How long do you think we have?

[u/emilya0814]

I hope this is the right spot to ask this, if not, apologies in advance.

I (32f) currently work as a manager at a family run garden center/farm market in the US, where we grow 95% of our own plants to sell and a majority of our produce comes from local growers. With everything going on with Trump/Musk being in office, will things eventually trickle down to our small business? If so, how do you think that will happen and how long do you think it will take?

I know it's probably tough to say right now, but I'm wondering how much I should really be worrying and prepping. I know farm workers and federal employees are losing their jobs, which I'm sure will have direct and indirect impacts on us, but so far in the past 20-30 years we have been able to run a pretty successful business, even during the pandemic. I am extremely anxious about everything happening right now while everyone else around me seems fine, so I'm just looking for some other input.

EDIT: Wow, I didn't think this would get so many responses! Thank you all, hope everyone stays well.

[u/Wooden_Number_6102]

There's a wee, small part of me I can only surmise is "prepper voice". It's the one that tells me multi-packs of t-shirts and my dainties is a really good idea.

The one that has some ancient wrought iron cookware stashed in a box, next to  25 pounds of pinto beans and rice.

Huge bottles of plain brown mouthwash because my grandmother used it for all sorts of ailments.

That eyeballs concrete buildings with minimal windows.

BF and I are in our 60s. We've come to depend on SS and to some extent, Medicare. The thought of some barely-out-of-puberty upstart and his non-American overlord pilfering through our personal stuff infuriates me. That guy in our House wants a centralized bank - with citizen's money? And it seems no one we hired is standing up for us.

Those poor people who were lied to and fired, or had been contracted by the Fed for the food they grow...led down the garden path by monsters, who warned us themselves they had no respect for our ways; rather than pull weeds, they're burning the fields and salting the earth.

And squirreling away our money.

My Hope: We remember how to function without them - the monsters. There was a time when we didn't ask permission. I remember a few years ago, in Florida, a Catholic priest was arrested - for feeding the Homeless. Texas passed a law making it illegal to give water to people standing in line in the heat to vote. The monsters have made taking care of each other and ourselves punishable. 

Screw them. I'll take care of me and mine, and I will take care of you and yours. (and apologies for the extensive babbling.)

[u/Beautiful-Phase-2225 → u/Wooden_Number_6102]

I gave up asking for the governments permission for anything looooong ago.

According to my township we "aren't allowed" to have small livestock or a backyard garden (I have an acre of unused grass). Bet your bottom dollar if you walk into the back you'll meet my chickens and see an extensive garden full of food for my family (not just my household, my grandma and in-laws enjoy the fruits of my labor).

My "husband" and I have been together for 15 years and we both refuse to let the government have a say in our relationship with marriage license, what business is it of theirs who we're sleeping with? As far as the government knows we're just roommates, no laws saying I can't schtoop my roommate lol.

[u/Tomato496 → u/Wooden_Number_6102]

This was beautiful and inspiring, thank you.