Blue Storm

on March 11, 2013 at 1:58 am
Posted In: Economy, Potential Threats, Prepping

Blue Storm: Financial Hurricanes Striking Blue States

state red blue

The states who are in the worse financial shape, coincidentally (or not) are also among those who helped maintain the current administration in Washington. We compared maps of the states who supported president Obama in 2012 with those facing the most sever financial crisis. The map above show the final count for Obama in blue, and those who voted against Obama in red. I say “against Obama” because many conservatives found Romney to be the poorest possible Republican candidate and only cast their ballot for him because he was not Obama.

In the map below, I have placed bankruptcy icons in both the top ten states with the highest debts and the top ten states with the highest deficits. If you compare the maps, you see most of the icons are in the blue states. 9 out of ten of the highest debt states were Obama supporters in 2012. Likewise, 7 out of 10 of the states running the highest deficits were also Obama supporters in the same election.

Debt and Deficit Map

debt and deficit blue storm

The average correlation of debt and deficit to states that supported Obama is 80%. (70% for deficit and 90% for debt). The evidence seems to show that the economic model those states subscribe to is similar to that of the President. Those failing states represent people who embrace the failing policies of our failing president. Many of these states are notorious for wasteful and welfare spending. We also notice that California and New York are recipients of an icon for both debts and deficits. These two states have long been havens for liberals and socialism. Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg are each doing their part to make sure New York State and New York City are among the most oppressive locations in America. Governor Cuomo recently placed a ban on all gun magazines with the capacity to hold more than 7 bullets. Mayor Bloomberg did his part by restricting the size of soda that you can order with your pizza.

Corresponding Chart for Debt and Deficit Map

Rank Worst Deficits Worst Debts Worst Unfunded Benefit Liabilities
1 Arizona Massachusetts Ohio
2 California Connecticut Wisconsin
3 Nevada New Jersey Alaska
4 Illinois New York Illinois
5 New Jersey Illinois Alabama
6 New York California New Jersey
7 Rhode Island Wisconsin South Carolina
8 Kansas Maryland Colorado
9 Oregon Louisiana Connecticut
10 Alaska Florida Minnesota

In addition to your lack of freedom for living in these economically unstable states, New York and California also have some of the highest state income tax rates as well. New York’s top rate is 8.82%. California’s top tax rate is 13.3%. in contrast, Texas made neither list for debt, deficit nor voting for Obama. So to be in such good financial condition, Texas must really collect a lot in state income tax. The Texas top state income tax rate is 0%. That’s right, ZERO! Why would some one stay in New York or California? Many people are asking themselves the same question.

Let’s look at an example. A big earner who makes half a million in California could get a raise of $66,500 per year by moving to a state with no state income tax. That is about $1 million every 15 years. The only downside is he would have to decide for himself how much soda to drink and how many bullets he should have in his gun, because Texas doesn’t make those decisions for you.

The more a person makes, the bigger the incentive for them to move. Free market economics suggest that all but the most ignorant of high income earners will move. They will find states that treat their money better, even if they don’t like the notion of freedom. This shift will leave states like New York and California in a still more detrimental situation. Having lost the bread winners, they will be stuck with only those they have trained to be dependent on the welfare state. Unable to leave, the welfare dependents of those states will consume the vital resources needed to keep the state governments afloat. At some point, the Federal government will no longer be able to bail out those states, and they will collapse into chaos.

Even a state like New York is only so liberal in her highest population centers. A map showing outcomes of the 2012 election by county shows most of New York, by area, supported Romney. However, the electoral college is determined by population, not area. Take a look at the map below. You will notice that even Illinois, a leftist mecca, is mostly conservative outside of the population centers.

2012 Presidential Election results by County

red blue 2

In the event of of a economic collapse which destroys society as we know it, most of the die off will occur in the areas with the highest population density. On our map, we see most of those areas are blue. Those living in more rural areas would be better prepared to hunt and farm in order to feed themselves. The die off would be a fraction of what would occur in the cities. Most of rural America is represented on the map as being conservative. America is not lost. It is just the a few spots on the map that are lost. Unfortunately, they are running the show for now.

If you live in these areas, now is the time to start planning your exit strategy. Once the trend starts of people moving out of these areas, housing values will sink quickly. I don’t think things will fall apart over night, but have a place to go just in case they do. The very nature of the future is unprecedented. No one knows exactly what will happen or how fast. Making a move towards a more free state is , in most cases, also making a move to a more stable state.

We cannot ignore the impact of a $1 trillion dollar annual military budget on our Federal deficit. I know it was not the Democrats welfare programs alone that ran up our $16.6 trillion dollar Federal deficit. The Warfare budget has been  treated as a sacred cow by the Neo-Conservative element that has hijacked the Republican Party. Don’t forget your history. The Republican Party was born out of the ideas of Thomas Jefferson. Those who fell in the camp of smaller government, individual freedom and minding our own business internationally were first called Jeffersonians. They latter became known as Republicans. We don’t need a new party, we need to take our party back!

Don’t give up. Keep taking steps toward defending your liberty. Don’t let the Democrats bully you out of your county and don’t let the Neo-Cons bully you out of your party! Speak your mind, know your history, stick to your guns, defend your constitution and keep prepping. It will get worse before it gets better, but all is not lost. If you are not prepared for what is coming, now is the time to get your plan together. Read our 7 Step Survival Plan to get ready for whatever may come. It will help you prepare for everything from a hurricane to the end of the world as we know it.

God bless you and keep you and happy Prepping!

Comments Off on Blue Storm

Economics, Liberty and Tyranny

on March 8, 2013 at 4:07 am
Posted In: Economy

Economics, Liberty and Tyranny

economics

This video by R.C. Sproul Jr. gives a quick and entertaining economics lesson. One of the most likely crisis we will have to prepare for is an economic collapse or depression. R.C. Sproul Jr. teaches the fundamental principle behind economics in the first segment. While the first segment is fairly academic, he does a great job of keeping it interesting. The second segment looks at types of economies. He looks at interventionist economies and control economies and event the legendary free market economy which no longer exist anywhere in the world.

R.C. Sproul Jr. looks at how America’s choices are damaging our economy and how they are destroying our freedom. He makes some excellent points about our national debt. He explains the classic Austrian economics view that money printing or new money creation is inflation. We are often lead to believe that as long as there are no price increases, there is no inflation. The classical definition of inflation is actually an increase in the money supply, not prices. The increase in prices is an eventual consequence of the increase in money supply. The government is always careful to use the Keynesian economic terminology to keep us confused and in the dark. The Federal Reserve is absolutely wrecking our currency by continued Quantitative Easing or money printing.

Mr. Sproul also looks at how we are harming our citizens by teaching them to be dependent on the government for every need. He tells us how the massive welfare programs hurt not only those of us who have to fund it through our efforts, but it also harms those who receive it. They are caught in a cycle of poverty which few will ever strive to escape.

As preppers, we need to practice situational awareness. Part of that is being able to understand the problems our economy is facing. This video will give you a correct overview of economics. You will gt almost as much out of this 2 hour presentation as you would get from an entire semester of a college course in Macroeconomics. Even if have already taken Macroeconomics, this video will dispel some of the fallacies you were taught. It is also a great tool to arm your children with. Even if you are able to spare them from the brainwashing in the public school system, they are constantly bombarded with lies from the media and other sources. Take the time to watch the video, even if you have to break it up. You’ll be glad you did!

A big thank you to my Facebook friend Christine Alexander for sharing this video with me!
Happy Prepping!

Comments Off on Economics, Liberty and Tyranny

Chinese Cyber Attacks

on March 6, 2013 at 2:23 am
Posted In: Potential Threats

cyber attack

China Attacks US Companies

China has been busy. Several cyber attacks against US companies have been found to originate from the same source in China. The attacks have been attempts to steal proprietary information from US companies particularly in the aerospace technology sector and the renewable energy sector. It is difficult for China to claim that the attacks were not state sponsored. After all, they have such tight internet controls on there citizens, it is unlikely the average Chinese citizen would be able to access an old rerun of “Leave it to Beaver” on youtube.

China Attacks US News Organizations

The Wall Street Journal and The New York times have both been hacked from location in China. The hacks seem to be aimed at monitoring the news organizations reporting on China. I suppose they didn’t want to pay the premium subscription price to just read them on line. Chinese officials denied the allegations. Of course the American government has reaped great rewards in the way of brainwashing the American Public by having the mainstream media outlets in their hip pockets. Perhaps China just wants in on a little of that action.

Prepping for Cyber Attacks

While these attacks are not what we would consider life threatening, they are a progression in hostilities between our two countries. They also highlight a trend toward cyber warfare which always has some element of plausible deniability attached to the attacks. While everyone knows who did it, the web makes it difficult to produce the smoking gun. This allows countries that may have some concern about their reputation in the global community to do things they might normally abstain from.

All of these thing remind us how vulnerable we are to the malicious wills of our enemies. And enemies we have in abundance. We are reminded how easily our financial systems could be wiped out by a cyber attack. We recall that our power grid is also susceptible to an internet invasion. Loss of power means instant chaos in our gadget dependent society.

The threat of a major cyber attack against our infrastructure is the source of many sleepless nights for those in the intelligence community. While we should not stay awake at night, we should be prepared. Preparing for a cyber attack is much like preparing for any other crisis where we would have to survive without systems of support. While the threats may change, the solutions all have the same common threads.

Make sure you have a means of purifying water. Stock up on storable food. Keep some cash outside of the bank in a safe or well hidden place that you can access quickly. Be sure you have the means to defend your life, family and property. Keep a well stocked first aid kit. Keep a few items on hand that can be used to barter for things you may need if there were no stores for a while. this is an oversimplified list, but read our 7 Step Survival Plan  to get completely prepared.

Happy Prepping!

Comments Off on Chinese Cyber Attacks

Homemade Water Filter

on March 4, 2013 at 3:47 am
Posted In: Prepping

Homemade Water Filter

I saw this video on Ed That Matters. I thought is really made a perfect example of being resourceful. Resourcefulness is a survival skill that will help you move up the ladder at a Fortune 500 company or help keep you alive when the stuff hits the fan. The video teaches you how to construct a water filter from an empty water bottle, charcoal, sand and rocks. All water filters work on essentially the same principle. I am not ready to sell my Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter and make my own, but it will be better than nothing in a pinch.

 Hillbilly Water Filter

All of the items you need to make this water filter would be easy to come by in an emergency situation. Knowing how to purify water may be a life saving skill. Keeping your mind open to using what you have to get by is the best survival skill you could ever acquire.

Making your own filter should be a last resort back up plan. A good water filter should be a priority for your bug out bag. If it gets lost, stolen, or broken, making your own is very good back up plan. There are some really nasty little critters that can show up in untreated water which is why it has to be purified before drinking. It is also what makes a good filter such a good investment.

If you are new to prepping, check out our post on Bug Out Bags to learn what necessities you need to survive for 3 days without systems of support.

Happy Prepping!

 

Comments Off on Homemade Water Filter

Sunday Prepper Bible Study Jeremiah 12:5

on March 3, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Posted In: Bible, Prepping

Sunday Prepper Bible Study

bible

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Jeremiah 5:12

 

Today’s verse was GOD’s response to Jeremiah after he issued his complaint with The LORD. Jeremiah had said to GOD “You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit.” Jeremiah 5:1 and 2.

It is difficult for Christians to look around and see the prosperity of the wicked at times. We sometimes wonder why they seem to be so blessed despite their wicked behavior. We strive to live lives that GOD would approve of,  yet we feel like we are fighting to stay afloat. When tough times come along, it is important to think back on all of the times that GOD has been faithful to provide for us. We can also consider it a time to build our perseverance.

With the recent automatic spending cuts known as the sequester, we are likely to see GDP decline continue in the coming quarters. I believe it is a sign that Congress may be coming around to the fact that we can not maintain $1 trillion dollar annual spending deficits.  The $85 billion in annual spending cuts represent less than a 3% cut in total spending. Economist still believe it may be painful. There will be no coming out of our current financial predicament with out some level of pain. The pain of spending cuts now will be much more tolerable than the pain of a currency collapse in the future if we continue our profligate fiscal habits.

I believe our country has a choice between tolerable pain in the near term from spending cuts or catastrophic pain from failing to make any cuts. In either situation, perseverance is going to be a good character trait to have.

I believe we are now still in the “safe country”. Now is the time to make the most of every opportunity to pay down debt and sock away a good emergency fund. We still have the opportunity to take advantage of coupons to help build a six month stock pile of storable food. Even if there is no currency collapse or hyperinflationary event, a six month food stockpile guarantees you won’t go hungry if you loose your job.

Learning to get by with a little less while you save up your 6 to 12 month emergency fund will also make you more resilient in the event that you have to get by on less than you earn now. Not only will you be better equipped to endure an economic storm, you will also be less affected by the decline in your standard of living. The voluntary austerity will have you better conditioned to stand in the “thickets by the  Jordan”.

If you are new to prepping or would like to learn more about how to prepare for tomorrow, please read our 7 Step Preparedness Plan. Come back every Sunday for a new Prepper Bible Study! The most important prep of all is knowing GOD. Jesus said “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul?” Prepper translation: “What good will it do you to survive the coming economic collapse, nuclear war or even a zombie apocalypse if you don’t know you will go to heaven when you die.” A recent study found that 10 out of 10 people die! On that day we will meet our Maker. It only makes sense to be prepared for that day. Click here to learn more about knowing GOD.

Have a blessed week and happy prepping!

Comments Off on Sunday Prepper Bible Study Jeremiah 12:5

Dr. Ron Paul Speaks on Sequester

on March 1, 2013 at 5:00 am
Posted In: Constitution, Economy

Ron Paul interview on the Lew Rockwell Show.

ron paul

 

Dr. Paul gives us a dose of sanity to contrast the political polarization surrounding the budget cuts set to take effect today. Dr. Ron Paul has retired from congress after years of trying to wake America up from her profligate behavior. Nevertheless,  his mission is not over. He continues his fight for freedom and economic common sense. His message has always been  that one party wants to drowned us in debt by giving away our prosperity to the welfare class while the other seeks to bankrupt us through military spending that exceeds that of the rest of the world combined.

In this interview, Dr. Paul tells us that very little will change today as the cuts go into effect. Many of the  cuts are not true spending cuts, rather they are decreases in proposed spending increases. For example, lets say instead of spending 20% more on welfare programs than last year,  we will only spend 10% more than last year. Although the spending increases by 10%, we will claim it as a spending cut. We just didn’t increase spending at the rate we previously intended.

Ron Paul points out that the true issue is not the sequester. The real problems come down the road when we have to pay the piper for our reckless national lifestyle. The rate at which we have printed money since the 2008 crisis in unprecedented by our country. The fallout from these actions will be significant devaluation of the dollar.

Ron Paul has long been a warrior of freedom. If you have never read any of his books, I highly recommend “The Revolution“. It will challenge all you have been taught by the two party system that occupies our republic. Also take time to check out Campaign for Liberty.org. It is a tremendous resource for common sense politics.

Keep fighting for liberty and happy prepping!

Comments Off on Dr. Ron Paul Speaks on Sequester

Big Brother Knows Best

on February 27, 2013 at 3:30 am
Posted In: Constitution, Potential Threats

Big Brother Knows Best

big brother

We are so fortunate to have the government here to make every decision for us. What has happened to our country that we have become so desensitized to the massive intrusion into our lives? It has seeped into every crevice of our existence. New York’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg outlawed the delivery of 2 liter sodas with pizza last week. What have we become? Will we allow a politician to tell us our limits of sweets?

What saddens me even more is that this level of intervention doesn’t stop in the land of the liberal left. It is tolerated in the heart of America. The Mayor of Gunthersville Alabama is seeking a city ordinance that will allow them to disarm their citizenry in a disaster. This is the time a citizen most needs his ability to defend himself. I’ll let the video finish this segment.

 Big Brother is watching out for you.

With our best interest at heart, big brother is coaxing us ever further into complacency. We are told what light bulb to buy. We are told how many bullets we can have in our guns. We are told how big our soda cans can be. My city no longer thinks a battery operated smoke alarm will suffice. To keep from having our buildings condemned, fire alarms have to be hard wired. Additional breaks in the wires increase the likelihood of an electrical fire in the first place. Common sense is thrown out the window. A food vendor in Florida can not produce food for sale in his home despite the fact you will rarely see the sights of rats and roaches in a person’s home that you see in a filthy restaurant. How much further shall we allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking we are the criminals?

Samuel Adams said:

“If ye love wealth better than liberty,
the tranquility of servitude
better than the animating contest of freedom,
go home from us in peace.
We ask not your counsels or your arms.
Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.
May your chains set lightly upon you,
and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”

Stand strong and happy prepping!

Comments Off on Big Brother Knows Best

Basic Survival Guide During Home Evacuations

on February 25, 2013 at 3:55 am
Posted In: Prepping, Uncategorized

dailybread logo

Basic Survival Guide During Home Evacuations

There are many man-made and natural disasters that can lead to you having to evacuate your home. If this happens, you need to be prepared with an evacuation plan to ensure that your entire family is evacuated safely. It’s also wise to know basic survival measures to take to stay safe while you’re out of your home, especially if you have to remain outside. That’s why we’ve put together a basic survival guide to help you prepare for home evacuation emergencies.

5 Basic Evacuation Preparedness Tips

  1. Make any necessary provisions for your pets and animals to ensure their safety. You also want to make sure you have enough food and water for them during the emergency.
  2. Pack all of your necessities in an easily accessible place. Your packed bag should include enough food, water and necessities to last at least seven days.
  3. Prepare your home for an emergency by having a plan of action for shutting off utilities. If not, your home could become a victim of an electrical fire, gas leak or water flood.
  4. Pack all of your important documents in one place, with your other emergency supplies.
  5. Keep you vehicle gassed up and ready to go at all times.

Tips for Keeping Safe While Outside

If you have to evacuate your home during an emergency, there’s no guarantee you’ll find shelter immediately. Things around you will be very chaotic, causing many people to panic, especially during bad weather. You need to be prepared to survive the struggles of being outdoors until you can find shelter for you and your family. Here are three tips you can follow to help you with this. Add these to your survival guide evacuation plan:

Hypothermia

If you’re evacuated during a snow storm or other freezing weather conditions, hypothermia needs to be a major concern. The best way to avoid hypothermia is to exercise. Hypothermia causes your blood vessels to constrict. This reduces the amount of warm blood supplied to your skin, keeping your internal organs warm. So, no matter how tired you get, you need to keep moving to keep your blood flowing.

Lightning

During a massive storm, lightning can strike, causing another natural disaster to be weary of while outside. About 600 people get struck by lightning each year, killing about 60 annually. To stay safe, stay far away from tall objects that could fall on you. You also want to stay clear of metal objects that could harm you as well. If things get really scary, squat down with only the balls of your feet touching the ground. Keep your eyes and ears covered to minimize the frightening sounds and light.

Major Wounds

If you or someone in your family gets a major wound during the crisis, you can apply temporary treatment measures until help arrives. Simply apply direct pressure to the wound by holding your hand down on it. Elevate the injured area above the person’s heart in order to slow down the flow of blood. If the wound continues to bleed after 30 minutes, use clothing to wrap it in a pressure dressing. Don’t make the mistake of removing the dressing to inspect the wound. Just leave it there and wait for help.

Author Bio

This survival guide was written by Kiesha Joseph of The Daily Bread. Turn to a leader in emergency preparedness tools for supplies and food storage. Click here to order your emergency survival guide tools today.

A Note from Prepper Recon

Thanks so much to Matt and Kiesha over at Daily Bread Food Storage for today’s post. That was great advice and a great article!

Comments Off on Basic Survival Guide During Home Evacuations