While in-the-tank American news media report that conditions
in the U.S. aren’t as bad as some make them out to be, one needs to be a
complete fool to not see the reality before them. For many years, even prior to
this current out of control administration, Washington politicians have been derelict
with the peoples’ money and have been implementing counter-constructive economic
policy aimed at securing votes from low information voters, being the arbiters
of fairness and consolidating central power.
The misguided (I’m being generous with that term) notion
that the best way to achieve equality for the people is by government forcing
equal results rather than by government guaranteeing equal opportunity, that
government knows best how to run your life and that creating an ever expanding
dependent class in order to reduce citizen demand for economic and social
liberty has slowly turned the U.S. into a quasi-European socialist State.
The governments’ policies on energy, taxes, spending,
healthcare, wealth redistribution, redundant regulation and foreign affairs have
combined to create a fatally toxic environment. They’ve given us 16 trillion in
debt so far and a real world deficit of an unbelievably staggering, 120
trillion dollars when all obligations are factored in.
This is unsustainable. Period. Mathematically it’s not even
open for debate.
And, these clowns are so addicted to spending that they’re
currently fighting over reducing the rate of increased spending by 85 billion
dollars! Can you comprehend that? Without the
85 billion dollars, the proposed budget is still 15 billion more than the non-budget from last year but the current administration warns
of doom if we don’t spend that extra 85 billion. Its insanity and when
you have insane assholes in power, you get insane results. This is a truism of
history.
These policies and others are forging a path towards hyper-
inflation, wealth destruction and economic paralysis this country has never
seen. Consider that during the Great Depression the U.S. unemployment rate was at
25% and stock prices dropped over 50% and look at our current situation.
While the lackey news media tells us the U.S. unemployment
rate stands at 7.9%, we know that between 6% and 7% of the unemployed have
stopped looking for work and have exhausted their unemployment benefits. So this
brings the actual number to around 14.5%. Now while that is a long way from
25%, the reality is the business climate is deteriorating due to overbearing
regulation, high taxes, Obamacare, high fuel costs and less discretionary spending
by money tight consumers.
Don’t believe me? Here’s a list of stores Yahoo Finance says
will close locations in 2013; Best Buy Forecast store closings: 200 to 250, Sears
Holding Corp. Forecast store closings: Kmart 175 to 225, Sears 100 to 125, J.C.
Penney Forecast store closings: 300 to 350, Office Depot Forecast store
closings: 125 to 150, Barnes & Noble Forecast store closings: 190 to 240, Gamestop
Forecast store closings: 500 to 600, OfficeMax Forecast store closings: 150 to
175, and RadioShack Forecast store closings: 450 to 550. What do you think is
going to happen to stock prices and the unemployment rate?
This is bad, bad news.
More people thrown into unemployment means more government assistance,
which means more wealth confiscation
from the producers, which means more lay-offs, which means more government assistance,
which means more wealth confiscation … and so it goes. The circle of collapse.
With all this in mind the survivalist has to prep
accordingly.
There are several things you have to come to sober
conclusions about quickly. The first of which is you have to get your own
economic house in order in the next year or two. This is going to take effort
and serious planning because as you’re cleaning yourself up, you also have to
maintain your other preps.
Stop wasting money. Pack your lunches, eat in house and
limit your restaurant dining and pizza deliveries. Look for the best prices on
internet, phone service, car & home insurance and cut back on your premium cable
or satellite channels. If you can live with the basics or without, that’s even
better.
Begin paying off your debts. If you have car payments,
consider selling and buying a vehicle with cash, outright. Sell off crap you have
that you don’t need and convert the money to silver, gold or even liquor for bartering.
Make sure your Federal, State and local property taxes, your
mortgage and your student loans are paid up to date.
The cleaner you are financially, the less risk you have of
government or authoritative entities coming after you in times of their fiscal desperation.
Consider not taking that vacation and instead think about
finding a part-time job or other ways of making extra income.
Make a list of your expenditures and scrutinize it
thoroughly. Find every way possible to trim down.
Continue your food, water and fuel storage and remember that
discretion is a must because when people get desperate, you’ll have to deal
with them. The fewer people not in your group/team that knows anything about
your preps the less chance you’ll have to. In several humanitarian operations I’ve
taken part in around the world I can tell you that people who were once trusted
neighbors will do anything to take from their better prepared neighbors when
they’re hungry, thirsty or just feel like the deserve what they have. And just
so we’re clear, they will kill, rape, maim and torture to get what they want.
That brings us to weaponry and ammunition.
Whether you’re prepared to bug-out (most people aren’t) or
bug-in, during an economic collapse unprepared people will get stupid. Besides
the above mentioned killing, raping and torture, I’ve seen parents offer their children
for barter. I’ve seen gangs of roving bandits overturn cars to keep the
occupants from leaving with supplies and I’ve seen cannibalism. It is
imperative that the prepper understand the extreme desperation that can result from disastrous conditions
and although we all hope humanity will bond and become guardians and caretakers
of each other the truth is there will be predators without conscience. It is an
undeniable and never failing pattern of human history. I highly recommend that
if you can, finding a bug-out location, whether through family or friends, or
if it’s the one expense you have to invest in, is crucial. Away from civilization
is optimal, but understandably not possible for most preppers.
So you must ensure your defensive methods are ready and
available. As we’ve discussed in previous prep blogs, you should own weaponry
that is at least as formidable as the weaponry you may have to defend against
and that means modern sports rifles (AR-15/AK47 types), high capacity hand
guns, short barrel 5 shell minimum shot guns for close quarter maneuvering,
edge weapons such as knives and tomahawks and blunt weaponry such as baseball
bats and batons. Mace, pepper spray and stun guns should also make up part of
your arsenal. Also don’t neglect your ammunition. I recommend a minimum of 250
rounds per weapon. Not per caliber. Not per person. Per weapon. Remember, NATO
weaponry and ammunition is best, but don’t forget your 22LR rifles, handguns
and ammo either.
Your bug-in preps should be low profile and well concealed.
Build privacy fences or plant shrubbery to conceal crops, water storage and
ground mounted solar panels if possible. Remember if you’re bugging-in, in
cities or suburbs it would be beneficial to fence your property, have an
intimidating watch dog (yes you need to prep for your pet too) and use quiet
sources of energy. Gasoline, propane and diesel generators are great but
remember they need fuel, and they’re loud so you have to take that into
consideration. You do not want to attract attention to yourself.
You should begin setting cash aside. Banks may or may not
collapse but you have to prepare for a disruption of the financial institutions’
ability to service its’ customers either in person or electronically and of
course if SHTF bankers will protect themselves before they protect you. The
FDIC shit is out the window, at least for a while. So if you’re like many
people, you can’t just hoard away a ton of cash instantly so try to save ten or
twenty dollars per pay check in a safe and secure location in your home.
Purchasing gold or silver in small quantities whenever you can is a smart move.
Store this yourself. Do not rely on an agency to do this. They are not going to
send an armored car to your house when you need it in an emergency. The
uncertainty of an economic collapse means paper money may become worthless. Precious
metals and stones will always be valuable. Do what you can.
You should consider attaining materials to fortify your
residence if you have to bug-in. Plywood, lumber, sand bags, tempered steel
chains, window & door bars and the appropriate bolts and screws are
important to prepare in advance. In the case of an economic collapse, city
residents are more vulnerable to home invasion and attack. Civil unrest,
rioting, looting, and indiscriminate violence are big probabilities so turning
your home into Fort Knox may be a life saver. Give some thought to your
situation and as to whether or not you want to fortify your home from within.
Behind curtains and/or blinds and doors. Low profile fortifications or obvious
fortifications. It’s your call, you know your threats and neighborhood best.
Finally, remember your SEER plans. Just because you choose
to bug-in or have no choice or nowhere to go, your circumstances may change rapidly.
So keep your go-bags ready. If you choose to bug-out remember that timing is
everything and that includes making allowances for the possibility of Marshal
Law and police checkpoints and road blocks.
Do your research, write down your plans and make it happen.
Regards from Liberty33
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