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You know, after reading these posts, I'm reminded that one of the first things I learned in survival and the military was to maintain a positive mental outlook. The folks that survive are the ones that just won't give up.
If you give in to depression or despair, you're done for.
Yeah, things aren't all rosy and we can't look at a glowing future, but at the same time we're getting rid of one of the most repressive regimes this country's ever had, the socialists and far left have been handed a defeat, we now have representation, (although it's not perfect) in the white house, senate, house and in 2/3rds of the country there are conservative legislatures, and 31 of 50 states now have Republican Governors.
I don't trust any politician, but I do feel more secure right now that our Constitution and rights are better protected now than they have been in a very long time.
I like self sufficiency, and I hope that the current political climate allows more people to find work or start their own businesses, that the tax burden will be lowered, that we can focus on bettering our individual situations without having to worry as much about "Big Brother" coming after us.
No, the future isn't perfect, but again, we can't know what the future holds. Part of being a prepper or self sufficient type is looking at what we think we will need, and how we can offset any future dangers we see.
I can't control the world, country or state economy, I don't sit in on the federal hearings with a vote, I don't print money, or deal with the Chinese or Middle-East, those things are a lot like the Yellowstone Caldera that I live close to.
If it pops, it pops, there isn't anything I can do to change it.
Doing something we can to change our personal situation or chances of survival, that we should all do. Worrying about things that we can't control like a solar flare or if the government is actually going to do something in the best interests of the country, are non-productive and just make heartburn.
We can vote, we can build faraday cages, we can move to areas that wouldn't be hit by ash blown down the wind stream, or we can get involved in local politics, we can build shelters, stock supplies, we can be proactive to protect our families and assets, but to be depressed about them, that doesn't change anything.
The left has fed on fear and despair for years to get their agenda through. Remaining positive and proactive are the best ways to combat them.
I can't control if Mother Nature drops 6 feet of snow on me with -50 temps and a 30 MPH wind, but I can stock food, wood, water, and survive until it passes.
Same with the government. I can't control it, but I can control some things like making sure I have supplies set by and my finances in order, and tools and equipment and knowledge to take care of my family. In other words, you can only control what you do, so lead by example. Take care of what you care about, others will see and hear, and if they do the same, you can influence a change.
Trump did this on a large scale, we can individually do it on a small scale.
Like Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."
Funny thing is that I'm usually considered the grouch to my friends and family, but on this thread the negativity is so palpable, I feel like a Pollyanna.
It ain't that bad folks, we have an opportunity here, why not take it?
If you give in to depression or despair, you're done for.
I was speaking of financial depression, not emotional depression. I am not depressed. I just see what is, and what will be. If you wish to believe we have a political savior who will make it all go away, bless you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy in Wyoming
People in Maine don't need to worry. Their saviors have arrived and they're saving the state.
Every state in the union has these refugees, except two. Maine has comparatively few of them, and they are far downstate of where we are. They live in cities, not rural areas. The welfare checks arrive easier there.
The two states that don't have them yet, are Wyoming and Montana. However, that will soon change:
I know you meant financial depression in your title Nor'Eastah, but the general feeling of this thread is that the world is coming to an end.
We're just starting to recover from an 8 year depression, the recovery was substandard and shaky, but it could be coming.
I don't see Trump as a savior, but I do see the way the country voted across all spectrums as very positive. I also see who he's appointing to his cabinet, and he's making some good solid choices.
This year the middle class and working classes rejected the attacks by the Obama administration, and there was a total repudiation of the liberal agenda. That I see as very positive.
I have no illusions about the state of the world, but as I have no impact on the major players, worrying about them doesn't do me any good, so I just do what I can to make life better for me and mine.
This communist/socialist/liberal/progressive crap has been going on since the late 1800's. It isn't going away as long as people think they can vote themselves "free" stuff from the government.
Like you, I work for what I have, and I don't want to give it to some couch leach, so I've learned to put my money where it's tough for the government to steal.
I won't change any minds, and I don't care as self determination is a right I cherish. Everybody makes their own choices and as long as they take responsibility for them, that's a good thing, right or wrong.
I just didn't like the morose tone of this thread when there are positive things out there and actions we can take to protect ourselves, because really, that's all we can do anyway.
I have no illusions about the state of the world, but as I have no impact on the major players, worrying about them doesn't do me any good, so I just do what I can to make life better for me and mine.
Exactly.
I did not start this thread to upset people, and did not start it for you and HiW. I assume both of you keep a weather eye out. If you find it morose, I apologize. Some subjects are just not pleasant, but I find people are not paying attention, are letting down their guard, and figure somebody new is here to save them.
What I'm trying to point out is that events are in motion that one man cannot stop - 100,000 men cannot stop. We are not doomed, but we are doomed to live through a couple of decades of unpleasantness. The window for preparing is narrowing. What we are preparing FOR is not some zombie apocalypse four years away, after Trump leaves office. It has nothing to do with him.
So I apologize if you don't wish to see any of this. Just ignore the thread. I am not depressed and you know very well that I am as prepared as anyone here could be. But many are not, and I'm just trying to help them understand why they don't have forever to dawdle.
I know you meant financial depression in your title Nor'Eastah, but the general feeling of this thread is that the world is coming to an end.
The world isn't coming to an end but it would appear local control is weakening. Our country is divided...fragmented even. Our leaders are becoming too afraid to enforce the laws already in place. Business leaders that once wanted to grow companies seem to be more interested in converting assets to personal use ones. Police are more reluctant to use all means necessary to catch a criminal until consensus is reached. The employee ranks spend endless time jostling problems between departments rather than solving them.
There comes a tipping point. A point where people feel the ship is sinking regardless, and people stop trying to fix leaks and prioritize finding a place on a lifeboat and valuables to take with them. Crime rises and is always stopped by a strongman and an organization. The tradeoff for safety is often extreme.
At one point, the western powers carved up China and pitted it against itself. Our opiate will be unending conflict between worse choices, cat videos and legalized weed. It won't be for everything, just the profitable bits. Nobody will want to conquer the land already pilfered of its best parts and containing soft weak hungry mouths to feed.
The hard, unpleasant choices. Like children flocking to the parent that says its ok. We've done ok these past 8 years. The rebound has been slow, weak, but steady. But a look at the stock market tells us that they believe we're in late cycle. Congress is nowhere near a balanced budget. The Federal Funds rate is still just off 0 and their balance sheet still has trillions remaining from their expansion.
The Fed won't be able to stave off the next recession as is. We'll need the politicians to use this opportunity to get the country on track and start growing. If they don't lead the change, then the change will be from outside forces, but the OP is right. Change is coming. Financial depression looks more likely than it should be, and but can be averted if the country comes together and the leadership starts to lead again. I'll trade non-PC leadership for a worse alternative.
Regardless, I can predict with certainty, that Congress will keep going into the red, which will authorize more "dollar bills" via Title 12 USC Sec. 411, which is necessary to deal with the money drought caused by usury (interest).
This will increase the debt service (interest), while reducing the amount available for spending. Which necessitates a tax increase despite promises of a tax decrease. (The last time Congress "accidentally" balanced the budget, it triggered the Dot-Com bust, in 1999-2000)
. . .
The tax shift inflation will trigger more demands for assistance, entitlements, benefits, etc., which imposes an ever greater burden on the tax payers. Even the excuse of unWars will not be sufficient to deter outrage and protests.
. . .
Thus we move incrementally closer to that undefined cliff edge, over which we soon shall pass, then we are kaput.
*Money drought: http://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12773.htm
Q: How much U.S. currency is in circulation?
A: There was approximately $1.45 trillion in circulation as of April 6, 2016, of which $1.4 trillion was in Federal Reserve notes.
We are not doomed, but we are doomed to live through a couple of decades of unpleasantness. The window for preparing is narrowing. What we are preparing FOR is not some zombie apocalypse four years away, after Trump leaves office.
We are "in it" right now...
In 1989, I was puttering around with projections of the national debt based on past trends, using a logarithmic scale, it was obvious we were going to pass a "knee" and I was utterly aghast when it passed 20 trillion, thinking that such a number was unthinkable.
Yet here we are . . . national debt at 19.9 trillion dollars (not dollar bills) . . . and no stopping in sight.
The unpleasantness will have the worst aspects of the Great Depression, WWII, and include rampages similar to war torn medieval Europe.
The debt-credit money token (dollar bill) will eventually collapse, interrupting foreign trade, and probably stop oil imports. Government tax revenues will tank, triggering lay offs as well as cancellation of all entitlements, pensions, and benefits (via FICA). Once that happens, the flying feces will flick fanblades and hit the fenestration.
Remember, the total sum of federal reserve notes, being debt, can never exceed the national debt (19.9 T), and since they were borrowed at interest, require ever more dollar bills to be created to pay that- which means Congress has to borrow more to pay the interest for borrowing. INSANE? Yes. But no one can question it pursuant to clause 4, 14th amendment, USCON.
However, if Congress ever did repeal it, and voided the debt for fraud (Congress was never lent 19.9 T in gold dollars!), then every federal reserve note (dollar bill) ceases to have legal existence. Billionaires become zero-aires.
Why ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financ..._United_States
". . . The financial position of the United States includes assets of at least $269.6 trillion and debts of $145.8 trillion to produce a net worth of at least $123.8 trillion."
With a private DEBT of 145.8 trillion "dollar bills" with only 1.4 trillion in circulation (or a maximum of 19.9 T), someone is going to get a "hair cut" when all loans are called due.
This is money based musical chairs, and there is not enough to go around...
Around 99% of the creditors / account holders will get zotz, nada, bumpkiss, the empty set. And if they foreclose on the debtors, methinks they will FIGHT BACK vigorously.
It seems that we are on the precipice of something different here, and it isn't good.
I have no recollection, in my 69 years, of the aftermath of any election being this violent. Always before, people were civil about it, even when they didn't like the results. It started with racial violence a couple years ago, morphed into Black Lives Matter, went on to shooting police, and now the election aftermath. I understand that they have a massive protest planned for Inauguration Day. I don't expect it to end there.
The divide in this country is unbelievable. It is not black vs white, rich vs poor, citizen vs immigrant, or left vs right. It is mostly urban against rural, and young vs mature. The young feel disenfranchised; there are few good jobs for them after college. Many of them have been indoctrinated in school and college, by Marxist teachers who hate everything the US stands for.
The economy remains in decline. This is not doomer porn, this is reality. I see more junk cars on the roads, than I have since the 1960s. I see more homeless people than I ever have. More of them are on SSDI...often by choice. There are attorneys now who specialize in getting their clients onto government disability, once their unemployment insurance runs out.
Be careful out there. I can't think of a better time to get out of the cities. I can't think of a better time to get out of debt. I can't think of a better thing to do than to learn to raise your own food, switch to wood heat, pick up some woolens at Goodwill if you live in the north, trade in a car for a used pickup, and stock up on a little extra ammo. Might want to draw the family closer, too.
We are off and running on a new chapter in American history. It will be this, not EMP, not WW3, not a pandemic, not an invasion, and not a zombie apocalypse, that will be our SHTF.
"These are times that try men's souls" - Thomas Paine
Protesting is a strength in a democracy. The problem isn't the protests. The problem is who was elected: someone who is borderline fascist authoritarian with issues of misogyny and racism, narcissism, vanity, and grandiosity, who now has selected a man associated with white supremacy as his Chief Strategist. If that doesn't give you chills, you need to read your history.
Protesting is a strength in a democracy. The problem isn't the protests. The problem is who was elected: someone who is borderline fascist authoritarian with issues of misogyny and racism, narcissism, vanity, and grandiosity, who now has selected a man associated with white supremacy as his Chief Strategist. If that doesn't give you chills, you need to read your history.
Did you expect him to select a liberal?
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