American Exit Strategy: Book 1 (3 page)

Health care? Ironically, the heath care bill dubbed Al Mohammad Care was the disease that completely collapsed our economy into the ruins we see today. Governor Howe brags about the unemployment rate. It is a manipulated number that doesn't count millions of people who have dropped out of the work force over the years because there were no jobs to be had. The number also neglects all the people who are working part time because they can only find part time work. If you calculate those folks in, the number is much closer to 30% than the 7% that is reported. All of these part time jobs popped up when the health care law forced many service sector businesses to cut employees to 25 hours per week to avoid being required to provide health care insurance for them. Other part timers were hired to take the hours of the employees who lost hours. That goosed the U3 unemployment number to make it look lower.  

My plan is not an economic stimulus plan. It is not the 'lie in the sky' bill of goods these other two candidates are offering. My plan is painful but it takes us back to a sustainable path. The future will be painful. The only question is, will we salvage what we have and rebuild or will we burn it to the ground, to a point from which there is no coming back? My plan will prevent significant loss of life. Howe's plan or Marcos plan will most certainly end in complete collapse of our government and economic system. Depending on how much charity we receive from other nations, we should expect a die off of between 10% and 40% of the US population. There is no more sugar coating the facts. It’s just simple math. We are out of time and the collapse is at hand. The IMF is low on funds and unable to bail us out much further. To continue to print money through quantitative easing will collapse the little value the world still places on our paper currency. My plan will take us through a revaluation and reinstitute a 100% backed bi-metal monetary system backed by physical silver and physical gold. Gold and silver have been used as stores of value since the very beginning of time. Genesis 13:1 states "Abraham was very wealthy in cattle and silver and gold." That, my friends, is the beginning of time. This will replace the Federal Reserve and the central planners with a free market that regulates monetary supply though scarcity. It protects the citizens from inflationary taxation through new money creation which robs savers. The value lost by savers through inflation is then reallocated to the government for them to waste and buy votes.

My plan is not a new one. It is the same plan our forefathers handed us more than 200 years ago. It was a plan that worked, so let's get back to it."

Marcos proclaimed with a loud voice "Nobody is going to die Randall! Your fear mongering is a new low for you Senator. I find it disgusting!"

Paul Randall walked out from behind his podium towards Marcos. "I find your willingness to lead this country into an early grave in order to line your pockets and the pockets of your cronies disgusting, Congressman!" Paul shouted as he approached Marcos' position on the stage.

Marcos stepped back with a look of fear and shock. Security flanked Senator Randall, but he returned to his podium on his own.

“Well, that was certainly a debate for the history books!" Amy Stein exclaimed. "Join us right here on CNC for the poll results coverage on tonight's debate right after this short break."

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CHAPTER 5

"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."

Proverbs 21:20

Matt shut down the computer and went into the living room to watch a few minutes of the news with Karen. She was relaxed on the couch with the cat, Miss Mae. They were watching "DC Live", the prime time political show on CNC.

Ed Nolan, the lead correspondent for "DC Live" turned to his guest Amy Stein. "Amy, what was that high school locker room scene at the end of the debate last night? Your job was to keep things civil." he said with a chuckle.

Amy replied "Marcos and Randall were so far behind in the polls before the debate, it couldn't hurt, so why not pull a publicity stunt?"

"If it was a stunt, it worked for Randall. He is up 5 points in the polls today." Ed countered.

"He’s going to need a lot more than 5 points to pull ahead of Howe. Howe was still in the lead today by 17 points, even with Randall's Barbarian bump." Amy said.

"Is that what we're calling it, The Barbarian bump?" Ed inquired.

"He got a 5 point bump by acting like a Barbarian; the Barbarian bump." Amy answered.

"His supporters evidently thought it conveyed passion." Ed responded.

"Well, they may be a bit barbaric as well. What does President Al Mohammad call them, the 'Guns and Religion Caucus'?” Amy smirked.

“I think President Al Mohammad can't wait to turn over the keys to the White House, no matter who wins. It has been a rough eight years.” Ed said as he tried to redirect the conversation before Amy's mouth got them into any more trouble. CNC flew the flag of trying to remain in the center, but the center had moved quite a ways to the left over the past decade.

“I can't listen to this Karen." Matt said. "I get worked up, and then I don't sleep well."

"Change it." she said as she tossed him the remote.

Matt's phone rang and he picked it up.  "Hey cousin." he answered.

"What ya'll doin'?" Adam Bair asked. Adam was Matt's cousin in London, Kentucky. Adam had served in the US Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. When he returned from the war, like many vets, he had a very hard time adjusting. He had tried to silence the anger and the sadness with drugs and alcohol. It almost cost him his life. Adam had blacked out on the way to deliver 100 pills of oxycontin. He was high on them himself and nodded out while he was driving. The police found him in the wrecked car on the side of the road. He was not seriously injured nor did he hurt anyone else. It could have been a lot worse. Because of the amount of drugs the police found in his car, Adam could have done a lot of time.  A Christian judge in London, Kentucky had given him the choice of prison or a Christian rehabilitation center called Teen Challenge. Despite the name, the center worked with people of all ages to overcome addiction through the power of Christ. Adam chose rehab to stay out of prison. His motivation had only been to do his time in a better environment and eat better food, but he learned the true depths of God's love for him while in the program. When he finished the program, he was a radically changed man and was reunited with his wife and two daughters. His wife, Janice had left him shortly after he returned from the war. She didn't feel safe around him and wasn't sure it was safe for the girls. Now, she loved him more than ever and only felt truly secure when he was home.

Matt replied to Adam's inquiry "We were just watching the coverage of last night's debate. Did you watch it?"

"That’s kinda why I was callin’ cousin." Adam said. “Paul Randall said some things that got me thinking. I really like the guy and he has my vote. You know I took an oath to defend the Constitution. That didn't stop when I left the Corps. I think Randall will defend the Constitution as well. I think he is the best choice we have had in my lifetime. What he said about a bunch of people dying, do you think that's realistic? Could that really happen? And do you think he believes that or do you think Marcos was right... Do you think he's just trying to scare people into voting for him? I know you spend a lot more time reading about economics and finance than I ever could. I understand economics; it just bores me to tears."

“I think he’s spot on." Matt said. "Our system is fragile and interdependent on every other part of the system. It’s also so complex. The complexity increases the chances of something going terribly wrong, and it makes it more challenging to fix. We are in such an economic pit that there is literally no way out. Consider the Great Depression. 90% of the population lived on farms or at least in rural areas. Only 10% of people lived in cities, yet even with most everyone living on farms and all the good will people had towards their fellow man, Americans still starved to death. Now, people will slit your throat for a pair of tennis shoes and the exact opposite demographic is true. 90% of people live in cities and only 10% of people live in rural areas or farms. What would those people eat if the system comes crashing down? If the currency collapses, how will the farmers sell their produce to purchase seeds and fuel to produce the following year’s crop?  And it just cascades downward from there. Our cities are filled with violent people just waiting for the police to not get paid and quit going to work. Once that happens, it doesn't matter how much charity we get from other nations in the form of food, no one will deliver it into a war zone ran by gangs and criminals."

"Couldn't the military deliver food and aid? They have done it all over the world." Adam asked.

Matt explained "They are still all over the world. They're not here. Even if we brought them home, there aren't enough to do the job. That’s the only thing the lobbyists from Northrop Gruman, Boeing and Booz Allen Hamilton don't lobby for; more troops. As long as there are enough soldiers to sign the delivery invoices, they don't even care if there are pilots to fly the planes. Back to Paul Randall's estimate, I think a 10% to 40% die off is very possible. Grocery stores only stock about 3 days worth of food. If there is a run on grocers, the shelves could be empty in 6 hours."

"I suppose we haven't thought about it much, because we’re out here. If we lived in the city, I guess we would be preppers too. But I guess if folks get scared, they will panic all over. I don't expect riots in London, Kentucky but they could probably clear out the shelves at Kroger pretty quick." Adam said.

"I think that’s a good assessment of the situation." Matt stated.

"So if I were to decide that I want to get ready for some type of event like that, what should I do? Where do I start?" Adam asked.

“I recommend you start with some long term food storage, 6 months worth at a minimum. The easiest and cheapest way to kick start it is with dried beans and rice. Even with this radical inflation, they are still relatively cheap. If you seal them in a Mylar bag with some oxygen absorbers, they will last 20 years or more. Make sure you get white rice. While brown rice is more nutritious, it still contains the bran which has fat and will rot. You can only store brown rice for about a year.

Then, I would make sure you have a good water supply. Are you on a well or city water?" Matt inquired.

"They ran the pipes from the city about 5 years ago. We got on because the well dried up a couple times during droughts. I can still run the pump on the well. We also have a good creek." Adam answered.

"I would put a hand pump on the well and keep it primed. Just use it once in a while. Also get some rain catch barrels and start filling up your old juice and soda bottles with water when you empty them. You have plenty of storage in the barn, so fill it up." Matt stated.

"Wow, you think we would lose power and need a hand pump?" Adam asked.

"If the currency collapses, there are no paychecks. Maybe the guy at your power plant will work for the joy of doing it, but I wouldn't count on it. He’s going to have to think of some way to feed his family too.” Matt said.

"So I guess I should look at alternative power sources also, maybe a generator." Adam pondered.

"A generator makes a great yard ornament, but it won't be good for anything else when we run out of fuel. I would go with solar. You can start small and build on with solar. Keep in mind, the power going out is probably an extreme example and may not be likely, but you never know. In Argentina, they had brownouts and low voltage when their currency collapsed in 2001.” Matt said.

"That is a lot to digest. Do you know a good site where I can learn a little more about prepping?" Adam asked.

"I read PrepperRecon.com. That guy is pretty thorough. He even has a 7 Step Survival Plan that will walk you through the whole process. He does a podcast every weekend. Go back and listen to his archived shows on prepping." Matt suggested.

"Is he on iTunes?" Adam asked.

"I'm sure he is. I listen to him on Stitcher." Matt replied.

"Well, I'm going to let you get back to that beautiful wife of yours" Adam said. “Thanks for the info and take care."

"You too." Matt closed.

CHAPTER 6

“I am for doing good to the poor, but...I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed...that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”

-Benjamin Franklin

Pastor John Robinson was a few minutes early to the meeting with the head of the benevolence ministry at Liberty Chapel. He waited patiently and sipped his coffee. Ron White was right on time as usual.

"Good morning Pastor." Ron said.

"Good morning Ron" Pastor John replied. "I spoke with Steven and the title is clear on the Young farm. Mr. Young wanted the church to have it when he passed. He worked that farm since he was 20 years old. I want to use it in a way that will honor his memory. It is a fully functional farm with all the machinery and out buildings. I think the highest and best use is food production."

"Pardon me for saying so sir, but isn't that mission creep? Do we want to get into the farming business?" Ron asked politely.

Pastor John replied "I understand your point, but we’re already in the feeding people business with the benevolence ministry. If we can get these people involved in producing food and feeding themselves, I think it will pay for itself. We will have to pay a few staff members, but we will be producing the food instead of handing out grocery store vouchers. It will give those in need a sense of integrity to be involved in providing for themselves. You can't put a price tag on that.  It will also be a good outlet for the troubled youth program. They can be around some of the strong men in the church and be mentored while they learn some useful skills. Single moms can come in through the week when the Fellowship Grill is closed and use the kitchen for canning. A couple of the moms can take turns watching the children. This ministry will also quickly weed out the freeloaders. Paul wrote in II Thessalonians 3:10, `The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’ ”