America’s middle class is being systematically eviscerated.  When the Federal Reserve pumped trillions of dollars into the financial system during the pandemic, most Americans didn’t realize what that would do to them.  That money certainly made the wealthy a whole lot wealthier, but it also dramatically increased the cost of living for the rest of us.  So now inflation has been rising much faster than paychecks have, and the cost of living has become exceedingly oppressive.  In fact, last year we witnessed the largest decline in real median household income in more than a decade…

The official tally is in and it is brutal: Americans suffered the biggest drop in household income in 2022 in a dozen years.

Real median household income was $74,580 in 2022, a drop of 2.3 percent from the prior year, the Census Bureau said Tuesday.

This is the biggest drop in household income since 2010, when it household income fell 2.6 percent. That means it is worse than the pandemic decline of 2.2 percent. It is the fourth worst year in records going back to 1985.

In 2010, the U.S. economy was just coming out of the horrible recession that we had just experienced in 2008 and 2009.

Those were not fun times.

And the times that we are moving into will not be fun either.

We are being told that “high inflation” is the primary reason why real median household income is falling…

The declines were driven by high inflation. The measure of inflation that is used to calculate real income rose 7.8 percent, the worst inflation since 1981.

1981 was a long time ago.

But at that time, the U.S. economy quickly recovered under the leadership of President Ronald Reagan.

We will not be so fortunate this time around.

Our leaders flooded the system with giant mountains of money, and almost everyone cheered as they were doing it.

But now we are paying the price.

Recently, a “Gen X mom” named Jessica McCabe made headlines all over the world when she posted a video on TikTok in which she expressed how frustrating it is to watch her adult children deeply struggle in this economy…

“I am so tired of feeling helpless as a parent,” McCabe started off the video. She acknowledged that her son was 25 and her daughter was 28 and explained: “I thought by teaching them what I learned, which is you work hard, you get a good job, you’re gonna get the things in life that you need, right? Worked for me, why wouldn’t it work for them?”

Unfortunately for all of us, the rules have changed.

What worked in the 1980s and 1990s simply does not work today.

In her video, she acknowledged that struggle is a part of life, but she also said that it is just so disheartening to see her kids “get further and further down” no matter how hard they try…

She continued: “I see them struggling, and before my generation comes at me, yes, I understand struggling as a part of life. We all struggle, but there’s a difference between struggling and drowning. So we struggled, and it was tough. But you know what, we made it. We knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel with our struggle. It seems like kids today, no matter how much they struggle, they just get further and further down.”

Sadly, this is the reality of life for most Americans today.

More than 60 percent of the nation is currently living paycheck to paycheck, and former Ford CEO Mark Fields just admitted to CNBC that someone needs to make more than $100,000 a year just to be able to afford a new vehicle these days…

The former Ford CEO said that a consumer has to “make over $100,000 to afford a new car.” As a result, the price of vehicles is starting to come down, which is leading to an inventory correction.

“Vehicles are getting older, they need to be replaced.”

Americans are keeping their vehicles longer than ever, and that is because most of us simply cannot afford to replace them.

As I have discussed previously, Americans are increasingly turning to debt to help make ends meet from month to month.

Credit card debt surged dramatically during the second quarter, and this is starting to become an enormous problem…

American households now have an average of $10,170 credit card debt, as record numbers say they are worried about being cut off from access to loans.

Data from the New York Federal Reserve shows nationwide credit card debt swelled by $43 billion in the second quarter of the year – the second largest increase on record.

Of course there is a limit to how much debt that U.S. consumers can take on, and financial institutions are starting to say “no” a lot more often…

Meanwhile a separate survey by the Fed revealed 60 percent of respondents found it more difficult to access credit – the highest level since the data series began in June 2013.

I warned my readers that the flow of credit would start to get tighter and tighter.

And now it is happening.

Right now, so many formerly middle class Americans have been pushed into what I call “the impoverished class”, and many that were formerly poor now find themselves pushed out into the streets.

In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal we have witnessed the largest increase in homelessness ever recorded this year…

The United States has seen the biggest ever spike in homeless people living on the streets – as preliminary figures showed a record 11 percent increase in one year.

There are nearly 600,000 rough sleepers across cities and towns in America, and the jump from 2022 to 2023 so far is the highest since the government started tracking the data in 2007, according to the WSJ.

Places like Oakland and San Francisco in California have become hotbeds for homelessness, as people living on the streets are like ‘drug tourists’ who arrive to have easy access to narcotics.

So please don’t believe anyone that tries to convince you that the economy is doing just fine.

It most certainly is not.

Homeless encampments are popping up like mushrooms all over the nation, and many communities are not pleased about this at all.

For example, just check out what has been happening in Austin, Texas…

Shocking footage has exposed the scene in an Austin park filled with liquor bottles, needles, Narcan and junk ‘as far as the eye can see,’ as a homeless encampment continues to grow.

The videos were of the West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt were posted on Monday by activist Jamie Hammonds, who reports from the Texas capital on the X page @DocumentingATX.

‘Another Greenbelt destroyed here in Austin… nothing but trash and junk as far as you can see… this is absolutely horrible,’ Hammonds said, adding that the encampment was at least the size of a football field, and you could smell it ‘even before you enter the greenbelt.’

As the economy continues to crumble, things are going to get even worse.

And as things get worse, the middle class will continue to shrink.

It is almost as if we are all playing a really bizarre game of musical chairs.

With each passing day, even more spots in the middle class are being removed from the game, and the ranks of “the impoverished class” continue to grow larger and larger.

Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have also started a brand new Substack newsletter, and I encourage you to subscribe so that you won’t miss any of my articles.  I have published thousands of articles on 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 always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  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.  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 definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post The Middle Class Is Increasingly Becoming “The Impoverished Class”, And The Poor Are Increasingly Being Pushed Into The Streets appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

In my hunt for the best bushcraft knife, I went to Blade Show and interviewed many knifemakers to get their…

This article %White River Firecraft FC5 – Best Knife for Fire?% appeared first on %Survive Doomsday%.

“Shooting” for some entertainment with six picks – just a few among many Many gun owners take their shooting very…

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“A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one.” – Ancient Proverb

Today, knife sharpeners come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and styles.

So there’s no excuse NOT to have good one.

But with so many brands it’s hard to know which one is the “best”…

So today, I’ll cut through all the B.S. and share some myths, show you the best ones, plus provide some extra tips and tricks:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

5 Dangerous Sharpening Myths

Best Pocket Knife Sharpeners

Best Knife Sharpener Features

How to Get A Razors Edge

Last Resort Knife Sharpening

Do YOU Live In A ‘Danger Zone’ County?
Find out NOW with my Danger Zone County List & Special Report – It’s 100% FREE… Click here now for Instant Access!

The 5 Most Dangerous Knife Sharpening Myths

When it comes to sharpening a knife, you’ve gotta separate fact from fiction.

Or you may end up with a blade that’s duller than a butter knife.

So, let’s dive in and cut through the nonsense…

Myth #1: “Any Sharpener Will Do”

Not all sharpeners are created equal!

There’s a whole bunch of ’em out there – from whetstones to honing rods, and even those cheap gizmos you see on late-night infomercials.

The truth is, the right sharpener depends on your knife type.

You wouldn’t use a sledgehammer to hang a picture, right?

Well, the same goes for sharpeners.

So, do your homework and choose the right tool for the job.

Myth #2: “A Sharp Knife Is a Dangerous Knife”

You’ve probably heard this one before –

“A dull knife is safer because you won’t cut yourself!”

Well, let me tell you, that’s hogwash.

A dull knife requires more force to cut.

Which increases the chances of it slipping and causing an accident.

A sharp knife, on the other hand, bites into what you’re cutting.

This makes it more predictable and controlled.

So, keep that blade sharp and stay safe out there!

Myth #3: “More Pressure Equals Sharper Blade”

I’ve seen folks out there putting all their might into sharpening their knives.

They “think” more pressure means a sharper blade.

Wrong!

Excessive pressure can actually damage your blade.

Instead, focus on the right technique and maintain a consistent angle.

That’s the secret to a wickedly sharp edge.

Myth #4: “Sharpening Removes a Lot of Material”

People worry that sharpening their knives will eat away at their blade.

Well, let me set the record straight – a good sharpening session only removes a minimal amount of material.

You’re not gonna turn your trusty pocket knife into a toothpick.

So, don’t be afraid to touch up that edge when it needs it.

Myth #5: “Once Sharp, Always Sharp”

Here’s the kicker – even a perfectly sharpened knife won’t stay sharp forever.

Over time, with regular use, that edge will dull.

It’s just a fact of life.

So, don’t think you can sharpen your blade once and be good to go forever.

Make knife maintenance a regular part of your routine.

That way, you’ll always have a reliable cutting tool at your side.

Best Pocket Knife Sharpeners For Sale Today

In this section, we’ll look at the highest-rated compact sharpeners:

↓ Smiths Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener

↓ SHARPAL 101N 6 In 1 Knife Sharpener

↓ Rada Knife Sharpener

↓ Gerber Bear Grylls Sharpener

↓ Three-Way Cut Whetstone Review

Best Pocket Knife Sharpener Features

There are a few qualities that every good sharpener should have.

First and foremost, you want to make sure it lasts.

Make sure you can rely on the sharpener to do its job when the time comes.

There are a lot of options that wear out quickly or fail to put a real edge on a blade.

A useful survival sharpener needs to be lightweight.

The most prominent reason whetstones are not more popular is because they are heavy.

Having one of those bad boys in your bug-out bag will weigh you down.

Along those same lines, you want one that is small enough to fit in a bug-out bag, get-home bag, or survival pack.

Bulky ones make for complicated survival accessories to pack.

Finally, some extras are nice too.

It doesn’t have to be a multi-tool sharpener.

But many modern sharpeners do come with some handy features.

Want a free 54 item survival gear checklist?

Click here to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary.

How To Sharpen Your Knife To A Razors Edge

So you’ve bought yourself a new knife sharpener.

Cool. Now what?

You’ve got all these dull or damaged blades, and now you have the necessary tool to hone those edges.

But how in the hell do you put it all together?

Lucky for you, sharpening a blade is pretty easy, especially if you are using one of those fancy modern pocket sharpeners listed above.

So here is the rundown:

With A Sharpener

1. First, you use the diamond-coated rod.

Run your blade along the rod at an even 15-20 degree angle.

Make sure that you maintain a steady angle as you run along the blade, evenly sharpening every inch of the edge.

2. Next, run the edge through the tungsten blades affixed to the sharpener.

This is easy.

Just set the base of the blade in the tungsten niche and draw it back through the metal pieces.

The tungsten should squeeze the edges of your blade and sharpen them significantly with only a few passes.

3. Finally, do precisely the same thing as you did in step #2, but with the ceramic sharpener.

Ceramics is finer than tungsten.

This step fine-tunes the edge of the blade, polishing them to a near-perfect edge.

With A Whetstone

1. Wet your whetstone.

Dunk it, soak it, and make sure it’s sopping wet.

Then set it out on a flat surface on top of a dish rag (or your fancy bamboo non-slip base).

Continually re-apply water as you’re sharpening your blade.

2. Start with the coarse-grit side of the stone.

Run the blade along the whetstone at a consistent 15-20 degree angle.

Start at the tip of the blade and draw it back towards you, gently moving along the length of the blade to its base.

Apply light pressure as you do so.

Do not go overboard.

You probably do not need to run the blade over the whetstone more than a few times.

Unless it’s significantly dull or you’re trying to rub out some blade damage.

3. Turn the knife over and do the same thing.

4. Turn your whetstone over to its fine side.

Repeat the same process with both sides of the blade’s edge to finely hone your knife.

5. Rinse off the whetstone and clean off any grinding residue.

6. Wash the blades in hot water.

Want a free 54 item survival gear checklist?

Click here to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary.

Last Resort Sharpening Methods

But what if you don’t have anything? No pocket sharpener, no whetstone; nothing?

How do you sharpen a knife, then?

Stay calm; you can still keep your blade razor sharp.

It just might take a little extra work and some ingenuity.

There are a few common resources that you can use to achieve the same purpose.

Ceramic Mug

Get your hands on a mug, and flip it upside down.

Make sure that you can see a ring around the base of the mug of bare ceramic; that’s your makeshift pocket knife sharpener.

Make sure it is wet, and draw the blade along that ring at a 15-20 degree angle the same way you would with a whetstone.

This technique should sharpen your knife relatively well.

It might not be perfect or the most efficient way of sharpening a blade, but it will do in a pinch.

An upside-down ceramic plate will also work.

↓ How To Sharpen A Knife With A Coffee Cup

Riverstone

Find a stone that comfortably fits your hand and has a relatively flat side.

Riverstones work best for this; the finer grain of the stone is, the better.

Make sure the stone is wet (as always).

Hold the stone in one hand and your knife in the other.

Now draw the blade back along the stone at a 15-20 degree angle.

This process may take longer than it usually would with a whetstone or a diamond-coated sharpening rod.

But it will eventually get the job done.

Different rocks will work better or worse, depending on their geologic makeup.

So, try a few different ones to get the best bang for your buck.

↓ How To Sharpen A Knife With A Rock

Leather Belt

Technically this will not sharpen the blade so much as to make it keener and straighten out its edge.

But it will generally make a knife more effective.

Run the knife away from the cutting edge, along the inside of the belt, like a barber sharpening a straight razor.

Be sure that the belt you are using does not have any stitching, or you might ruin it.

Sandpaper

This stuff is cheap to buy, and you can find it in just about any garage.

Start with a coarser grit to get the initial sharpening and a finer one for the polishing off.

You can wrap the sandpaper around a wooden block and make yourself a poor man’s whetstone.

↓ Sharpening On Sandpaper

Vehicle Window

A car window’s rough, rounded edges make for a tremendous honing tool.

And there will always be an abundance of cars lying around.

Just roll the window halfway down and draw your knife’s blade along the edge of the window.

This makeshift sharpener will allow you to hone your blade to be razor-sharp.

↓ Best Knife Sharpener In The World – Car Window

Another Knife

Remember, steel sharpens steel!

So if you’re hurting for items you can use to sharpen a knife, you can use another knife.

Use the spine of another knife just like you would a whetstone and draw your dull blade along it at an angle.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining a sharp edge on your tactical knives is every bit as important as owning the knife itself.

A knife is only as good as its blade, and its blade is only as good as you maintain it.

Letting a knife get dull or damaged can be dangerous.

Not only does it make your knife harder to use, but it’s allowing your survival tools to fall into disrepair.

A sharp knife is symbolic.

If you let your blades get dull, you’re likely not taking care of the rest of your survival gear.

These days, pocket knife sharpeners come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

It’s not difficult to find a high-quality one that easily fits into a pocket or bug-out bag.

Make sure you are prepared to take care of your knives so your blades can take care of you.

Will Brendza

Bachelor of Arts, University of Colorado at Boulder

Member of The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association

Certifications: Avalanche 1, WFR (expired), CPR (expired)

8+ Years Researching, Writing, About Survival and Preparedness

Awards from Society of Professional Journalists

Winner of Camp Cold’s “Happy Camper” award in 2020

P.s. Do You Live In A ‘Danger Zone’ County?

Find out now using my Danger Zone County List & Special Report it’s absolutely FREE.
In minutes you’ll know EXACTLY where you stand and if you should be worried or not..

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The post Best Pocket Knife Sharpeners For A Razors Edge On The Go appeared first on Skilled Survival.

Many campers and outdoor enthusiasts who are working with campfires start by building a teepee fire, whether they realize that’s…

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Scientists all over the world continue to “play God”, and we are all going to have to live with the consequences.  Every single day, incredibly bizarre experiments are being conducted in secret laboratories all over the planet.  I have frequently warned my readers about the very deadly diseases that are being developed in such laboratories, but other types of extremely sick experiments are happening as well.  For example, it is being reported that one team of researchers has now been able to create a human “entity” that does not have a mother or a father.  In fact, it was created “without using sperm, an egg or a womb”…

Scientists report they have grown the early stages of a human embryo-like entity without using sperm, an egg or a womb.

The ’embryo model’ even releases hormones that triggered a positive pregnancy test.

This is like something out of a science fiction novel.

Why in the world would they even consider doing something like this?

They are telling us that using such “entities” will make medical research easier, and frankly that makes me want to vomit.

There is no way that doing this sort of thing should be legal.

But it is.

This team of researchers was able to create a human “entity” without a mother or a father by starting with naive stem cells…

Instead of a sperm and egg, the starting material was naive stem cells which were reprogrammed to gain the potential to become any type of tissue in the body.

According to the BBC, chemicals were used to encourage these stem cells to develop into four unique cell types that are involved in the earliest stages of human embryo development…

• epiblast cells, which become the embryo proper (or foetus)
• trophoblast cells, which become the placenta
• hypoblast cells, which become the supportive yolk sac
• extraembryonic mesoderm cells

Those cell types were then “mixed in a precise ratio”, and what happened next is extremely alarming…

A total of 120 of these cells were mixed in a precise ratio – and then, the scientists step back and watch.

About 1% of the mixture began the journey of spontaneously assembling themselves into a structure that resembles, but is not identical to, a human embryo.

Professor Jacob Hanna of the Weizmann Institute is the leader of the team that conducted this research, and he claims that the “entity” which was produced “is really a textbook image of a human day-14 embryo”…

‘This is really a textbook image of a human day-14 embryo, [which] hasn’t been done before,’ said Professor Hanna.

If such an entity can survive to that stage, could it go all the way and actually become a full-blown baby?

Now that this breakthrough has been achieved, it is just a matter of time before someone tries to do that.

And just imagine the implications if this eventually starts happening on a widespread basis.

Babies could literally be grown on a massive scale all over the globe.

Instead of having children the natural way, parents could just order a baby that meets certain specifications.

And any babies that came out with “defects” would inevitably be discarded.

Alternatively, it is easy to imagine entire armies being “grown” by tyrannical rulers just like we have seen in certain science fiction movies.

Would such “entities” be truly human?

Would they even have souls?

There is so much that we don’t know, and hopefully this sort of work will be banned so that we will never find out.

Unfortunately, there is very little holding the scientific community back at this point.

Most of the general population has no idea what is going on in these secret labs, and most of our politicians don’t seem to care.

And so “science” will continue to advance all over the globe with very little resistance at all.

In addition to experiments that are creating new life, researchers are also searching for ways to cheat death.

In recent years, swapping blood with the young has become a very hot trend among America’s billionaires.  Here is just one example…

Until recently, Bryan Johnson was paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to infuse one litre of his teenage son’s youthful plasma into his own ageing blood stream every month. “I’ve never paid more attention to what he’s eating … because that was going into my body,” the 46-year-old American tech entrepreneur says on new podcast The Immortals. He also pumped his own plasma into his 70-year-old father’s body to help improve his declining physical and cognitive health: “It was one of the most meaningful moments in his entire life. And it was the same for me.” Johnson continues to pay $2m a year for a research team to investigate how we can live longer – and he is certainly not the only rich guy in Silicon Valley dedicated to the search for eternal life.

Guys like Johnson have more money than they will ever need.

But they know that their days are limited.

So in a desperate attempt to “buy more time”, they are literally injecting the blood of young people into their own veins.

This is another thing that shouldn’t be done.

And it is probably dangerous.

But nobody is going to stop them.

In fact, the pace of scientific change will continue to march forward at an exponential rate.

Given enough time, our world would be transformed into something stranger than anything that Hollywood has ever dreamed up.

But our scientists won’t have enough time to do that, because the truth is that time is running out for our society.

Our self-destructive tendencies will soon absolutely overwhelm us, and no amount of “research” will be able to turn things around at that point.

Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have also started a brand new Substack newsletter, and I encourage you to subscribe so that you won’t miss any of my articles.  I have published thousands of articles on 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 always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  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.  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 definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Scientists Have Created A Human “Entity” That Has No Mother Or Father appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

This article was originally published by John W. Whitehead and Nisha Whitehead at The Rutherford Institute. 

“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.”—H.L. Mencken

First came 9/11, which the government used to transform itself into a police state.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which the police state used to test out its lockdown powers.

In light of the government’s tendency to exploit crises (legitimate or manufactured) and capitalize on the nation’s heightened emotions, confusion, and fear as a means of extending the reach of the police state, one has to wonder what so-called crisis it will declare next.

It’s a simple enough formula: first, you create fear, then you capitalize on it by seizing power.

Frankly, it doesn’t even matter what the nature of the next national emergency might be (terrorism, civil unrest, economic collapse, a health scare, or the environment) as long as it allows the government to lock down the nation and justify all manner of tyranny in the so-called name of national security.

Cue the Emergency State.

Terrorist attacks, mass shootings, “unforeseen economic collapse, loss of functioning political and legal order, purposeful domestic resistance or insurgency, pervasive public health emergencies, and catastrophic natural and human disasters”: the government has been anticipating and preparing for such crises for years now.

As David C. Unger writes for the New York Times: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have given way to permanent crisis management: to policing the planet and fighting preventative wars of ideological containment, usually on terrain chosen by, and favorable to, our enemies. Limited government and constitutional accountability have been shouldered aside by the kind of imperial presidency our constitutional system was explicitly designed to prevent.”

Here’s what we know: given the rate at which the government keeps devising new ways to establish itself as the “solution” to all of our worldly problems at taxpayer expense, each subsequent crisis ushers in ever larger expansions of government power and less individual liberty.

This is the slippery slope to outright tyranny.

You see, once the government acquires (and uses) authoritarian powers—to spy on its citizens, to carry out surveillance, to transform its police forces into extensions of the military, to seize taxpayer funds, to wage endless wars, to censor and silence dissidents, to identify potential troublemakers, to detain citizens without due process—it does not voluntarily relinquish them.

The lesson for the ages is this: once any government is allowed to overreach and expand its powers, it’s almost impossible to put the genie back in the bottle. As Harvard constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe recognizes, “The dictatorial hunger for power is insatiable.”

Indeed, the history of the United States is a testament to the old adage that liberty decreases as government (and government bureaucracy) grows. To put it another way, as the government expands, liberty contracts.

In this way, every crisis since the nation’s early beginnings has become a make-work opportunity for the government.

Each crisis has also been a test to see how far “we the people” would allow the government to sidestep the Constitution in the so-called name of national security; a test to see how well we have assimilated the government’s lessons in compliance, fear and police state tactics; a test to see how quickly we’ll march in lockstep with the government’s dictates, no questions asked; and a test to see how little resistance we offer up to the government’s power grabs when made in the name of national security.

Most critically of all, it has been a test to see whether the Constitution—and our commitment to the principles enshrined in the Bill of Rights—could survive a national crisis and true state of emergency.

Unfortunately, we’ve been failing this particular test for a long time now.

Indeed, the powers that be have been pushing our buttons and herding us along like so much cattle since World War II, at least, starting with the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, which not only propelled the U.S. into World War II but also unified the American people in their opposition to a common enemy.

That fear of attack by foreign threats, conveniently torqued by the growing military-industrial complex, in turn, gave rise to the Cold War era’s “Red Scare.” Promulgated through government propaganda, paranoia, and manipulation, anti-Communist sentiments boiled over into a mass hysteria that viewed anyone and everyone as suspect: your friends, the next-door neighbor, even your family members could be a Communist subversive.

This hysteria, which culminated in hearings before the House Un-American Activities Committee, where hundreds of Americans were called before Congress to testify about their so-called Communist affiliations and intimidated into making false confessions, also paved the way for the rise of an all-knowing, all-seeing governmental surveillance state.

By the time 9/11 rolled around, all George W. Bush had to do was claim the country was being invaded by terrorists, and the government used the USA Patriot Act to claim greater powers to spy, search, detain and arrest American citizens in order to keep America safe.

By way of the National Defense Authorization Act, Barack Obama continued Bush’s trend of undermining the Constitution, going so far as to give the military the power to strip Americans of their constitutional rights, label them extremists, and detain them indefinitely without trial, all in the name of keeping America safe.

Despite the fact that the breadth of the military’s power to detain American citizens violates not only U.S. law and the Constitution but also international laws, the government has refused to relinquish its detention powers made possible by the NDAA.

Then Donald Trump took office, claiming the country was being invaded by dangerous immigrants and insisting that the only way to keep America safe was to expand the reach of the border police, empower the military to “assist” with border control, and essentially turn the country into a Constitution-free zone.

That so-called immigration crisis then morphed into multiple crises (domestic extremism, the COVID-19 pandemic, race wars, civil unrest, etc.) that the government has been eager to use in order to expand its powers.

Joe Biden, in turn, has made every effort to expand the reach of the militarized police state, pledging to hire 87,000 more IRS agents and 100,000 police officers, and allowing the FBI to operate as a standing army.

What the next crisis will be is anyone’s guess, but you can be sure that there will be a next crisis.

So, what should you expect if the government decides to declare another state of emergency and institute a nationwide lockdown?

You should expect more of the same, only worse.

More compliance, less resistance.

More fear-mongering, mind-control tactics, and less tolerance for those who question the government’s propaganda-driven narratives.

Most of all, you should expect more tyranny and less freedom.

Given the government’s past track record and its long-anticipated plans for using armed forces to solve domestic political and social problems in response to a future crisis, there’s every reason to worry about what comes next.

Mark my words: as I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, if and when another crisis arises—if and when a nationwide lockdown finally hits—if and when martial law is enacted with little real outcry or resistance from the public— then we will truly understand the extent to which the powers-that-be have fully succeeded in acclimating us to a state of affairs in which the government has all the power and “we the people” have none.

In the meantime, if all we do to reclaim our freedoms and regain control over our runaway government is vote for yet another puppet of the Deep State, by the time the next crisis arises, it may well be too late.

How far would you go to feed your family?  Hopefully that is a question that you will not have to answer any time soon, but right now we are seeing millions upon millions of people become more desperate as economic conditions rapidly deteriorate and food costs soar.  At this point, most Americans are just barely scraping by from month to month, and in poorer countries on the other side of the world there are people that are literally starving to death.  As I have detailed previously, the UN has reported that 2.4 billion people did not have enough food to eat last year, and 900 million of them were facing severe food insecurity.  Sadly, those numbers will inevitably be even higher for 2023.  A global rice crisis has erupted, and the collapse of the Black Sea grain deal has greatly restricted the flow of agricultural goods from that part of the globe.  Food costs are spiking all over the planet, and that is really bad news for all of us.

For those of us that live in the United States, the good news is that nobody is starving at this stage.

But food prices have become extremely oppressive, and economic conditions are quickly moving in the wrong direction.

670,000 full-time jobs have been lost in just the past two months, and on Friday we witnessed the worst unadjusted payrolls report for the month of August since the Great Recession.

Yes, things really are that bad.

One recent survey discovered that 61 percent of Americans are currently living paycheck to paycheck, but I expect this number to go even higher in the months ahead…

Inflation, mortgage rates over 7% and credit card APR’s north of 20% have pushed all income brackets into living paycheck to paycheck, according to a new survey from Lending Club Bank.

“In July 2023, 61% of U.S. consumers live paycheck to paycheck, unchanged from June 2023, but 2 percentage points higher than July 2022. Generally, more consumers of all income brackets reported living paycheck to paycheck in July 2023 than last year,” Alia Dudum, a money expert at LendingClub told FOX Business.

Things are particularly dire for low income workers.  That same survey discovered that a whopping 78 percent of those that earn less than $50,000 a year are living paycheck to paycheck at this point…

Lower-income workers have been the hardest hit by higher prices, particularly for food and other necessities, since those expenses account for a bigger share of the budget, studies show.

Now, 78% of consumers earning less than $50,000 a year and 65% of those earning between $50,000 and $100,000 were living paycheck to paycheck in July, both up from a year ago, LendingClub found. Of those earning $100,000 or more, only 44% reported living paycheck to paycheck.

As I discussed last week, U.S. households that are feeling financial strain are increasingly turning to debt to make ends meet, and this has pushed debt levels to unprecedented heights…

Total household debt climbed to a new high in the second quarter of 2023, reaching $17.06 trillion, with credit card debt exceeding $1 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As interest rates stay high, costs continue to rise for expenses like housing and cars, and student loan payments resume, the amount of debt may rise, according to economists who spoke to the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“The amount of debt outstanding, and in particular the surpassing of the $1 trillion mark, is significant and worrisome,” Peter Earle, an economist at the American Institute for Economic Research, told the DCNF. “It owes to a combination of several factors. The initial response to the pandemic, which prominently included the Fed setting policy (interest) rates at essentially zero for several years, made the amount of credit and the price of taking on debt extraordinarily cheap.”

As economic conditions get worse, people are becoming more desperate.

This is helping to fuel a crime wave all over the nation, and retailers are being forced to implement extreme measures.

According to the Wahington Post, a Giant Food store in Washington D.C. is actually going to be taking all Tide, Colgate and Advil products off the shelves completely because theft has become such a problem…

In the coming weeks, a Giant Food market in D.C. will clear its beauty and health aisles of all national labels. No more Tide, Colgate or Advil, only store brands. Shoppers also will have to present their receipts to an employee before exiting the store.

It’s the regional supermarket chain’s most overt gambit against the rampant theft that’s plaguing retailers of all sizes. It’s also a potential last-ditch effort to avoid shutting down the unprofitable store on Alabama Avenue — the only major grocer east of the Anacostia River in Ward 8.

An executive for the chain told the Washington Post that the company has “no other choice” and she noted that other stores in the area have done similar things…

“We have no other choice,” Diane Hicks, senior vice president of operations said Thursday during a walk-through with officials from the D.C. mayor’s office, the Metropolitan police and fire departments, and Chamber of Commerce. She added that other nearby stores have locked up all their product on those aisles or removed them altogether. “I’ve been leaving it out for our customers and unfortunately it just forces all the crime to come to us.”

This is where our entire society is heading.

It is just a matter of time before we see armed guards stationed in grocery stores and on food trucks all over America.

Desperate people do desperate things, and right now we are seeing things happen that are absolutely nuts.

Just a few days ago, an extremely shocking incident that happened in broad daylight at a Home Depot store in California made headlines all over the nation…

Brazen thieves were caught on camera casually walking out with $9,000 worth of goods from separate California stores as lawlessness in the state governed by Gavin Newsom continues.

A group of masked thieves stormed into a Home Depot store in Signal Hill on August 27 and stole $5,000 worth of power tools in full view of shocked staff and customers.

The seven men loaded two shopping carts with expensive goods and carried as much as possible in their arms before walking out.

These sorts of robberies have become so common that I couldn’t possibly cover them all.

We really are starting to become a “Mad Max” society.

Of course the truth is that the entire world is moving in that direction.  Global supplies of food are getting tighter and tighter, and the recent spike in rice prices has created a tremendous amount of concern…

Countries worldwide are scrambling to secure rice after a partial ban on exports by India cut global supplies by roughly a fifth. Global food security is already under threat since Russia halted an agreement allowing Ukraine to export wheat and the El Nino weather phenomenon hampers rice production.

Now, rice prices are soaring, and it’s putting the most vulnerable people in some of the poorest nations at risk. Vietnam’s rice export prices, for instance, have reached a 15-year high. Even before India’s restrictions, countries already were frantically buying rice in anticipation of scarcity later when the El Nino hit, creating a supply crunch and spiking prices.

Civil unrest has already started to erupt in various parts of Africa, but if current trends continue things will get a whole lot worse around the globe in 2024.

Are you prepared for what is ahead?

Right now, a lot of people are apparently asking that question.  In fact, according to Zero Hedge the number of Americans searching for the term “live off grid” on the Internet has hit the highest level in years…

What’s piqued our interest is the sudden panic by some Americans searching ‘live off grid’ on the internet, hitting the highest level in five years. The driving force behind finding a rural piece of land for dirt cheap, buying or building a tiny home, installing solar panels, and sourcing your own food and water might have to do with the worst inflation storm in a generation while Democrat cities implode under the weight of soaring violent crime.

I have been relentlessly warning my readers that “Mad Max” conditions are coming for years.

Anyone that took an honest look at the long-term trends should have been able to see that.

Global leaders have been making absolutely disastrous decisions for a very long time, and now we are all going to reap the consequences.

Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have also started a brand new Substack newsletter, and I encourage you to subscribe so that you won’t miss any of my articles.  I have published thousands of articles on 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 always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  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.  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 definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post “Mad Max” Conditions Are Coming: Desperation Is Rising As The Economy Rapidly Deteriorates And Food Costs Soar appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

If you put up a blasphemous 60 foot tower and call it “the Chapel of Babel”, you should probably brace yourself for some consequences.  Every year, the Burning Man festival pushes the envelope farther and farther.  It really is the perfect “Mad Max” festival for our rapidly degenerating “Max Max” society.  This year, more than 70,000 people made the trek out into the desert, and that included hordes of celebrities and social media influencers.  At Burning Man, clothing is optional, weirdness is encouraged, and there is very little sexual restraint.  In fact, “the Orgy Dome” at Burning Man has become world famous for the activities that happen there.

You would think that all of that would be enough, but each year organizers try to take things to another level.

This year, they actually allowed artist Michael Garlington to put up a 60 foot tall tower known as “the Chapel of Babel”.  The following comes from his official website…

​From the irresistible imagination of Michael Garlington comes yet another magical creation for Burning Man 2023 – The Chapel of Babel. The Chapel is a re-occurring dream, years in the mind, reaching its manifestation. A hexagonal wooden structure will be clad with Garlington’s signature black-and-white photographs of various sizes creating stunning visuals throughout the structure. The human element in the portraiture, animals, flowers, insects, and leaves, will convey that we all belong here and will hold room for everyone in all versions and reiterations of their expression.

The hexagonal structure was covered with all sorts of bizarre decorations, and at the very top he put “a spire of stained glass”…

His Chapel of Babel, cloaked in thousands of photos taken over the last 35 years, is a striking sight — a black and white feast featuring cutout images of birds and reptiles, portraits, images of actors Susan Sarandon and Willem Dafoe donning ornate photo paper costumes, constructed and photographed by Garlington.

The top of the tower is capped with a spire of stained glass — actually plastic — that will fill the sculpture with light. There’s a main chamber anchored by a massive color photograph of Garlington’s father, which he calls the Wizard of Pa.

Did he really think that this was a good idea?

And did the organizers of Burning Man really think that this was a good idea?

They had to realize that they were just asking for trouble.

And trouble certainly arrived.

Starting on Friday, tremendous amounts of rain hammered the festival, and it turned the entire celebration into a massive quagmire…

About six inches of rain is believed to have fallen on Friday at the festival site, located about 110 miles north of Reno, the National Weather Service in Reno said.

Another three inches of rain is expected from late Saturday into Sunday and conditions are not expected to improve enough to allow vehicles to enter the playa,’ the U.S. Bureau of Land Management explained.

It got so bad that people literally couldn’t get out.

For now, the 70,000 people that are there are being advised to “shelter in place”…

Burning Man attendees are still struggling to escape from Black Rock City as around 70,000 remain stuck on muddy camp grounds following two days of heavy rainfall and one reported death.

Attendees of the countercultural music and arts festival were first advised to “shelter in place” and conserve food and water on Friday, according to notices from organizers. All inbound and outbound traffic was halted and will remain so until further notice.

More rain continues to fall, and so it may be a long time before everyone can go home.

At this point, conditions are so muddy that attendees are being told not to even ride their bikes…

“Do not ride your bike. Do not push your bike around,” a broadcaster for Burning Man Information Radio is heard saying in another video posted to TikTok. “Remain where you are. Secure structures and belongings in your camp. Don’t operate generators or other electrically-powered instruments that have been standing in water. Cover or secure anything electrical. Check on your camp-mates and neighbors to make sure they’re okay and help them as needed, and take advantage of a moment of calm to connect with camp-mates and hunker down.”

Whenever large numbers of people are gathered in one area and things get a bit crazy, some of those people are going to start becoming desperate.

There have already been reports of thefts, and one woman posted a video to Instagram in which she “described Lord of the Flies-like conditions”…

Meanwhile, many attendees took to social media to share their experiences while stranded at the festival. One festival-goer named Christine Lee posted a video to her Instagram story and described Lord of the Flies-like conditions.

“In some ways, it’s been fun and some ways it’s been scary. The ways it’s been scary, a lot of people that are in tents and in yurts are completely flooded. A lot of people have run out of food and water, and some people are stealing things, because that’s what happens when things get weird. There’s a little bit of this Lord of the Flies vibe, if you remember that book, where things might just get really weird. So we’re okay today, but I think it might get worse,” she said.

Eventually conditions will dry out and all of those people will be able to travel home.

But do you think that they will have learned anything?

There are things that happen at Burning Man that are so sick and so twisted that I cannot even mention them in this article.

Of course the truth is that our entire society has become extremely sick and extremely twisted.

And if we stay on the road that we are currently on, our entire society will experience very painful consequences.

So I don’t mean to just single out the Burning Man festival.

Ultimately, the Burning Man festival is simply a microcosm of our society as a whole, and hopefully we will reverse course while we still have the opportunity to do so.

Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have also started a brand new Substack newsletter, and I encourage you to subscribe so that you won’t miss any of the latest updates.  I have published thousands of articles on 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 always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  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.  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 definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Now We Know Why It Was Not A Good Idea To Put Up A “Chapel Of Babel” At Burning Man… appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

How To Protect Yourself In The Coming Economic Collapse

The economy of the United States is, in theory, a Free Market economy.

This means our financial system follows the rule of Supply and Demand.

Products or services with high demand and low supply are worth more.

Those with low demand and high supplies are worthless, or maybe nothing at all.

Our economy is not a complicated system.

The financial markets are self-regulating, self-correcting, and pretty much in line with the laws of nature.

In our modern society, we trade paper money to indicate value.

Many think the paper has no value, but this is not true.

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Anything has as much value as someone is willing to trade for it.

I can give my local grocer $3.25 for a gallon of milk because he believes my $3.25 of paper money is tradable for his needs.

The paper reflects the value of the item or service.

Some problems arise from this system.

For example:

When governments print excess paper dollars, you get inflation.

Or, in some cases, not enough paper money (deflation).

↓ Why Inflation Will Turn To Deflation Fast – James Rickards ↓

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Why Would A Government Print Excess Dollars?

Well, the first reason is – simple mistakes.

The Federal Reserve (aka Central Bank) monitors the dollars in circulation.

Then it adjusts the Prime Interest rate.

Down to encourage banks to borrow more or up to borrow less from the Federal Reserve System.

If the Fed wants to combat inflation, they raise interest rates.

This then draws money out of circulation as banks pay large interest payments on the loan back to the Fed – thus removing the dollars from circulation.

It can lower interest rates if the Fed wants to stamp out deflation or stimulate the economy.

This creates more demand for borrowing and easy lending, incentivizing economic activity.

The general assumption is the Fed has the best interest of the US at heart.

That they always do what is best for the economy and the people.

But, when political forces are present, the President appoints the Fed Chairman, and the Fed may drop interest rates for political reasons.

To keep the easy money pumping money into an economy.

A process of slowly bleeding it to death.

Many believe that’s what’s been happening over the past few decades and today.

In the past, the Treasury sold bonds to pay for government borrowing – to pay the bills for our perpetual deficit spending.

But selling bonds affects much of our public debt to foreign governments.

Governments such as China, Japan, South Korea, Britain, etc.

These countries loan our government money and get paid back interest in return.

Large-Scale loaning of this sort has led to an over $20 trillion national debt (and counting)!

Due to this growing debt, these countries are starting to worry about our ability to repay this debt.

Every congressional budget cycle, we borrow more to pay off our old debt.

China, Japan, and others have cut back on their purchases of our treasury bonds.

We continue to spend more than we take in.

↓ The Debt Ceiling Explained: Why You Should Care ↓

So Where Is All The Money Coming From?

The procedure currently is Monetization.

Monetization means we are creating dollars with which to pay off our debt.

It’s a pretty neat trick.

Our Federal Reserve is loaning money to banks at a very low-interest rate.

The banks are buying Treasury bonds, which pay higher interest than the Fed is charging the banks.

These bonds allow the banks to take money from the Fed and move it to the Federal Treasury.

This then gives our Government the dollars they need to continue spending.

And the banks earn some interest with absolutely zero risks.

They essentially act as a money-laundering operation for the Federal Government.

Why do they do this?

Two reasons:

First off, banks have to make money to exist.

They make their money by loaning money.

The Federal Government has never reneged on a Treasury bond yet. So it’s a very safe investment.

In fact, the banks know the Government will go so far as to borrow more money to pay off the bonds.

Only failing businesses “borrow to pay off debt,” and they can only borrow so much.

Secondly, the Government can borrow as long as they have bond buyers.

And the Federal Government regulates the banks.

So if they’re not cooperative, the Government has tactics for making their lives a living hell.

Today the Fed’s purchases and transfers are all electronic and instantaneous.

The Fed says they will buy a bond, and the Treasury prints more money and then moves it into the Government coffers.

Want a free 78 item prepper checklist?

Click here to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary.

So How Much Does The Federal Reserve Have In Reserve?

No one knows.

By law, the Federal Reserve cannot be audited.

The idea is the Fed is independent of political parties and the Government.

If the Fed could be audited, then political pressures could be placed on it by minority parties.

This could provide an accurate picture of the Fed’s reserves in desperate times.

This might cause public panic, bank runs, and even impact elections.

The irony is the measures put in place to keep the Fed independent also provide the means to manipulate it by the political party in charge.

Although many would like to see the Fed audited – the result could very well bring down the country.

The whole thing is a financial crisis waiting to happen.

A house of cards we as citizens can only hope is being managed correctly.

“Hope” is the key descriptor.

One saving grace is that the US dollar is the world reserve currency.

There is a lot of tangible value out there in the world wrapped up in our paper dollars.

If the rest of the world ever drops the dollar as a global reserve – our dollar will go the way of the Russian Ruble.

The good news is that most other national currencies are even less reliable than ours.

Although China now has a larger economy than the United States, no one trusts their money.

We are truly the best of the worse.

It’s evident to any free-thinking citizen this system is rife with risk and corruption.

↓ Global Currency: The Dollar Ain’t Going Nowhere ↓

What Happens When The Coming Economic Collapse Finally Occurs?

Simple.

The dollars we each have in our accounts, our 401Ks, and our wallets may become worthless, or nearly worthless, due to hyperinflation.

A total economic collapse has happened to dozens of countries in the last thirty years:

• Iceland
• Russia
• Zimbabwe
• Bolivia
• Bosnia
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Peru
• Poland
• Ukraine
• Romania

And to the United States several times since our founding.

Most notably after the Revolutionary War, during the Civil War, and the Great Depression.

And the Federal Reserve didn’t even exist at those times.

• So what happens when paper money becomes worth just that—worthless paper?
• What is your economic collapse survival plan?
• What will we use for money?

Remember, goods and services are tangible. 

Many will still exist after the coming economic collapse.

Want a free 78 item prepper checklist?

Click here to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary.

How To Prepare For Economic Collapse

One fundamental principle to remember: don’t mistake cash dollars for value.

Cash dollars only have value if they can be traded for something with real value – items such as food, tools, hardware, fuel, etc.

• But what if no one will take dollars in trade?
• What becomes the new collapsed economy’s currency?
• What will the coming economic collapse look like?

The new economy will still operate under the rules of supply and demand – no getting around this.

It’s a law of nature.

The more in demand something is, the more value it has, and the more people will pay to get it.

But what will people use as currency if dollars are useless?

The Barter Economy

The Barter Economy is the natural evolution of supply and demand when the dollar fails.

This means people will trade tangible assets rather than paper money.

Not all tangible assets will hold the same value.

For instance, fish holds a certain value as a food source.

But a fishing pole will be hundreds of times more valuable.

So what are valuable tangible assets to help survive in a post-apocalyptic economy?

Survival food will have value, while heirloom seeds may have more in the long term.

Eggs hold value, but chickens have more.

Water always has value and will keep climbing in value as droughts and contamination continue to deplete supplies.

The asset’s value depends on whether they represent short-term or long-term value.

Food is immediate.

Durable goods are long-term.

Some common durable goods that will hold value include:

• Hand tools include saws, drills, hammers, axes, knives, etc.
• Rope, wire, paracord, fasteners, nails, building materials, generators, solar panels, survival stoves, batteries.

Some durable goods are hybrids – both short and long-term.

Cars, for instance, have long-term value.

But they are only as valuable as the availability of fuel, which is a short-term value.

↓10 Cheap Items That Will Go Up In Value After A Collapse ↓

There Are A Few Exceptions, Though…

Firearms have long-term value.

However, the availability of ammunition has a short-term value.

This should limit a firearm’s value, right?

Not exactly; firearms represent an anomaly.

A loaded firearm can mean the difference between life and death.

This gives it the ultimate value to the individual possessing it.

More valuable than food, water, or any other worldly possession.

In the case of a less altruistic individual, a loaded firearm can serve as a coercive force.

One to gain tangible assets belonging to someone else.

Giving the firearm value equal to whatever it can gain in this less-than-moral fashion.

This is something to keep in mind when trading with someone with an AR-15 slung over his shoulder.

Ammunition is an important asset even if you don’t own a firearm.

So you could start storing lots of it to prepare for the coming economic collapse.

Want a free 78 item prepper checklist?

Click here to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary.

Even A Single Cartridge Can Be Bartered

A single .30-06 rifle cartridge can be a difference-maker.

The difference between a family eating or moving a week closer to starvation.
 
A $25 box of 525 .22 Long Rifle cartridges represents months of small game on the dinner table.

Providing essential proteins such as squirrels, rabbits, snakes, rats, etc.

One key point to remember: the rifle cartridges still represent months of food, even if you don’t own a rifle.

The trick is to find someone who does and trade them for something of equal value.
 
Ammunition is a great way to prepare for a post-apocalyptic world.

Rifle and pistol cartridges will always have value if you store them right.

One strategy to use is to arm yourself with firearms using very common cartridges.

The more common, the better.

The most common pistol cartridges are 9mm, 38 Special, and .45 ACP.

The most common rifle cartridges are 22 Long Rifle, 7.62x39mm, and 5.56x45mm.

Another important category with significant value is the difficulty in getting medications, like survival antibiotics and medical supplies.

When civilization’s economy collapses, our access to medications will dwindle.

However, people will continue to fall ill, perhaps in even larger numbers than before.

Even over-the-counter drugs will become incredibly valuable.

Some common medications and medical supplies to stock up on include:

• aspirin
• acetaminophen
• antibiotic creams
• antihistamines
• cough syrup
• cold and flu medications
• Band-aids
• bandages
• alcohol
• hydrogen peroxide
• oral thermometers

Or invest in a couple of good survival kits, and you’ll be good to go.

What About Vices For Economic Collapse Preparation?

People’s addictions don’t stop just because civilization has collapsed.

Here are a few that can be used for barter: cigarettes, beer, hard liquor, and if your post-apocalyptic address is in Colorado, well, you know…

How About Gold After The Coming Economic Collapse?

Precious metals have been used as investments and currency for thousands of years.

How do these fare in a post-apocalyptic world?

These assets represent a very different animal.

People will still value gold even in a post-apocalyptic world.

However, this value is very, very long-term and somewhat theoretical.

It’s based on the notion that the world will return to a normal state in the future.

At that point, the gold can be exchanged for cash.

Survival Gold has no immediate value.

• You can’t eat it
• It can’t catch a fish or kill a deer
• It can’t protect you or your family

However, some people will take it in trade.

Supreme caution must be exercised if you advertise the fact you possess gold.

If you try to trade with it, you will likely find someone with an AK-47 following you home.

Once there, if necessary, to relieve you of the rest of your gold by force.
 
Gold and silver are great investments to hedge against inflation, but only as a hedge.

It presumes the cash dollar still has some value. If the dollar fails completely, gold is nearly useless.

The people who do want it are the same people you don’t want to meet.
 
The barter economy will begin on Day One of the coming economic collapses.

What will you use on Day Two to provide for your families?

Better to begin stocking up today before it’s too late.

Prepare, Adapt & Overcome,

Cofounder Of Skilledsurvival.com & TheResilientLife.com

Born & Raised On A Rural Farm In The Midwest

Mechanical Engineering Grad From A Major University

Engineer With A Major Food Manufacturing Company

10+ Years Researching, Writing, & Teaching Preparedness

Mission: Help Folks Stop Living A Life Fragile To The Future

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