Survive the harsh winter with our comprehensive list of winter survival tips to thrive in the cold.

RELATED: Total Whiteout | A Compilation Of Winter Storm Survival Tips

In this article:

1. Learning Winter Survival to Prep the Proper Winter Survival Kit
2. Winter Survival Kit | Emergency Kit List
3. Priorities for Your Winter Survival Kit
4. Stocking Your Winter Survival Kit or Bug Out Bag
5. Include a Fire-Building Kit in Your Winter Survival Kit
6. Winter Survival Kit Tool for Building a Shelter
7. Staying Hydrated
8. Signaling for Help
9. Finding Food
10. Building Traps and Snares
11. Tools and Weapons to Pack in Your Winter Survival Kit
12. Consider Safety When Prepping Your Winter Survival Kit

Winter Survival Kit | The Ultimate Checklist

Learning Winter Survival to Prep the Proper Winter Survival Kit

Why do many people fail with winter survival skills? When we think of “survival,” we immediately imagine activities perfect for warm weather.

These can include camping, fishing, hiking — the list goes on because most of us are more comfortable in warmer weather, of course. So, it’s not surprising we tend to practice or hone our survival skills during the summer.

This practice can be a dangerous and even deadly mistake when emergencies happen during winter. You may not have the right winter survival techniques and proper winter camping gear.

Want to learn more? Click here to download our complete guide to winter survival.

We cannot overstate the importance of winter camping kit and survival tips. Even the most basic of survival tasks can be more challenging when there’s cold temperature, snow, ice, and strong winds.

For this reason, we’ve put together your ultimate winter survival kit. It can help prepare yourself during the harsh, cold months.

Winter Survival Kit | Emergency Kit List

|

Since your survival needs will change depending on the season, it’s a good idea to pack a separate bug out bag for winter. This bag includes the essentials fit for the cold:

• Modern fire starters
• Folding saw
• Reflector blankets
• Hand and body warmers
• Metal cups
• Ice fishing supplies
• Wool socks
• Long underwear
• Ski mask and goggles
• Insulated water bottle
• Shovel
• Cold weather sleeping bag

Click here for more winter bug out essentials.

Priorities for Your Winter Survival Kit

In any survival situation — no matter the season — the most crucial step is to stay calm. This will enable you to think clearly.

You can make rational decisions to keep you alive. No matter how grim the outlook may be, try your best not to panic.

Once you have the time to organize your thoughts, here are the winter survival priorities:

1. Warmth

|

Despite popular belief, your first priority in a stressful situation is not food or water. It should be the best survival tent or shelter.

This is especially true in the winter months. Exposure to the elements even for a few minutes can be dangerous.

You can develop hypothermia. Before you do anything else, make sure you have adequate winter survival tents and shelters.

You should also have a fire to maintain your body’s much-needed warmth. After these, you can start looking for food, water, and other survival essentials.

2. Water

After shelter, water is the most pressing need. A person can survive a month or more without food. You can only go for three days without water (remember the survival rule of threes).

Keep in mind, drinking cold water or eating snow in winter will cause your body to burn a lot of calories, which your body desperately needs to stay alive. In a winter survival situation, always heat up the water before drinking it.

3. Signaling for Help

It is important to exert all efforts to get the attention of your rescuers, especially in the first three days. You can learn how to signal for help in the wilderness.

Know, too, the different emergency communications using light, fire, and smoke.

4. Food

Of course, your bug out bag should have MREs (meals, ready to eat) and other winter survival food items. Even so, make an effort to get food from other means.

Familiarize yourself with edible plants in the area. Learn to make traps and snares to obtain animals for food.

5. Tools and Weapons

Again, your bug out bag must come with a few basic survival tools. In addition, you should know how to make your own tools from the materials readily available to you.

Stocking Your Winter Survival Kit or Bug Out Bag

|

Having a well-stocked bug out bag is crucial, especially in the winter. The harsh elements can make it even harder to survive, let alone stay comfortable.

Your winter bug out bag should contain plenty of food, water, and matches. It must also have at least two high-quality knives and tools.

You may also need materials to build survival shelters, such as cordage. It should also have some tool for purifying water and warm winter survival gear.

The bag must include items you can use to signal for help. Your bug out bag should also include a first aid kit with all the necessary supplies to treat common ailments or preexisting illness or injury you may have.

Include a Fire-Building Kit in Your Winter Survival Kit

|

Building a fire is the single most important winter survival skill you can possess. Without it, you are unlikely to thrive longer than a few hours.

Here are the basic steps for building a fire in the winter:

1. Find Wood

Remember that wet wood won’t burn. It’s a waste of time to dig in the snow for wood buried underneath. Instead, look for fallen and downed branches and twigs on top of the snow.

2. Make Kindling

Carve dry the wood by breaking it apart and gathering the inner splinters. Use these small pieces as kindling for your fire.

3. Fuel the Fire

Once you have a flame, feed it with fuelwood. Dead limbs off standing trees work best, especially if they come from broad-leaf hardwood trees such as birch, dogwood, or maple.

Winter Survival Kit Tool for Building a Shelter

|

The type of winter survival shelter you need will depend on your situation. If you find yourself inside a vehicle, it is almost always preferable to stay put in your vehicle until help arrives.

Hopefully, you also have a car winter survival kit. If you’re not in a vehicle, use whatever materials you can find to construct a winter survival tent to protect yourself from the elements.

Keep an eye out for caves or rock overhangs. These can make for great survival shelters.

You can also dig into a snowdrift to create a makeshift “snow cave.” These are a few ways to find or create shelter in the winter.

RELATED: 13 Winter Survival Methods To Keep You Warm

Staying Hydrated

|

Aside from shelter, water is the most crucial thing to focus on in a survival situation. Fortunately, winter often means there is water readily available in the form of snow and ice.

After melting the snow or ice into water, heat it up before you drink it. Drinking cold water in the winter will make you colder.

It will cause your body to expend more calories. This is where a metal pot or cup comes in handy. You can heat it on an open flame safely.

You should also carry a water purification system. It can be LifeStraw or iodine tablets. They can help ensure your water is pure and free of bacteria.

Signaling for Help

|

The difficulty of finding a lost or stranded hiker can become even greater in the winter. The glare off the snow can cause decreased visibility.

The elements can make it challenging for others to get to you. If you plan on venturing out in the winter, always leave a detailed itinerary behind.

This way, rescuers will know where to look for you. It’s also important you stay put.

It may be tempting to strike out in search of help. Rescuers, though, are more likely to find you fast if you stay near your camp.

Use fire, smoke, reflective blankets, signal flares, and other methods to call attention to yourself.

Finding Food

|

Aside from the winter survival food in your bug out bag, your main source of food will be edible plants and animals. Learn more about the local plants.

Know the difference between edible and poisonous ones. In winter, look out for plants like aspen, birch, cattails, maple, pine, rose, and willows.

They have a variety of survival uses. In addition, develop your skills on how to hunt, build snare traps, and ice fish. These will help you acquire your much-needed animal protein.

Building Traps and Snares

|

A snare trap is the simplest, most effective way to hunt game in the winter. This loop of wire or cordage suspends an animal into the air or restrains it from movement.

Using a snare trap will save you time and energy that you would have spent hunting. Click here for our list of snare traps and how to make them.

Tools and Weapons to Pack in Your Winter Survival Kit

Tools and weapons will be lifesavers in a winter survival situation. They will help you hunt, prepare food, and build a shelter.

You can craft them from natural materials such as wood and flint. You can also modify your already-existing weapons.

Consider Safety When Prepping Your Winter Survival Kit

|

One of the best tips for winter survival is to always be aware of their surroundings. This season poses several unique threats. Here are a few things to consider when packing your winter survival gear:

1. Cotton Kills

Once you get cotton wet, it’s no longer able to keep you warm. Opt for a warmer fabric such as wool.

2. Prevent Hypothermia

Wear proper clothing, stay dry, and wear a hat. Also, stay out of the wind, build a fire, stay active, and eat energy-rich food.

These are only a few ways you can do to prevent hypothermia.

3. Identify and Treat Frostbite

Frostbite symptoms include cold and “tingly” ears, nose, fingers, and toes. You may also have numbness in the extremities.

The skin may be waxy or stiff and it can limit joint movement. For mild frostbite, warm the area with skin-to-skin contact for 15 minutes.

For superficial frostbite, splint and cover the affected area. You can then loosen clothing and seek medical attention.

In the case of deep frostbite, rescue and evacuation are the only cure.

Check out these simple winter survival tips from RoastedEngineers:

Winter survival needs a unique set of skills, situational awareness, and preparedness. These winter weather tips are only scratching the surface.

This article, though, can provide you with a good foundation to thrive during colder days.

Do you have cold weather survival tips? Share them in the comments section below!

Up Next: 

• Lost In The Woods 101: What To Do When Lost In The Woods
• Beyond The Freezing Point | Cold Weather Survival Tips
• Winter Survival | What To Do When The Heat Goes Out

Go to our Survival Life Store to shop some of our favorites self-defense tools and gear!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr!

***Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.***
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on December 2, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Anyone who has a stockpile of ammunition owes it to themselves to invest in some quality organization tools. I’m talking about investing in some ammo cans, ammo crates, or ammo boxes.

Why? Because I believe ammo can protect the longevity of your ammo AND I believe accuracy and organization go hand in hand.

And having an organized systematic approach to storing your ammo helps with both.

Proper ammo storage protects your investment AND supports a clearer mind for better range accuracy. And there are two basic types of ammo cans to choose from: Metal or Plastic.

And neither option is “right” or “wrong”. They’re just better or worse depending on YOUR circumstances and YOUR plans for use.

But in general:

• If you’re buying for long term ammunition storage – I recommend going with metal.
• If you want a few to help with transportation to and from the range – go with plastic.

Metal has stood the test of time – but it’s heavy. Plastic can deform over time (especially in extreme temps) but it’s much lighter. 

If you’re still on the fence about metal vs plastic, watch the following two videos to help give you some guidance (otherwise, skip over them to get to the Ammo Can recommendations):





Note: If you’re interested in even more info on ammo storage and “how to store your ammo for the long term” check out our comprehensive ammo storage guide.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our #78 Item Complete Prepper Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

1 – MTM AC4C AMMO CRATE SYSTEM (4-Can)

---

This is ammo crate setup is hard to beat. It’s perfect for storing several calibers in a systematic and organized way.

Why? Because you get 4 cans AND an ammo crate that fit the cans perfectly (5 pieces total). This means you can store, organize, and haul a ton of ammo in a hassle-free way.

The individual cans simply lift out of the crate. So you can take just a single can or take all four by picking up the crate.

All these cans are 30-caliber, making them convenient to store all types of ammo in bulk.

And with the addition of the specialized crate, you can stack your ammo as high as you’d like (from floor to ceiling). All without worrying about knocking them over.

The cans and ammo crate are made of rugged polypropylene for extreme durability. Many people prefer the hard plastic over metal – since it won’t rust and there are no sharp edges.

Plus, the crate includes 4 tied down locations for truck or ATV transportation.

The ammo cans also have a water-resistant O-ring seal and a heavy-duty latching system. Albeit, the latch is a plastic snap lock which may have some durability concerns.

But everyone agrees this is the absolute best ammo crate setup for hauling ammo to the practice range.

Finally, all MTM products are “Made In USA” in Dayton Ohio.

One reviewer performed a test to see how much ammo he could fit via different calibers:

• “700 rounds of 45 auto was pretty much it. Maybe another 25rounds.
• 116 rounds of 12ga shells @ 2.75″ long. Also, could fit another 10-12 if need be.
• 1000 rounds of 9mm and plenty of room for at least another 150.
• I did a test with some 5.56 from a buddy. We got to 450 rounds with room still left
• This is PER CONTAINER by the way.”



Check Out Today’s Price

2 – PLANO AMMUNITION FIELD BOX AMMO STORAGE

---

Now, let’s take a look at the most cost-effective ammo can on the market.

This plastic ammo can feature a water-resistant O-ring seal that’s designed to keep your ammo dry and safe. It includes a brass latch and a heavy-duty carrying handle.

This is a stackable ammo box and according to one reviewer, it can hold the following:

• “9mm @ 1,000 rounds in the original boxes!!! (S&B 115 Gr FMJ… 20 Boxes of 50 rds)
• or- 9mm @ 500 rounds of LE in original boxes (Winch.Ranger 147 Gr SXT… 10 boxes of 50 rds)
• or- 223 Rem @ 520 rounds in original boxes (Wolf Prem. Gold 55 Gr FMJ… 26 boxes of 20 rds
• or- 12 ga @ 100 rounds in original boxes!!! (Royal Buck 2-3/4″ 00 Buck. 20 boxes of 5 shells)”

Now, this ammo box is a go-to when storage space is limited. For example, if you’re trying to fit ammo can inside a gun safe and you need something compact.

Finally, it’s near impossible to find something this good at a lower price point (unless that price point is FREE).

Check Out Today’s Price

3 – REDNECK CONVENT METAL AMMO CASE CAN

---

This metal ammo can features a “WORRY-FREE SEAL” that’s considered air and watertight.

It comes with a hinged lid with a locking latch and a flat-folding handle.

It’s built to last since it’s made of heavy gauge solid steel. The lid includes a rubber gasket that ensures a tight fit to keep water and air out.

It comes in classic camo green color (.30 caliber or .50 caliber), tan color (.50 caliber only) or black color (.50 caliber only).

Here’s a helpful comment from one reviewer to consider:

“Here’s what I consider the biggest advantage of this container. I stored loose ammunition in this can, and also in plastic ammo cans made by Plano and MTM. The plastic cans had rubber seals around the inside of the lid. So I assumed they would keep out moisture from humid air. I placed desiccant packs in all the containers…. the kind of desiccants that have beads that go from blue (when dry) to pink (when saturated). The desiccants in the plastic ammo boxes turned pink in less than two weeks. However, the desiccants in this metal can were still blue in the same period. For this reason alone, not to mention the superior strength of the Redneck can… I’m buying more metal cans to store all my ammo.”

One concern is the stack-ability of these.

The carry handle creates a small “void” on the bottom of each can that’s slightly off-center. This causes a very high stack of them to slant…

Check Out Today’s Price

4 – MTM Tactical Mag Can

---

Tired of storing all your ammo in boxes or loose inside an ammo can, why not just store your loaded magazines instead?

This Tactical Mag Can from MTM allows you to do exactly that.

It’s designed to hold up to 14 magazines inside foam tight foam inserts.

It comes with 2 carry handles, 4 tie-down points, and they are designed to be stackable.

It’s a simple but effective ammo crate design.

Note: This specific mag can is for .308 mags – click here to search for other sizes mag cans.

Check Out Today’s Price

5 – MTM ACR8 AMMO CRATE UTILITY BOX

---

Here’s an ammo crate that can carry a ton of ammo or gear! It provides an immense amount of storage space.

One reviewer’s take:

“I love this anno crate. It seems well made. I started looking into an alternative for storing ammunition in traditional ammo cans (.30, .50, fat .50’s etc.) I needed something that would keep my ammunition dry and organized.

These ammo crates are especially useful for storing shotgun shells or other ammunition that is not densely packed (example Remington green/white .223). When filled moving them is still manageable.

They stack well too. I was able to fit (60) boxes of Remington green/white box .223 in it without having to damage any of the boxes.

If I were to pack these into .50 cans I can only fit 300 to 400 rounds (without removing them from the box). I plan on buying more. Buy some, you won’t be disappointed.”

This ammo crate includes 2 strong handles and is designed to be stackable. And includes dual padlocks and four tie-down tabs.

This helps provide extra security and makes transportation easier.

This ammo crate also includes a water-resistant O-ring seal which will keep your ammo and gear dry in wet conditions.



Check Out Today’s Price

6 – MAGNUM 53540 METAL AMMO CANS (3 pieces)

---

Here’s a nice assortment bundle of ammo cans (small, medium, and large). Here are the measurements of each size:

• Small – 10 7/8” by 3 3/4” by 7” (30 cal)
• Medium – 11 7/8” by 6 1/8” by 7 1/2” (50 cal)
• Large – 12 7/8” by 7 1/4” by 9” (fat 50 cal)

One nice feature is these three cans are able to nest inside each other. So, they save space if you want to haul them around empty (like back home after the shooting range).

Each ammo box is airtight and water-resistant due to the thick rubber seal that comes with each.

They also have metal laches, metal hinges, and a metal handle.

So, this is a good deal if you’re looking for multiple sizes in a single purchase.

Check Out Today’s Price

7 – HIGH DESERT PLASTIC AMMO BOXES (6 pack)

---

If you are looking for a bulk discount, these 6 large 30 cal plastic ammo boxes might do the trick.

These are water-resistant due to their tongue and groove lid design and rubber sealed gasket. Plus, they include pre-drilled holes for adding a padlock.

They also have a nice hinged plastic handle for convenient transportation.

The one complaint is it’s not extremely heavy-duty and not a guarantee to be “airtight” for the long term.

But at this price point, these still may be worthwhile if you’re primarily looking to organize your stash.

Check Out Today’s Price

8 – PREVIOUSLY ISSUED U.S. G.I. M2A1 METAL 50 CAL AMMO CAN (used)

---

If you’re looking for a brand spanking new ammo can with ZERO flaws – this one is NOT for you!

But, if you want a small piece of history and like the idea of your can having a few battle scars – then you’re in luck.

These are previously used 50 cal ammo cans that Military Issued  – flaws and all. Rust? Possible. Dings, dents, scratches? Probably.

But as one reviewer commented:

“I love the fact that it has been previously used by our military.”

Another reviewer suggests:

“First off, this ammo can is USED MILITARY SURPLUS. So if you expect a cosmetically flawless can suitable for decoration, keep looking. If you want a solid steel construction ammo can, this is the one. I purchased this can expecting surface rust, dings, dents, etc.

These cans are fantastic and I would not hesitate to purchase more. As a personal bonus, my can was marked with 5.56mm on the side, exactly what I plan on storing in it. Buy with confidence!”

They are U.S. military surplus 50 caliber ammo cans, which makes the rugged and built to last.

They’re constructed out of heavy gauge steel and include a rubber gasket. This helps to provide protection from moisture.

The inside dimensions are 11 by 5.5 by 7.

Check Out Today’s Price

9 – SOLID TACTICAL 50 CAL AMMO CAN (includes desiccant pack)

---

This 50 cal ammo can takes air and water-resistance to an entirely new level. So much so that each one is individually tested to give you peace of mind for long term ammo storage.

It’s made from the highest quality metal making them both tough and durable.

Solid Tactical also provides a Money-back promise. This means you can buy this 50 cal ammo can with confidence knowing it’s a RISK-FREE proposition.

Here’s one person’s take:

“Box arrived quickly, and I was surprised at how heavy duty it was. From my memory, the army ammo boxes weren’t this sturdy. It is heavy and it takes a little muscle to open the latch. It has a watertight seal and comes with a few desiccant packs.”



Check Out Today’s Price

10 – MTM ACC9 AMMO CAN COMBO (holds 1000 rounds)

---

This ammo can has one very nice bonus feature for those who want even more organization. It includes ten 100-round containers that fit inside the ammo box itself.

These extra containers are a second level or organization. It’s perfect for those who can’t stand just dumping their ammunition haphazardly into their cans.

It also comes with color-coded stickers sheets with 4 color choices (a total of 80 labels). Plus, 10 ammo description cards.

One reviewer’s take:

“Awesome Can for 9mm. Worth every penny. It comes with 10 100 Rd cases and one large container that holds all 10. Plus, it has enough room for 1 more. I just received this today. But can already tell it is going to make ammo storage, range days and reloading so much easier.”

Check Out Today’s Price

A FEW MUST-OWN ACCESSORIES

---

Decals / Stickers

You need to invest in some Can Decals.

They allow you to know what’s inside the ammo box without having to open it up. This is critical for long term storage or when under a time crunch.

For storage, you want to keep your ammo free of moisture with silica gel desiccant packs. And that means keeping your ammo box 100% completely sealed.

That means you’ll want to avoid opening them up unnecessarily – like to see which caliber of bullet you’ve stored in it.

AND if you’re under pressure to access the correct ammo fast, good labeling will save time and help avoid costly mistakes.

Locking Hardware

Adding ammo can locks is always a good idea.

Sure, a lock won’t stop a thief, they would just take the whole can. But they will prevent kids from accessing your ammunition stash.

However, there are two options, adding lock hardware or adding a hanging lock.

Foam Inserts

If you want your ammo cans to hold magazines, then you have to get foam inserts. These help to keep your magazines organized and protected.

There are many different foam insert cutouts to choose from. Such as the Case Club M2A1 .50 Cal  Foam Insert.

Or you can click here to see many more foam insert options.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our #78 Item Complete Prepper Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

FINAL THOUGHTS

---

Owning an ammo stockpile is an investment.

It’s an investment in your personal defense both today and in the future. And like any worthwhile investment, you should protect it.

With ammunition, that means storing your ammo in ammo cans.

And honestly, they’re not all that expensive. Plus, you buy them once and they’ll last you a lifetime.

It’s a resilient and wise idea to keep your ammunition as organized and protected as possible.

Remember: Prepare, Adapt, and Overcome,

“Just In Case” Jack

P.s. Do you know where the closest nuclear bunker is from your home?

There are a lot of natural nuclear shelters in the US that are absolutely free. And one of them is near your home.

Click here to see the Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?

Click on the image above to find out where you need to take shelter.

The post 10 Best Ammo Cans That Will Make Your Range Buddies Insanely Jealous appeared first on Skilled Survival.

What in the world has happened to us?  Once upon a time, America was made up of tightly-knit communities that were united by family, faith and patriotism, but now we are more isolated than ever before.  Of course one of the biggest reasons for this is the fact that we are all spending countless hours staring at screens instead of interacting with real people, and this is something that I covered in a previous article.  However, our fundamental beliefs are also significantly shaping how we behave.  For the past couple of generations, we have de-emphasized family, faith and patriotism as a nation, and instead we have become an extremely “me-centered” society that is primarily focused on doing whatever makes ourselves happy in the moment.  But this single-minded pursuit of individual happiness has resulted in much of the country being perpetually mired in loneliness, depression and/or addiction.

When you look at the numbers, they truly are startling.  For example, a recent survey that was conducted by Cigna found that almost half of all Americans feel lonely…

Nearly half of Americans are lonely, according to a survey of 20,000 people across America by Cigna, which used the well-regarded UCLA Loneliness Scale to measure responses. Indeed 46% said they sometimes or always feel alone and 47% say they sometimes or always feel left out.

And other surveys have produced numbers that are even more alarming.  A Harris Poll that was conducted a few years ago actually discovered that 72 percent of all Americans “experience loneliness”…

The survey of more than 2,000 Americans conducted by the Harris Poll last month on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association, showed that almost three-quarters (72 percent) of Americans experience loneliness. And for many, it’s not just a once-in-a-while occurrence — one-third said they feel lonely at least once a week.

Of course this is commonly known as “the happiest time of the year”, but for many it just magnifies their loneliness.

People see love, warmth and community modeled in television commercials and in Hallmark movies, and they assume that most people out there must be living lives like that.

Sadly, that is not true at all.  What we see on our televisions are echoes of the way that America used to be, and many of us would love to see that type of culture make a roaring comeback.

But for now, America is a very, very lonely place, and this reality is reflected in a song that was just released by one of our most popular pop singers…

Mabel, the singer behind the hit “Don’t Call Me Up,” has a new track for those who struggle with loneliness during the holidays.

Titled “Loneliest Time of Year,” Mabel captured how for some people, the holidays can heighten feelings like loneliness, loss and depression. In the song, released Friday, she sings lines like, “Sorry I’m not so merry/But I feel like this yearly/Christmas time isn’t my vibe/Brings no joy into my life” and “If I’m feeling lonely/I can’t be the only one.”

Yes, millions of American families will gather during the holidays, but way too many of those gatherings are filled with bitterness, resentment, strife and discord.

In fact, another new survey has found that the average American only needs 3 hours and 54 minutes “before they start to feel sick of their families”…

The holidays are supposed to be a time to come together with family and celebrate, but a new survey finds that most Americans can barely get through an evening with their family before needing a break. A total of 2,000 Americans who usually travel to visit family during the holidays took part in the research, and 75% say they will inevitably need to get away from their relatives and indulge in some much needed “me time.”

In fact, it only takes respondents an average of three hours and 54 minutes before they start to feel sick of their families.

This isn’t how it is supposed to be.

We were created to love and to be loved.  And when you remove love from the equation, people become very miserable quite rapidly.

In America today, “deaths of despair” are happening at the highest rate in all of U.S. history.  The following information comes directly from the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee…

Anne Case and Angus Deaton famously chronicled a dramatic rise among middle-aged non-Hispanic whites since 1999 in “deaths of despair”—deaths by suicide, drug and alcohol poisoning, and alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis.1 The Social Capital Project has extended Case and Deaton’s research to cover the full American population as far back as available data permit: to 1900 in some cases, and to 1959 or 1968 in others. We present here a snapshot of the long-term trends in deaths of despair. We also attach our full dataset for use in future research, including results broken down by age, sex, and race.

Mortality from deaths of despair far surpasses anything seen in America since the dawn of the 20^th century. (The trend for middle-aged whites reveals a more dramatic rise but only goes back continuously to 1959.) The recent increase has primarily been driven by an unprecedented epidemic of drug overdoses, but even excluding those deaths, the combined mortality rate from suicides and alcohol-related deaths is higher than at any point in more than 100 years.

So it would appear that our very unhappy nation is rapidly becoming even unhappier.

And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what this is happening.

As a society, we decided that marriage wasn’t important.  So now we have one of the lowest marriage rates and one of the highest divorce rates in the entire world.

As a society, we decided that children weren’t important.  So now our birth rate has dropped below replacement level and a third of all U.S. children live in a home without a father.

As a society, we decided that patriotism wasn’t important.  So now the American flag is being banned by some schools as a “divisive symbol” and most of our young people have never even read the entire U.S. Constitution.

As a society, we decided that God wasn’t important.  So now just about every form of evil that you can possibly imagine is exploding in our society, and we are literally on a path that leads to national suicide.

If you feel lonely, miserable or depressed this holiday season, I would definitely encourage you to get my latest book entitled “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  It is filled with very practical advice that will enable you to start turning things around immediately.  But even more importantly, reach out to those that you love during this holiday season.

Life is way too short to live it alone.

Society would have us believe that those that have the most money are the most “successful”.  But that is not true at all.  In reality, those that love the most are really the most “successful”, and so let us endeavor to be people of great love.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post Americans Are Lonely, Miserable And Depressed – The Legacy Of A Society That Has Rejected Family, Faith And Patriotism appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

The entirety of human history has been shaped by one thing: theft.  Depending on who is allowed to steal the fruits of labor and how much leeway they gave themselves to steal has had an effect on every aspect of humanity’s history.

Taxation is theft. It’s a simple concept and not debatable.  Justification of it makes it nonetheless theft. And according to British author and co-host of Money Pit Dominic Frisby, the legalized theft by governments has been responsible for every war, mass murder, and revolution.  Frisby joined Keiser Report to discuss the history of taxation and how humans have been transformed into cattle to fund the overbearing and violent nanny state we are all living under.



“The ultimate form of taxation is, of course, slavery, where you lose all ownership of your labor,” he says, adding that throughout history taxes had unintended consequences.  But if stealing 100% of the fruits of a person’s labor is slavery, at what point is it no longer enslavement? “The entire history of the world, the entire history of civilization, has been shaped by taxation. As I said, every revolution, every war is funded by taxes,” Frisby remarked, according to RT.



Dominic Frisby is the author of Daylight Robbery: How Tax Shaped Our Past and Will Change Our Future.

For most people, tax is something we pay, simply because we must. We seldom think much more about it; in fact, tax is something we’d rather forget.

But the reality is that tax is the key to power. No government can survive without tax revenue – it is the fuel that every state, large and small, runs on. Many of the problems we face today, not least the enormous wealth gaps between rich and poor and between generations, can be traced back to our systems of tax. If you tax windows, many will sacrifice their daylight. If you tax cigarettes, some people will choose not to smoke; others will take up smuggling. Tax companies too much and many will relocate offshore.

In  Daylight Robbery, Dominic Frisby offers an alternative vision of a system that is as old as civilization itself.

This article contains affiliate links. 

The IG report was finally released on Monday, and boy was it a doozy.  It detailed literally dozens of very serious errors committed by the FBI during their investigation of the Trump campaign, and Republican leaders are absolutely outraged about what this report has revealed.  Apologists for the deep state are attempting to characterize these very serious errors as “mistakes”, but if they truly were “mistakes” we are talking about systematic incompetence on a scale that is difficult to comprehend.  Have we really gotten to the point where “the best and the brightest” in federal law enforcement are unable to perform basic tasks competently on a consistent basis?  Of course many top Republicans believe that something far more sinister is going on.  Many of them are entirely convinced that the deep state actually tried to destroy Donald Trump, and they believe that the American people are entitled to answers.

If you want to read the entire thing yourself, it is 476 pages long and you can find it right here.  Ultimately, the IG report concluded that “many basic and fundamental errors were made by three separate, handpicked investigative teams”, and quite a few people could end up losing their jobs over this.  The following comes from USA Today…

The Justice Department’s inspector general offered a withering account of the FBI’s handling of multiple surveillance requests for former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page during the early months of the Russia investigation. The report described a process as so dysfunctional as to call into question the protocol for taking such a crucial investigative step – wiretapping a campaign operative – in a case involving a presidential election.

“That so many basic and fundamental errors were made by three separate, handpicked investigative teams on one of the most sensitive FBI investigations that was briefed to the highest levels with the FBI…raised significant questions regarding the FBI chain of command’s management and supervision” of the surveillance process, the report concluded.

Basically, we are being told that many of those working at the top levels of the FBI are massive screw ups that continuously violated their own policies over and over again by accident.

You can believe that if you want, but many key Republican leaders see things quite differently.  Here is a sampling of their reactions to the IG report…

–President Trump: “This was an overthrow of government, this was an attempted overthrow and a lot of people were in on it and they got caught,” Trump said. “They got caught red-handed.”

–U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr: “The Inspector General’s report now makes clear that the FBI launched an intrusive investigation of a U.S. presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions that, in my view, were insufficient to justify the steps taken.”

–Special Adviser to the President and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi: “There are so many of us who are career law enforcement today are outraged and I think that the American people really should be terrified that this could happen to you,” Bondi said, calling it the report’s findings as a “horrible day for our country.”

–U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham: “I believe there will be no debate among reasonable minded people … about how the system not only got off the rails but, in my view, became a criminal enterprise to defraud the FISA [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] court, to deny American citizen Carter Page his constitutional rights and to continue an operation against President Trump as president of the United States that I think was fundamentally flawed and unlawful,” Graham said during a press conference.

–U.S. Representative Mark Meadows: “And after reading this, it’s no wonder we’ve been seeing defensive leaks in the New York Times and CNN. And that the Democrats rushed to hold an impeachment hearing the same day. It’s every bit as bad as advertised. And certainly worse than the media has been suggesting.”

The focus of the nation will soon shift back to the impeachment proceedings, and Democrats would like to make the IG report fade from the national stage as rapidly as possible.

But the reality of the matter is that this was truly a historic report.  Never before in American history has there been such a damning indictment of the FBI, and a whole lot of people need to be held accountable.

As John Solomon has documented, the report identified a total of 51 procedure violations in one FISA application alone…

Appendix 1 identifies the total violations by the FBI of the so-called Woods Procedures, the process by which the bureau verifies information and assures the FISA court its evidence is true.

The Appendix identifies a total of 51 Woods procedure violations from the FISA application the FBI submitted to the court authorizing surveillance of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page starting in October 2016.

A whopping nine of those violations fell into the category called: “Supporting document shows that the factual assertion is inaccurate.”

Unfortunately, the news cycle will quickly move on and most people will forget all about this.

Our society is literally falling apart all around us, and yet our biggest problems are rarely addressed and nothing ever seems to get permanently fixed.

It would be wonderful if major changes happened at the FBI as a result of this debacle, and this is a sentiment that White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham also expressed in her official response to this report…

The shocking report from the DOJ Inspector General shows an out-of-control FBI under President Obama and former Director Jim Comey. The report makes clear that the phony Steele Dossier was “central and essential” for the FBI to secure wiretaps from the FISA Court to spy on the Trump campaign. But the FBI repeatedly lied to the FISA Court to make Steele seem credible and to hide information showing that the Dossier was false. The Dossier was bought and paid for by Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee – but that fact was hidden from the FISA Court. Astoundingly, when evidence was repeatedly uncovered showing no wrongdoing by candidate Trump, that also was hidden from the FISA Court. On top of all that, one FBI lawyer altered an email in an effort to continue and extend the wiretapping – and he has been referred for criminal prosecution. All of this shows a repeated effort to mislead the FISA Court long after the FBI was aware the “Dossier” was false, phony and could not be used justify spying on the Trump Campaign. The American people should be outraged and terrified by this abuse of power. This should never happen to another presidential candidate or any American ever again.

Sadly, this sort of thing will happen again, and probably way too soon.

The deep state has become an out-of-control monster, and it desperately needs to be tamed.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

Written by Wild Bill on The Prepper Journal.

I know it’s been awhile since there’s been a post, and for that I apologize.

As happens now and again, life sometimes gets in the way of the things you actually like doing. That’s what’s happened here. I appreciate all who’ve reached out to see how things are going; your support is truly appreciated.

Anyway, as the year closes, I wanted to let you know I’m working on a couple of deals to wind things up here in 2019. Hard to believe the year’s end is already here…let alone the decade.

Those on the newsletter list will get first crack at the offerings, so if you’re not signed up, you can subscribe to the newsletter here.

That’s all for the moment.

Wild Bill

The post I’m still around… appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

This article was originally published by Michael Snyder at The End of the Amerian Dream. 

One of the most important Democrats in Congress is warning that President Trump is likely to compromise the integrity of the 2020 election if he is not impeached and removed from office.  Jerry Nadler is the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and so that makes him an exceedingly powerful man right now.

Articles of impeachment are being drafted at this moment, and they will soon be approved by his committee.  In fact, Nadler told “Meet the Press” on Sunday that it is likely that the final articles of impeachment will be unveiled by his committee “at some point later in the week”…

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said Sunday that his panel will “presumably” present articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump this week.

“We’ll bring articles of impeachment presumably before the committee at some point later in the week,” Nadler, D-N.Y., said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Yes, this is actually happening.

And not only that, Reuters is reporting that there could actually be a committee vote on those articles of impeachment within the next 7 days…

Democratic lawmakers could vote this week on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, the House Judiciary Committee chairman said on Sunday as lawmakers sharpened their focus on charges of wrongdoing in his dealings with Ukraine.

U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler said the panel will not decide on the specific articles until after a hearing on Monday to consider evidence gathered by the House Intelligence Committee in its investigation of the Republican leader.

Personally, I sort of doubt that things will move that rapidly.  Congress rarely does anything at an efficient pace, and more testimony is scheduled for Monday.

But we’ll see.  The Democrats are absolutely obsessed with impeaching Trump, and they are definitely making this their top priority.

And if you listen to Nadler, he makes it sound like it could be the end of our political system if Trump is not impeached and removed from office.  Here is more from what Nadler told “Meet the Press” on Sunday…

When asked whether the 2020 election would be conducted fairly if Trump was ultimately acquitted, Nadler replied, “I don’t know.”

“The president, based on his past performance, will do everything he can to make it not a fair election.”

Could you imagine how the mainstream media would have reacted if a Republican had said the exact same thing about Obama while he was still in the White House?

They would have blown it up into a massive national scandal.

This is an extremely serious accusation, and Nadler should not have made it lightly.

Anyone that messes with the integrity of our elections is committing a crime against all of us.  It is an incredibly serious thing for a sitting member of Congress to make this sort of a charge against the president of the United States, but we live at a time when things that were once unthinkable are now becoming commonplace.

And Democrats are already planting seeds of doubt regarding the outcome of the 2020 election.  If Trump ends up winning in 2020, they will already have convinced millions upon millions of their fellow Americans that the process was “rigged”.

Of course, that could ultimately fuel tremendous civil unrest, because if people truly believe that their ability to choose their own leaders has been compromised, a lot of them are likely to take to the streets.

We live at such a dangerous time, and the Democrats are doing all that they can to continuously stir the pot.

Once the Democrats in the House vote to impeach Trump, the action will move over to the U.S. Senate.  A trial will be held, and the Trump administration is planning a vigorous defense…

So, the main focus now is on how the Senate will move forward with a trial. There are no rules prescribed in the Constitution; they are set by the Senate itself. The White House has signaled it plans to mount an aggressive defense in the Senate, buoyed by the fact that Republicans are in the majority in the Senate. And Republicans have suggested that Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter will be included on their witness list, as they’ll try to make the trial about Democratic corruption — not the alleged abuse of power by Trump.

Needless to say, this has the potential to be absolutely disastrous for the Biden campaign.

The entire world is going to be focused on this trial, and Trump seems determined to use it to expose all of Joe Biden’s dirty laundry.

As I write this, the word “entertaining” comes to mind.  Although it is also very sad that the endless bitter fighting between the Republicans and the Democrats has brought us to this.

And this entire impeachment saga also means that Congress is getting next to nothing done these days.  The following comes from the New York Times…

In marble Senate hallways that echo with emptiness compared with the crowds cramming the corridors outside House meeting rooms, senators and top aides deliver a harsh self-critique, tossing around words like “useless,” “irrelevant” and “waste.” They seem at loose ends as a handful of lawmakers try to hammer out a year-end spending deal in leadership office suites.

Impeachment will be on their doorstep soon enough, but for now, as the final legislative days of the year slip away, there is a dearth of real debate taking place in what is sometimes called the world’s greatest deliberative body.

In essence, all of that quietness represents “the calm before the storm”, because once the impeachment trial begins things will get crazy.

It seems very doubtful that there will be enough votes in the Senate to remove Trump from office, and so he is probably safe.

And once the trial is over, the focus of the mainstream media will rapidly shift to the upcoming election.

Unfortunately, Democrats are already trying to convince us that Trump will somehow have the power to “rig” that election and a whole lot of people out there could end up believing that false narrative.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations, I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and anyway that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

*This article contains affiliate links. 

5 Tips from a Safety Expert

The recent shooting in San Bernadino has brought the threat of a workplace shooting to the front of many people’s minds.

For most of us, our office or workplace has never been a place where we feel unsafe. A workplace shooting is an unlikely scenario, but it’s still one you need to be prepared for. The worst can happen when and where you least expect it.

In the following video, a safety expert explains several steps you can take to survive in case of a shooting like the one in San Bernadino. Here are a few of his tips:

1. Build a barricade around the door
2. Set off fire alarms and sprinklers — anything to cause commotion and bring attention to the situation
3. Tie a belt around the door hinge to keep it form being opened
4. If a gunman breaks through the door, fight back
5. Use anything you can get your hands on as a weapon (such as a fire extinguisher or scissors)

Watch the video below, and share your own shooting survival tips in the comments.

Want more tips? Check out these related articles from our website:

Surviving a Hostage Situation or Terrorist Attack

How to Defend Yourself Without a Gun

Self Defense Tips for Women

Save

When it comes to emergency preparedness and everyday carry, there is one name that stands above them all…. Glock. Doc and Drew talk Glocks for survival and EDC. The reasons for their choices and the backstory of how they settled upon Glock as the one-stop sidearm solution. Listen as the guys take a deep dive into everything Glock and why you should give Glock a second look if you don’t already own one.

Want to comment about this podcast? Sound off below in the comments.

A fun episode with lots of opinions (Glocks…enough said), click on one of the links below to listen now or download to your phone and listen later. Also, if you love the podcast, please leave us a review on iTunes, Stitcher, or Podbeam. It really helps!!!

 

The post Survival Cache Podcast Episode 13: Glocks & More Glocks appeared first on Survival Cache.

Donald Trump really loves his tariffs! The Trump administration is now threatening to add 100% tariffs to $2.4 billion worth of French goods, including cheese. This tariff is retaliation against France’s new tax on digital services.

While France’s tax on digital services simply amounts to more theft, Trump’s retaliation is not all that different.  In a statement, the United States Trade Representative’s office said the French law “discriminates against U.S. companies” including Alphabet’s Google, Apple Inc., Facebook Inc., and Amazon.com Inc.

“The USTR is focused on countering the growing protectionism of EU member states, which unfairly targets U.S. companies,” Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement, adding that Austria, Italy, and Turkey could also be subject to retaliation for their digital services taxes. The USTR said it is seeking public comment and will hold a public hearing in early January regarding the proposed action, according to a report by Market Watch. 

The French law levies a 3% tax on the revenues—not profits—that large tech firms make there when selling advertising or operating online marketplaces, according to Forbes. Again, U.S. firms are not explicitly targeted, even though the size threshold makes that the effective result: global revenues of at least €750 million ($830 million) and French “qualifying revenues” of at least €25 million.

“These companies are already subject to tax in the United States and in other countries where they add economic value,” said Joe Kennedy, a senior fellow at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a U.S. tech lobbying group. “The decision to tax revenues rather than profits skirts France’s tax treaties with the United States and raises the prospect of double taxation. The imposition of what is essentially a fixed tax on the market value of an imported good amounts to an illegal tariff.”