More bad economic news... and a warning??

[Bearman202]

I've heard Celente on Coast-to-Coast, and he makes a LOT of sense. I like his approach. He's not making predictions out of the blue, but watching trends and following the charts. I sat down and had a good, hard look at the situation. Right now, America doesn't manufacture much. We've still got a few plants, but not nearly enough to meet the demand for jobs. There are service industry jobs, but there are just so many people needed to flip burgers. Decent, good paying jobs with benefits just aren't there. We can't create them, because they exist, they just don't exist here. Now, I'm hearing the rallying cry of "Kick 'em all off welfare!" or "End the food stamp program." Well, folks, the situation is that many, if not most of the people on those programs would work. NOBODY is getting rich off welfare and food stamps. It doesn't pay well enough. Now, ask yourself why someone would be on such a program if they had a choice. Most don't. They went through the debacle that's called the American education system, which was primarily designed to teach people how to punch a clock, then they turn them loose in a world that doesn't have any more time clocks. They have no training in anything useful, and a good percentage of them would fail miserably in college, although the great trend now is to get everyone to go. (Someone told me the other day that a Bachelor's degree is now the equivalent of a high school diploma 30 years ago, and I agree with them.) So, we have a huge mass of people with no training, and no realistic way to get any. They want to live, and enjoy life a bit. We all do. So what do they do? What are their choices?

I know a LOT of young people, married, with one or two children, who are living with their parents because they can't afford to maintain a house. One or both of them work, neither of them have benefits, and their kids get sick just like anybody else's kids do. What choice do they have? If they ended the food stamp program, or cut the welfare program any more, we would see people literally dying in the street. Do we really want that? I don't. I don't care what color they are, what religion they practice, whatever. I want to see everyone doing well, with a decent shot at a decent life. We're not going to see that any time soon, I'm afraid.

[monkeybird]

Via Gerald Celente’s June 13, 2011 Trend Alert

Everything is not all right. And things are going to get worse … much worse. The economy is on the threshold of calamity. Wars are spreading like wildfires. The world is on a razor’s edge.
Not so, say world leaders and mainstream media experts. Yes, there are problems, but the financiers and politicians are aware of them. Policies are already in place and measures are being taken to correct them.

Whether it’s failing economies, intractable old wars or raging new wars, the word from the top always maintains that steady progress is being made and comforts the populace with assurances that the brightest minds and the sharpest generals are in charge and on the case. On all fronts, success is certain and victory is at hand. Only “patience” is required … along with more men, more time and more money.

As far as these “leaders” and their media are concerned, the only opinions that count come from a stable of thoroughbred experts, official sources and political favorites. Only they have the credentials to speak with authority and provide trustworthy forecasts. That they are consistently, if not invariably, wrong apparently does nothing to diminish their credibility.

How can any thinking adult possibly imagine that the same central bankers, financiers and politicians responsible for creating the economic crisis are capable of resolving it?

…

Yet even in the face of their proven failures and gross incompetence, anyone daring to challenge the party line or the conventional wisdom is dismissed as an “alarmist,” “fear monger,” or “gloom-and-doomer.”

…

…with the Dow on a down trend and the economic data increasingly pointing in the direction of Depression, Washington and Wall Street remain in denial. The only debate among the “experts” is whether or not a “double dip” recession is likely.

However, for the man on the street – pummeled by falling wages, higher prices, intractable unemployment, rising taxes and punitive “austerity measures” – “Depression,” not “recession,” and certainly not “prosperity,” is just around the corner.

…

Trend Forecast: The wars will proliferate and civil unrest will intensify. As we forecast, the youth-inspired revolts that first erupted in North Africa and the Middle East are now breaking out in Europe (See “Off With Their Heads,” Trends Journal, Autumn 2010)

Given the trends in play and the people in power, economic collapse at some level is inevitable. Governments and central banks will be unrelenting in their determination to wring every last dollar, pound or euro from the people through taxes while confiscating public assets (a.k.a. privatization) in order to cover bad bets made by banks and financiers.

When the people have been bled dry financially and have nothing left to give, blood will flow on the streets.

SERIOUS FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

[WiseOwl]

Same thing happened to me last year Rmpl, I tried splinting every one and only one survived...I got mad and burned the whole section down....atleast it put some more Nitrogen in the soil...:) Good luck brother

[Rmplstlskn]

Yet in the 100+ people that came around in about a 5 year time span, only a handful were still preparing or doing ANY type of training. Only 2 had left the cities (keep in mind, a 20 year time period to accomplish this) , done any type of attempt at homesteading, setting up a retreat, etc.

Well, I can understand why some give it up... or burn out, etc... I had those thoughts this Sunday as a powerful, freak storm blew through our area and I returned home to find ALL MY CORN FLATTENED... I was so disheartened... All that work, the sweat, the toil.... tipped over and flattened. I asked my wife, "Why do I even bother? What the frack am I doing this for? I could just go buy some corn... May not be as tasty, but it will be FOOD... How did humanity ever survive this long?... etc..." I was bummed...

But after my pity party I went out and cut down branches to use as splints and splinted up ever single one of those stalks... I'm not sure if they will still produce corn ears or even regain their ability to stand on their own, but I atleast tried once again to not let nature beat me down...

So I can understand why some gave it up... It is an enticing siren song when one is weak...

Rmpl

[Rmplstlskn]

I looked at him and said "their isn't a lot of people in your or my generation that do that any more."

I think that often, especially as my new job has me in contact with University students in a technical manner... Students from a University considered upper level no less. Needless to say, I wonder if there is anyone that will pick up at the level I am at now in many skill sets, let alone further them. Lots of informed SPECIALIZATION, but many are clueless when they must find solutions outside of their specialty. They may not know how a combustion engine functions, but they know how to text with lightning speed and sync their playlists... LOL!

Rmpl

[Lowdown3]

I hear you MB. Up till about a decade ago, the only ones in my family that seemed to "get" what I was doing was my grandparents. Had many a fun discussions with them about what the Depression was like, etc.

I remember the exact phrase my Grandma would use- "an ill wind is coming."

These folks weren't "preppers" or survivalists, they were not poor, but they would eat food that most of us wouldn't feed to our (show) dogs. They threw out NOTHING.

We were talking the other day at the gym. One fellow's Dad had come in and run a bunch of electrical wiring for a project we were working on. The Son is mid 20's. He says "no one ever taught my Dad electricity, he just plays around with stuff and figures it out." I looked at him and said "their isn't a lot of people in your or my generation that do that any more."

[monkeybird]

My 86 year old mother came home from church yesterday and over lunch she said all her friends were really worried about what happening in the world. Apparently they've been discussing this among themselves. She said people are getting "scared". (FYI- my mother knows almost nothing about my preps, she would invite the whole church to share the LTFS if the SHTF.)


It seems there is a consensus among the 80 to 90 year old sunday school attendees that the world is about ready to blow apart. Mind you, these are members of The Greatest Generation, survivors of the great depression and WWII. If they're worried, the rest of us need to listen.

[1Admin]

Wow...I just saw this article....I wonder what those american redoubt folks are saying, after they sold everything and moved to that area.....seems like the Chinese are reading survival blog

Very, very, very few people that have the available funds AND the latitude to move away from the cities ever do. Their is and will be no mass exodus to the Northwest unless it's folks from the Southwest leaving if the Mexis ever start a real "reconquista."

A long time back agood friend and my mentor and I were talking about "the old days" way back in the 80's. How at some points in time we would have 20-30 guys (and a gal here and there) out at training events. It was a long ride so we asked each other back and forth- "what ever happened to Jim Smith that used to come out with us?" "What happened to so and so?" Now NONE of these people were dirt poor, majorly lacked in education or sense, etc. Yet in the 100+ people that came around in about a 5 year time span, only a handful were still preparing or doing ANY type of training. Only 2 had left the cities (keep in mind, a 20 year time period to accomplish this) , done any type of attempt at homesteading, setting up a retreat, etc.

2 out of 100'ish people is roughly 2 percent. And the starting 100'ish number was people that had already realized the need to give up some weekends of going boating or surfing (some of us were young), had already purchased necessary gear and related equipment, had pushed themselves in "various" ways (LOL) in training, etc. In other words, the 100'ish people had already proved themselves to be above the level of just talkers in some respects.

So I think the chances of a "mass exodus" to ANYWHERE by survivalists and "preppers" any before the stuff actually touches the fan are VERY SLIM.

But that's just me, experience makes you pessimistic sometimes.

[Urban Survivalist]

These days everytime you read the news it just makes me want to prep more because one day when the SHTF happens I will be prepared. If everything stays afloat and nothing happens then I have extra food and some cool gear that I can use when I go camping.

[WiseOwl]

I believe this is a real threat. I also believe that the Chinese will use mass numbers to overtake the world when "they start" their campaign. As one of the cards in my favorite card game says: "Throw enough goblins at any problem and it should go away. At the very least there'll be fewer goblins." I honestly think they will simply overrun anybody in their path with there current outrageosly huge population.

Wow...I just saw this article....I wonder what those american redoubt folks are saying, after they sold everything and moved to that area.....seems like the Chinese are reading survival blog

[Klayton]

you mean like this?
http://endoftheamericandream.com/arc...of-boise-idaho

I believe this is a real threat. I also believe that the Chinese will use mass numbers to overtake the world when "they start" their campaign. As one of the cards in my favorite card game says: "Throw enough goblins at any problem and it should go away. At the very least there'll be fewer goblins." I honestly think they will simply overrun anybody in their path with there current outrageosly huge population.

[WiseOwl]

I hear yall 100%

And you can call me a bad guy or whatnot but if "this ever" goes down, only certain people that contain my family bloodline or a couple of chosen friends are allowed at my door. Anyone else is getting a real "stern tone" and if that doesnt work, I will toss hot stuff at ya, even pre SHTF. I hate moochers and leaches and in a "worst case scenario situation" my life and family's' life is more important than anything on earth. Everyone always says "if the lil kid or the old lady" shows up at your door, you as a Christian have an "obligation" to help them. Well, I have small children as well and a grandma I will have to help and I have to look out for mines over anyone, regardless of circumstances. Call me a bad person, or call me a realist.
The Economy is bad but it has been for 5 years. I dont pay any attention to "speculation" and/or chicken little crap. If it goes down, I hope to be ready. If it doesnt I am going to keep living my life. I dont care for a "bunker retreat" with an arsenal or a truck that runs on veggie oil. Other than WTSHTF its common sense to "prep", period. I have always had at least a months worth of food regardless if there are terrorist or hyper-inflation risks. I know that JWR has "romaticized" the whole "patriots' idea, but we have to face it, there are way too many damn people to compete with jobs for and people need to be more self sufficient period. The News (Fox or CNN or LeftNBC) reports some of the news and uses the rest to scare the public. Me, I am going to keep on moving......

(rant over)...chuckles

[miked2345]

Losing the middle class? What on Earth are you talking about? Just look at my checking account and you will see... oh.. crap. Now I get it.

The bad news is indeed everywhere. I'm noticing more and more people discussing it but I've yet to hear anyone mention anything about preparing. Oh they'll mention cutting back on some things and going to Walmart but that is about it. I'll casually throw out a few little tidbits to see if I get a response but so far, only nods and "Yeah, I should do something like that". Apparently the news isn't bad enough yet.

Let's hope that they ARE prepping, but just keeping it on the "Down Low". I know my family (Wife and kid...) have talked about it and we all agree that in talking with others, we might discuss an un-certain future, but we DON'T talk to them about the prepping we're doing.

I would love to tell everyone I know that "Hey, here's what I'm doing and you should do it too!" But I know I'd get 1 of 2 responses.....

Response #1. "You're nuts... Don't be a worry-wart"

Response #2. "Oh, that's nice... " And then they'd show up at my door when SHTF. Now some would say that it would be very un-Christian to
turn away people from my door after SHTF. But here's the deal, I'm just a middle class guy... slowly slipping to lower-class as my dollars become worth less everyday. There's NO WAY I can prep for my family AND everyone else too! That's not to say I won't give close family and friends a little food to help them thru a week or two... But it's not reasonable for them to expect that I would become their "Welfare Office" long term, because they would rather spend their money at the casino today, rather than prepare....

[barfife]

Punch 1 for Spanish
Punch 2 for Mandarin
Punch 3 for English

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I don't understand what all the worry is about. It's not like our gubment would incite riots, disarm us, and allow China to come in and take over to protect their investment. Would they?

you mean like this?

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/china-wants-to-construct-a-50-square-mile-self-sustaining-city-south-of-boise-idaho