(Natural News)—The United States gross national debt just exceeded $33 trillion on Friday, September 15, three months after the federal government’s debt eclipsed $32 trillion in June. Additionally, the budget deficit is on track to reach $2 trillion in the current fiscal year. As per financial experts, Americans seemed to have become desensitized to these figures because they do not have any choice as this has become the new normal in Washington.
“We are becoming numb to these huge numbers, but it doesn’t make them any less dangerous,” Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CFRB), claimed in a statement. According to her, policymakers need to be honest with the American people and present a plan to “bring our debt under control.” (Related: DEBT BLOWOUT: US debt has soared $1.2T since debt ceiling suspension – and the Treasury expects to add another $1.5T by year’s end.)
Meanwhile, economists are deep into the books to assess the U.S. government’s fiscal condition as federal spending is poised to top $6.5 trillion in the current financial year. President Joe Biden has repeatedly asserted that he already slashed the budget deficit by $1.7 trillion. However, Epoch Times‘ (ET’s) Andrew Moran pointed out that Biden’s claim was a misleading assertion since most of the decline in federal outlays resulted from the expiration of the Wuhan coronavirus- (COVID-19-) related stimulus and relief spending, rather than employing any fierce budget cuts by the White House or Congress. The government spending may be less than during the pandemic which was around $8.9 trillion but it is 33 percent higher than the pre-crisis level of $4.88 trillion.
ET reported that federal spending has totaled more than 24 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), fueled by Social Security, Medicare, and interest payments within the last 12 months. Also, revenues are down by about 10 percent, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which makes it more challenging for policymakers and the current administration. Moreover, CBO forecasted that deficits will “fluctuate between $1.6 trillion and $1.8 trillion and then grow to $2.9 trillion in 2033.”
Experts further raised concern that a government shutdown is inevitable considering that Congress has failed to approve appropriations legislation or stopgap spending laws as the new fiscal year is to commence and funding for federal programs (except for Social Security payments and the military) is set to expire at the end of September.
Financial markets are also worried. Last month, Fitch Ratings, one of the “Big Three credit rating agencies,” downgraded U.S. government debt to AA+ from AAA, with analysts sounding the alarm over “the expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years, a high and growing general government debt burden, and the erosion of governance.”
Fed won’t bend, interest rates to continue to soar
Becoming one of the largest budgetary items, – next to Social Security, which has already topped $1.2 trillion in the first 11 months of 2023 – interest payments are on track to exceed $1 trillion before the current fiscal year is over. As per the estimate, the daily interest spending has increased to about $2 billion over the past full year.
Moran wrote that one of the main reasons why annual budget holes have gained more attention is the significant jump in interest payments in a climate of rising interest rates amid the Federal Reserve’s goal to curb inflation. “Since March 2021, the policy rate has climbed by 500 basis points to a target range of between 5.25 and 5.5 percent. Treasury yields have soared, with the benchmark 10-year yield hitting its highest level since 2007,” he included in the article and emphasized how Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen seemed to ignore the intensifying debt burdens, alluding to one statistic that measures net interest payments relative to the GDP. “The statistic or metric that I look at most often to judge our fiscal course is net interest as a share of GDP,” Yellen told CNBC on Sept. 18. “And even with the rise we have seen in interest rates, that remains at a very reasonable level.”
Last year, the ratio was 1.86 percent, mirroring the historical average since 1960. However, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) projects that figure to climb to 2.5 percent this year and then to 2.9 percent in 2024 and 2025. The CBO warned this past summer that the metric could increase to nearly 7 percent of GDP by 2053. “Such high and rising debt would slow economic growth, push up interest payments to foreign holders of U.S. debt, and pose significant risks to the fiscal and economic outlook; it could also cause lawmakers to feel more constrained in their policy choices,” the budget watchdog wrote in a report.
Even with Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) Fiscal Responsibility Act, the debt ceiling plan will only skim about $188 billion in interest in the public debt over the next decade. By 2033, the federal government expects to have accumulated more than $17 trillion in deficits and paid about $3 trillion in interest payments, according to the White House’s 2024 budget proposal.
NationalDebt.news has more stories on the ever-burgeoning national debt.
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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.
