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Editor’s Commentary: State Farm, the nation’s largest property insurer by volume, is pulling out of California. They will not be selling property insurance in the state anymore for a lot of obvious reasons including rising costs that are outpacing inflation, rampant crime, surging homelessness, the illegal alien invasion, and overall horrible policies from the Democrat-run government.
But as one might expect, the primary culprit cited by most corporate media sources I’ve read point to one major issue: climate change. Why? Because climate change is supposedly the root cause of literally every single possible negative event that has happened, is happening, or will happen… at least in the minds of the indoctrinated cultists.
Below is an article with all the details. As a quick note, I will avoid whenever possible linking to corporate media news sources. While they have the resources to cover national and world news, linking to their articles aids in giving them credibility that they do not deserve. Instead, I will be generating generic reporting that states the facts whenever possible. Here’s the article generated from a corporate media source:
State Farm General Insurance Company has made an announcement stating that it will no longer accept new applications for business and personal lines of property and casualty insurance. The decision comes as a result of significant increases in construction costs surpassing inflation, a rising exposure to catastrophic events, and a challenging reinsurance market, as explained in the company’s press release on Friday.
It is important to note that existing policyholders of home insurance will not be affected by this change, and new applications for personal auto insurance will still be accepted, according to the Wall Street Journal.
State Farm, which is one of California’s largest insurers, holds the position of the nation’s largest home insurer in terms of premium volume, as reported by the same source.
In its statement, State Farm acknowledges the efforts made by Governor Newsom’s administration, legislators, and California’s Department of Insurance in mitigating wildfire losses. The company expresses its commitment to collaborating with the CDI (California Department of Insurance) to help enhance market capacity.
The decision to halt new applications is primarily aimed at improving the financial strength of the Fortune 500 insurance giant.
Michael Soller, the deputy insurance commissioner for Northern California, cited climate change as one of the factors influencing State Farm’s choice. He emphasizes that the reasons behind the decision, such as climate change, escalating reinsurance costs affecting the entire insurance industry, and global inflation, are beyond their control. Soller underlines the significant wildfire risk in California as a fundamental contributor to the state’s insurance challenges.
Soller highlights various wildfire loss mitigation efforts undertaken by the governor, lawmakers, and insurance regulators, including the provision of community fire-prevention grants and the establishment of fire breaks. Additionally, he reveals that California has initiated an insurance discount program that takes into account consumers’ endeavors to mitigate wildfire risks.
California faces some of the highest housing costs in the nation, which have exacerbated the state’s homelessness crisis, according to Fox Business. KUSI reports that over the past five years, the state has allocated $20 billion toward addressing this issue. However, despite substantial taxpayer investments, the problem continues to worsen.
State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R) suggests that a solution exists and points to Texas as an example. During his visit to Houston, he observed a lack of large tent encampments and a minimal number of panhandlers, unlike in California. Jones highlights Texas’s enforcement of laws related to drug crimes, petty theft, and sexual assault, as well as their prohibition of tent encampments. He emphasizes the need to address the challenge of homelessness in a compassionate manner while acknowledging the importance of maintaining proper conditions on the streets.
Overall, State Farm’s decision to cease accepting new applications for certain insurance lines reflects its efforts to address the financial challenges posed by rising construction costs, increased catastrophe exposure, and a difficult reinsurance market. The company will continue to support existing policyholders while working with regulatory bodies to strengthen the insurance market. The impact of climate change and California’s wildfire risks are significant factors influencing the insurance landscape, and the state continues to grapple with high housing costs and a growing homelessness crisis.
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.
