The End of America as we know it to be is imminent. That is a bold statement and I do not make it lightly, but it is the truth. My reasons are varied and many and there is ample evidence that have led me to make that statement. I’ll try to keep this blog post short, but include as much fact as I can to back that statement.
Fiat Currency and Global Debt
Paper money, known as Fiat Currency (not backed by tangible wealth such as Gold) is fast becoming the world’s downfall. It’s not just the US printing money, the EU, Britain and even Japan are printing money at a record setting pace. And they are going deeper in debt at a record pace.
Japan may be the first to fall, yes Japan. Thought they were OK didn’t you? With spending and printing out of control Japan currently owes 183% of it’s GDP!
Greece is right behind them with about 160% of their GDP and the list goes on. Ireland, Spain, Portugal, the UK and the US all owe more this year then their GDP! Technically they are all bankrupt.
Food Shortages
We don’t see it much here in the US yet, but food is rising at a record rate here and around the world. And supplies are running out due to natural disasters. India has had crop failures in onions and carrots, two huge staples in that country.
South East Asia has seen failures in Buckwheat another staple for that region. Chilies in Malaysia, wheat in Australia, corn in Argentina (most of Mexico gets it’s corn from Argentina). Here in the US rice production is down by 25% as farmers convert their fields to higher paying corn and soybeans (up to $60 per acre more). That is having a huge impact on countries like the Philippines and Bangladesh as we are a huge exporter of rice.
Many commodities experts say that we are only one crop failure away for global food riots, as we have seen recently in the middle east. Many of those riots are as much about the cost of food and wages and unemployment as they are about politics.
What the Government Has Up It’s Sleeve
Ben Bernake says he has the magic pill to restore the dollar and it’s been used a few times before in history. Notably the Romans and our own President used it in 1935 and it’s simply devaluing the dollar and inflating precious metal prices, then backing the currency with that inflated metal.
Sure it’ll stabilize the dollar and make it worth a dollar again, but the ensuing chaos it will create in the short term will devastate many Americans or I should say those that are not prepared for the chaos.
What Do We Do Then?
Many experts in the investment field are telling their clients to prepare NOW for this huge change in our lives. Historically those that have had the following in place before the crisis were able to come out of it on the top of the pile, so to speak. And if you do the research I have you’ll find that all the richest people in the world, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and folks of that standing are ticking off items on this list.
- Farm land and property – Those that have historically owned farm land and property in general have always come out of these situations ahead of everyone. The world will always need food and those that control enough land to produce food will come away from the chaos with a commodity they can sell, barter or otherwise use for wealth creation.
- Gold and Silver – When any currency collapses, those that have tangible precious metals can continue to acquire the necessities need for their families to survive. I advocate for Silver as it’s value is closely related to real items and can easily be used as a currency. Gold, while more valuable, is hard to use in the marketplace, because it is so valuable. The most important thing to remember is that it’s NOT the value of the silver, but how many ounces you own. Right now almost anyone can begin to own silver. At this writing silver was selling for about $33.00 an ounce and anyone can afford to begin to own some tangible silver.
- Food – When this crisis hits,
the store shelves will quickly become bare and most disaster experts say
that we need to have at least 6 months of food to hold us until things stabilize.
This is an easy one to prepare for as there are many places on the Internet
where one can buy freeze dried meals that have a shelf live of 25 to 30
years. For less then $1,000.00 I have acquired enough food to sustain my
family for more then a year. - Guns- It’s inevitable that those that have not prepared will want to take what you have. You need to be prepared to protect what you own and be able to save your family in the event that someone tries to take what you have. And yes, that includes the Government.
They took many things at gunpoint during the depression of the 30′s, but you hear little about it. A farmer and grandfather of a friend of mine had the Army come to his farm and take more then half of his cattle, at gun point. - Fuel – When the gas stations run out it will be some time before they are re-supplied. One needs to store a sufficient quantity of fuel and fuel stabilizer to ensure that emergency trips can be taken without the fear of the car’s tank running dry.
Will you be ready when the time comes? Let me just say that I am not alone in my thoughts about this. Many leading investment folks have the exact same or similar scenarios in mind and have been advising their clients for several months now about this. We can’t just keep spending and printing money it now it’s past the point of no return.
Cross posted at The Silver Advisor
Moe Lane
PG DeFreese
Victoria Coates
Daniel Horowitz
Dan Spencer
How do you store gas safely?
melissatx (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 11:54AM EST (link)All the others I do to some degree, but gas?
But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. John Adams
Outside Storage
GordonTaylor (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 12:12PM EST (link)Hopefully, you have some outside area to store it in. And keep a supply of stabilizer to add to it. Diesel (if you have a diesel generator) can be stored indefinitely. Simply add a bottle of stabilizer to your tank before filing.
Gasoline is a tough one to store, but Google it and you’ll find some ways to do it safely.
Dont forget solar cells. And salt.
leftylurker (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 12:06PM EST (link)Gas is important, food is VERY important. Water is too.
I’m a bit of a disaster preparedness nut myself, so I appreciate you saying this.
If you have space, don’t forget about things like iodized salt. Salt is very, very useful, and very, very hard to get if you don’t live near a natural supply.
Also, maybe this is the lefty in me speaking, but a small solar rig can be both cheap and very useful if the lights go out. You don’t want to be running a generator because 1) all that gas is going to go away very fast, and 2) everyone will know you have something worth taking.
I think the final piece is self defense. Guns are part of it, but physical self defense is important too. Your body is a weapon, and it shouldn’t be neglected for technology. I’ve been studying martial arts for some time now, and my instructor had me read up on trained fighter vs. holstered weapon at various ranges. It doesn’t look good for the gun until about 20 feet.
So how much silver
drguido Monday, February 28th at 1:37PM EST (link)should one try to put back? One other question. If they devalue the dollar, what does that do to mortgages? It would seem that if we get into the Wiemar Republic scenario, everyone could pay off their mortgages with worthless paper and instigate a larger banking crisis.
income assumption
Common_Cents (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 1:58PM EST (link)Since your income is in dollars and your mortgage is paid in dollars your income would have to rise rapidly. I think we’ll be experiencing more stagflation than anything. The inflationary money supply is being built up in the large banks and not out to us.
Obama=Golfer in Chief, Leading from,
behind, the Back Nine.Leaders don’t create movements. Movements create leaders. Get involved. Your future depends on it.
Govt “invests” YOUR tax money for POLITICAL return rather than economic return.
How much silver?
GordonTaylor (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 4:09PM EST (link)Great question. Most experts say you should hold at least 12 months of expenses in Silver. So if your necessary monthly expenses are $1,000.00 then you should have at least $12,000.00 in silver.
However, remember it’s not the price per ounce, but rather the number of ounces you own that determine your wealth.
The Wiemar Republic is a perfect example of where we are headed, make no mistake about it!
Didn't I read this before? About 1999?
acat (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 1:54PM EST (link)Yeah.. only then it was the Y2K disaster that was going to require that we all “be able to save ourselves for 6 months”…
Look, there’s nothing wrong with having food on hand – I know a guy who bricked one wall of his den with MREs – or with storing some gasoline, owning a firearm or two, or holding some gold or silver. (I recommend buying solid silver “silverware” as it’s got value as an object and as a metal…)
That said, the link this cross-posts to is a thinly populated blogspot site where the advertisements are all selling precious metals.
Long story short – if you want to own precious metals, that’s your call – but do be sure you own the *actual* metal, as in “holding it in my hand”, not in “a metals fund”.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
@mew
GordonTaylor (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 4:11PM EST (link)Yes my blog is new, just getting into action on this subject, lots more to come. I have been a contributor here at RS for more then 5 years so I am no troll. I haven’t been active lately, but I will be more now.
Looked into the Mormon resources, Gordon?
acat (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 5:41PM EST (link)Not being a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints myself, I haven’t looked into it, but .. there are a number of resources online that talk about storing up a year of food. Bulk grain, canned or pickled vegetables, basic but healthy food. It would make sense, if you’re looking at doing this kind of storage, to leverage their experience.
Since I have a couple oddball food allergies, I have to plan a little differently – think rice and quinoa instead of wheat – but .. it’s not a bad place to start.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
as a Mormon...
Justin Spagnolo (standardcandle) (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 11:56AM EST (link)food storage is important… but self-sufficiency and sustainability is better… 1 year food supply for every individual in the household has been the counsel we have received from modern day prophets since the early 1900s… but many of these resources have come from several hard learned lessons as a society that weathered institutional debts that nearly bankrupted us, as well as the social issues of the great depression…
My grandparents both grew up in the great depression, my grandmother had 12 siblings… my great grand-father took his older boys and made them work and help other people, even when there was no way to pay them… simply to keep them working… oddly enough that attitude sustained them as they learned to take care of one another… my great-grandfather eventually died at age 45 from multiple strokes… my great-grandmother raised chickens, kept a dairy cow, and bartered her skills as often as she could, she also maintained a vegetable garden, and raised honeybees, she canned/bottled as much as she could from her garden and gave away plenty, she also did this on a property within city limits… not some farm… and even with 13 children she would feed other people and their children… She was an amazing woman, and taught the ethics of getting along, and hard work… her children took care of her as well as she took care of them… and my grandmother passed that legacy on to me, my siblings, and my cousins… I fear economic collapses a lot less than I do personal laziness and lack of interest in other people and their needs…
There’s a reason why they call Utah “The Beehive State”… bees are industrious…
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. “ -James Madison
Thank you, Justin.
acat (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 12:14PM EST (link)Your great grandparents are a good example to us all… and I suspect those Mormons who have inherited their will to work and save will survive any economic collapse.
I know that, at one point, I’d run across several web sites with specific suggestions of what to put aside for future need, as well as suggestions of how to cheaply store stuff. Bags of rice stored in (cleaned!) 55 gal plastic or steel drums comes to mind.
I’d also wondered about Utah as the beehive state… but wasn’t sure who to ask.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
well in addition to long shelf-life products...
Justin Spagnolo (standardcandle) (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 12:54PM EST (link)you have to “rotate” your food storage, which means you need to use the rice as you go… or dry milk, or flour, or wheat, or canned products… and you replace those products after use… so you don’t overburden your monthly expenses and your shelf products don’t expire…
but there are things that people forget to keep in their storage in “times of famine” such as heirloom seeds(seeds that haven’t been genetically altered for single generation production) for vegetable gardens, tools and things that maintain your tools, gasoline (as was described above)… lots of folks believe in having a gun store, and ammunition reloaders, some also go so far as having a faraday cage(microwave like box) to store car parts, ham radio components and other things in case of EMP’s etc…
I think people can go overboard… especially when they’re avoiding family vacations to hoard nuts for the winter… but it certainly is well within reason to know that as our populations in large cities continues to become more compact in living space, that you begin to have logistical issues in maintaining resources in confined spaces such as fresh water, produce, general groceries… and when “things go down” like NYC blackout, or Katrina/Indonesia/Chile/Haiti -style natural disasters, people lose their minds, looting takes place, and if “order” isn’t restored… in areas where large populations are infested with organized crime… organized crime will become the new government…
In general I believe people are good… but desperate men will do anything to have there needs met and in our society today, I don’t think we’ll see the degree of “selfless sacrifice” that made the greatest generation, “The Greatest Generation”…
Providentliving.org is an LDS resource site if you’re interested…
In addition… all over the U.S. we have “Bishop Storehouses” where foods and canning supplies may be purchased, and where you may can your own purchased storehouse goods. You don’t have to be a member to participate.
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. “ -James Madison
You mention land.
usadying (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 4:49PM EST (link)I would not put it past the government to confiscate land for the “common good”. They are talking about confiscating 401(k)’s to “protect us”.
Mob rule is nullifying the people’s election results in WI, IN, and OH. I would never have believed that just a few months ago.
Not merely "land" .. "location".
acat (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 5:32PM EST (link)Whether we’re talking about a survivalist hideaway or a good investment, it’s not merely “land” but “location”. If you invest in real estate, especially rural real estate, look at who your neighbors will be, look at how much could be planted, look at water supplies, rainfall, possibility to retain rainfall in ponds (more useful for small-scale agriculture than large factory-farms) etc. Also look at defensibility, how fast you can get to your retreat, how fast others can get there……
I have no intention of being a survivalist – I have enough medical issues that I’d have trouble “off the grid” .. so my approach is different… but when ya start talking about “land” .. you’re really talking about a number of factors…
Were I going survivalist, I’d take 15 acres of hardscrabble farm country away from the interstates in Missouri over 15 acres of rich farmland along I-88 in Illinois. The former would be a lot harder to work, but is also a lot harder to take away from someone else. If it’s just about owning things with real, inherent value after the crash, then the farmland along I-88 would be better.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
Excellent
Ken Taylor (Diary) Tuesday, March 1st at 12:04AM EST (link)Well done and a very detailed and sad but true evaluation. It’s good to see you getting back into action again!
Well, now I'm TOTALLY confused
heartlander (Diary) Tuesday, March 1st at 9:11PM EST (link)Mind you, I agree with every word of the diary above — but I got the impression over the last couple of weeks that the RS moderators were not going to tolerate Glenn Beck-ish, doomsday type stuff. Again, I absolutely agree that our current situation cannot last, and that sooner or later, things could get VERY ugly — but I thought that if I expressed such thoughts here, it would get me banned.
If anyone has any insights that could help clarify this for me, please share. I seem to be hopelessly clueless as to figuring out where “the line that may not be crossed” lies, exactly.
“The still, small voice of God in every human soul is the greatest ally of the pro-life cause, and why it will ultimately prevail.”
–Donald R. McClarey
For what my opinion may be worth, heartlander...
acat (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 12:22PM EST (link)and I’m neither the author of this diary, nor a moderator, the reason this diary survived is because seems to be couched in reality. There are facts, there are cites, there are examples…
I was suspicious – cats are naturally skeptical – of the authors’ motives, but I see nothing that makes the leap from fact to paranoia… and the discussions have remained centered around the practical – what to own, what to do, etc. rather than focussing on unprovable theories.
While I wouldn’t be advising people to buy gold now – it’s a bit overmanipulated by government banks IMO – I think it’s valid to suggest building up a food reserve, looking at investment property that might be available cheaply, becoming more self-sufficient… and buying solid silver (not plate) silverware or serving pieces. Stuff that has an inherent value will retain its’ value and “inflate” where a bank account balance or cash money in a mattress won’t.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
Thanks, acat!
heartlander (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 6:40PM EST (link)Yes, some very solid folks I know, who are not paranoid nor drawn to conspiracy theories in the least, concur that the status quo simply cannot last. Something will give, probably sooner than later.
Emergency preparations are always a good idea. For example, before Y2K we stocked up on things like powdered milk and toilet paper — well, we USED that stuff, it’s not like it went to waste. When we got hit by an ice storm in ’07 that knocked out our power for twelve days, the candles, batteries and lamp oil that we’ve kept on hand came in really handy.
And really, can ANYONE look at the world financial situation and our unfathomable debt, and believe that the dollar will be worth much of anything in a few years?
“The still, small voice of God in every human soul is the greatest ally of the pro-life cause, and why it will ultimately prevail.”
–Donald R. McClarey
@acat
GordonTaylor (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 9:49PM EST (link)Thank you for your reply and support. I have been posting on RedState for many years, I’ve been a member here for over 5 years and just haven’t been active lately.
Believe me when I say I’ve routed many a troll at this site and have known Eric, Moe and the gang – albeit virtually – for a long time.
I am not an alarmist nor a fear monger, just a practical business man. What I am hearing from colleagues and seeing around the world indicates that I am on the right track.
Just today the WSJ posted an article about the loss of value of the dollar and it’s impending doom as the reserve currency. When that happens is when the bottom will fall out for while.
Is it better to be over prepared then under prepared. I think so. That is why I have acquired what I consider to be the 5 essentials.
Precious Metals
Guns
Land
Food
Fuel (both gas and diesel)
Water is a good point that was made in another comment. However, on my land I have a well and a generator to run it and if you look around bottled water is easy to come by and easy to store.
I hope my colleagues and I are wrong…but if we’re not…
The catch with bottled water, Gordon...
acat (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 10:07PM EST (link)is that it has to be clean. *very* clean. or, turned over fairly quickly.
Had some friends who bought some drinking water, standard 1gal bottles, from WalMart prior to Y2K. Stuck the bottles in the basement. Few months later, they remembered it and .. every single bottle had .. stuff .. growing in it.
Southerners, I think, have the right idea – hot water tank in the attic is at least a short-term supply, and the gravity feed means it’ll keep working.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
You are correct
GordonTaylor (Diary) Friday, March 4th at 12:17AM EST (link)One can also purchase sterile water in cans that have been nitrogen flushed to ensure no biological contamination. It’s a bit expensive, but worth it if you have no other source of water.
Google around, there are several water purifiers that are gravity fed and even used by the military that can turn even mud puddle water into potable water quickly and easily.
They use a ceramic filter system, you pour the water in the top and clean water comes out the spigot on the bottom. The filters are so fine they even filter parasites and such.
I'm familiar with the product, or at least one product...
acat (Diary) Friday, March 4th at 5:23AM EST (link)http://www.filterpurefilters.org do a ceramic filter of the type you mention, not sure about availability in the states, though.
Mew
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Caveat Suffragator
You left out the most important.
Menlo (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 1:40PM EST (link)Water!
It’s already a necessity now that most cities are tainting us with the toxic poison fluoride.
Distillation and reverse osmosis are the only methods of filtration that do any good.
“The ultimate touchstone of constitutionality is the Constitution itself and not what we have said about it.” -Felix Frankfurter
Nope; the most important thing is tinfoil.
juumanistra (Diary) Thursday, March 3rd at 3:50PM EST (link)You’ll need decades worth to account for all the hat-making you’ll do, at least if you take seriously the various fulminations about societal collapse bouncing around the Internet.