PM's Self Reliance Tools: collapse

Showing posts with label collapse. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Whatever coming 'event' happens, you'll need to help yourself

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…

www.poormansurvivor.net

ISSN 2161-5543

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

Whatever coming 'event' happens, you'll need to help yourself

Writer and filmmaker Douglas Rushkoff, tells in The Guardian newspaper of a meeting he had with five "super-wealthy" tech guys — "at least two of them billionaires" — who ostensibly wanted to speak to him about the future of technology, investing, and society.

"They started out innocuously and predictably enough," Rushkoff writes, but "eventually, they edged into their real topic of concern: New Zealand or Alaska? Which region would be less affected by the coming climate crisis? It only got worse from there. Which was the greater threat: global warming or biological warfare? How long should one plan to be able to survive with no outside help? Should a shelter have its own air supply? What was the likelihood of groundwater contamination? Finally, the CEO of a brokerage house explained that he had nearly completed building his own underground bunker system, and asked: 'How do I maintain authority over my security force after the event?'

The event… That was their euphemism for the environmental collapse, social unrest, nuclear explosion, solar storm, unstoppable virus, or malicious computer hack that takes everything down."

"They knew armed guards would be required to protect their compounds from raiders as well as angry mobs ... the billionaires considered using special combination locks on the food supply that only they knew. Or maybe building robots to serve as guards and workers — if that technology could be developed 'in time.'"

Rushkoff, a self-described "Marxist media theorist" was genuinely shocked that these men weren't working to "make the world a better place," and were instead planning for a post-"event" future.

This should be a very blunt warning to anyone who has fallen for the Socialist code phrases injected into our lexicon and spewing from the mouths of the media. "It takes a village," "the public good," "public health," "wealth tax," "equality"... not to mention that change agents attach the word "social" to everything people, use, do, or say.

This is how the slide towards total reliance on government becomes accepted in completely silent assent.

Better begins with you

By now you must have heard Ronald Reagan's quote "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"

The government is not going to help you should an "event" come to pass. Statists, government executives and "officials," and Marxists like Rushkoff all think that government is good, right, and just, and that handing our lives over to government will make the world a better place because it will "protect" everyone... when just the opposite is true.

That the wealthiest people, who have insight into what might be coming, are looking for confirmation from futurists and thinkers like Rushkoff — despite his political leanings — should be reason enough for you to be sure that you must prepare, as I have repeatedly warned.

It truly takes vision and planning for the future, especially now. It is the will to be completely prepared, and be happy and at peace if nothing untoward ever happens.

Everyone should keep on hand a minimum of three days of food and water and preferably enough for three or more weeks, and we have set up a special website so that you can do so without breaking the bank. Everyone should consider the possible disasters that may strike and collect everything they would need to survive the crisis, whether it is for three days or three weeks, or longer.

Money matters

It's not only food, however, that we need to set aside. We need currency. Gold is always best. But assuming the emergency is regional, or even personal like the loss of a job, we need funds — an emergency fund.

As David Morris wrote for Personal Liberty, you should build up three to six months of savings to serve as an emergency fund.

"I can't remember ever talking to anyone who thought that having an emergency fund was a bad idea. Even people who are dead set against preparedness or even simple food storage will agree that having a rainy day fund is a smart idea.

"I'd venture to say that every adult has either benefited from having an emergency fund or wished that they had one at some point in his life. I've experienced both of those situations, and I can tell you that when you find yourself in "emergency" mode, you will always wish you had more in your emergency fund than you do.

"Most people stop with the thought that an emergency fund is a good thing. But if you peel this onion back a little bit, it opens up a whole new way of looking at emergency funds/rainy day funds and preparedness and will give you a solid foundation for talking about preparedness with someone who believes in having an emergency fund.

"Let's start by looking at the kinds of expenses that people think they'll use their emergency funds for. In many cases, it's for a car repair or medical expenses. But in today's environment of high unemployment, people generally accept the fact that they might be using their emergency fund to pay for basic necessities like food, shelter, fire, water and possibly fuel for transportation after losing their job(s).

"Forget about the fact that there may be a regional disaster; people lose jobs every day and experience their own personal emergencies. Unemployment rates are on the news almost every day. And if you know more than 10 people, chances are very high that you know someone who's lost his job in the past year or two.

"The loss of a job is much more realistic and easier for the general public to accept than the possibility of a failure of the electrical grid, rioting, fuel or food shortages, or any other major disaster that could cause a breakdown in civil order."

If you are at the stage in life at which you are saving for retirement, and some of your money is going into very conservative investments that aren't losing money but aren't really making any money, you might want to take some time and look at converting some to an emergency fund. And, further, convert some of that money into food storage and preparedness items at today's prices (food prices are only going to go up from here!) as a great way to diversify your savings.

Yours for the truth,

Bob Livingston
Editor, The Bob Livingston Letter^®

USEFUL RESOURCES

A Feast or Famine Budgeting Plan

Whether you call it variable income budgeting or feast or famine budgeting, these guidelines can help you plan a budget for your unpredictable income.

How to Dehydrate Food for Emergencies

Food preservation is one of the most important skills you can have. It helps you save money and eat more healthy local food. You can also use it to stock up on food for emergencies, survival scenarios, or just hard times.

If you’ve decided to preserve your own food, you might be having trouble deciding which methods to use. Before we get into specific methods, let's talk about the benefits of dehydrating food.

Dehydration is actually one of the oldest methods of food preservation. It was used by many different cultures as a way to put up their harvest long before canning jars or freezers were even invented. Today it remains one of the best methods, and for several reasons...

How to Dehydrate Food for Emergencies

Experts say more grocery hoarding may come as disruptions push America's food supply "near its breaking point".

As a result of this crisis, survival food is more important than ever.

23 Most Overlooked Survival Foods

When you read about what to stockpile for an emergency, you tend to see the same recommendations. Water tops every list, and rightly so since water is essential for survival.

In terms of food, however, rice, beans, pasta, and canned vegetables show up frequently as staples to have on hand. Then, you usually see sugar, flour, and other long-lasting foods. These are good options, but many other choices are often overlooked.

Here is a list of foods and ingredients that offer a long shelf life as well as nutrition that you will need in an emergency scenario...

23 Most Overlooked Survival Foods

You may also like...

35 Emergency Foods You Should Stockpile

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Tuesday, February 16, 2021

National collapse: Organizing security for the worst case scenario

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…

www.poormansurvivor.net

ISSN 2161-5543

Hope for the best-Plan for the worst!

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

National collapse: Organizing security for the worst case scenario

Of all the factors involved in survival, security is the one issue I see that is the most talked about yet is generally taken the least seriously. Let me elaborate — I have met many preppers in my life and nearly all of them are avid gun buyers and collectors. Sadly, at least half of them have minimal training in those weapons. Sure, they go out and shoot at the range or in their backyards, maybe once every few weeks, but they are not even close to mastering their firearms or the tactics involved in defeating an enemy that has moderate experience and training. This is a problem.

I have long felt that there is a distinctive and subversive weakness to our gun culture; the simple act of buying guns gives people a false sense of security and invincibility. I have met people who own tens of thousands of dollars in arms yet know nothing about how to even break most of those guns down to clean them. I also have met people who buy guns as a proxy for expertise; In other words, they buy guns and brag about them to bolster their image as gun "experts," but it's all a farce. They know next to nothing.

In terms of surviving a collapse event, the key is not owning a lot of guns, it's knowing how to use what you have, while also having practiced in the tactics that make a prepper combat effective. The preppers that are not going to make it through the collapse we are seeing today are those that are too arrogant to see their own weaknesses:

The preppers who have minimal training but see themselves as the local Rambo.

The preppers who plan to go "lone wolf" and have dismissed security concerns in the name of some childish concept of "OPSEC."

The preppers who think because they have a large family or group that this alone makes them safe even though no one in their group has training beyond a mediocre level.

The preppers who forget to incorporate other factors of security, including communications and early warning systems.

As noted, arrogance is an Achilles' heel for any prepper. These people are not going to make it. It will be hard enough to survive even if you do have training and a plan. Entering into a collapse environment without mapping out your security concerns is suicide, and some people seem to think they are above all of it, even as the world begins to burn around them.

Security makes all other survival efforts possible. It is the key to everything. Without security you have nothing. Your preps will be taken easily by people with rudimentary combat knowledge and the will to do violence to others. Any farming efforts will be impossible when you are living in fear of being eviscerated by a sniper's bullet because you stepped out onto an open field to till the soil. Barter markets will not form because they will be raided and ransacked by criminals, and production will be impossible because trade is impossible without defenses in place.

Without security, the entire machine of culture, trade and society stops, and we are left with little else but isolation and terror.

That said, I'm not here to merely criticize; I do have some solutions and suggestions. The key is that people are willing to recognize when they have a detrimental hole in their prepping plan, and they are willing to listen and fix it.

The Survival Garden You Need to Start Today

What if I told you about a garden that needs no digging, no watering and no weeding AND can grow in the most extreme places on earth?

This type of "food forest" grows on auto-pilot with minimal energy because it mimics how nature works. No one is watering the woods, yet every plants has managed to survive for thousands of years there.

Start your very own survival garden that's 100% concealed from prying eyes and stay well-fed in case of any kind of long-term disaster...

Ideally, you have already been building associations with other preppers over time and have been talking with family members about the potential for a national crisis. Also, ideally, you have done at least some group training with these people. If, however, you are starting from scratch in the middle of the pandemic and economic crash, then you have quite a lot of work ahead of you. That said, some things will be easier today than they were a few months ago...

Step #1: Get your own house in order

Make sure you are prepped to some extent before you approach other people about the issue of security. If you try to develop a defense plan with those around you but you have minimal preps, they will see you as a potential liability and not an ally. You do not want to be seen as a leach on the resources of others. As groups grow and evolve and begin to trust each other they naturally end up sharing some resources in order to benefit everyone in the long term but walking into an organizational effort empty-handed is a bad idea.

Step #2: Find like-minded people

Before the advent of the coronavirus, when the economic crash was more subversive and less obvious to the average person, a lot of Americans simply had no inkling that a nationwide collapse was even possible. Now they are starting to learn that they have been naive. Not all of them, but some of them. This means that you are more likely to convince friends and family today of the necessity of security measures, but it all depends on how you approach them.

For family, outline your concerns about the current unemployment trend and the potential rise in crime if the situation continues. Show them the rising stats in nearly all areas of criminal activity right now to back your argument. Take them out to a local gravel pit or other isolated locale and teach them to shoot. Show them how to use a simple radio, like a Midland GMRS radio. Be proactive in the process of getting them on board; don't merely bombard them with terrible news, involve them in training and give them the power to do something about the situation.

The best places to find like-minded preppers outside of your close circle of friends and family would include your church, local barter markets if they exist, firearms training classes, etc. Of course, most of these outlets for organization are closed right now due to the pandemic (and this is by design), but you can still contact people you have met in the past in these places and discuss the situation with them.

Step #3: Approaching neighbors

This is a sensitive issue for many preppers, as it risks revealing that they are preppers to those that live around them, thereby leaving them open to theft or government reporting. Frankly, if you are that afraid of your neighbors you should not be living in the neighborhood you live in. Your situation remains the same even if you don't talk to anyone; you will still be isolated and alone, and eventually, you will be found out as a prepper by someone. Count on it.

So, the key to security and thus survival is to not be caught alone and isolated. Approaching neighbors does not have to involve spilling your guts about your prepping either. Try this:

Find a neighbor you think might be receptive, then tell them you are thinking about setting up a neighborhood watch or neighborhood security group to keep an eye out for potential criminal activity in the area. Remind them that law enforcement is not responding to most calls right now because of the pandemic. If they support the idea, purchase some cheap GMRS radios and give them one. Now you have extended your circle of security and established a comms network. Simple.

The discussion doesn't even need to go beyond this, at least not until things get worse. Then, you expand on the efforts of your neighborhood watch to include more defensive measures and a wider circle or net.

Step #4: Gear up for the worst-case scenario

Even with the rush on guns and gun-related items, there is still time to gear up a group of people for the advent of a full collapse of the rule of law. If all the AR15s are gone from the stores in your area, then you can still easily find AR parts to build your own rifle. It's is not that difficult, but there are plenty of armorers in every town and city that can build one for you if you provide the parts and pay a fee.

Make sure you and your group try to maintain the same weapon types. You want redundancies in case one person runs out of ammo or needs a magazine. If each person is running a different rifle in a different caliber then you are going to run into problems when the shooting starts. This is a primary reason why a rebellion might lose, a lack of interchangeability in their firearms. They end up with a bunch of guns that have no ammo and one gun with tons of ammo.

Next, make sure each person has a chest rig set up for engagement along with a medical kit (blowout kit). Make sure they have a conceal carry kit in case of a low-profile situation. And make sure they have some kind of nighttime weapon setup, even if it is just a rifle with a light on it.

Once the group is established and gear is matched so that ammo and mags can be shared, you can start putting certain people into specialties, such as long-range tactics and observation.

First and foremost is unit cohesion. Everyone must be on the same page about why they are there. Everyone must be willing to fight if necessary. Everyone must be able to handle stress without panicking.

Step #5: Group training

This is where things get a bit difficult, as many people are averse to physical labor or learning new things in front of others. People don't like to look stupid. Also, many people talk big but have little experience, and they don't want to be discovered. Finally, some people are just plain lazy and think they don't need to train. It's better to identify these people now and get rid of them, or at least ensure that you are not relying on them for anything. Having training sessions quickly weeds out the weaklings and the frauds.

Work on the basics first, including:

Rifle accuracy — If they can't hit anything with their rifle then they should practice until they can, or they should not be involved in security.

Two-person movement — Form "buddy teams" and practice basic movement including bounding, peeling, moving to cover, etc.

Four-person movement — Form a group of four people (a fire team) and practice the same basic movements. Start with unloaded rifles to avoid accidental discharges, then work your way up to live fire. I suggest using steel targets to increase the realism.

Room-to-room movement — Practice room entry, pieing corners, avoiding muzzle sweeps, etc.

Random patrols — Patrol an area. Plan out the patrol on a map beforehand and then carry it out.

Navigation — Learn how to use a compass and map for longer patrols. Set up rally points and observation points. Have a goal for the patrol beyond simply getting from point A to point B. Stage an "enemy" at the end of the patrol and practice an engagement. Do not expect to be using GPS during a real emergency.

Night operations — As your group gets more experience, start training at night. Nighttime is when the bad guys move around most. Learn the limitations of night defenses and how to adapt to them.

All of this can be done, even now in the middle of a collapse. There is still time. In the span of 2-3 months a security team can be formed and trained if everyone involved is serious about the endeavor. Conflicts will arise and frustrations can disrupt the process, but this is common. Don't let the group fracture over simple disagreements. Only when a person becomes a liability to everyone else should you rethink your association.

The current breakdown is indeed a danger and must be countered with preparation and expectation. Plan for the worst and hope for the best, but don't be surprised when you get the worst. Make security a No. 1 priority, because if you do not, mark my words, you will deeply regret it down the road.

To truth and knowledge,

Brandon Smith

Postscript:

After a year where the media has done nothing but bark all manner of orders about how to live your life, “Follow the rules,” “Wash your hands,” “Mask up,” “Social distance,” “Stay home…” it’s important to remember this…

If YOU are not the cause in the matter of your life — someone else is!

Put another way… if you ain’t driving the bus, you’re just along for the ride!

Prepare. Train. Survive.

We don’t need another election-We need another revolution!

SIDEBARS

Five Steps to Building Your Personal 10-Year Plan

by Mark J. Kohler

Young or old, stable or in transition, starting a new business or trying to find an exit strategy for a mature one, building a 10-year plan can give you a significant edge in living a happier and more fulfilling life.

More specifically, for a business owner it could be the difference between profitably harnessing their passion, or losing years of their life with success continually out of reach.

The primary objective of a 10-year plan is to “take control” of your future and not simply live life reacting to what comes your way.

If you don’t have a written, passionate vision of your future 10 years from now, what are you even doing and why?! Have you really thought through the things you’re doing right now and what their long-term ramifications will be?

Writing down a plan can be a “game changer” in your personal growth and happiness. If you feel uncertain about what you want out of life, or unhappy about what you seem to be consistently receiving from this crazy world…make a plan to change it!!

It could be just what you need to get motivated and focused. Here are five steps to get it done.

Step 1: Begin With “Picture” of the Future

The first critical step, in my opinion, is to start by writing down an “ideal scenario” of what you want your personal future to look like 10 years from now. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling — just write! Let it flow. It’s not going to get published in a journal or the newspaper. It’s personal. Let it be an emotional experience if needs to be. It’s OK!

I also don’t want you to simply focus on finances or your occupation. Make sure you include a focus on relationships, physical health, education and spiritual growth.

Imagine your future self, and envision the details of what you accomplished over the past 10 years. Who or what type of person are you with? How much is in your bank account? What education have you completed? What type of business or job do you have?

Take the time to meditate, pray, and be honest with yourself on what you truly want this future to look like.

Remember, you can always change and modify your plan. It’s yours. But, write it down on paper and give it the care and attention it deserves. This is your future!

Finally, be realistic. It’s OK to push yourself toward a dream you think you can reach with some effort, but don’t set yourself up for failure. Saying you want to be the president of the United States or a VP of a fortune 500 Company in 10 years from now might be a stretch… but who am I to say what you can and can’t do! Maybe something like that is within your reach. Just don’t overdo it.

Step 2: Work Backwards With Benchmarks That You Need to Reach

Once your 10-year goals are detailed on paper, it actually becomes quite easy to work backwards and determine the practical steps you need to take in order to get there. Some people want to set straight out goals, but I think it’s easier to work with the larger end in mind, and create stepping-stones you need in order to make your dream a reality.

Practically, this means creating 5-, 3-, and 1-year objectives that will ultimately get you to your 10-year goals. For example, if you see yourself owning 10 rental properties in 10 years, then maybe it would be smart to shoot for five rentals in five years, three in three years, and one this year! Getting your head around buying one rental property this year is much easier than racing to get 10 rentals as fast as possible.

Moreover, when you know you have 10 years to reach your goal, you aren’t as rushed or stressed. This kind of mindset also gives you breathing room to make mistakes and adjust your plans along the way.

This is where your plan starts to take shape. Break it down into categories and years.

Step 3: Share It!

Ok… this is the scary part. I did say your plan wouldn’t be published, but you DO have to share it with someone. In fact, I would suggest 3-5 people. The number one reason why: When you do, it becomes alive and you’re now accountable to someone.

A significant side benefit is that you can get feedback and criticism. Helpful criticism mind you. You may need a little thick skin fielding the feedback, but no one should be there to beat you up. If responders are rude, mean, negative or demeaning…get them off of your “board.” Just don’t be afraid to ask for someone’s opinion. And then be open and willing to take it.

Step 4. Revisit Your Plan Regularly

Don’t leave your 10-year plan in the drawer. Honestly, I love to carry mine around with me in my bag everywhere I go. I like to review it on airplanes or weekends when I have a free minute and the pressures of the workweek aren’t bearing down on me.

Review it constantly and stay disciplined!

Make sure you are making notes in your plan whenever you have a “brilliant idea.” Don’t say to yourself, “I need to do that next quarter when I review my plan.” Write it down now!

Step 5. Manage by Statistics

Track your success or failures. Try to quantify your progress whenever possible. Tracking your numbers, even if you are only reporting to yourself, will consistently tell you if you are headed in the right direction.

Don’t get discouraged. Make changes as needed. Investing and trying to build wealth takes a little math. Don’t be afraid of it. Embrace it and become accustomed to it.

Finally, don’t be dogmatic or a slave to your plan. The point of this exercise is not to make you miserable or push you into unwise decisions.

Sticking with our rental property example, if your plan is to have 10 rentals in 10 years, don’t think you have to buy one rental every year — and certainly not in the first year if you aren’t ready for it. Maybe you have to take one step backwards to take three steps forward. Maybe your first year or two is about getting out of debt, better educated and working under mentors. Then, in your third year, you might be able to purchase two properties, and by year five you are right on track.

It’s not a race! It’s a journey. And most importantly, it’s your journey. Take your time and enjoy the process. Don’t kill yourself. Celebrate when you make any progress at all. This is your life.

So say good-bye to living a reactive life, feeling like you’re never in control. With a 10-year plan, YOU are in control!

Mark J. Kohler is a CPA, attorney, co-host of the Radio Show Refresh Your Wealth and author of the book The Business Owner’s Guide to Financial Freedom – What Wall Street isn’t Telling You.

Parler reopened! [Not yet fully functional though]

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