People have been asking me to do an article like this for quite some time.  In all the years that I have been writing, I have never seen so many of my readers so alarmed about our immediate future.  Over and over again, I have been getting emails from people asking for advice about how to prepare for what is ahead, and so many of them are using the word “urgency” to describe what they are feeling.  And I can definitely identify with that, because around the middle of last year that is a word that I started using constantly.  I felt an urgency about 2020 that I had never felt about any other upcoming year, and there were certain things that I knew that I had to get done.  One of those things that I had to get done was my new book, and it is now finished.  The plan is to release it this month, and after reading it there will be no doubt about why I have been feeling such a sense of urgency in recent months.

I want to warn you in advance that the list below is not an exhaustive list.

Instead, it is meant to be a very basic starting guide.  There are many other things that could (and probably should) be added to this list, and I very much encourage readers to leave comments after this article with their own suggestions and recommendations.  We should always be willing to learn from one another, because nobody is an expert on everything.

To me, the four primary priorities for preparing for an emergency scenario are food, water, energy and shelter.  Once you have got those four basic areas covered, you can certainly build on that foundation by addressing other considerations.

In the title of this article I use the phrase “the next 12 months”, but I do not mean to imply that everything will be fine after those 12 months are over.  In fact, I am convinced that our problems are only going to intensify as time rolls along.

And I certainly hope that you will not need everything on this list during the next 12 months.  Hopefully, you will not need to use some of these items for a few years.  But this is definitely a great opportunity to purchase many of these things, because a lot of them are only going to become more expensive and more difficult to acquire the worse conditions get.

In putting this list together, I was envisioning a scenario in which most of you will be sheltering at home rather than “bugging out” to an alternative location.  In a “bugging out” scenario, this list would look quite a bit different.

Also, I didn’t address self-defense in this list, but without a doubt it is very important.  In fact, if you live in or near a major city, it is imperative to have a plan for defending yourself and your family.  For years, I have been encouraging readers to move away from the major cities, but for a lot of people that simply isn’t possible at this moment.  More than 51 million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment so far this year, and so a good stable job is an extremely valuable thing to have at this moment.  If your job is keeping you in a potentially dangerous area right now, you will also want to have a plan for “bugging out” to a more remote location if the need arises.

With all of that being said, the following are 50 things that I am encouraging everyone to stock up on in order to prepare for the chaotic times that are coming…

#1 A Generator

#2 A Berkey Water Filter

#3 A Rainwater Collection System If You Do Not Have A Natural Supply Of Water Near Your Home

#4 An Emergency Medical Kit

#5 Rice

#6 Pasta

#7 Canned Soup

#8 Canned Vegetables

#9 Canned Fruit

#10 Canned Chicken

#11 Jars Of Peanut Butter

#12 Salt

#13 Sugar

#14 Powdered Milk

#15 Bags Of Flour

#16 Yeast

#17 Lots Of Extra Coffee (If You Drink It)

#18 Buckets Of Long-Term Storable Food

#19 Extra Vitamins

#20 Lighters Or Matches

#21 Candles

#22 Flashlights Or Lanterns

#23 Plenty Of Wood To Burn

#24 Extra Blankets

#25 Extra Sleeping Bags

#26 A Sun Oven

#27 An Extra Fan If You Live In A Hot Climate

#28 Hand Sanitizer

#29 Toilet Paper

#30 Extra Soap And Shampoo

#31 Extra Toothpaste

#32 Extra Razors

#33 Bottles Of Bleach

#34 A Battery-Powered Radio

#35 Extra Batteries

#36 Solar Chargers

#37 Trash Bags

#38 Tarps

#39 A Pocket Knife

#40 A Hammer

#41 An Axe

#42 A Shovel

#43 Work Gloves

#44 N95 Masks

#45 Seeds For A Garden

#46 Canning Jars

#47 Extra Supplies For Your Pets

#48 An Emergency Supply Of Cash

#49 Bibles For Every Member Of Your Family

#50 A “Bug Out Bag” For Every Member Of Your Family

Are there certain key items that you would add to this list?  If so, please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts below.

I understand that there are a lot of people out there that are feeling extreme financial stress during this severe economic downturn, and acquiring all of the items on this list may not be possible.

And that is okay.  Our job is to do the very best that we can with what we have, and we shall trust God with the rest.

I know that a lot of people out there don’t like it when I write such “negative” articles.  But I wouldn’t be doing my duty if I didn’t warn people about what was coming, and I actually believe that articles like this give people a lot of hope.

There is hope in understanding what is coming, there is hope in getting prepared, and there is hope in connecting with others that are also preparing.

Just like we witnessed during the early stages of this COVID-19 pandemic, the people that will be freaking out when things get really crazy will be those that do not understand what is happening and haven’t made any preparations in advance.

Millions upon millions of Americans will not be able to handle the times that are coming, but we prepare because we believe that with God’s help we can make it through all of the storms that are ahead.

If you wish to mock us for being preppers, please feel free to do so, but you also need to be prepared to issue one whopper of an apology when you are forced to turn to one of us for help one day.

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. 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.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

The post A List Of 50 Things You Should Get Right Now To Prepare For The Chaotic Events Of The Next 12 Months appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

If you could own only five guns, what would they be?

I recently asked myself this question and the task proved surprisingly difficult, because there are a lot of different guns that I like — and it’s not easy making sacrifices.

In the end, though, I was able to narrow my selection by first determining the five basic types of guns that I would want to own before choosing the specific models for each of those types.

So what are the five types? They are:

1. 9mm semi-automatic pistol
2. .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol
3. .22 semi-automatic rifle
4. 12-gauge pump action shotgun
5. .308 semi-automatic rifle

I’ll explain my reasons for choosing these categories below, as well as the specific make and model of gun I chose per category.

 

9MM Pistol (Walther PPQ M2)

I believe the pistol is the most important firearm you can own, simply because you can conceal it on your person and travel with it. I also believe that if you could own only one pistol, it should be a 9mm because it’s the most abundant and the cheapest to shoot.

While some may expect me to say the Glock 19 or 17 is my pick for a 9mm pistol, the truth is I would opt for the Walther PPQ M2. The ergonomics on the PPQ are incredible and it melts into my hand seamlessly. The trigger is also a wonder in its own right and is much more light and crisp than any other striker-fired pistol I’ve used. Reliability, of course, is excellent.

 

Be Prepared. Learn The Best Ways To Hide Your Guns.

 

The fairly compact size of the PPQ means I easily can hide it on my person for concealed carry, while the 15+1 capacity (or 17+1 with the extended mag) offers plenty of firepower in a self-defensive situation. For these reasons, I find it to be equally as versatile as it is pleasurable to fire.

Granted, I am fully aware of the PPQ’s shortcomings as a survivalist sidearm. Because it has a short track record, spare parts and accessories are not nearly as available as, say a Glock or a Smith & Wesson M&P.

Nonetheless, the PPQ is one of my favorite handguns and one I have found great use and enjoyment out of over the years.  It would be my personal pick for a 9mm pistol if I could only have one.

 

.45 ACP Pistol – Colt Mark IV Series 70

If I could own five guns, two of them would need to be handguns (at least for me). I was very close to making my second handgun a .357 Magnum revolver (likely a Ruger GP100), as it would be very versatile in that I could shoot both .357s and .38s through it.

Ultimately, though, I decided if anything were to happen to my PPQ as my concealed carry gun, I would want another semi-automatic pistol that I could use as an alternative. I also wanted this pistol to be in .45, so that I would have a slightly greater variety of calibers instead of just 9mm.

Many people will disagree with my choice here, but I pick the 1911 (and specifically the Colt Mark IV Series 70) simply because it’s one of my favorite guns to shoot. There is no other handgun that balances as well for me as the 1911, and it’s the pistol I find myself enjoying the most each time I visit the shooting range.

The Series 70 I own, in particular, has proven to be very reliable, with only one malfunction during the break-in period (as most 1911s require) and none since then. Even though magazine capacity is limited at 7-8 rounds, the trade-off is that the 1911 is slim and easily concealable on my person.

Beyond that, the 1911 is endlessly customizable with no shortage of spare accessories and parts on the market, something that contrasts heavily with the PPQ, where aftermarket options are more limited.

Emergency Relocating” ​To The Absolute Safest Places In The United States”

 

.22 Rifle – Ruger 10/22

No gun collection is complete without a .22 of some kind, so I knew immediately that one of my top 5 guns to own would have to be a .22 semi-automatic rifle. A .22 is perfect for small game hunting, pest control, plinking, and for introducing new people to shooting. The ammunition is also so small that I can carry literally hundreds of rounds on my person without really noticing the weight.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, my pick for a .22 rifle is the Ruger 10/22. The very first gun that I ever owned was a Ruger 10/22, so it’s a weapon with which I have much experience. I have found the 10/22 to be a robust, accurate and dependable weapon. I could easily use it for tactical purposes if needed.

Another reason that makes the 10/22 my choice for a .22 rifle is how spare parts and accessories are literally everywhere. During a disaster scenario, this would be an advantage where I would have a greater chance of finding spare magazines or other parts in the event that anything broke over other .22 rifles.

 

12 Gauge Shotgun – Mossberg 500

I’ve heard many arguments supporting the idea that the pump-action 12-gauge is the most critical gun to own. No one can deny that the 12-gauge shotgun is highly versatile. When loaded with buckshot it’s devastating for home defense. With birdshot you can use it for bird hunting or clay pigeon shooting. And with slugs you easily could use it for big-game hunting.

My preferred shotgun is the Mossberg 500. The controls are convenient for me (more so than the Remington 870) and the fact that this was the only pump shotgun to pass the U.S. military’s brutal Mil-Spec 3443G torture test says a lot about its quality.

The specific 500 that I would choose would be a Mariner model with a 6+1 capacity. The Mariner, coated in Mossberg’s trademark silver Marinecote, has much greater rust and corrosion-resistant capabilities than standard bluing does. I would also pick the 6+1 version so I could alternate between a 28-inch vented rib barrel for hunting and a shorter 18.5-inch barrel for home defense. This option essentially gives me two shotguns in one.

Get Dependable Emergency Backup Power In Any Situation

 

.308 Semi-Auto Rifle – Springfield M1A

Finally, I need a center fire rifle to top off my five favorite guns. It makes perfect sense to choose a .308 semi-automatic in this scenario, as I can use it for both big game hunting and tactical training.

My choice here would be the Springfield M1A, over the AR-10, FAL, and G3/C308. The M1A first entered U.S. service in the 1950s and continues to be used by some marksmen in the military today. There’s good reason why: It is a very well-built, rugged, and accurate rifle that will do everything you ask it to do.

I fully understand the M1A is heavy (and long with the full-length version) and that .308 ammunition is not as cheap as 5.56x45mm NATO. However, a rifle that fires the 5.56 like the AR-15 is simply not as multi-purpose for me, as the 5.56 round is far too light for elk hunting (something I do each fall). Ideally I would own both, but since I have only one gun left to choose in my list of five, I would settle for the M1A or any .308 semi-auto rifle over a rifle that fires a lighter bullet.

What would be in your top five? Let us know in the section below:

 

The post If I Could Own Only 5 Guns … appeared first on Off The Grid News.

The other day a friend handed me a well-used (but not abused) Winchester Model 70 bolt-action rifle, chambered for the immortal .30/06. Because this classic combination dated to the late 1960s, it lacked the luster of more desirable “Pre-64 Winchesters” which were finished to higher standards. Nevertheless, the well-polished steel typical of that era still retained most of its bluing.

by Steve Markwith, author of Survival Guns

The relatively decent condition of the steel on this gun came as a surprise, because it had been abandoned in a barn by a relative until the present owner found it, well-speckled with rust. A light layer can often be removed using WD-40 and judicious use of four-ought steel wool. Although this rifle was rescued before any pitting developed, several iffy spots required a more effective solution.

The fix turned out to be lots of careful rubbing using nothing more than a penny! This was a new one on me, but it obviously worked. Close examination revealed where it occurred, but overall, the one-cent repair came out great. It was also a whole lot cheaper than the cost of a complete re-bluing job, a process I’d seen before.

My Experience with Bluing

Years ago, I worked part-time in a gun shop that offered a full line of services including drilling and tapping, re-bluing, and stock repairs, etc. The gunsmith, Al, had worked for P.O. Ackley (of wildcat cartridge fame) and was a true wealth of knowledge. Not long after starting, as Al was firing up the burners on the hot-blue tank, I mentioned an interest in dabbling with re-bluing.

That evoked a reaction of either contempt or pity, but Al was decent enough to patiently explain how every small part needed to be disassembled and organized. But, that was just to start. The pre-blue polishing process was a skill unto itself (supposedly, some collectors of pre-war Colts and S&Ws can identify a factory polisher based on subtleties in the finish). These realities were driven home while observing the entire process. Occasionally, it also involved a few surprises!

Some parts like front-sight ramps or barrel bands could actually dissolve or cause a hideous case of “greening.” But, Al always took extra care to avoid rounded steel edges or softened lettering common to many other re-bluing jobs. Done right, the transformation can be stunning, BUT even the most professional job can greatly devalue a collectible firearm. I bought an immaculate 1942 German Luger for a song, simply because it was a “reblue.”

Family Guns that Deserve Re-Bluing

Nowadays, full-service gun shops are drying up. Skilled gunsmiths are harder to come by and some jobs – like stock refinishing and re-bluing – are labor intensive. Also, extremely durable alternative coatings have gained deserved popularity with the added advantage of color choices. 

Still, many households have older firearms, handed down from one generation to the next. Although some are inexpensive “hardware store brands” dating to around 1900, others such as Colt revolvers or Winchester lever-action rifles could be worth a small fortune – if in decent, unaltered condition. Collectors will pore over every minute detail for signs of refinishing. So, based strictly on value, they are usually much more desirable if left “as is.”

But, of course, family sentiment holds value of its own. A well-used but not abused firearm could also be in need of help after decades of treasured sporting adventures. Most are better candidates for traditional re-bluing, which can be accomplished several ways.

The Gun Bluing Process

Hot blue is a bluing process that is actually a form of controlled corrosion, produced through exposure to special “bluing salts.” It works well on most carbon steel alloys, but not on stainless steel or aluminum. Once completed, the oxidized surface is more rust-resistant than bare-steel alone and, as noted above, with careful metal preparation, the outcome can be spectacular.

How the Hot Blue Process Works

Here’s how the hot blue process works:

Disassembly As noted above, anything destined for the bluing tank musty be completely disassembled. A slide might sound simpler than an entire pistol, but we can’t just drop it in. Any steel parts (firing pins and extractors) will need to be separated first for degreasing and full exposure to the solution. But some items including springs and non-ferrous parts (sights or plastic plungers) will need to stay entirely clear of the tank.

Metal Polishing Minor dings or surface rust can be cleaned up through light polishing, but pitting requires more aggressive methods involving a buffing wheel and abrasive compounds. Plenty of experience is necessary to avoid unintentional removal of excess steel. A more practical and affordable alternative for working guns is a bead-blasted finish created by pressure-driven abrasives. 

Pre-tank Preparation Any traces of polishing compounds and oil must be removed before the actual bluing process takes place. This step is often performed by immersion of the parts in evaporative solvents like acetone, etc.

Hot Bluing Time for some alchemy! The correct amount of bluing salts is mixed with water in a tank, and heated by burners underneath it. The parts are then immersed for a timed period (minutes instead of hours) so the salts can work their magic.

Post-blue Because the bluing solution is caustic any traces must be immediately flushed away, normally through a separate hot-water bath. Once dried, the various parts receive a warm oil bath to ward off rust.

Reassembly Upon completion, if everything has gone right, there won’t be any extra parts!

One problem is, this process can’t be used on some firearms – like double-barreled shotguns.

The Rust Bluing Process

The barrels and ribs of many double-guns are joined together with silver solder, which won’t survive hot blue solutions. Instead, bluing is accomplished through a special mix of acids. Once applied, the parts are placed in a humid cabinet where the vapors can work their magic. Repeat exposures are required (sometimes over a period of a week or more). In between, dark velvet-like accumulations are “carded off” using fine steel wool. Because most of the other steps (including prep-work and post-bluing) remain similar to the tank process, rust-bluing is more labor intensive and less-often used. However, the resulting finish is durable and can be quite attractive (see pic at top of article).

Heat Bluing/Case Hardening

Controlled exposure of steel to heat can result in a variety of attractive finishes from straw-coloring to the spectacular rainbow effect produced through case hardening. Beyond its beauty, the latter also creates a very hard wear-resistant surface; the reason it’s often seen on hammers.

Recipes can be as guarded as Col. Sanders’ Secret Sauce, involving charred bones, leather, oil and, maybe, a pinch of newt.  For this reason, some of today’s “case-hardening” is actually cosmetic and produced through a chemical process.

In The White

Some steel parts, like double-gun mono-blocks or rifle bolts, are left untreated because blued surfaces would quickly experience wear. Regular applications of protective oil reduces friction, and also prevents rust. To help hold it, engine-turning is sometimes applied. The resulting overlapping circular swirls in a bright steel surface also have visual appeal.

Is Bluing Guns Worth the Effort?

One post-bluing problem can involve the rest of a gun. Well-worn stocks will often swear with pretty new bluing! The cure could involve the expenditure of more funds since proper (and period-correct) wood refinishing requires skill. This leads to a question:

Is bluing worth the effort? Maybe yes. Maybe not.

Easy DIY Bluing Instructions

Small dings or bare spots are an inevitable result of use rather than neglect. More often than not, they can be touched up through quick fixes. Small patches of surface rust can often be removed through the aforementioned careful use of four-ought steel wool and WD-40 (read my post on WD-40 and guns). Minor scratches or thinning blued surfaces can be fixed through DIY touch-up products. One of the most common is the Birchwood Casey Deluxe Perma Blue Tru-Oil Liquid Blue and Stock Finish Kit.

Brownells also offers a slew of gun bluing products – shop them here.

I try to avoid taking the surface completely down to bare steel. The idea is to blend in the finishes and cold-blues often provide an inconspicuous fix for smaller spots.

Cold Bluing

Some cold bluing solutions work better than others, depending on the steel or iron alloy. That said, I always keep a bottle of Brownells Oxpho-Blue nearby for use on minor wear spots. Prior to its application, I’ll degrease the area using quick-drying non-residue cleaner like Brownells TCE, or Birchwood Casey’s Cleaner-Degreaser (a cheap product definitely worth having).

The steel is then warmed up with a hairdryer or heavy duty hot air gun. At that point, the cold-blue solution is dabbed on using a cotton swab. Eventually, the bare steel should begin to darken. When it begins to match the surrounding area, I let the solution sit for several minutes and carefully blot it dry.

Related article: DIY Cold Bluing

The last step is a shot of WD-40, followed by a light wipe. This process may need a few tries for best results. I’ve always reserved cold-blue for touch-ups, but recently, Brownells posted tricks for larger jobs on their website.

Either way, the safest bet is to try some on in inconspicuous spot, just in case a negative reaction develops. Some folks tackle entire guns and one popular project is a muzzle loading kit gun, designed to be finished by the purchaser. The steel usually arrives “in the white” and requires final filing and polishing. Birchwood Casey’s Plum Brown is an often-used product that creates an old-time appearance on replica percussion of flintlock guns. 

Bluing and Aluminum

Peruse a rack full of used guns and you’ll probably note a few with dinged trigger guards. For example, Remington’s hugely popular Model 870 pump shotgun employs a steel receiver but, like many other brands, its trigger guard is aluminum. Bluing won’t work, but Brownells Aluma-Hyde can do a fair job of covering up scrapes, etc. Advertised as a “durable epoxy-based paint”, it’s available in several shades. Just follow the directions and let it fully cure before handling. Birchwood Casey’s Aluminum Black works, too.

How about a Magic Marker?

A small dab can hide a very minor ding on a scope or trigger guard, etc. If necessary, a bore cleaning solvent like Shooter’s Choice will quickly remove it. There is also a Birchwood Casey Aluminum Touch-Up Pen.

Hiring Professionals for Gun Bluing

Just because a gun is old doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gained value, so restorative expenses could easily exceed its worth. The internet can sometimes provide guidance and some gun shops or auctioneers will also due appraisals. Assuming a decision is made to proceed, a qualified professional will be necessary.  Not all so-called “gunsmiths” possess the requisite skills, and even some good ones ship firearms to re-bluing specialists.

Turnbull Restoration Company is a true master of this art. A visit to their website is well worth the time since some educational videos are available. The requisite efforts are reflected by the costs, but the results speak for themselves!

Precision Bluing is another company to consider if you want a professional job.

Final Gun Bluing Thoughts

A cautionary note: Some seemingly good candidates won’t respond to common bluing efforts. For example, Winchester changed the metallurgy of their famous lever-action Model 1894s. As a result, although a magnet will stick to my post-1964 receiver, re-bluing would require a different approach.

That’s also true of stainless steel, although it’s much more weather-resistant. However, even stainless surfaces (and others) have benefitted from recent industrial salt-bath nitriding treatments. These finishes, which are as hard as nails, protect the slides of many popular polymer-framed pistols.

Given the new wave of coatings, the alternatives to bluing are near-endless, and many are much more practical for use in tougher conditions. That said, a deep mirror-blued surface does hold a charm all its own. Ongoing TLC and an occasional spot-fix can help preserve it.

Have you ever tried bluing a gun?

The post Bluing Guns and Bluing Quick Fix Instructions appeared first on SHTF blog – Modern Survival.

It is during moments of great crisis that we find out who we really are, and that is why the governmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been so heartbreaking.  Instead of rallying around our founding principles, Democrats and Republicans have both gravitated toward “solutions” that are in the exact opposite direction.  Bigger government programs, more government tyranny and huge socialist transfer payments have all been greatly welcomed by the mainstream media and by large portions of the U.S. population, and at the same time very few voices are warning us that these measures are eroding our fundamental rights, exploding the size of our national debt and setting extremely dangerous precedents for the future.

Once people become accustomed to receiving money directly from the federal government, it is exceedingly difficult to ever cut those payments off.  If you think back through our history, it is difficult to name a single major transfer payment program that was ever rolled back.  Over time, our federal government has just gotten bigger and bigger and bigger, and it is now the biggest government that anyone has ever seen in the history of the entire planet.

Yes, tens of millions of Americans are deeply hurting right now.  Over the past 17 weeks, a total of 51.3 million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment benefits, and that represents the most dramatic spike in unemployment that the U.S. has ever experienced.

And since most Americans were just barely scraping by financially coming into this year, we are facing a future in which millions upon millions of our fellow citizens aren’t going to be able to pay their bills.  In a recent article, USA Today featured the tragic story of a 35-year-old hair stylist named Chelsie Caudle…

The mother of two has run into delays applying for unemployment and food stamps in Portland, Oregon, after Grace Salon, a hair salon that specializes in cutting and coloring, was forced to shutter in March when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Caudle, who is self-employed, sublet a spot at Grace Salon to run her own business called Benjamin LLC. But with no income coming in for months, bills piled up, making it hard for her to afford groceries for her family, she says.

I think that most of us can identify with what she is going through, because nearly all of us have experienced the same thing at some point in our lives.

In order to relieve the suffering of those that found themselves suddenly unemployed, Congress approved $600 a week unemployment bonuses as part of the 2.2 trillion dollar CARES Act that it passed in March…

The $600 weekly payments from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program were put in place as part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act that Congress passed in late March amid the coronavirus pandemic. Americans who are eligible for unemployment insurance receive an extra $600 on top of what they normally claim under their state’s benefits. Yet this boost is scheduled to end for all states except New York, on Saturday July 25, 2020. New York’s end date is Sunday, July 26, according to the Department of Labor.

For a while, it sounded like the Republicans were actually against extending the extra unemployment benefits, but now it appears that they just hope to reduce them a bit…

On Sunday, The Washington Post reported that in light of the enhanced $600 per week federal unemployment benefits poised to run out in less than a week, the White House and top Senate Republicans are considering measures including extending a smaller-scale weekly federal enhanced unemployment benefit of $200 or $400 per week or means-testing future federal unemployment benefits.

In the end, the Republican socialists in Congress will probably fold like a 20 dollar suit like they always do, and so the Democratic socialists in Congress will likely end up with most (or all) of what they want in this next “stimulus bill”.

And very few people will even talk about the fact that this new “stimulus bill” will steal trillions of more dollars from future generations of Americans.

This is what socialism always does.  It steals money from one group and gives it to another.

In our case, we have been stealing from future generations for so long that we have absolutely obliterated the bright future that they were supposed to have.

Meanwhile, the calls for “a second stimulus check” are becoming louder as well.

In fact, one recent survey found that a lot of Americans want the next “stimulus check” to be even bigger than the last one…

More than two-thirds of Americans say they still need a second stimulus check from the government to help make ends meet, according to recent data from tax preparer Jackson Hewitt. And about a third of that group said the $1,200 checks needed to be more than the previous round. Only about a quarter of them say they wouldn’t need another emergency payment.

When the first round of stimulus checks went out, I warned that this was setting a very dangerous precedent and that people would soon want more checks, and I was precisely correct.

There are a lot of good conservatives out there that felt guilty about taking the first round of stimulus checks because they recognized that the checks represented a giant step toward socialism.

I can definitely understand why people were feeling conflicted, but my advice is to accept whatever checks the government sends to you.

Because at this point what we are facing is a battle for survival.  We are entering a truly nightmarish chapter in American history, and our entire system is going to fail.  If a little bit of extra money can help you and your family get prepared for what is coming, that is a good thing.

However, it is also appropriate to mourn for what has been lost.  At one time, America was a beacon of hope in a world where billions were living under socialist tyranny.  But now we are racing toward full-blown socialism at a pace that is absolutely breathtaking, and nearly all of our politicians have completely abandoned our founding principles.

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. 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.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

The post As America’s Economic Suffering Grows, The Calls For More Socialism Grow Louder appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

We are all aware of the concept of the Bug Out Bag, but there are times when our Bug Out Bags is at home and …

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Week after week we continue to get economic numbers that are absolutely horrific, and it appears that we are heading for a housing crisis that will be even worse than what we witnessed in 2008.  Back then, millions of Americans lost their homes, but this time around it could be tens of millions.  I know that a statement like that may sound overly dramatic, but I believe that many of you that feel that way may change your minds after reading this entire article.

In order to make rent and mortgage payments, Americans need paychecks coming in, and right now people continue to lose jobs at a pace that is hard to believe.

On Thursday, we learned that another 1.3 million Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week.  That was worse than expected, and it represented the 17th week in a row when the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits exceeded one million.

And as I keep reminding my readers each week, the all-time record for a single week prior to this year was just 695,000.

Overall, more than 51 million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment benefits over the last 17 weeks, and that is by far the largest spike in unemployment in all of U.S. history.

In fact, the numbers that we have been seeing should theoretically be close to impossible.  In February, the number of Americans that were employed peaked at an all-time high of 152 million, and the number of people that have filed new claims for unemployment since that time represents more than a third of that total.

I know that some people are hesitant to use the term “economic collapse”, but what else are we supposed to call this?

Incredibly, one expect quoted by USA Today is telling us that the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits could actually “increase” next week…

The rollbacks may spark a new wave of layoffs, especially in hard-hit states like Texas, Florida, Arizona and California, and possibly even push the claims totals higher.

“Next week could easily see an increase” in initial claims, economist Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics wrote in a research note.

Needless to say, this tsunami of unemployment has resulted in a whole lot of people not being able to make their rent payments.

In fact, the Census Bureau has announced that 11.6 million Americans live in households that did not make their most recent rent payments…

According to the latest weekly Census Bureau data, 11.6 million people live in households that missed their last rental payments.

More than 22 million Americans also have no, or only slight confidence, that they will be able to make next month’s rental payments, the figures show.

Ouch.

Large numbers of Americans are getting behind on their mortgage payments as well.  The following comes from Wolf Richter…

In April, the share of all mortgages that were past due, but less than 30 days, soared to 3.4% of all mortgages, the highest in the data going back to 1999. This was up from 0.7% in April last year. During the Housing Bust, this rate peaked in November 2008 at 2%

In the months ahead, millions of Americans will fall so far behind on their rent payments that they will be facing eviction.

And millions of other Americans will fall so far behind on their mortgages that they will be in serious danger of losing their homes.

According to Emily Benfer, we could potentially see a total of “20 million to 28 million people” get kicked out of their homes in the months ahead…

“We have never seen this extent of eviction in such a truncated amount of time in our history,” Benfer said when asked about how the current homeless crisis compares to the 2008 housing crisis.

She continued: “We can expect this to increase dramatically in the coming weeks and months, especially as the limited support and intervention measures that are in place start to expire. About 10 million people, over a period of years, were displaced from their homes following the foreclosure crisis in 2008. We’re looking at 20 million to 28 million people in this moment, between now and September, facing eviction.”

We have never seen anything like this before.

And of course Benfer is assuming that there won’t be another major crisis between now and the end of the year.

So what happens if we get to September, October and November and things in this country start going absolutely haywire once again?

The closer we get to the election, the higher societal tensions will run, and they are already so high that we could see a major eruption at literally any moment.

And I should also mention that the $600 weekly bonus payments that were keeping so many unemployed Americans afloat will be terminated at the end of July.  Once those payments stop, millions upon millions of unemployed workers will have a much, much more difficult time making rent and mortgage payments.

Most Americans believe that “the worst is behind us”, but the truth is that we are sleepwalking into an unprecedented economic nightmare.

If you follow my work on The Most Important News, you already know how concerned I am about the end of this year and beyond, and I will be laying out precisely what I believe is coming in my new book which will be released later this month.

The “perfect storm” which I have mentioned so many times over the last couple of years is now here, and most Americans are completely and totally unprepared for it.

I would very much encourage you to take the summer months as an opportunity to make the preparations that you need to make for the chaos that is approaching.  As I detailed two days ago, we are already witnessing nationwide shortages of aluminum cans, soda, flour, canned soup, pasta and rice.  As the problems in our nation intensify, the shortages will only get worse.

Of course in order to store up supplies you must have somewhere to put them, and for tens of millions of Americans it is going to be a real struggle just to keep their homes during the months ahead.

It looks like we are facing a housing crisis that is going to be far worse than anything that we experienced during the last recession, and unless Congress starts making money rain from the sky it doesn’t appear that there is any hope of stopping it.

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. 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.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

The post The Housing Crisis Of 2020: Millions Of Americans Missed Their Last Rent Payments, And Tens Of Millions Could Soon Be Evicted appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

The easy answer to this question is: It’s already here. Due to the surge of coronavirus cases again, there will be a second wave of lockdown. What will this mean for us?

Second Wave of Lockdown and Its Effects

California Governor Gavin Newsome has already shut down bars and restaurants again. He has made decisions that affect comedy clubs and many other types of businesses based on the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Of course, we are talking about California, but there is a good chance we will see these kinds of actions in other states.

This new rash of cases has people in an uproar. It looks like the virus is spreading to the parts of the nation that it hasn’t run through yet. However, there are still some interesting steps being taken by governors. We are seeing states like Florida issuing 14-day quarantine orders for people who visit from the tristate area. That is unprecedented for them.

Let’s look at several factors to consider in the quest to understand how our states will look in the coming season.

COVID 19 Deaths

As the cases of COVID-19 rise, you will notice that one stat is lagging and it’s the best one. The deaths from COVID-19 are not going up as rapidly as they did during the infection of the massive infection of the northeast. We have made some serious discoveries since then.

The first is that ventilators, while important in some cases, seem to do more harm to patients who have the potential to recover on their own. To be frank, many people are wondering if an over-reliance on ventilators might have caused more deaths.

Of course, this was not made any better by the fact that some hospitals were getting big money to put people on ventilators.

Long story short, we have gotten much better at treating this virus, so the death rate is going even lower.

The Fall Season

The world is not back on yet. If our world were a light switch it wouldn’t be turned OFF, but it most certainly wouldn’t be fully ON. I guess we are DIM at this point. By mid-Fall, it looks like most schools will be back in session and many more people will be back to work. There are whole industries that are still telecommuting.

What happens when large groups of people get back into environments that are pumped full of recirculated air will tell us a lot about another lockdown. Will the cases of COVID-19 spike and what will that mean? By Fall, we could have an even more comprehensive treatment process for all ages and that could lower the death rate of COVID-19 even more.

Your Response and Your Future

The bigger questions right now have to do with your personal actions. We should not wait for the government to decide what we are going to do with our lives. One of the best examples of this is schooling. Are you going to wait for the government to allow your child to be taught, or are you going to dive in to make sure your child gets the education they need to be successful?

We will be faced with many challenges just like these in the coming months. The actions of a few heads of states cannot dictate how your life is run.

Another big response will be how you get food. There are rising tensions between health officials and farmers. There is the idea that seasonal workers are at a great risk picking the food our nation needs, and time will come that it is compromised. We saw this in the meatpacking plants.

What will your response be to a lockdown on the agricultural system?

Looking to CSAs and growing your own food is a much better idea than simply waiting until things get back up and running again. We need to take our independence much more seriously and break the chains of convenience.

Be Better Prepared This Time Around

There are going to be placed in the nation that suffers from the second wave of lockdown. These will likely be the places with the highest population density. It only makes sense that these areas are going to get a rash of infections. The governors of these areas are also well versed in the lockdown and believe in its benefits.

Another round of lockdown will also mean a round of protests aimed at those who refuse to put their businesses and their families through the nightmare, again! It is hard to argue that point. We have watched countless business owners struggle and even go under from the first round of lockdown. The subsequent riots polished off the rest.

For you, it is important that you visualize what a second lockdown would like and how it could affect your life. Now is the time to take action and assure you are ready for round two. Then if it doesn’t happen you just have future protection for whatever comes next.

How are you going to prepare differently for the second wave of lockdown? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

Up Next:

• The Police State Preppers Have Feared has Arrived
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Christians all over America are talking about Pastor Dana Coverstone, and he just had another prophetic dream about the month of September that everyone should hear.  He is warning that “something big is coming”, and he is calling Christians all over the country to pray for our nation from the beginning of the month of September to the end.  Hopefully many will heed this call, because we are definitely at a major turning point in our history.  I have been hearing from so many readers lately that feel such an urgency about the second half of this year and beyond, and I think that is a big reason why Pastor Coverstone’s original video resonated so strongly with so many people.  What he shared in that video exactly matches what countless believers have been feeling, and it also perfectly lines up with experiences that other prophetic voices have been having.

Pastor Coverstone’s original video on YouTube has now been viewed over 1.5 million times.  In that video he shared a dream that he had in December 2019 in which the Lord showed him that a great pandemic and tremendous civil unrest would erupt in America during the first half of this year, and events have played out in real life just as he saw in that dream.

Subsequently, Pastor Coverstone had another dream in late June in which the month of September was specifically singled out as having special significance…

Here’s what I saw.

I saw a calendar. Start with the calendar. As I was having this, the calendar was up, a white figure appeared.  To me, it was a representing God the Holy Spirit, something pure, something righteous, something true, something Holy because there was nothing sinister about it.  Nothing evil, but I heard the voice say, “part two, part two”.

I saw June, go, I saw July. I saw August, and then I saw September, and I saw the finger underneath the word September and I like like emphasizing it and tap the three times.

We don’t know exactly what will happen in September, but from the remainder of that dream it certainly sounds like great chaos is coming in November and in the months beyond.

Other prophetic voices have been warned about the second half of this year as well.  Dr. Maurice Sklar was specifically shown that September is a key month, and John Fenn was specifically shown the same thing.

So we have multiple witnesses that are all confirming the same thing, and that should definitely get our attention.

It should be noted that John Fenn was told that the events that he was shown are conditional.  In other words, they may or may not happen based on how America responds over the coming months.

And that actually fits very well with the new prophetic dream that Pastor Dana Coverstone just had on July 10th, because that dream appears to be a national call to prayer.

Pastor Coverstone revealed this new dream during a worship service at his church, and you can watch his entire sermon right here.  In the dream, Pastor Coverstone saw a hand remove the month of September from the calendar, and the page fell and came to rest at his feet.  He was instructed to stand on the page and to intercede for the nation.  After praying for a few minutes, he was instructed to call others to pray with him, and ultimately he saw large numbers of people praying.  All throughout the month of September, he saw believers united in prayer, and then he saw something else that was very unusual.

He saw a hand come down and write the words “a solemn” in front of the word “September”, and then the hand wrote the word “assembly” after the word “September”.

And so when the hand was done writing, the phrase “a solemn September assembly” was written across the top of the calendar.

That immediately got my attention, because we actually find the phrase “a solemn assembly” in the Bible.  In Leviticus 23:36, the festival of Yom Kippur is described as “a solemn assembly” in the King James Version…

³⁶ Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.

And guess what?

This year, the festival of Yom Kippur just happens to be during the month of September.

Do you think that is just a coincidence?

Pastor Coverstone did not make this connection in his sermon, and I don’t even know if he is aware of it, and I think that makes all of this even more remarkable.

Once again, God is going to great lengths to point out the importance of the appointed times that He established in the Scriptures, and hopefully we are willing to pay attention.

Another thing that I find very interesting is that “a solemn assembly” has already been planned for Washington D.C. on Saturday, September 25th.  It is being called “The Return”, and it is being organized by Jonathan Cahn.  It is going to feature some of the biggest Christian names in America, and you can view a promotional video for this event right here.

The period of time from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur is known as “the Days of Awe”, and the central day of this event was purposely placed on the weekend that falls between those two very important festivals.

The goal of this gathering is to get people to repent and pray for the nation, and that sounds exactly like what Pastor Coverstone saw in his dream.

Isn’t it amazing how all of this fits together?

We truly serve an amazing God.

But just because God is calling people to pray in September, that does not mean that it will happen automatically.

We have a choice to respond to the call or not, and even if you cannot physically make it to Washington D.C. in September I would encourage you to seek God with all of your heart at that time.

If we miss this opportunity, we may not get another one.  Jonathan Cahn is warning that America “may pass the point of no return” if repentance and revival do not happen now, and I agree with his assessment.

Time is running out, and America stands on the precipice of judgment.  The only hope for the United States is a return to the one true God who created all things, and the fate of our nation hangs in the balance.

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. 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.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.