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(Substack)—In case you hadn’t noticed, tensions are high. Americans are at each other’s throats — sometimes literally — as we approach the finale of the most insane election cycle in history.
The sitting President ended his bid for a second term. His opponent was charged with dozens of made up crimes. Corporate media has become apoplectic in their coverage of the news. A presidential candidate was nearly assassinated. Twice.
But through the maelstrom of crazy circumstances remains a very stark reality: Our nation is in big trouble facing existential threats at a scale not seen since the Civil War.
I am confident in three things.
- Donald Trump will win both the popular vote and the Electoral College in a landslide — the polls are, as always, being manipulated
- The UniParty Swamp, Deep State, and Globalist Elite Cabal are doing everything in their power to steal the election, gaslight Americans, and control the fate of the world
- God’s absolute supremacy means He will choose who is in the Oval Office next January
That last note will certainly ruffle feathers. Even Bible-believing Christians might take offense for many reasons. Some take this stance as not believing in free will. But my worldview is what drives me to work harder knowing that I do not know my place in His plan and therefore all I need to do is fight the good fight with all I have.
For that reason, I want to write my final column ahead of the election as a reminder of the three issues driving voters.
Yes, It’s the Economy
James Carville was right when he said, “It’s the economy, stupid.” This is normally the most pressing issue deciding elections at the federal level. Ironically, it doesn’t always work at the state, county, and local level as we’ve seen with the most desolate voters repeating their mistakes for decades in blue areas.
Unfortunately, the campaigns haven’t put the appropriate level of effort into disseminating their actual economic plans. Trump mentions tariffs often and promises to cut taxes but his campaign should have explained the inflation issue better. They had an opportunity to educate Americans on the Inflation Reduction Act and remind them that Kamala Harris was the deciding vote.
I’m not a campaign advisor for a reason. I’m sure well-paid analysts and experts would tell me that the messaging behind inflation would be too complex if they dove into the details, but I believe in this digital world it wouldn’t have been hard to drive the message home. For whatever reason, there’s still too much emphasis on :30 second pump up pitches and 1:00 minute attack ads. Maybe it works, but I believe with the right messaging the details could be brought to light.
Regardless, the economy is a clear advantage for Trump and if we need a final day message, it should be that Kamala Harris has only promised more of the same as we’ve seen for the last four years.
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The Invasion
The border crisis is apparent to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear, so there’s no need to dwell on this issue. We are being invaded and it is going to destroy this nation if it’s not stopped immediately.
The Trump campaign messaging on this has been solid. The only thing I would have added is more of an emphasis on an unavoidable fact: American citizens struggling in urban areas are the most negatively impacted by the border crisis.
It’s funny that the one time an issue truly affects the “underprivileged” is the only time Democrats are unwilling to talk about it. They’ve said climate change harmed minorities more. They said Trump’s tax cuts harmed the poor. They said just about everything is racist, misogynistic, transphobic, or otherwise detrimental to a protected class. But they won’t admit the border invasion does the most harm to the people they pretend to protect.
This is unambiguously a huge argument for Trump.
Abortion
I’ll keep this one short because I’m one of those radical pro-life purists. Yes, I want abortion banned altogether, but I know that’s not going to happen anytime soon.
I also know that the chances of any abortion legislation hitting the next president’s desk are nearly nil. The hypothetical nationwide abortion ban that Trump keeps getting asked about will never happen and, contrary to Project 2025’s wishes, no Republican in DC is seriously considering it. Trump said he’d veto it if it magically appeared.
The hypothetical codification of Roe v. Wade would only hit Kamala’s desk if Democrats control both the House and Senate and then the Senate ejects the filibuster. The massive election shenanigans required for that would be at a scale I do not believe Democrats are willing to use. I could be wrong, but I hope I’m not.
This means that all of those voters, mostly Democrats, who are voting based on the abortion issue are putting a nothingburger on a pedestal. This election will have very little impact on their rights to murder preborn babies. As we’ve seen since Roe v Wade was overturned, it’s not like abortions have been reduced. They’ve risen.
Conclusion
It’s in God’s hands. We have to do our part, vote, get the word out, and hope that we make it through this cycle unscathed. But as always, we still have to get the Word out by spreading the Gospel.
I can’t wait for this election to be over.
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.
