only by elevators and ropes. No different then Masada in Israel, Herod's special retreat. Few of these places survived, simply stomped on by the barbarian hordes. What such people never understand, eventually you have to come out for food.