The Game Is Rigged

            You’ve got to hand it to P.T. Barnum.  He knew the average American when he said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”  Carnival gamers use his logic to get people to step up and spend their money, even though their game is fixed.  Our American political system uses the same logic, because the election game is fixed here, too.

            Our two-party system is fixed against anyone else taking part in government.  The Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee both have stated how hard it is to get good people to run for office.  But they don’t want “good” people.  They want people who can bring in the money and take orders.  First, it takes money to get elected, and second, they don’t want you to rock the boat.  Life is good in Washington, D.C.

            Once elected, you are kept “in line” by the party.  Do you want to get reelected?  You have a 98% chance of keeping your seat (job), if you follow the party’s rules and do as you’re told.  The party will spend big bucks to keep you in place so they can count on your unfailing vote.  Just don’t stand up for what you and your constituents believe in.  The party knows what’s good for you.

            Now, don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to destroy our two-party system.  Americans need to know where they stand.  Conservatives are Republicans, and liberals are Democrats.  That’s how you know who to vote for.  If you want smaller government, less federal control, lower taxes and less spending, you are conservative, right?  If you want bigger government, don’t care about taxes, and want Uncle Sam to take care of you from cradle to grave no matter if you like to work or not, then you are a liberal, OK?

            That’s what they want you to think.  Keep it simple, stupid!  But, in fact, both parties like bigger government; it increases with every administration.  You have to repay your loyal supporters with a good job.  The patronage system works; you vote for the party and get others to do the same, and you’ll get your reward.  It’s really great if the new administration creates a new department, like the Department of Energy, or the Department of Education.  Departments employ thousands!

            So, what’s the solution Americans?  Many of you will continue to vote for the party man or woman, because you believe in your party and that’s what you’ve done all your life.  Your party knows what it’s doing and knows what’s best for you.  But if you believe like I do, then it’s time you truly made a difference in American politics.  It’s time to vote for an independent for Congress and for president.

            Many have said that independents don’t have a chance because they aren’t organized.  That used to be true.  You need a huge organization like the Democratic Party or the Republican Party to get elected.  But wait, we DO have a potential organization!  It’s called the tea party, and there’s one in every area of this country.  The tea parties were born out of frustration with our government and anger over the direction the administrations and Congress are taking us.  Anger at BOTH parties and their disregard of the “average American” citizen.  Anger over the huge debt they keep piling on future generations.  Anger over failure to seal our borders, to stop hemorrhaging jobs overseas, to harvest our own oil, to use our coal, to build nuclear power plants, to stop fighting unwinnable wars, to stop appeasing everyone else in the world.  Our citizens want government to help America and Americans first, follow the original intent of our Constitution, and retain our world leadership.  We do not want to continue down this road of destruction that will only end in us becoming a second-rate wheel in a one-world government with its “global economy.”

            It is way past time that America’s many tea parties banded together to promote and support not just another Republican for president, but a candidate of the people, by the people, and for the people – an independent moderate conservative who will sign a binding contract with voters to do what needs to be done.  No promises that will evaporate after the swearing in.  In fact, no promises at all; just a legal contract that must be fulfilled.  Verbal promises, as we have seen time after time, are worthless.  Get it on paper.

            Can the tea parties of America come together to save our Nation?  I believe we can.  I believe we must.  We must get out of this R – D – R – D rut or it will be too late to save the America we grew up in.  If we continue down this path, voting for different sides of the same coin, we will be telling our grandchildren one day about the wonderful country we once knew when we were young.  Like Edward G. Robinson telling Charlton Heston in “Soylent Green.” 

end

What Did A Trillion Dollars Do?

            Many people do not truly understand the impact that President Obama’s Stimulus Plan has had on each and every one of us.  When you have an amount of currency in circulation – roughly $7 trillion – and you instantly add another trillion to it, what happens?  First of all, whatever cost you $7.00 last month will now cost you $8.00 because you have not increased the value of the money, but DECREASED its value.  The product you are buying still has the same value, but the money you are using to buy it has been “diluted,” by over 14%.  That means the dollar you had last month has lost value, and it will take more of them to buy the same product.  That is what inflation does.

            Our government did this.  Actually, the Federal Reserve did it.  It stole from your pocket and mine by making the dollar that we work hard for worth less in buying power.  Those living on a fixed income, such as Social Security, found that their monthly check didn’t stretch as far as it used to.  Those who live off their 401k or saved money just had some of it evaporate in what has been called an “unseen tax” on all of us.  Yes, your money was sitting in an account somewhere, but now instead of buying 1.43 pounds of hamburger for $3.50, you can only get 1.25 pounds for the same amount of money.  We have all been cheated out of our labor.  By our government. 

So, when you think they’re helping you, you couldn’t be more wrong.  They are hurting everyone.  We need to finally get rid of the Federal Reserve, which is NOT part of our government, but actually a private organization designed to prevent the big banks from EVER losing; always making a profit.  The greatest legalized theft in the world.

Poor Farm

            I had an awakening experience yesterday.  I do house calls for pets, and we had a request to check on a big dog that “couldn’t walk.”  When my receptionist was getting the information, she asked for directions.  The caller said they live across from the apartments on Midlothian Ave.  There are apartments everywhere on Midlothian.  We got the house number, but it was difficult to understand the caller.  We later discovered that she has no teeth.

            I took one of my employees with me, because I wasn’t sure if I would need help.  We found the house, a two-story wood framed home with a front porch.  Kids and the father-figure were waiting for me on the porch, along with the dog.  It was a Rottweiler cross, overweight at about 100 pounds, and he couldn’t get up.  There were full garbage bags on the front porch, and the home looked rather run-down. 

            I checked the dog over, and found that his left elbow joint was very sore, with limited range of motion.  The father said the dog fell down the stairs.  He also related that two years ago the dog was stung by a bee in that leg.  I suspected a soft tissue injury, but warned that this could also be the beginning of bone cancer.  While we were working with the dog, he emptied his overfull bladder, and there was blood in the urine.  He also has a bladder infection; probably from holding it too long because he couldn’t get down the front stairs to relieve himself.

            There were three or four children coming and going from the front porch, and two or more inside looking out the front window.  I asked about payment and the mother, who appeared on the porch (no teeth), said that Barbara (not her real name), who is her MYCAP helper (Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership), had offered to pay for the bill.  She was able to write down Barbara’s phone number for me, but couldn’t call her herself because her “Tracfone minutes were used up.”  I said I would phone in an antibiotic for the dog that she could pick up the next day for the bladder infection.  When we returned to the office, we called Barbara and she said she would be in the next day to pay the bill, and would pick up the antibiotic.

            Barbara came in the next morning and told us that she is a social worker for MYCAP, and has worked with this family for seven years.  She is also a midwife, and has assisted with several of the mother’s birthings.  She said this family has nothing, that all but one of their seven children is mentally challenged, and likely will be in the same situation when they grow up.

            This whole story really had an effect on both myself and my employee who accompanied me to this house.  It wasn’t a positive effect.  It was just very disturbing.  We  both thought about this family and their situation for days.  What is our government (local, state, and federal) doing for people like this, and is it any better now than it was a century ago?  I remember when I was little and we would be traveling in the car in the country.  My mother once pointed out the “poor farm” and another time the “old folks’ home.”  We also had a tuberculosis sanitarium in our town.  Tuberculosis was (and is) a problem when people live in close confinement in unsanitary conditions with poor ventilation.  This was usually a poor person’s disease, and one way the county and state controlled its spread was to confine positive cases to the sanitarium, generally involuntarily.

            Now, as a veterinarian, I see an analogy here.  I have had many people over the past 30 years come to me with a cat overpopulation problem.   You see, they feed these stray cats, but do nothing to keep them from reproducing, i.e. spaying and neutering.  So, eventually, as the kittens mature they start to reproduce, and before you know it, three cats turn into thirty, and then you have a hundred or more to contend with.  They often then become sick and die from feline leukemia and other diseases, parasites, and predation.  Their quality of life declines because there are too many of them, and the cat feeders are going broke trying to keep up.  It gets out of hand.  The system breaks down.

            Getting back to the family with the lame dog.  I first thought, wouldn’t it be great if every morning a big bus drove around and picked up the able-bodied people and took them out to a farm to work for the day.  They could be weeding fields, picking fruit, or just about any other chore on a farm that simply requires manual labor.  Then I remembered the “poor farms” that were run by counties across America a century ago.  Weren’t those people better off (and perhaps healthier) than those living in inner city ghettoes, often in filthy conditions with poor nutrition and virtually no structure to their lives?  Do you know what effectively ended the county-run poor farms?  Social Security.

            The Social Security Act was established in 1935, and poor farms almost completely disappeared by 1950.  Instead of working on a farm, producing nearly all of the food that they needed, the poor and indigent, incompetent and unstable are now “taken care of” by our state and federal governments.  That means you and me via our taxes.  So now, in essence, you and I are working those farms, and the poor need do nothing.  Are they really better off?  Are they living useful, productive lives, or is our government just keeping them around so that they will continue to vote for the Democrat candidate of their choice?  You can at least teach them to recognize a D from an R on a ballot.  When you rob Peter to pay Paul, you’ll always have the support of Paul.

            I know some people will say that I’m for limiting children for poor and mentally challenged people, and that it’s their right to reproduce as much as they want.  Well, it is their “right” if they can pay for their children.  Otherwise, they’re infringing on my rights because now I have to take care of them with the money I earn, without my consent and taken from me by force and threat.  The rest of us use various forms of birth control, including a very “liberal” use of abortion.  Don’t even think about calling me “Hitler.”  If you should, then you might appropriately be called “Stalin.”

end

Cultural Diversity – Vive La Difference!

            I just don’t get it.  Piercings and tattoos.  About the only time you saw tattoos fifty or sixty years ago was on sailors, Marines and biker gang members.  Piercings were strictly on the pages of National Geographic from New Guinea and Africa.  Now, however, you can’t go anywhere without seeing these “cultural decorations.”

            Tattoos have been a popular, and often required custom of Pacific islanders and other remote cultures.  Piercings likewise, except for earrings on women everywhere.  But now it seems that we have a subculture in America that believes tattoos and piercings are de rigueur (necessary according to fashion).  Really?  A police officer I know refers to the tattoos on the lower backs of women as “tramp stamps.”  Now, why would he say a thing like that?

            Piercings are in the same category, but need separate sociological investigation.  Quills and twigs, feathers and tusks have pierced the cheeks, lips, and noses of aboriginal cultures since these people were first discovered.  Our American children apparently believe that a nose stud somehow makes them more attractive.  Isn’t that more of a south Asian tradition?  I just saw a young man and lady with matching nose rings, like you see in a pig or cow.  I guess it means, “I really, really love you!”  And, while we’re on that subject, a tongue stud supposedly makes one more skilled at pleasing the likes of Bill Clinton.  Why advertise that?

            I’ve seen two young men who have gone the unique path of stretching their ear lobes with discs.  Now, yes, that truly makes them unique if nothing else about them does.  You don’t have to be handsome, or have a brilliant mind, or be a computer whiz or outstanding athlete.  Just put those discs in your earlobes and you’ll be attractive as a mate for all those women out there.  Well, at least SOME of those women out there.  Maybe the ones with that lower back tattoo.

            Now, I read a lot of National Geographics when I was growing up, and I have a suggestion for those upcoming young Americans who really desire to be unique and “special.”  Go for the Ubangi look!  That’s the African tribe that stretches their lips with discs.  Some can get to dessert plate size!  Really impressive, and man do the Ubangi women go for them.  Or, how about stretching the neck with brass rings, like the Karen Tribe of Burma?  Just gorgeous!  Let’s do it!

            Wait; let’s do something more in keeping with our own traditions here in this country.  Let’s go back to our Native Americans for some tips.  Yes, I’m talking about the Flathead Indians.  Now, there was a unique tribe.  They considered a very flat forehead as “cool.”  As infants, the mothers slowly compressed the forehead with a flat piece of wood, usually attached to the top of the papoose backpack board. 

            In keeping with our acceptance of (Communist) China, and embracing their culture, let’s bind some feet, too.  That will surely be a hit with the fashion set.  You know, small feet are really attractive, and the women can’t run as fast, either.  So, you see, there are lots of new (old) things that we can try to make us stand out in a crowd; things that will set you apart from everyone else and make YOU special!

end

Genetically Modified Organisms – New Allergens Affecting Us?

            This year (2010) I have seen an enormous increase in upper respiratory problems in dogs and cats (and owners).  I don’t want to say “infections,” because it may not be a new or different virus or bacteria causing the problem.  There have been runny noses, coughs, hacking, red eyes, and overall itching and scratching.  Some of the coughing in dogs I attributed to the possibility of a new strain of kennel cough, or tracheobronchitis.  But due to several factors, I’ve changed my mind.

            This spring I, too, came down with a case of tracheobronchitis.  I used to believe that kennel cough was only a dog problem, and “species immunity” prevented me from picking it up.  But last year I attended a lecture by a kennel cough specialist who told us that yes, indeed, humans can contract kennel cough from dogs.  Having seen dozens of cases a week, it’s obvious that I would be very exposed and susceptible. 

So, I hacked and coughed for three or four weeks.  I took several different antibiotics to control secondary bacterial opportunistic bacteria (yes, I know it may be just a virus, but there’s always bacteria hanging around, too).  When I thought I was getting better, and was just dealing with that “frog in the throat,” it seemed that it would come back.  I even noticed a crackling in my lungs at the end of inspiration when I went to bed, plus the cough that wouldn’t go away.  I began to think I was getting congestive heart failure.

I went to see our family doctor, who did a physical and ran a blood profile, ECG, and other circulatory tests.  I asked for a referral to see a cardiologist, since it has been five years since I had a stress test.  The cardiologist set up an echocardiogram, isotope heart scan, and stress test.  A few days after I saw the cardiologist I was thinking, “I’ve been diagnosing allergy-related upper respiratory problems all year in pets, perhaps that’s what I’ve got, too.”  So, I put myself on an allergy regimen of prednisolone (6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1).  Please don’t tell the AMA that I’m practicing human medicine; we’re all animals!

I grew up with hay fever.  In the summer, I’d go outside on a beautiful, clear day and sometimes have a sneezing fit.  I’d sneeze 16 times in a row, unable to stop.  Then, that night there’d be drainage and the next morning I’d have a sore throat.  Often tonsillitis would follow, and I’d deal with it for a week or two.  What had happened was that pollen had caused an allergic reaction, my upper airway mucous membranes became enflamed and swollen, and they began to produce copious secretions.  It was like turning on an incubator; whatever bacteria was there would grow in a perfect environment.  That’s why I believe that even with a “virus,” it never hurts to take an antibiotic as well.

Well, guess what?  The day after I began the prednisolone my symptoms totally disappeared!  The crackling in my lungs was gone and the coughing stopped.  No, I wasn’t dying of heart failure (my stress test was normal, by the way).  So, the treatment was diagnostic in a way.  Now I’m going to get allergy tested, because I’m afraid I may have become allergic to cats.*  We have four at home and five residents at the office.  I’m also concerned, however, about genetically-modified crops that may have been planted in our area.  Corn and soybeans, in particular, are planted on thousands of acres in this area.  The “new” plants also produce “new” pollens, which our bodies have never been exposed to before.  Could this be a reason so many people and pets have been having more upper respiratory problems recently?  Will we adapt to them?  Will the allergies go away or get worse?

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are supposedly the way of the future.  Have you seen a picture of that “super trout”?  I just hope our modern “science” isn’t going to be the end of us.

*  The allergy test was normal, with just a few mild allergens.  I called the lab and talked to one of the researchers about this.  He said there is a lot of controversy right now about GMO pollens causing allergies.  I’m sure Monsanto and others say they’re no problem.

end

The Keynesian Economic Theory Is Out of Date With A Modern Global Society

            We all know how hard it is to admit you were wrong about something.  Right? 

Now, let’s say you spent a lot of time studying and researching a subject, perhaps for a

PhD thesis or even a book.  Here’s an example.  About 15 years ago a veterinary

graduate student wrote his PhD thesis on the premise that dogs and cats didn’t have

strokes (cerebrovascular accidents).  He believed only humans suffered from strokes,

and other animals had what he called “vestibular syndrome,” a problem with the middle

ear apparatus that created all the central nervous system signs normally attributed to a

stroke.  Now, hold that thought while I discuss John Maynard Keynes.

            The study of economics is relatively new, primarily developing in the late 19^th and

20^th centuries.  British economist John Maynard Keynes published his conclusions on

the subject in 1936, entitled, “The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money.” 

It soon became one of the most controversial and variously interpreted theories of its

time, and has influenced governments’ attempts to control their economies ever since. 

In fact, the current administration is putting all its eggs in Keynes’ basket right now.  Or,

rather, our President is putting all OUR eggs into that basket.

            The Federal Reserve System was set up in 1913 to “maintain the stability of the

financial system and contain systemic risk that may arise in financial markets,” among

other things, yet is has never been able to do so.  It didn’t prevent or control the Great

Depression, and it hasn’t prevented or solved any of the subsequent recessions,

including the one we are in now.  Likewise, Mr. Keynes’ theory was used by President

Roosevelt to end the Great Depression, but it failed miserably.  The massive industrial

mobilization of World War II is what brought us out of the Depression, not any economic

theory.

            So now we have what we call a “global economy,” and a subsequent Modern

Global Society.”  I’ve argued that we have had a global economy ever since the first

wooden ship left shore with a cargo to trade; it’s just that this is done faster and on a

much bigger level today.  So why should Keynes’ economic theory work any better

today than it did before?  President Obama believes that President Roosevelt simply

didn’t spend enough money.

            Here’s Mr. Keynes’ theory in a nutshell.  First, he believed that we should spend

all the money we make, or total spending in the economy, termed “aggregate demand.” 

Now, that’s hard to take.  It reminds me of the fable about the grasshopper and the ant. 

Next, he thought that aggressive government action could stabilize the economy.  This

is based on his belief that large fluctuations in the economy significantly reduce well-

being, and that the government is wise and capable enough to improve on the free

market.  I guess that means we should trust in the knowledgeable judgment of our

elected officials, like House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-

MA).

            Keynes’ solution to a recession or depression is to stimulate the economy by

reducing interest rates and having government invest in infrastructure.  This is

supposed to have a “domino effect” by funding income, which leads to more spending in

the general economy, thereby stimulating more production and investment.  This is

supposed to repeat over and over, so that the end result is a multiple of the initial

government investment.  Times have changed significantly, however, from the 1930s.

            I’ve had this copy of Fortune¹ in my office for many years.  I think I bought it

because it is from the war years, and I’m very interested in World War II.  Inside this

December 1942 issue was the third in a series of reports “on potential courses for

democratic action” after the war was over.  They were assuming at the time that it would

be over in another year or two.  Part III is “The Domestic Economy.”  Now, here are two

paragraphs from page 6 that I want to read to you.  It’s headed, “Fallacies of debt.”

            “The commonest objection to a policy of government spending arises from the

fear of public debt.  To some extent this fear is grounded in a theoretical

misapprehension: that public debt is like private debt, and that if the government

continually spends more than its income it will go broke or cause inflation.

            “This analogy is false so long as the productive capacity of the nation is

maintained, the debt is internally held, and the government retains its taxing power.  For

with production flowing, since the interest on the debt is paid to residents of the country,

the government can always recover an equivalent sum in taxes, no matter how huge.”

            Has the productive capacity of our nation been maintained?  No, it has mostly

gone to China.  Is our debt internally held?  No, thirty percent of our national debt is

foreign-held, with nearly half of that (48%) held by China, Hong Kong, and Japan.  Has

our government retained its taxing power?  Yes, but one out of three isn’t good enough.

            This report goes on to state on page 8 that some economists urged “a fairly

drastic redistribution of income from the saving to the consuming class.  The ‘propensity

to consume’ is highest in the lowest income groups; therefore, for the sake of stability,

let us tax the rich and subsidize the poor.”  Sound familiar?

            We see all around the country signs of our President’s stimulus plan at work. 

(Show photo of “Project Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act sign

by highway)  Each of these signs, by the way, costs us $900 to make and erect.  He

believes that Roosevelt’s application of Keynes’ theory didn’t work because he didn’t

spend enough money.  Obviously, he’s taken care of that.  Roosevelt thought in millions

and billions.  Mr. Obama is calling on trillions to do the job.  Do you think it will work

today?

            The assumption of a static economy seems to underlie Keynes’ entire work.  I

don’t believe he ever ran a business himself, and had no experience with the “human

factor” of the economy.  He really didn’t take into account an important ingredient: public

trust and confidence.  The only people who truly believe that government  has all the

answers and should run everything are the liberal-socialists.  The rest of society, if they

know any history at all (by the way, for several decades our children have become

ignorant of the lessons of history), realize that socialism is horrible.  As Winston

Churchill said, “The vice of capitalism is that it stands for the unequal sharing of

blessings; whereas the virtue of socialism is that it stands for the equal sharing of

misery.”

            So, yes, I believe that the Keynesian economic theory is out of date with a

modern global society.  It is out of date with any society outside the halls of academia,

and has proven so whenever it was used to solve a recession or depression.  Why do

some think it will work now?

            Remember the theory of “vestibular syndrome?”  Well, about ten years ago a

group of pathologists, after studying over a thousand post-mortem examinations of dog

and cat brains, discovered that animals other than man do, in fact, have strokes. 

Nevertheless, a whole generation of veterinarians is still telling pet owners that their pet

did not suffer a stroke, but instead has vestibular syndrome.  Many veterinary colleges

continue to promote the theory to this day.  And a funny thing – the treatment we’ve

always used for a stroke, anti-inflammatories, antihistamine, and time to heal, seems to

cure the problem no matter what you call it.

            Even though you’ve proven a theory to be wrong or ineffective, it inevitably

persists.  Nobody likes to admit they were wrong.

end

¹  “The United States In A New World – A series of reports on potential courses for democratic action.  Prepared under the auspices of the Editors of Fortune.  III: The Domestic Economy.”  Fortune 26, no. 6, December 1942

Be Prepared: The Motto of the Boy Scouts of America

Our long-time friend, who is a CPA in Columbus, just sent me an e-mail (Dec. 2010), and this was his last paragraph.  I followed with my reply.

"On another note, I would like to compare notes/ pick your brain a little - Ruta and I are beginning work on a comprehensive contingency plan for what we think is going to be best case long drawn out " ground war" in our economy to worst case another depression /melt down that would involve riots/violence etc.  I think the next event is going to be currency bubble or a massive default in the muni-bond market.  We are thinking about putting together a comprehensive plan that involves 1) preparedness 2) protection 3) financial 4) education.  I think it is just prudent given how things are so fragile right now and like I said best case we will be in this ground war for a while.  Let me know when you have few minutes, I would be interested in your thoughts."

Preparedness

I have a Mormon friend who told me that his church recommends keeping a one-year supply of food on hand at all times.  He keeps a three-month supply, which is a lot for anyone.  There are places on the internet that specialize in disaster preparedness, and will sell you a year’s supply of food to store away.  This spring I checked prices at Sam’s Club on basics, like rice, flour, sugar, salt, beans, etc.  I checked again in November.  Rice is up 12%, sugar is up 29%, and wheat flour is up 21.5%, and our government is telling us that inflation is at normal levels.  You can’t put a trillion into a 7 trillion economy and not have inflation.  It will get worse.

Glenn Beck has an article on food storage (I think he’s a Mormon, too) that is a good start. http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/48306/   It’s good to know how to make bread from scratch and how to boil beans.  Those are basics.  I live near a small lake and can get water from there (I have several filter systems), but I also have a Water BOB (www.waterbob.com) that stores water in your bathtub.  Providing you have warning that water will be shut off, that’s fine.  Emergency water is also available in your water heater tank and in the toilet tanks.

I went to Lowe’s and bought a dozen of their gray 5-gal plastic buckets with sealable lids.  Then got oxygen absorber packets from USA Emergency Supply to put in them. https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/emergency_supplies/oxygen_absorbers.htm   Next I went to Sam’s for the flour, salt, rice, beans, baking soda, freeze-dried coffee, etc.  One bucket will hold a 50-lb bag or two 25-pounders.  Label the lid, date, drop in the oxygen packs and seal.  I have them on two roll-around dollies in my basement.  You might also get one of the cooking with home storage cookbooks from this site.  The easy way is to just by the 1-, 6-, or 12-month supply of food from them.

I’ve also put together two “bug-out bags” that are filled with basic survival gear.  If we have to evacuate or run for our lives, these are two backpacks that I will grab first, then the guns and ammo, then food.  We have a couple cases of military MREs, too.  Google “bug-out bag” for a list of essentials.  Remember, if the electric grid goes down, you won’t be able to go to the gas station for gas (no power for the pumps).  I bought a Honda generator two years ago to power a freezer or refrigerator.  I have a 55-gal drum of gasoline in the shed and maybe 15 gallons of kerosene.  Get yourself a Petromax kerosene lantern.  They are essential http://www.britelyt.com/.  I have two Swiss military 250s and a 500 that we use when we go to Cook Forest.  You can also cook on them.  Know how to start a fire without matches; there are many ways.

Protection

Find a reputable gun shop near you.  Preferably one recommended by friends.  Ask about a concealed carry permit instruction course and sign both of you up for it ASAP.  They will usually provide a gun if you don’t have one.  This is the store where you will go to for advice, ammunition, holsters, etc.  I have two in the area that I use, and both know me well.

I bought most of my guns from gun shops, however, I buy most of my ammunition online.  Cheaperthandirt.com now offers ANY gun you might want for sale.  You just have to have it delivered to a licensed gun dealer near you to pick it up.  Some stores charge you a fee for this, and you should first ask if they will match the online price(s).  Often they will, except for ammo.  I would recommend a .45-caliber pistol, semi-automatic, because .45 ammo will always be available, as it has been around for over a century.  You can still buy WWII ammo in a sealed can!  I’ve also bought ammo from Sportsman’s Guide (www.sportsmansguide.com) and found they have the best price on bulk ammunition.

How much is enough?  I told a friend of mine who has full-auto rifles and even a Thompson submachine gun (special BATF license required) that I had 3,000 rounds of ammunition.  He chuckled and said he wouldn’t feel safe with that.  I now have 16,000, most in .22 (.22 rifles will be gold, and so will the ammo to hunt small game), but 4,500 in .223 (for a Colt AR-15), and 3,600 in 5.7mm (I bought a FN Five-Seven pistol and FN PS-90 rifle this year.  Pistol holds 30 rounds, rifle 50.)  Buy a lot, usually in 500-round or 1,000-round batches for best prices.  Join Sportsman’s Guide Membership for further discount.

It’s best to stay with one or two calibers to simplify your ammunition purchasing and confusion.  I have .22, .223 (5.56mm), 5.7mm, .32 H&R, .380, .38, .44 Mag., .45 ACP, and .45 Colt.  It can get confusing if you are not fully aware of what they are and in which gun they go.  I will soon add 12-gauge shotgun to the list.

Gun brand is personal preference.  In .45 semi-auto pistols there are HK, Glock, SIG, Colt, and many others.  Glocks are pretty durable and dependable.  I have an HK USP Compact .45 for traveling, and usually carry a SIG P238 .380.  Paula keeps a Glock 21 .45.  I used to carry a Walther PPK/S .380, but the SIG is much lighter.  I have an inside the waistband/belt holster that rides just ahead of my right hip.  A lot of people carry in the small of their back either inside or outside in a belt holster.  I just find it harder to reach back there.

Glocks have an integral safety set in the trigger, so there is no lever to look for to flip off (especially good for people who are unfamiliar).  You don’t put your finger on ANY trigger until you are ready to fire, so that is one of the first things you learn.  You’ll get yelled at in the Concealed Carry course for having your finger on that trigger.  With the Glock, when you put your finger on the trigger you first depress a lever in the trigger, then begin to pull the trigger itself, so there is no other safety lever to flick off, like on nearly all the other semi-autos.

If I have to choose a minimum defense package, I’d probably go with the two FNs (pistol and assault rifle) and a 12-gauge shotgun.  The pistol is to buy time to get to your rifle, and nothing impresses an intruder more than a shotgun.  But I’ll have a .45, too!

Financial

If you remember your history, when inflation takes off your paper money will soon be worthless.  Gold and silver will be the only true currency, other than barter.  Read “One Second After” by William R. Fortschen or “Alas, Babylon” by Pat Frank for examples of what life might be like.  Pretty lawless.  Also watch “The Road” and "Book of Eli."

I’ve just bought bouillon, no collector coins.  If you are buying things you will only get what the gold or silver is actually worth, not what someone thinks it is worth.  Juni Banico at Bowers and Merena Galleries jbanico@bowersandmerena.com lets me know when  he has Krugerrands, Maple Leafs, and other bouillon coins for sale.  I’ve bought silver coins through him, too.  Right now I’m waiting on a shipment of silver 1 oz. rounds from Northwest Territorial Mint http://bullion.nwtmint.com/silver_stagecoach.php that are pre-scribed to break or cut into quarters.  Shipment has been delayed twice and I’m looking at mid-January.  You just have to compare commissions and markup to find the best buy.  Volume brings the percentage down.  I’ve also bought from Lakota Bank http://www.freelakotabank.com/accounts.php, but paid more.   Nevertheless, the way things are going, I’m making money every day.

Education

I’ve had a lot of basic survival education through the Air Force, but you never have enough.  I took a winter survival course at YSU in their ROTC curriculum, so you might see what’s available near you.  There is also unlimited information online.  When you find a site, look at their links for more.  Again, learn how to make fire several different ways.  Many people will die just because they can’t.  Twenty-five percent will be gone the first year, by most estimates.  Not from a bomb, but from survival of the strongest.  If you’re diabetic, make a will.  Those on dialysis will be gone in a week.

You might be referring to home schooling, too.  Again go online for information, but you might put together an “essential” library of your own; something of an investment anyway.  It might even be something to pass down to your grandkids.  You can choose the titles, and even get out of print copies through Advanced Book Exchange http://www.abebooks.com.  This is a huge co-op of book stores around the world.  It would be the best way to put together a library at minimum cost.

Conclusion

If the SHTF, trying to survive by yourself with just your family will be tough.  If you have good friends, a group is more likely to survive roaming bands than a single family in a house.  We live on a cul-de-sac that I am looking at for defending.  It has Mill Creek Park wrapped around it with just one road behind us and then the lake – natural obstacle.  But we need maybe a dozen adults to protect it.  I’m talking 24/7 guard duty.  It would be great to have our two Dobermans again, too.  Dogs are better than any alarm system (remember, no power, no alarm system).  You have to feed them, too, but you can also eat them if need be!  (Yes, I would have a hard time doing that.)