Editor’s Commentary: It’s a good thing that more conservative and alternative media outlets are warning people about Central Bank Digital Currencies. Unfortunately, most are not offering recommendations on what to do about them. Thankfully, Dr. Joseph Mercola, show host James Corbett, and financial expert Catherine Austin Fitts are filling the gap.
In a recent article and video, they recommended 10 ways people can work to both stop CBDCs and to prepare for them if and when they become a full-blown reality. With the totalitarianism inherent in such forms of money, it’s important that we do what we can now before it’s too late. I discussed this on the latest episode of The JD Rucker Political Report. Here’s the article I referenced…
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- In 2023, 11 countries have fully launched a digital currency while more than 20 more will move toward starting one
- 114 countries, which represent more than 95% of global GDP, are looking into CBDC — up from just 35 countries in 2020
- Finance guru Catherine Austin Fitts details 10 practical steps individuals can take to stop implementation of CBDCs
- Tips include using cash as much as possible and minimizing your use of digital systems, including avoiding biometric technology and QR codes
- Doing business with local people and entities you know and trust, and ditching large, multinational banks in favor of trustworthy local banks or credit unions will also help
Central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, are government-backed digital currencies issued by a central bank. They’re being rapidly rolled out to bring about a new economic transaction system that could lead to a new form of modern-day slavery.
CBDCs are promoted as digital tokens that can simplify monetary policy and bring about convenient cashless societies. They’re also sometimes said to be similar to cryptocurrency1 due to their digital nature, but there are important, and major, distinctions.
While cryptocurrencies are decentralized and allow anonymous transactions, CBDCs are centralized and can track every transaction. They can also be controlled by the powers that be — meaning all your CBDC assets could be taken away or turned off by a central power, and there’d be nothing you could do about it.
CBDCs Are Part of the Plan to End All Currencies
Finance guru Catherine Austin Fitts — publisher of The Solari Report2 — warns that a slavery system, steeped in the ideologies of transhumanism and technocracy, is being created right before our eyes. The complicated, “messy” plan used the pandemic to engineer a total remake of world currencies and our entire way of life.3
Comparing the move to herding sheep to a slaughterhouse, Fitts explains how the pandemic lined people up to depend on their governments for protection from an invisible enemy (COVID-19) and then used fear to keep people from living what once was considered a normal life.
The herd mentality includes encouraging debt entrapment to the point that people become desperate for any type of cash flow that can help them meet their day-to-day living expenses, until they willingly give up their rights in exchange for any relief offered to them.
In The Corbett Report video above, you can hear Agustín Carstens, executive director of the Bank for International Settlements, describe the chilling truth about CBDCs. Corbett describes the Bank for International Settlements, by the way, as the “central bank of central banks — the apex of the financial monetary pyramid, identified by Carroll Quigley in ‘Tragedy and Hope’ — and others as the capstone of the Pyramid of Power.”4 Carstens says:5
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“We don’t know, for example, who is using a $100 bill today. We don’t know who is using the 1,000-peso bill today. A key difference … with the CBDC is central bank will have absolute control on the rules and regulations that will determine the use of that expression of central bank liability. And also we will have the technology to enforce that.”
CBDCs Instrumental for Social Control
CBDCs are an integral part of a social control system. By removing paper currency and replacing it with CBDCs, your ability to engage in transactions can be monitored and turned on and off. What could this look like in your day-to-day life? British activist Maajid Nawaz put it into simple terms, likening CBDCs to vouchers instead of currency — vouchers that have a finite limit for certain purchases, and once your quota is met, you can’t obtain any more:6
“They want to replace fiat paper money with digital money as a competitor to Bitcoin and crypto money, right?
But instead of being decentralized currency, it will be controlled by a government … So instead of having a bank account with … HSBC or Bank of America, you’ll have a bank account directly with — in the American context, with the Fed — in the UK, directly with the Bank of England. You have a personal bank account, and you’re given digital money in that bank account.
… This money that you will earn from work, instead of having paper money, you have this digital money. It’s programmable so that you can’t buy certain foods, or if you do something that your employer doesn’t like … you won’t be able to spend your money. In other words, it’s not money, they’re vouchers.
They’re like food vouchers. And they can be programmed. So that, like the Chinese social credit system, if you try and use them on a certain thing, it won’t work. Say you want to buy a burger, and they want you to buy a box … if you start to try and buy unhealthy meat, it just won’t work … you tap your card, you can’t buy the thing, because you’ve met your quota that month, for burgers.”
“We’re talking about a world where most people are under 24/7 surveillance and then their financial incentives and their financial power are related to how well-behaved they are,” Fitts explains. Corbett uses parking tickets as another example of how CBDCs may come to dictate your every move:7
“Do you remember that parking ticket you forgot to pay last month? Well, your central bank issued CBDC, it remembers, and it will just subtract those funds plus a late payment fee from your account when you’re not looking.
Got caught supporting the wrong fundraiser or the wrong political cause, like the freedom convoy in Canada? Don’t worry. In a world of CBDC transactions, you wouldn’t have even been allowed to donate to that cause in the first place because your wallet wouldn’t let you.”
Let’s say, for another example, that you miss an appointment to get a vaccination. The system will know and your access to banking might be cut off until it registers that you got your shot. According to Fitts:8
“It is essential to understand the proposals underway. In my opinion, CBDCS (central bank digital currencies) are an essential part of the ongoing financial coup d’état which — if successful — will end constitutional government and human liberties in the U.S. and G7 nations. You need to take this seriously.”
10 Actions You Can Take to Stop CBDCs
Implementation of CBDCs is moving ahead, fast. In 2023, 11 countries have fully launched a digital currency while more than 20 more will move toward starting one. All G7 nationals are now actively developing CBDCs, including the U.S. Further, 114 countries, which represent more than 95% of global GDP, are looking into CBDC — up from just 35 countries in 2020.9
However, widespread CBDCs are not yet inevitable. “It is important to recognize that there is a great deal that each one of us can do to take action,” Fitts says. “In a highly leveraged financial system such as we have, a single individual counts for a lot.”10 In response to the many requests she’s had from people wondering how to stop CBDCs, Fitts compiled these 10 top actions.11
1.Use cash — Fitts recommends using cash as much as possible — and not frequenting shops that don’t accept it:12
“Walk out on establishments that refuse to accept cash. When using remote facilities where cash is not possible, use checks if you can. We understand from one subscriber that check companies are scrambling to fill the orders of all of the bank customers who have requested checks recently. Whether the indicator is banking statistics or anecdotal reports from our subscribers, cash use is clearly rising.”
In addition to using cash, Fitts recommends keeping a stash of cash on hand, safely stowed in several locations. “Think small, and start thinking about all the ways you can spread your cash around and put it in different places, including outside of the banking and brokerage system,” she says, “but also how you can use your cash to permanently lower your expenses and permanently lower your risk.”13
Think like a squirrel does when stashing away acorns for the winter. You want to have your cash spread out, in “little pots all over the place.” This starts with keeping cash on hand in your home, ideally in a fireproof safe. Then you can expand to a safe deposit box at a bank, a small, local bank or investing in silver and gold coins.
2.Embrace analog — While some digitization is OK, an entirely digital system is at risk of being manipulated and controlled by a central power. Fitts recommends minimizing your use of digital systems, including avoiding biometric technology and QR codes. “Get invasive surveillance systems out of your home. Use hard-wired Internet connections, not Wi-Fi … While you are at it, refuse to use or support vaccine passports,” she says.14
3.Do business with people you trust — Focus on finding people of integrity with whom to conduct business. Even if it costs more, Fitts says, it’s worth it. “In the end, fraudsters and others who contribute to unhealthy systems through their own greed or lust for power cause untold losses. All those little expenses related to transacting with integrity can end up being lifesavers …”15
Corbett refers to this as “freedom cells” and recommends joining with a small group of eight or so other people, then connecting to other groups, engaging in a local exchange trading system or using some form of community currency. This “will facilitate actual productive economic activity if we arrive at the Mad Max apocalyptic scenario … or the government coming down and cracking down on dissent to the point of taking you off the payment grid,” he says.16
4.Choose a small, local bank — Ditch large, multinational banks in favor of trustworthy local banks or credit unions. While you’re there, let bankers know about the dangers of CBDCs. The Solari Report even has a template letter17 you can use to inform your bankers about the downsides of CBDCs. It reads, in part:18
“It strikes me that creating a different, yet centrally controlled fiat currency that can be created from thin air and manipulated by unelected central bankers does not promote U.S. financial stability or provide citizens with consumer and investor protections — except in the sense that totalitarian governments can be financially stable through the power of taxation without representation and the ability to micromanage and regulate the spending of families and small enterprise.”
5.Finance friends, not enemies — While limiting the number of online and digital financial transactions you make, avoid supporting credit card companies and financial technology (fintech) firms intent on expanding digital IDs, vaccine passports and CBDCs. Instead, focus on making financial transactions with like-minded people and entities.
“Financing your local farmer or farm distribution service may not look like a great money-maker,” Fitts explains, “but it means you will have a better chance of not being cornered into eating insects and lab-grown meat.”19 The idea is to establish of form of survival currency that allows you to eat, maintain shelter and survive in a worst-case scenario.
“When you are in a survival situation,” Corbett explains, “where you were literally scrambling to provide food for your family… let’s start from that point of the survival currency. What can I do to facilitate exchange with people in my area, who I want to exchange with, but we don’t have access to these dollars or pesos, or whatever.”20 Examples of survival currencies, which each have their own pros and cons, include precious metals, cryptocurrencies and bartering.
6.Ask state officials to support financial freedom — Fitts recommends asking your state legislators to start a sovereign state bank that protects the right to free financial transactions. She explains:21
-
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“Make sure it is a sovereign bank that supports (and does not and cannot compete with) private community banks and credit unions, and helps to ensure they can provide free private financial transactions.
While you are at it, ask them to start a state bullion depository. Then, in the worst-case scenario, you can use your gold and silver as a local currency (if your state has been smart enough to cancel sales tax on precious metals — if not, that’s another matter to bring up with state legislators).”
7.Hold the New York Fed accountable — The New York Federal Reserve Bank, which acts as the depository of the U.S. government and stores the largest known depository of gold in the world, holds immense power over U.S. financial policy.22
Fitts suggests contacting your congressional representatives to demand an audit of the New York Fed, including tracing $21 trillion in funds missing from the U.S. government — which amounts to $65,000 per person in the U.S. — and returning it. She adds:23
“Clearly communicate that congressional representatives are not to pass any legislation or grant the Fed (most notably the New York Fed) any more powers or funding until the Fed is audited, transparent and held accountable, and makes restitution for all illegal transactions in U.S. government accounts held by it or its member banks.
Congress should not accept any argument that the executive branch has the authority to proceed with the institution of CBDCs without congressional approval.”
8.Tell the US to leave WHO — The U.S. government has close ties to the World Health Organization. Not only does it provide between $200 million and $600 million in funding annually, but it’s actively engaged with the organization.24
“The WHO, among other unacceptable actions, is using the health care system to institute vaccine passports,” Fitts says, “which is simply a way of getting the authentication system needed for CBDCs and spatial control.” The Solari Report has a template you can use to send to your representatives regarding WHO’s pending amendments to existing International Health Regulations.25
9.Reject taxation without representation — CBDCs will rapidly usher in an era of taxation without representation, leading to the end of liberty. By granting complete control of individuals’ financial transactions to central bankers, CBDCs allow the government to maintain complete control.
“Under a CBDC system in which government maintains and controls all financial transactions, if a citizen objects to taxation without representation by refusing to pay federal taxes in the face of gross violations of the Constitution and human rights, the central bankers can simply take the taxed amounts from such individuals’ accounts,” Fitts explains.26
10.Share your knowledge with friends and family — Tell everyone you know about the true intention of CBDCs so they can also take action against them. This includes educating yourself and others to resist propaganda tactics being used by Big Tech to influence public opinion and individual minds.
If we can decentralize financial power, it will lead to an improved economy and future, Fitts notes, and practical opportunities are all around us. For instance, embrace local farmers and grow as much of your fresh food as possible. “If we grow our own food supply, it will make it much harder for the bankers to control the transaction system,” Fitts says.27
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So, rather than feeling defeated, recognize that the opportunity exists to win this battle, one action and one individual at a time. As Fitts explains, there’s room for everyone to get involved:28
“Central banks are pushing for central control — they believe if they do not do so, they will lose control. Given that they do not provide essential functions and their exercise of control is exceptionally damaging and expensive, that could be a very good thing for both our freedom and our pocketbooks.
The opportunity depends on our leadership. So start leading where you can and as you can. You never know what can happen until you try!”
Alternative Video Sources:
- 1 Investopedia, Investing, What Is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)? March 19, 2022
- 2 The Solari Report
- 3 Planet Lockdown
- 4 The Corbett Report, Episode 436 February 3, 2023, 7:28
- 5, 6 The Corbett Report, Episode 436 February 3, 2023, 7:49
- 7 The Corbett Report, Episode 436 February 3, 2023, 16:00
- 8 The Solari Report August 26, 2021
- 9 Atlantic Council, CBDC Tracker, Key Findings
- 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 23 The Solari Report January 15, 2023
- 13 Rumble July 25, 2022, 2:51
- 16 The Corbett Report, Episode 436 February 3, 2023, 32:41
- 17, 18 The Solari Report, Template Letter to Bank December 14, 2022
- 20 The Corbett Report, Episode 436 February 3, 2023, 36:46
- 22 Solari Report January 10, 2019, The New York Fed
- 24 KFF May 19, 2022
- 25 The Solari Report December 18, 2022
- 26, 27, 28 The Solari Report, U.S. Taxation: With or Without Representation?
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.
