(Liberty Nation)—In a presidential campaign marked by one bombshell occurrence after another, it is easy to lose sight of fundamental issues that newly minted Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has yet to address. As the vice president dodges scrutiny in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention, Donald Trump and Republicans have spent plenty of time discussing the areas where the VP is highly vulnerable, primarily the economy and illegal immigration, which together rate as the most serious concerns of a majority of voters. But there has been little talk about an issue of profound importance to tens of millions of Americans on which Harris might be just as exposed: her view of Christianity.
The vice president’s own religious background is telling. Her mother was Indian and Hindu, her father Jamaican and Christian. As Trump has pointed out, she has alternated between identities during her career. During her formative years in Canada and later in the US, she attended both a Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple. Like Barack Obama, Harris’ father is a Marxist academic, which provides crucial context to her record of hostility toward Catholics and evangelical Christians. But whatever influences hit closest to home during her upbringing and throughout her political career, her record on religion is worthy of close scrutiny – and deep concern.
“The vice president has a strong Christian faith that she’s talked about a lot,” Jamal Simmons, Harris’ former communications director, told The Washington Times. But like so many other aspects of her persona, you would be hard-pressed to figure out exactly what that means in light of her record over more than a decade of public service.
The Kamala Harris Brand of Christianity
Harris’ 2019 ranking as the single most liberal senator in the entire nation was not without merit. One year earlier, she had famously ignored Article VI of the US Constitution prohibiting religious tests on judicial appointments during a Senate hearing. She asked a nominee to the federal court, Brian Buescher, if he was aware that the Knights of Columbus (KOC), a widely familiar charitable organization, “opposed a woman’s right to choose” and whether he had “ever, in any way, assisted with or contributed to advocacy against women’s reproductive rights.” Incredibly, Harris’ progressive colleague, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), went on to ask the nominee if he would resign from the KOC if confirmed.
As California attorney general, Harris backed a 2015 state law requiring pro-life pregnancy crisis centers to offer abortion referrals. The US Supreme Court vacated the law as a violation of free speech. As a longtime supporter of Planned Parenthood, she also authorized a 2015 raid on the home of pro-life activist David Daleiden after he secretly recorded Planned Parenthood affiliates selling fetal tissue from abortions.
Then there was her time in the Senate, when she sponsored a bill, the 2019 “Do No Harm Act,” requiring Catholic hospitals to cover abortions and gender-transition surgeries, despite their objections based on centuries of settled Catholic theology. She infuriated Christians by cosponsoring the 2017 Equality Act to protect the right of biological males who identify as female to enter girls’ and women’s facilities. And as part of her radical agenda during her run for the presidential nomination in 2020, she proposed that states be required to obtain permission from the Justice Department to pass any abortion restrictions.
Like many left-wing Christians, Harris claims that traditional Christian beliefs are perfectly compatible with her own, declaring at a recent NAACP Convention that supporting abortion access “does not require anyone to abandon their faith or their beliefs.” Of course, that flies directly in the face of the teachings of the Catholic Church, even with a Pope in the thrall of progressive theology, which continues to unilaterally oppose abortion.
But perhaps the most revealing insight into the Democratic presidential nominee’s beliefs might come from her statement excising one-third of the most defining statement of American values ever written. Indeed, in 2023, Harris deliberately left out the word “life” in stating during a pro-abortion speech that the Declaration of Independence guaranteed the right to “liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Almost 20% of the US population is Catholic. Another 39% identify as “born again” or evangelical, according to Gallup. That adds up to more than half the country. Will Kamala Harris reassure people of faith that she will protect their religious liberty, or will she try to win the election by doubling down on her progressive view of faith?
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.
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