(End of the American Dream)—In all of human history, has there ever been a society more gluttonous than our own? We are addicted to sex, we are addicted to drugs, we are addicted to shopping, we are addicted to eating, we are addicted to entertainment, but our biggest addiction of all may be money. Even though we were handed the keys to the greatest economic machine the world has ever seen, it was never enough for us. We always had to have more, and so we have run up the largest single mountain of debt in the entire history of the planet. If you can believe it, on Monday the size of the U.S. national debt crossed the 33 trillion dollar mark for the very first time…
The U.S. national debt topped $33 trillion for the first time ever on Monday, crossing a critical milestone at a time when government spending is already under scrutiny.
The national debt – which measures what the U.S. owes its creditors — hit $33.04 trillion as of Monday afternoon, according to new data published by the Treasury Department. By comparison, just four decades ago, the national debt hovered around $907 billion.
I don’t know if I even have the words to describe how reckless our leaders have become.
It took from the founding of our nation all the way up to 1980 for the national debt to reach one trillion dollars.
But now we have added a trillion dollars to the national debt in just three months.
And thanks to rising interest rates, interest payments on our debt are projected to increase at an exponential rate in the years ahead…
In fact, interest payments on the national debt are projected to be the fastest-growing part of the federal budget over the next three decades, according to the CRFB.
Payments are expected to triple from nearly $475 billion in fiscal year 2022 to a stunning $1.4 trillion in 2032. By 2053, the interest payments are projected to surge to $5.4 trillion. To put that into perspective, that will be more than the U.S. spends on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and all other mandatory and discretionary spending programs.
Of course we are far from alone.
At this point, total global debt exceeds 300 trillion dollars…
GLOBAL debt hit a record US$307 trillion in the second quarter of the year despite rising interest rates curbing bank credit, with markets such as the US and Japan driving the rise, the Institute of International Finance (IIF) said on Tuesday (Sep 19).
The financial services trade group said in a report that global debt in US dollar terms had risen by US$10 trillion in the first half of 2023 and by US$100 trillion over the past decade.
It said the latest increase has lifted the global debt-to-GDP ratio for a second straight quarter to 336 per cent.
But we are by far the biggest offenders. And that is because we are extremely gluttonous “pig people” that simply do not care that we are literally destroying the future for our children and our grandchildren.
Sadly, the politicians that are racking up all of this debt are extremely gluttonous “pig people” too. Thanks to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, members of the U.S. Senate will be allowed to dress any way that they want from this point forward…
Breaking news relevant to only 100 Americans: The U.S. Senate will no longer enforce its dress code for members.
Is this yet another sign of constitutional decadence, or is it a step into modernity for the fusty, antiquated chamber? Either way, it’s the best news ever for Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who would prefer to do business while looking like he’s on a Saturday-morning jog.
Do we really want our representatives in Washington to look like a bunch of slobs?
What kind of message is that going to send to the general population?
And what kind of message is that going to send to the rest of the world?
It is being reported that Chuck Schumer made this change specifically to accommodate John Fetterman, and in a recent opinion piece Maureen Callahan made it very clear what she thinks about that…
If we are to accept that everything is fine with Fetterman, then reasonable people can conclude that he simply doesn’t care.
We can assume that he is lazy, a slob, and is happy to present himself as someone who is not bringing 100 percent to the job. That he is a narcissist who thinks that a centuries-old dress code for members of Congress should not apply to him, that D.C. should lower its standards to meet his slovenliness, and laughably, as a source close to Fetterman once claimed, that ‘his relaxed, comfortable style is a sign that the senator is making a robust recovery.’
Sure. Nothing says you’ve beaten back depression by dressing as though you haven’t gotten off the couch for a week. Nothing says self-respect like showing up to the Hill in clothes you’d wear to scrub the tub. Most of us dress better for a coffee run.
I couldn’t have said it any better myself.
As a nation, we are also deeply addicted to drugs.
Today, more Americans than ever before are addicted to legal and/or illegal drugs. And more Americans than ever are dying from those addictions.
According to NPR, drug overdose deaths set a brand new record high last year…
Drug deaths nationwide hit a new record in 2022. 109,680 people died as the fentanyl crisis continued to deepen, according to preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Eight states saw drug deaths continue to surge by nine percent or more, with the greatest increases of 21 percent coming in Washington state and Wyoming.
Drug overdose deaths also set a brand new record high the year before that.
And the year before that.
You get the picture.
Our addiction to food is also killing many of us. In fact, we are being told that the number of Americans that die from heart disease each year with obesity as a factor has actually “tripled” since 1999…
The number of Americans who died of heart disease with obesity as a factor has *tripled* since 1999.
Obesity now affects 42% of all Americans, and 20% of children.
Of course we are even more addicted to sex than we are to food.
I am about to share something with you that absolutely floored me when I first heard about it. As I discussed yesterday, the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas recently celebrated a “Drag Sunday” during which the church publicly honored “the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”.
If you are not familiar with “”the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”, they are a group of drag queens that relentlessly mocks the Christian faith.
So I was quite shocked to see “the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” standing at the front of the church as the congregation of the Cathedral of Hope “recited a pledge dedicated to drag queens”…
Footage out of Dallas, Texas shows the moment a crowded LGBT-friendly church recited a pledge dedicated to drag queens standing at the front of the congregation.
The viral video shows attendees of the Cathedral of Hope publicly blessing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag queen group that was recently at the center of a controversy with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
The congregants read in unison, “We commit ourselves to be people of faith who stand for justice, proclaim love and defend the rights of all people. We recognize that all people are made in the loving image of God no matter who they are, how they dress, express themselves or who they love.”
I have never seen anything like this in my entire life.
That is supposed to be a church!
The “pledge” got even worse as it went on…
“We celebrate this divine diversity and commit to lifting up the voices of the LGBTQ+ community and creating spaces where everyone can thrive. Drag queens are often targets of hate and violence. But we know that they are often powerful and resilient people who show us what it means to be truly authentic and expressive,” the crowd echoed.
The pledge continued, “We honor their strength and pledge to be allies to the drag community, recognizing their full humanity and their incredible contributions to our world. We embrace radical inclusivity and work to dismantle systems of oppression. We will fight against all forms of hate, prejudice and intolerance and work to build a world that affirms and celebrates every person’s unique identity and gifts.”
YESTERDAY
TFP and Defend Our Kids Texas was on site during a Dallas church’s “drag Sunday” service.
Attendees recited this pledge 👇@SaraGonzalesTX pic.twitter.com/46yFXJWaeg
— Texas Family Project (@FamilyProjectTX) September 18, 2023
What is next?
Are churches going to start reciting pledges to Satan during their worship services?
We can’t fall much farther than we have already fallen, and if we stay on the path that we are currently on there will be no future for our country. But most Americans don’t want to be bothered by any of this. Most Americans just want to continue to enjoy their addictions for as long as they possibly can.
Unfortunately for them, the clock is ticking and their seemingly endless party is about to come to a very abrupt conclusion.
Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.
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.
