America’s big auto companies, less than 15 years since they were bailed out of bankruptcy following the Clinton-Bush recession of 2008, are betraying the American people out of their greed for government cash and favor. Their “net zero” plans – in conjunction with the globalist dictators and the Biden Administration – include eliminating huge numbers of jobs and devastating major segments of the U.S. economy.
The Democratic Congress has imposed taxes on the American people to subsidize electric vehicle purchases by wealthy, politically correct institutions, including rental car agencies, government bureaucracies, and other entities buying in bulk. Meanwhile, auto manufacturers are planning to virtually eliminate auto dealerships, ethanol producers, and auto parts dealers and vastly diminish the number of auto mechanics.
Insulting the vast majority of its member automobile owners, the American Automobile Association hypocritically reports that “vehicle ownership, whether electric or gas-powered, is a personal choice.” But does AAA forget(?) that our “choice” is rapidly being taken away by government in collusion with lenders and the auto industry itself?
The recently enacted (and ridiculously named) Inflation Reduction Act is a monstrous bribe to wealthy, mostly urban Americans with its $7,500 tax credit for purchasers of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles ($4,000 for used vehicles) from January 2023 through December 2032. There are apparently no tax credits for battery replacement.
These credits are limited to vehicles “assembled” in the United States, and there are income and cost restrictions. But this abominable skewering of the marketplace cedes power to those who control access to electricity and away from individual choice. It also destroys ethanol manufacturing and sales, a major industry in the rural Midwest. There are no tax credits for farmers who will be losing a major source of their annual income.
Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co. has told its dealers that they will no longer be allowed to sell electric vehicles unless they agree to invest in regular training, install charging infrastructure, improve their physical and digital sales experiences, and publish non-negotiable pricing online. Ford would like to eliminate dealerships entirely but must wait until their lobbyists can overturn state laws that require vehicle sales to be through dealers.
Ford wants to move toward 100 percent online sales as they dismiss the direct sales partners that built the company brand over the past century. The goal is “no inventory … and 100 percent remote pickup and delivery.” Long-time dealers will be forced into repairs only. It is likely that the dwindling number of repair shops will not be allowed to have parts inventories, either.
If so, any repairs will have to wait for parts to arrive, increasing the downtime for vehicle owners and increasing the total cost (including rental cars) for repairs. Owners of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are likely facing similar problems with parts and repairs. And it is not inconceivable that some new federal (or global) mandate will force all ICE vehicles off the road.
Ford is not the only culprit in this compulsory, undemocratic march toward utopia. While General Motors’ Cadillac and Buick divisions will be offering buyouts to dealers unwilling or unable to spend the money necessary to fully service electric vehicles, those dealers will do take the buyouts will only be allowed to sell Chevrolets. [We still miss Pontiac and Oldsmobile.]
Chevy committed to transition to an all-electric fleet back in 2017, though they recently announced they will continue selling some ICE vehicles for the time being. Similarly, Chrysler plans to be all-electric by 2028. Japan’s big automakers, too, are now looking to go electric within the next decade (except for Toyota, which must still believe buyers should have a choice).
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None of this march away from reliable, proven ICE engines makes any sense to rural Americans, those who live in hurricane-prone areas, and anyone who drives cross-country. Farmers today can run their tractors off biodiesel made right down the road and drive to distant towns for groceries and supplies in their 20-year-old pickups. Hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural and human-caused disruptive events can shut down electric power for days in large areas.
These decisions make even less sense to citizens of developing nations whose electric grids are spotty (if existent at all) and decades away from current First-World standards. How do you charge an EV is there is no electric power? Or if the power is on just a few hours a day? Or if there are only a few public outlets? Or if there are no EV-capable tow trucks or expensive, risky (due to fires and theft, for starters) repair facilities? Or maybe Africans should not have cars?
Is there no one alive who remembers the 1979 Arab oil embargo that exposed the weakness of relying on a sole source of energy to operate a major nation? After President Nixon’s price controls proved counterproductive, President Ford to little avail promoted expanding the use of coal and nuclear power and development of synfuels and oil shale.
The goal then was to reduce our national reliance on imported energy, but not until the Trump Administration did the U.S. achieve effective energy independence. And with a single stroke of a pen, President Biden began the process of forcing dependence on Chinese-made EV batteries, solar arrays, and even wind turbines while systematically working to destroy our nation’s oil and gas industry (following up on President Obama’s war on coal).
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To date, there has been no national – or international — debate on the eagerness of the driving public (or those who long for a vehicle to drive) to submit to this expedited, forced transition (sic) to electric-only transportation. There is no discussion on the logistics of accomplishing this likely unwise mandatory restriction on human freedoms. It is not allowed, not in the Congress, the media, or even corporate boardrooms. It is all being done behind closed doors by fiat.
There are far too many questions that have yet to be asked, let alone answered, at the decision-making levels of government and industry for these globalists to force upon the entire world an unproven, uncertain technology the supply chains for which are already overextended and which rely on slave labor for many of its raw materials. There are no answers at all as to why – if EVs are so wonderful – there is any need for mandates and prohibitions at all.
It was not that long ago that truckers in Canada were attacked by the Trudeau government for daring to protest against draconian COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates. The mere relocation of 50 border crossers from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard via Florida has caused major meltdowns by formerly “sanctuary city” leaders.
Imagine if 200 million internal combustion engine vehicle owners (or even 2 million) decided to work together to fight against the outrageous, unworkable, antidemocratic, and bankrupting mandates to force everyone into electric vehicles most cannot afford and do not want and to effectively exclude billions from being allowed to drive at all!
But where to start?
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
