Saturday, February 14, 2009

The Coming Charlie Foxtrot




You know guys, we try on our blogs to post more of the lighthearted things in our lives, but right now, I think that there is a dark cloud hanging over us all, and I feel like I need to get you guys informed and able to cope with what I see coming down the road.

Now, I know that you guys probably think that I just sit around all day reading books and watching movies and looking at guns on the internet, but the truth is that in the last year and a half or so, I spend at least four or five hours a night online getting what is probably the equivalent to a college degree in history, economics, and geo-politics. I'm constantly crawling through various forums, blogs, organization websites, institutes, and think-tank sites trying to learn as much as I can about What Is Going On. Everything I've seen for months and months points to the fact that it doesn't look good for us in the future.

So I'm going to try to keep everyone here informed, in a way that's easy for everyone to understand.

First of all guys, we've got trouble abrewin' in this country. Everybody knows it, but the average person, it seems, would rather believe that everything is going to be okay as long as they trust the government and simply believe that everything will be okay.

In reality, though, what we're looking at is another Great Depression, and very possibly either the collapse of the federal government, or at least a drastic curtailing of federal power. According to some of the experts out there, we're already in a depression, but the government is refusing to call it that for fear of causing a panic and making everything worse. At this point, the actual unemployment numbers sit at 13%, not the 7% being claimed. There are experts out there predicting unemployment at 25% before the year is out. Market strategist Dr. Brandon Kim thinks that number could actually get into the 30%+ range, which is freaking scary to think about.

Just like with the Soviet Union, the US is spending itself into collapse, and we get to watch it all unfold on Fox News every day. The Spending Bill of 2009 is going to be the beginning of the end. This turkey is all about the Dems getting all of the funding for programs they haven't been able to get passed in the last forty years all in one go. They're pushing social programs that cannot in any way be supported by the taxpayers. There's just no more money.

The Dems grand plan is to borrow money to pay off debt. WTF? Anyone who has ever payed off a credit card with another credit card knows that this is a losing game. Why the Democrats can't see the lunacy of this just amazes me.

There are several US States though that can see this as the biggest problem to our security. At the moment, eight states have introduced legislation declaring state sovereignty under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments. Another twenty are expected to draft similar bills in the coming weeks. Halle-freakin'-lujeh!

Essentially they are telling the Feds to back off of their latest power grab and stop spending money like drunken sailors. They're also rebelling against pending legislation that violates 2nd and 4th Amendment rights. Things like the REAL ID act and gun registration and ammunition encoding are absolutely unconstitutional, and the Dems are trying to push this stuff through ASAP.

This is how the Soviet Union started breaking up. I've even been hearing talk of secession now, and the movement is growing. New Hampshire, Montana, Texas, Arizona, just for starters.

So what does all this mean? We'll throw aside politics, and get down to what this means at the individual level, which means you and me.

Well, for one thing, it means that we are now looking at drastic changes in how we live our lives. The luxuries we've all gotten used to will likely be gone in the next few years. There is a very real need to start by planning ahead at covering the basic necessities of life. Food, water, shelter, transportation, and security.

Food- For one thing, start stocking up right now on food and seed. As much as you can afford. Buy it cheap, stack it deep. Also, I want everyone, and I mean everyone, to rip up their back yards and start planning subsistence gardens. Seriously, it may be the thing that gets you through the bad times in the years to come. Learn how to can and preserve food.

Jeremy, get Kyle and Dad together, tear out every patch of grass and Mom's flower beds, and start planting food. Do the same at Heidi's house. Get food growing, and start making compost.

Water- Very important. Keep a good supply in the garage, just in case. Enough for a few days at least. Maybe more if you live in AZ.

Shelter- At this point, shelter is going to be the least of anyone's problems. If you had to, it wouldn't be tough to find an empty house to squat in, given how many foreclosures there have been in the last few years. There is a three year inventory of houses in this country. There's plenty of room.

Transpo- Keep your car at least 3/4 full. Get a ten gallon gas can or three and fill them up. Rotate them, but keep the gas handy. 30 gallons of gas on hand would allow you to Get The Hell Out in an emergency.

Before the Spending Bill was passed, there were experts saying that gas would be down to eighty cents a gallon by summer. Now, though, we're looking at the very real threat of hyper-inflation, so the cost of gas could go through the roof. Keep some extra handy.

Get a bike. Start riding it. Get used to doing as many chores as you can on it. Eventually, it may be the only vehicle you can afford to use. You'd be surprised at how folks in third world countries get along and thrive on the bicycle.

Security- This means guns, friends, and family. The family we got covered. The guns though, are another issue. Get one or two, and buy as much ammo as you can afford. There may come a time when ammo will be worth more than money. No, I'm not kidding. Get to know your neighbors. Establish good relations with those around you.

Also, if the economy and the nation collapse, which is likely, crime will go through the roof and you have to be ready to protect yourself at a moment's notice. Cops will be few and far between. Guns and friends will be the only protection you have.

Get into the best shape you can. Exercise as much as you can, and lose some weight. If we collapse, you're going to want to have as few health issues as possible. Get used to walking long distances with a backpack. Trust me, I've done this a lot in the last few months, and it isn't easy. The Army has guys run with full packs every day for a reason. Get your body used to hardship.

Learn how to fight. Unarmed, with blade, club, and firearm. This is important. Keep it basic if you must, but learn something. Especially you men. There is no excuse for not knowing how to put the hurt on an enemy, and your family might need you to be able to defend them someday. So might your friends and neighbors. So learn what you need to learn, and become modern warriors.

Next time I'll post a few articles on the coming cataclysm, and solutions to surviving when the times are interesting, in the Chinese sense of the word.

I know this sounds like end of the world, tin foil hat stuff, but you can't ignore the lessons of history. America is not immune to the stupidity of those in charge. We've had nearly two decades of bad government leading us down the road to failure.

We've arrived.

13 comments:

Jeremy said...

Whoa

Becca said...

Do know what i want to do....

start out fresh like a new game of Monopoly. Every one get the same amount of money just clear the board and start out clean. You know....
This has been going on for years like Monopoly goes on for days eventually you just start over cause your sick of the old game so you start a new one!



I should be the President..

Hannah Engberg said...

Rebecca Engberg for 2023!

You have my vote! hahahaha!

Steve said...

Last year our stake made it a plan to have everyone have some type of food storage. Amy talked about it on her blog once or more. Every month they let you know what you need for each person in your family. Every month it is something different. Yes it's just one item per month, but it's better than feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start.

I grew a garden last year, and plan to grow a better one this year. I learned from my mistakes.

In addition to guns, those who are able, I would highly suggest a bow. Guns may be for protection for many, but they are also for food gathering. A bow gives you an economical way of getting food without noise or needing more ammo.

Red Dawn is an awesome movie. Yes it's fake, but it gives me small ideas on ways I could survive the worst.

Dan, I look forward to every post you make. You need to make more of them more often.

KaraLyn said...

What do you mean "Holy crap... it's KaraLyn"??? Am I that bad?

Aunt Me said...

I'll grow a garden when Alan gets a secure job and we end up where we are supposed to be. Otherwise I agree 100%.

Amy said...

"Why the Democrats can't see the lunacy of this just amazes me."

...really? Does it?

You're right on with what the Church has been saying for a while.

The March Ensign has some good tips in it too.

Amy said...

And Red Dawn bites.

Dan said...

Oh, SACRILEGE Amy!

That's just gross irreverence.

You must be careful, lest C. Thomas Howell hear of your insulting ways and pay you a visit.

WOLVERINES!!!

Dan said...

'What do you mean "Holy crap... it's KaraLyn"??? Am I that bad?'

I didn't say it. I didn't have to. :P

HA!


Didn't Nichelle warn you? If you post on our blogs, you're going to get your chops busted like everyone else. We all get teased and insulted around here. It's practically a requirement.

That's just how we roll. :D

Jeremy said...

AMY! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT RED DAWN BITES! SHAME....SHAAAAAME on you!

Nichelle said...

Loved your ideas Dan. Even though I hear it about 5 times a week from you, it never gets old. Only you do. :)

And you should know that I don't want to get to know my neighbors. They scare me. They are creepy. And weird.

As for the fighting thing, can you teach me? It may not look like it, but I am pretty tough. (You can stop laughing now).

And just so you know, JB and I talked about you staying in the downstairs room when all this breaks loose. I want my family to have all the protection they can get. So get ready.

Steve said...

I've spoken for dan living with us long ago... you'll have to find someone else when TEOTWAWKI comes. much more self sustainability up here :)