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Ferguson – A Portent of Things to Come

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, you know that the grand jury in Ferguson declined to indict Officer Daren Wilson in the Michael Brown shooting, and that rioting, looting and burning began immediately thereafter. How bad it will get and how far the violence will spread is anyone’s guess, but whatever the outcome, Ferguson is but a small taste of what’s to come.

What am I talking about? I’m talking about the US economy, specifically the US Dollar, and its inevitable collapse. In case you haven’t noticed, US debt has reached a hyperbolic growth pattern and the world is quickly turning its back on the Petrodollar and the USD as the world reserve currency. How far we are from collapse, and what the collapse will look like (controlled vs. uncontrolled) I do not know, but when we finally reach the breaking point, things will almost assuredly get very ugly in this country.

How ugly?

Let’s imagine for a second that as we approach the USD collapse that austerity measures are enacted to put off the inevitable, and let’s also imagine that only the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is affected by these austerity measures. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp program, provides food assistance to one in six Americans, and cost $76.4 billion in fiscal year 2013. While this is a significant number to be sure, it’s still a small fraction of total US entitlement spending. Obviously any sort of austerity measures would affect more than just SNAP, but we’ll continue with the thought exercise to prove a point.

So in our make believe scenario, the EBT cards are shut off. If you think the rioting in Ferguson is bad, shut off the EBT cards nationwide and see what happens. Rioting and looting would begin almost immediately, as most Americans don’t have enough food in their homes to last even a few days. Every single metropolitan area would likely burn to the ground, and the only way to (potentially) restore the rule of law would be to enact martial law.

America would make the riots in Greece look like a Sunday picnic at the lake, and that’s if only the EBT cards were turned off. We won’t get that lucky.

I realize that a significant portion of you reading this will write it off as crazy talk, or selling fear or whatever. That’s your choice, but please note that I don’t sell anything other than some patches, stickers and other logo items. I’m not trying to sell you something. This is simply a heads up for those of you who aren’t blinded by the media, by the lies repeated to you by your financial adviser, or your own normalcy bias. Take heed.

For everyone else, get yourself another couple credit cards and buy a new flat screen TV and a bunch of other crap you don’t need, and enjoy it while you can.

Warning: language.

27 Responses to Ferguson – A Portent of Things to Come

  1. HillBilly Bob November 25, 2014 at 12:35 pm #

    Treating these assholes with kid’s gloves sure as hell don’t work either.

  2. Erıc L0pez November 25, 2014 at 1:01 pm #

    I am skeptical.. Obama has really messed up the economy, to say the least.
    So i know you said you weren’t sure as to when this collapse would happen, but give us an idea as to what you may be thinking, time wise… I can see it happening in 2-3 years when hopefully the GOP can take more control and cut spending across the board… not just programs that affect us directly either. there is definitely more spending that the government does not does not necessarily affect us directly.

    • Brandon November 25, 2014 at 1:05 pm #

      I don’t make public predictions or guesses on timelines, but don’t put your hope in the GOP. Sure, they might cut some spending (might) versus the Democrats, but our insurmountable debt is only one of our problems. The world (Russia and China leading the charge) is turning its back on the USD.

      • Erıc L0pez November 26, 2014 at 8:40 pm #

        Yeah, i know we’re so far in debt, reversal would take many years for us to reduce it significantly. I hope we do start making cuts asap.

        • Brandon November 26, 2014 at 9:34 pm #

          What you’re talking about is a mathematical impossibility.

          • Erıc L0pez November 26, 2014 at 9:42 pm #

            Nvmd, im sure we’re in too deep in debt.

  3. NotMyName November 25, 2014 at 2:04 pm #

    Brandon’s hit it on the head. There’s no way we are ever going to be able to pay down the 12T+ we owe. The World Bank is going to force the US to steal money for our 401(k)’s, back accounts, and where ever we have tried to save money. Your only going to be able to keep what;s in your “hot little hands”, and even there look for the Government to try and make it illegal, or force you to sell it at “fire sale” prices.

    People that are buying Gold or Silver certificates are stupid, if you don’t have the Gold or Silver in your hands, there’s nothing preventing the Government from just taking it. Why do you think you see all these police departments getting gear through the 1033 program? Obama has even said he’s going to build a 500,000+ “Homeland Security” police department.

    All things like Ferguson are is a test to see if the Government is able to control the people when they finally riot over food – the feds have said in open court, that if you have more then 3 days worth of food your a domestic terrorist.

    If you want to see how things could end up read 299 Days, or something like that. You’re on your own here.

  4. TK November 25, 2014 at 2:57 pm #

    I agree Brandon, the USD is screwed, the only question is when. I have a strong feeling we’ll go to war at least once more to protect the Petrodollar before it crashes.

  5. Chet November 25, 2014 at 3:10 pm #

    You’ve pretty much nailed it. We are in a perilous state. Be prepared.

  6. James Kiser November 25, 2014 at 4:10 pm #

    Ol’ Ben said we had a Republic if we could keep it and only as long as the public didn’t find out they could raid the treasury. Well the government and and 50% population if not more get some kind of handout from the fedzilla’s. It is probably be too late to save the Republic even if we went to open civil war. And the country’s debt is not 2 trill it is 200 trillion that includes both public and private debt. The Fed just reduced the amount needed for home down payments to 5%. We have been down this road before and the problem is insurmountable. It is going to be bloody.

  7. Adam November 25, 2014 at 11:36 pm #

    I agree. America is in a downward death spiral. A lot of people have the idea that they deserve handouts from the government. Nobody wants to earn anything and it reflects in the taxes that people who work pay. I’m in my mid 20s and my wife and I both work full time and live paycheck to paycheck. In my community I see people my age and younger living off welfare because that’s how they were raised. Got to get that check. I’m sick of it personally.

  8. A Cowan November 26, 2014 at 7:06 am #

    We also have hyperinflation to look forward to.

    http://taxfoundation.org/blog/federal-debt-projected-exceed-100-percent-gdp-next-25-years

  9. storm protocols November 26, 2014 at 8:06 am #

    Spot on! just a small experiment in Ferguson, like an exercise. The story in Ferguson is not the civil unrest rather the total fail of the cops and guard who have had 8 weeks to prepare and the best they can do is throw tear gas. When EBT goes down or ATMS for that matter, there will be mic larger fires and much less police.

    • dgdimick November 26, 2014 at 10:00 am #

      Didn’t we already see riots last year when EBT had a “computer” problem?

      Ferguson has nothing to do with the killing of Mike “the thug” Brown, it’s all about people just wanting to riot. I remember during the LA riots watching some dude running out of a supermarket with a case of tampons. The cameraman asked him what he was doing and he replayed “I’m got my stuff, better get yours.” There was also one of the lottery winners arrested for looting. He won $25 mil that year, and still went down and stole $2k worth of junk.

      This is what WROL failing looks like.

      • Anubis November 27, 2014 at 5:15 pm #

        A lot of viral videos that got banned from youtube from the 8 hours the food stamp system went down in 16 states on 10-12-13.

  10. Greg November 26, 2014 at 10:10 am #

    Can you you do a write up on your flavor of basic prep? Something for the urban and suburban family

    • Brandon November 26, 2014 at 10:56 am #

      Sure Greg, but it will be very generic, as prepping is situation and budget specific. For example, it’s way easier if you’re independently wealthy.

      • Greg November 26, 2014 at 11:03 am #

        thank you! or feel free to put a dollar cap on it. in my case i have a few guns, a few hundred rounds of ammo for the primary guns. enough average family food for a couple weeks provided we still have electricity. less if not. personally i want to put together a few months worth of provisions for a wife and two young kids.

        • Brandon November 26, 2014 at 11:09 am #

          I think a few months is a smart idea…don’t forget water. I’ll see what I can put together.

      • Mensa Graham November 26, 2014 at 7:26 pm #

        It certainly would be easy if one was wealthy. It can also be done if one is short on money and it can save that person a bundle.

        Start your food and other preps with what is on sale. Be aware that sales generally run in a 9-12 weeks cycle so accumulate enough of sale items you use for a 12 week stretch. Once you accomplish that part you will always pay only the sale price for that item as long as you buy and eat or use it. Continue to stock your pantry with sale items that you eat or use until you have a 3 month supply of all those items.

        I’ve found that my pantry saves us roughly a third of our food and toiletry bill. I use that amount to continue my prepping in other areas.

  11. patjflynn@bex.net November 26, 2014 at 10:30 am #

    I’m certain that the Chinese, Russians, Norks and Iran are fully aware of how vulnerable the USA is concerning a cyber attack. You want to see a full blown conflagration in the urban areas of the USA? Hack the EBT system and shut it down. The resulting chaos would distract the USA from more pressing matters like the Iranian nukes or China and Russian aggression against their neighbors. By targeting the EBT and welfare system with a cyber attack our enemies ( like China ) would leave the banking systems intact in the USA because we owe them so much money and are attached to each other at the hip. We can’t afford to lose the Chinese and they can’t afford to lose us so that’s a wash. However, the feds have stock piled millions upon millions of food rations in case of such an event whether the attack is electronic or an economic collapse. How long would those millions of food rations keep the poor and welfare moochers placated? I could do the math I reckon but I’ll leave that to much more well informed people than I.

    I am sure that our enemies have war gamed this particular scenario and I’m sure that the war planners here have gamed this as well against our enemies too. The huge difference is that ( as far as I know ) the Chinese, Russians, NORKs and Iran have no such welfare safety net so we would have to stick to the ages old plan of attacking our enemies command and control centers and communications to cripple them. Do you see what I’m extrapolating here? The USA and Europe ( the UK as well ) have become welfare socialist countries and that has made all of us so totally vulnerable it’s mind boggling. Our enemies can literally create total chaos by flipping the switch to off and shut down the welfare system and weapon-izing the poor and entitled by creating a food shortage and hunger. The middle class would be in a siege situation within a few days.

    What if our enemies turned off the power and water in Detroit MI for a week? Ferguson MO riots would be picnic compared that particular scenario and that goes for for any urban area.

    My next statement is going to be highly controversial to many. Coupled with the black rage and racism that the black community has ( and fostered by Obama, Rangel, Jackson et al ) for many years there is a simmering cauldron of hatred and bigotry toward authority and the white man. Our enemies know this and utilize this hatred and bigotry as a recruiting tool for radical Islam in the urban areas and prison. As Americans we have tried to turn the other cheek and that has enabled the racists. All that is required is a spark to light up the cities and a cyber attack in the urban black welfare ranks will do very nicely to accomodate the mischief makers around the globe. The inner city folks will be pouring into the Burbs hungry and malevolent.

    So this begs the question: Have we, as a country, been buying off the poor and so called disenfranchised to keep them fat and happy and on the Reservation? If so, then we have been very short sighted.

    You can live in poverty as long as you are well fed but go without 7 meals and the anger and desperation are a force mutiplier (sp) by a magnitude of 10.

    This scenario would be the perfect time for our aggressors around the world.

    Martial Law would be enacted.

    I have seen this first hand in 1968 when MLK was killed by James Earl Ray. I was a young boy then but clearly remember that the center of town was on fire and there were squads of NG on every street corner and you had to have a special pass to get to work. You had to be off the streets by 5 pm and no exceptions unless you had the pass the NG issued. It was a real drag for a 7 YRO who wanted to play outside after school and not be penned up inside.

    The Ferguson rioting and looting provides an interesting lesson though. The shop owners who stood their ground and protected their property with weapons were unmolested. Same thing with the Korean store owners in the Rodney King LA riots. My take away: 99% of looters and rioters are not willing to take a bullet for a gallon of vodka or a big screen hi def TV. Their behavior is not to change policies for the better, it is to accrue as much swag as possible generated by their malfeasance.

    I apologize for the rant Brandon but this has been on my mind for a while now.

    Best to all!

    Snake Plisken

    • Anubis November 27, 2014 at 5:22 pm #

      Your taxes have been paying to import Muslim “refugees” including the Boston Marathon brothers that just get dumped on sect 8 welfare. That’s why there are raping Somalis in Maine and Minnesota. See Refugee Resettlement Watch to see how bad it is.

      The only good thing is that they will attack the disingenuous liberals that believe in equality long before they leave the cities, and will likely have consumed bad water/food.

  12. colt triarii November 26, 2014 at 10:37 am #

    Lessons learned from Ferguson:

    1. President Obama has now descended to the point that he publicly met with the protesters the day after the election, in case someone missed the green light to riot. And the Republicans, with control of the House and Senate, do nothing.

    2. Coiled barbed wire could have prevented much of this. Why announce the verdict at night, unless you are trying to incite a riot?

    3. A hidden assumption has always been that either we would have 1 of 2 scenarios: total Without Rule of Law collapse, or normal.

    Here, the Courts and law enforcement are still in existence and operating in Ferguson, its just President Obama suspended criminal sanctions. The same is happening with immigration. Its a twilight zone of legality.

    • Mensa Graham November 26, 2014 at 7:27 pm #

      GOP has no control of the senate until January. Lame duck dems at this point……

  13. Mike November 26, 2014 at 10:58 am #

    I too would like a basic treatise on prepping from someone like you who isn’t completely batshit/tinfoil hat crazy. Kind of a where to start type of thing. Thanks.

    • Erıc L0pez November 26, 2014 at 8:44 pm #

      Lol, yup.

    • patjflynn@bex.net November 26, 2014 at 9:39 pm #

      Beginning prepping is pretty straight forward Mike.

      Start small.

      Water is critical, more so than food. Next time you get to a big box store buy a case of bottled water and store it. Personally, I take gallon jugs of milk and clean them out then refill them with tap water and store them under the sink cabinet.

      Food? There’s two ways to go. Buy dried beans and rice by the bag and put ’em up on a shelf. They will last for years. Or you can go with canned veggies and fruit. recent studies have provided evidence that some packaging and canning of of veggies and fruit actually provide more vitamins than frozen vegs because they are harvested and processed much more quicker because the farm to canner is close by for logistical purposes.

      If you choose to buy dry goods like beans and rice then next time you visit the store buy several cheap assed packages of gravy ( dried ) and spices. This will keep your palate from becoming weary of no flavorings if it gets down to nothing but rice and beans. You can thank me later! 🙂 Oh yeah, also buy an extra pound of flour and sugar to stash away to either use or for trade.

      Buy lots of pasta including Ramen noodles. It’s empty calories and few nutrients but it’s quick and easy to prepare and very cheap.

      Make sure you have a way to heat water for washing yourself or boiling water for your food or hot drinks. Personally i have a fire pit for my dutch oven and a rocket stove to provide hot water. I also cook on firewood on a regular basis and my friends used to think i was insane until they tasted my wood cooked ribs and steaks.

      If you have a dog or two, please make sure they have plenty of food. Dogs are the best alarm system ever.

      Simple isn’t it? As for myself I’m prepared for a 6 to 9 month catastrophe so I’m not one of those crazy people who build underground shelters, live in old missile silos or build a castle on top of a mountain.

      Take your preps for food,water and some creature comforts in increments and you and your family will be fine!

      Snake Plisken