Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
ISSN 2161-5543
In This Issue:
1.
Community supported agriculture resources
2.
Buy bulk products online to save
3.
TaskRabbit-Make extra cash
4.
Freedom is about taking risks
5.
Prepping for the worst case scenario
"You need to know
that a member of Congress who refuses to allow the minimum wage to come up for
a vote made more money during last year's one-month government shutdown than a
minimum wage worker makes in an entire year."
—William Jefferson Clinton
—William Jefferson Clinton
According to
an ABC news report…Americans pay the highest premiums in the world!
The cost of a health
insurance policy for the average American family rose by a whopping 9 percent last year. According to a report put out by the Kaiser Family
Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, the average family
health insurance policy now costs over $15,000 a year.
How in the world can
most families afford that? Yes, in many cases employers are paying for at least
a portion of that, but still that seems absolutely outrageous.
The median yearly wage
in the United States is just $26,261, but the average American household is carrying $75,600 in debt.
Last year, 2.6 million
more Americans dropped into poverty. That was the largest increase that we have seen since the U.S. government began
keeping statistics on this back in 1959.
The housing crisis
continues to worsen. In Detroit alone
there are more than 33,000 homes which have been abandoned outright.
As I indicted in the
previous issue, more adult children are returning home to live with their
parents. Perhaps communes will make a
comeback in this country?!
According to a Yahoo
News article, minimum wage jobs generate only about $22,000 annually, the
poverty level. After taxes and household
expenses, not to mention any extras such as auto repairs or medical
emergencies, there’s nothing left for these families.
One thing that keeps
many families going is their religion but even that is under assault in this
country. During a Congressional hearing earlier this
year, U.S. Representative
Sheila Jackson Lee warned that "Christian militants" might try to
"bring down the country" and that such groups need to be
investigated.
According to a shocking FBI document obtained by Oath
Keepers, the FBI definition of "suspicious activity" now includes
making "extreme religious statements" and believing in "radical theology".
Is it any wonder why
so many Americans are giving up hope? Do
you think there is justification to be worried about the future? What would you do if you were the President?
Your bug-out kit should also include area maps…your smart phone may not
operate in the event of emergencies.
PM’s
Compendium of Useful Resources
Great idea for earning extra money - as seen on ABC
news…
TaskRabbit gets you in
touch with friendly, reliable people who can help you get just about anything
you need done, and put some free time back into your life.
Currently Tasking in Boston, SF Bay Area, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Orange County… more coming soon! http://www.taskrabbit.com/
The forever
recession (and the coming revolution)
Look for a nearby CSA
that works with a number of family farms. This way you have a variety of
products from which to choose. For instance, Abundant Harvest Organics' basic
box contains seasonal fruit and vegetables. However, you can select
"add-ons" such as organic almonds, grass-fed beef, open-range chicken
and eggs, gourmet cheese, honey, and more.
To find a local CSA,
search online. Use the term CSA, or Community Supported
Agriculture/Fishery/Dairy/etc. And include the name of your town. Or, you can
look over these related web portals.
Buy a case of the same
product and save. If you find it cheaper
elsewhere, this firm will pay the price difference and give you an extra 5
percent.
Stockngo.com
Southface is a
nonprofit organization that for more
than 30 years has promoted energy-, water- and resource-efficient workplaces,
homes and communities throughout the Southeast
Southface.org - site with articles and resources for environmental
living.
5-in-1
Portable Power Dome
Interesting device I
ran across in a catalog (I might just order this)…compact rechargeable battery
providing emergency AC and DC power, auto jump starter, 260psi air compressor,
and a built in utility light. Provides
400 watts of power. Priced at $150 plus
shipping from WhateverWorks.com or 800-499-6757
Prepping for
the Worst Case Scenario
What would you and your family do if the economy were to completely collapse? The idea of total economic collapse is very frightening. However, if you are prepared for it, you should be able to survive for years. So how do you make sure you are prepared for the worst case scenario?
What would you and your family do if the economy were to completely collapse? The idea of total economic collapse is very frightening. However, if you are prepared for it, you should be able to survive for years. So how do you make sure you are prepared for the worst case scenario?
Don’t Rely On
Other People
If the economy
collapses, you cannot rely on the government or anyone else to help you out. In
that situation, you will only have yourself and your family to fall back on.
Other people will be focused on their own survival. Hence you will have to make
sure that you and your loved ones have the skills needed to survive. You will
also have to make certain preparations. Suggested Reading:
The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the
Economic Collapse.
By Fernando Aguirre
The book is based on
his first-hand experience of the 2001 economic collapse in Argentina - available
on Amazon.com
Save the Dream – Slay the Dragon
All of us will be
affected by the fiscal crisis our country faces, especially our young
people. Heritage.Org has a new, free
download which encourages students learn about the problems with its Slay the Beast: How you can save us from our massive debt.
Heritage.org/Slaythebeast
When assembling a bug out kit, include a
3-day supply of non-perishable items for the whole family such as
non-refrigerated cheese and crackers, high calorie nutrition drinks, pop-topped
canned items and pet food.
The Nanny
State Updates…
Anthony Bologna, a New
York City police officer who was accused of pepper-spraying women during the
“Occupy Wall Street” demonstrations last week, is still involved in pending
legal action for his role in the 2004 demonstrations at the Republican National
Convention. Eighteen hundred protesters were arrested for protests during the 2004
convention. One of the protesters accused Bologna of false arrest and
civil-rights violations, and filed suit against him; the case is expected to be
heard next year. After the pepper-spray incident, the hacking group Anonymous
claimed responsibility for releasing Bologna’s name to the public, saying,
"You know who the innocent women were; now they will have the chance to
know who you are. Before you commit atrocities against innocent people, think
twice. WE ARE WATCHING!!! Expect Us!"
Artistic License
Mark Chase got a federal court order allowing him to paint on Ocean City, Maryland's boardwalk without a license. That didn't impress Baltimore police, who arrested him for painting at the Inner Harbor without a permit. When Chase complained that the permit requirements violated his constitutional rights, and officer told him "Your constitutional rights have nothing to do with the law."
Mark Chase got a federal court order allowing him to paint on Ocean City, Maryland's boardwalk without a license. That didn't impress Baltimore police, who arrested him for painting at the Inner Harbor without a permit. When Chase complained that the permit requirements violated his constitutional rights, and officer told him "Your constitutional rights have nothing to do with the law."
Barack Obama continues to run around the country talking about
"infrastructure jobs", but according to ABC News, thousands upon thousands of those jobs are actually
going to Chinese workers....
In New York there is a $400 million renovation project
on the Alexander Hamilton Bridge.
In California, there is a $7.2 billion project to
rebuild the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland.
In Alaska, there is a proposal for a $190 million
bridge project.
These projects
sound like steps in the right direction, but much of the work is going to
Chinese government-owned firms.
Emergency radios, either windup or battery powered are good items to
have. The Red Cross offers a Microlink
FR 160 emergency radio (about $35) at:
Redcrossstore.org – they also offer Emergency First Aid kits for about
$15
The Parting Thought – Freedom is about taking risks
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1 comment:
Yhought provoking, to say the least...
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