As many of us have been saying since before the first taxpayer dollar was sent to Ukraine for “aid,” the money pit is endless. It’s no longer making many headlines when massive amounts of money are funneled through Ukraine to fund whatever nefarious plans the globalist elites have for it. Oligarchs are getting paid. Ukraine’s corrupt government officials are getting paid. Other nations are being paid by proxy. It’s arguably the biggest foreign relations con-job since the Iraq Wars.
And the vast majority of Americans, both leftists and conservatives, fell for the official line that it’s all for the Ukrainian people. Meanwhile, the people are seeing literally none of it. Not a penny. But whether you believe the “aid” was justified or not in the beginning, today it has become a joke that isn’t funny enough for many to repeat. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert delivered the unfortunate punchline on Twitter Saturday:
Biden sent $775 million more to Ukraine yesterday. This is basically a weekly phenomenon. He’s spending our taxpayer dollars on a fight that is not ours and doing so without any limit. Why are we allowing this?
Biden sent $775 million more to Ukraine yesterday.
This is basically a weekly phenomenon.
He's spending our taxpayer dollars on a fight that is not ours and doing so without any limit.
Why are we allowing this?
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) August 20, 2022
Lest we forget, we have zero transparency into how the money is being spent. All we know for sure is that the Ukrainian people are not receiving anything in the form of direct aid and any indirect aid they’re receiving is so minimal, not even the propagandists can muster enough footage to report on all the wonderful ways the money is helping.
We can assume that at least some of it is being used to fuel the war efforts in a counterintuitive attempt to prolong the regional conflict. It’s not nearly enough for Ukraine to actually win as that would require hundreds of billions if not over a trillion dollars and/or NATO’s direct military intervention… but I don’t want to give the Biden-Harris regime any ideas.
For the most part, Americans are ignoring news about Ukraine… and that’s the point. Now that the spigot of “aid” dollars has been normalized, there’s no need for corporate media to sell it to us. A handful of prominent conservatives are still speaking out.
Larry Elder: Joe Biden wants to send millions more of taxpayer dollars to Ukraine. Instead, why not just send the new 87,000 armed IRS agents?
Joe Biden wants to send millions more of taxpayer dollars to Ukraine. Instead, why not just send the new 87,000 armed IRS agents?
— Larry Elder (@larryelder) August 20, 2022
Kyle Becker: The Ukraine War is *OVER.* Russia is a nuclear power. It has accomplished a ‘fait accompli.’ E. Ukraine speaks Russian & has deep ties to Russia. This is not opinion. This is *fact.* Stop wasting time and money. Sign a realistic peace agreement and let’s all move on, shall we?
I am no fan of Russia. But I am no fan of pointless wars that waste billions & escalate the odds of a more devastating war. Let’s be realists. Ukraine has always been a buffer zone for Russia against Europe. NATO screwed up. Unwind this war and examine ‘lessons learned.’
I am no fan of Russia. But I am no fan of pointless wars that waste billions & escalate the odds of a more devastating war.
Let's be realists. Ukraine has always been a buffer zone for Russia against Europe. NATO screwed up. Unwind this war and examine 'lessons learned.'
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) August 20, 2022
(The globalists, of course, don’t care. They consider Ukraine to be the ‘semi-periphery’ that they are trying to integrate into the ‘core,’ while marginalizing nationalist states like Russia. That’s is what this is all about: 5G warfare to bring about global ‘convergence.’)
This is similar in theory to Hegelian dialectic, but we’ll spare everyone the theoretical shop talk at midnight on a Friday night.
This is similar in theory to Hegelian dialectic, but we'll spare everyone the theoretical shop talk at midnight on a Friday night.
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) August 20, 2022
Joel Pollak: What’s the goal in Ukraine? No one will say
What's the goal in Ukraine? No one will say https://t.co/Avgw1w6v72
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) August 19, 2022
As Sundance over at The Conservative Treehouse pointed out, they’re not trying hard enough to gaslight us:
Amid a lengthy op-ed published in The Hill, you will find this paragraph:
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[…] “Although the Biden administration has successfully rallied U.S. allies and provided substantial military assistance, including this month, to Ukraine’s valiant armed forces, it has failed to produce a satisfactory strategic narrative which enables governments to maintain public support for the NATO engagement over the long term.”
Doesn’t that paragraph basically say Biden hasn’t been doing enough to produce good propaganda to keep the public interested?
The signatories of the op-ed are a veritable who’s who of U.S. foreign policy intervention, including the same crew involved in the first Trump impeachment effort.
Apparently, they are losing World War Reddit.
The reason the regime isn’t pushing a good war narrative is because it’s not necessary. There are only small pockets of outrage over the taxpayer dollars getting sucked into Ukraine’s black hole. Meanwhile, Americans are suffering.
Image credit: The Conservative Treehouse
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.
