You Are NOT "Apocalypse Man"

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

So I came across this docudrama TV special on youtube called "Apocalypse Man". Ex Recon Marine Rudy Reyes takes the audience on a simulated mission through a city during a disaster scenario. It's a simple scenario, one man traveling in a world without water and electricity.

He starts the show off by telling viewers that when a disaster strikes, the first place he's going is to the city. When I heard those words, I burst out in laughter. i guess it depends on the scenario and how many resources he had. He uses a tire iron as a grapple hook to rope himself across a bridge. Rudy swings off the bridge like Tarzan rope and uses his carefully crafted butterfly knot to pull himself up to the other section of the bridge.

Rudy confessed, "I know it looks crazy..." That's because it is crazy. Unless you are in top shape, which most Americans are not, trying to Tarzan your fat ass across a bridge will get you killed or seriously injured. Now, I'm not professing to be an expert in survival. In fact, this guy is in much better shape than I am. However, I know my limitations. In this scenario, I would have been better served staying at home. And if I did decide to leave my house, I would have avoided the cities. And if I were in the cities, I would have looked for a boat, canoe or some floating platform to get to the other side of the river.

I understand that this show was created for entertainment, but I want people to be realistic about their abilities. There's a point where he climbs down a dark elevator shaft. I wouldn't attempt this until the cast from Mad max was after me.

Granted, he has a lot of cool ideas and it's worth watching for fun. I loved his idea about going to the library to get information such as maps and books. But some of his ideas scared me. What disturbed me most about this show is when he enters someone's home with the logic that "it is not longer there home."

He enters a home that appears to have not been broken into. I understand that he was looking for resources, but I'm not willing to risk receiving a large serving of buckshot to my face. You may want to wait until the population drops to "I Am Legend" levels before attempting this.

I'm not saying that his ideas won't work, but they some of them sure as hell won't work for me. I would advise people to apply a filter to this kind of programming, but this is good entertainment. If you have good sense, you'll be able to separate the entertainment from the good ideas. Enjoy!

Part Two


Part Three


Part Four


Part Five

The NON Persons: The Uncounted Unemployed

Employment to Population Ratio

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

"Unemployment Slips to 8.6% as Private Sector Adds Jobs Well"

The headline read,

I was way off on my prediction on the U3 unemployment reaching 12% this year. We didn't see a new wave of layoffs (in the private sector). The official unemployment number actually dropped. However, the real unemployment has not dropped. A lot less people can get benefits, many aren't, even counted. Hiring in the private-sector grew by a 140,000 jobs, the public sector cut 20,000 jobs. What kind of jobs where created this holiday season, 50,000 jobs in retail, 22,000 in hospitality, 33,000 in business service. Does business service involves in actual production of any goods? Where most of the hospitality jobs created that type of work that you can support a family on? Where retail stores hiring full-time or where they offers $8 or $9 bucks an hour, part-time/seasonal with no benefits?

Hourly earnings dipped by 2 cent, while salaries increased by 1.8%, neither could keep up with inflation. In a nutshell, I was wrong about the timing of the new wave of layoffs, but only time will reveal if I am wrong about the event happening at all. Technically, we already saw a major layoff in local, county and state government.s And we did see a lot of Americans shopping on Black Friday. The National Federation Retail claimed that sales increased 16% from last year. Of course, many stores were shut down since then, so the remaining stores would naturally improve. And I should warn you that the 16% is based on a survey and not hard cash. This year, they polled 3,826 consumers and calculated that Americans spent $$52.4 billion on Black Friday weekend.

2011 Black Friday Sales

Nevertheless, many Americans spent their last penny this holiday season on flat screen TVs,video game consoles, toys and movies. I have no aversion to any of those products, but I realize that it is more important to have basic items before you acquire the amenities. For example, doesn't it make more since to have extra food and water for an emergency before you buy another flat screen TV? And why is your girlfriend walking around with expensive jewelry when she doesn't even have a gun to fight off a mugger or rapist? Some people are so tapped out that they are trying to get tax loans to buy presents this holiday season. There's nothing wrong with buying toys and TVs for Christmas, just make sure that your family has the basics for responding to an emergency.

The government numbers are very deceptive. The official unemployment number is really just one of the the government's unemployment numbers. It's called the U3 number, which only calculates how many people are unemployed for 15 weeks or longer. But it excludes part-time workers who want to work full-time and many discouraged workers. The U6 number (15.6% as of November 2011) includes these groups. However, but government numbers exclude the chronically unemployment. The government keeps the unemployment number down by excluding a lot of the unemployment and simply claiming that they are no longer apart of the workforce.

The duration of unemployment tells the story. 59% of the unemployed have been jobless for at least 15 weeks. 43% of the unemployment have been unemployed for over 27 weeks as of November 2011. The employment to population ratio has still remained very low.

BLS Unemployment numbers

In 2001, 64.4% of the American population was employed, now that number is down to 58.5%. This government number is something that doesn't get reported because there's no way to spin the data.

Employment to Population ratio

In conclusion, the recent data is a reflection of a large portion of the unemployed population being re-classified as non persons, people without jobs, but not apart of the labor force. It's just smoke and mirrors.

Check out my video analysis below and tell me what you think.

ASK DEMCAD: The Future

A Question from an Italian viewer:

"I am an Italian boy and as you know the economic crisis is hitting us hard! then the volcanoes, solar storms, earthquakes, etc. ... like you I am preparing to soppravivenza with stocks, bob! Unfortunately in my country do not see the dark times that are approaching, so I am alone, and not have anyone to discuss it here! wanted to ask you what you think of the future that approaches what what more could you think and prepare!"

First, thank you for writing to me. Regarding your question, I think things are going to change in so many ways that you won't be able to see most of it coming. Gerald Celente talks about a trend called "Do it yourself!" it always amazed me how little parents prepared for parenthood. The people having the most kids have the fewest to offer. You never see people preparing on any level. If I was expecting a child, I would at least brush up on my spelling and math skills. If I couldn't spell the word "utility" or "brush", I would want to read up. I've seen kids who can spell better than their parents. If I were expecting a daughter, I would learn how to do a girl's hair. In the future, we maybe forced to do more things on our own. We'll have to repair our our dryer. So I'm forcing more on knowledge and learning skills. That will be more important in every nation.

You can send your messages to youtube.com/DEMCAD or DEMCAD@yahoo.com.

Urban Prepping: Why are there so Few Black Preppers?

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)



A journalism student recently contacted me about setting up a phone interview on the issue of black preppers. On my main youtube channel, I created a video entitled "
Why are there so Few Black Preppers?" The journalist wanted to get more of my views on the issue and the following was my reply.

This is a very interesting topic, because it touches on a number of social issues. So even if you don't care about prepping, this issue is relevant. You can't talk about the challenges of being a black prepper without issuing the lack of (economic) cooperation in the black community. How can you organize an emergency plan in a community where people don't even support other local businesses or talents. Black people rarely support black businesses, but are quick to send every cent at an Asian-owned store or corporation. Not that I refuse to shop at non-black stores, but I at least try to support black businesses.

Another challenge is convincing other blacks that the government could fail to provide for us. Even after Katrina, most blacks look for the government for solutions.

Another issue is security. Being black means, you're likely to live among blacks. And since we have a much higher homicide rate than any group, simply being black dramatically increasing the likelihood that you will be murdered both under normal conditions and during a crisis.

Ironically, blacks are generally anti-gun rights. Don't take my word for it, read it yourself. A pathetic 30% of use valued gun rights or gun control. Am I the only person who notices that black cities trend to be the most pro control areas, while having the very worst crime levels.

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1858/gun-control-rights-division-demographics-party-ideology-religion-region-tea-party

PDF file
http://pewresearch.org/assets/pdf/gun-control-2011.pdf

So if something happens and you're among blacks, you're going to be dealing with much higher crime and neighbors who are less likely to be armed. Two extremely big disadvantages and that's why you will most likely inherent simply because of the color of your skin (or being white in a black area.)

Blacks also control a less percentage of resources (relevant to our population) than whites. How have more failing schools, more poverty, shall I control. Granted, many (if not most) of our problems are caused by ourselves, but not all of them.

The reason why there are so few preppers in the black population is because of cultures don't value self-reliance and pro-activity. Not that I'm completely self-relevant, but I at least practice using firearms, collect ammunition, store food, acquire first aid materials and attempt to prepare for disasters. Many blacks (and whites) seem to suffer some normalcy bias and can't conceive a situation where the systems fail.



Here are my videos.
Challenges of Black Preppers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVev3ckAOEo

Why are there so Few Black Preppers?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFswM-5Nmzs

America's Collapse in Three Stories!

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

The United States is collapsing. It's economic system is unsustainable and unraveling. It's political system has been corrupted to the core. It's culture has decayed into a cesspool of greed, narcissism and cruelty. The America that the babyboomers grew up in is dead. The empire is dying. Many people have asked me over the years, why I foresee such a dark future for America. Simply put, that future is coming to past.

Let me point out three stories. Three pictures that will provide you with a three dimensional view of America. Something that many of us have ignored.

The Rising Poverty
Data released from a recent Census Bureau report shows that as of 2007, 100 million Americans were either poor or near poor. What this means is that one third of the population earned a measly 150% of the poverty income or less. Most of the 51 million Americans who are counted as the "Near Poor" are only out of the official poverty level because they are being assisted by the government in some form.

Demographically, they look more like “The Brady Bunch” than “The Wire.” Half live in households headed by a married couple; 49 percent live in the suburbs. Nearly half are non-Hispanic white, 18 percent are black and 26 percent are Latino. Source: The New York Times

The Shrinking Middle Class
A Stanford University study showed that the number of middle class areas have been shrinking in the last four decades. In 1970, 65% of Americans lived in middle class areas. In 2007, it was only 44%. And that's before the financial crisis in late 2008 and the massive layoffs in 2009.

Wall Street Takeover
Not only did Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, and the other zombie banks use their bribe money to get the corrupt politicians in Washington to steal taxpayer money for a bailout, but they managed to do it without any significant punishment. Goldman Sachs has already been busted for ripping their other clients off when they created a bunch of junk derivatives, sold to their clients and then beat against the crap they sold to their clients. But apparently, these Wall Street types can outright steal and no one goes to jail. Former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine ran brokerage firm MF Global into the ground. Initially, it was thought that $600 million dollars of their clients money had disappeared. Well, now that number maybe as closer to $1.2 billion. Let me ask you one question, why hasn't anyone arrested Jon Corzine. While the NYPD is busy beating up college kids protesting the Wall Street street bankers, the real criminals are running wild.

Corrupt politicians, immune Wall Street criminals and a shrinking middle class. it's really simply, America is collapsing because the things that once made it great are no longer present. The criminals are running the country and making most of the American people poorer. They are literally stealing our future from us.

MF Global

Older, Suburban and Struggling, ‘Near Poor’ Startle the Census

Middle-class areas shrinking in US: study

Goldman Sachs admits it misled investors, pays $550M fine

Bugging out to a Lakefront Cabin?

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

As many of you know. I've been preparing for what I think is the inevitable collapse of the American empire for ther last three years. While doing so, I have explored the notion of bugging out (leaving your primary home to escape to a rural location in times of social unrest and/or disaster), but I given my limited resources and lack of location, I don't think it's going to be realistic for me to bug out. SO I've been planning on hunkering down at my current urban location. Although, Flint, Michigan is the most violent city in America, I still know more about the terrain and environment than any other location.

And in a SHTF (shit hits the fan) situation, that will be important. I recent joined a friend on a trip up north to Rural Michigan. We stayed at a cabin on a lakefront property and let me tell you that I wasn't comfortable with the number of cabins in the area. I counted at least 10 cabins near the lake and wondered if this would be a good place to bug out to. If there was a SHTF situation, everyone and there family would flock to these cabins.

Sure, there would be plenty of food to fish, but with this many people, you would be faced with many of the same problems that you would dealing with the the city. The difference is that you would have more food, but have less access to hospitals and other structures. I've lived in rural areas and I understand the trade off.

Just as cities vary, not all rural areas are the same. but generally, you get a social trade off. These areas are great for married couples and retired people, but not ideal for a single guy who wants to find hot single ladies. Nevertheless, in a SHTF situation, that will not be a high priority. I think it makes better since to pay some state land 40 miles away from a sizable city with plenty of amenities and a good trauma center. Set up a well pump and hunt deer. That way you will be able to eat and not worry about your countless unknown neighbors. If it's a waterfront property, you will be dealing with strangers who are related to your neighbors.

If I do go to a rural location, it wouldn't be on lakefront property, because those areas would get flooded with (a lot of them city folks) people and that would feat the purpose on being there in the first place. I would rather stay at home whether I know the environment and people.

Americans Too Fat and Lazy to Work?!

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

Youtuber Yankeeprepper uploaded a video of a AP news report on Alabama's new law that banned illegals from working on farms. But when the farms hired Americans, they learned that many were too lazy and out of shape to work at a good pace. Some of the farmers complain that the Americans are not strong enough for the field work. Well, given the fact that the illegals have been doing this all of their lives, it would be difficult for anyone living in a first world nation to start off as fast as a worker from a third world nation. Moreover, the farmers probably aren;t even paying a living wage, so it's going to take a well to find someone who is willing to work super hard on a very low wage. Remember, Americans have first world expenses, not Mexico prices to contend with.

In my hometown of Flint, Michigan, the economy is so depressed that the city has been forced to cut their police force to bare bones. I recently took on a labor job working with a friend of mine. He's an experienced freelance repairman. He does drywall, carpentry and roofing. He's done it all and does it well. Currently, he's putting a new roof on one of his friend's rental home in Flint. My job was to help him but cutting wood and carrying wood boards and shingles up a two story ladder while he install the shingles, paper and work.

Let me tell you that although, I have helped my buddy Nick install shingles in the past, this job is hard work. This is dangerous and demanding work. When you're two stories up on a ladder with heavy shingles in your hands, one mistake can ruin your life. But I need the money, so I'm doing what needs to be done.

And I'm doing it for 8 bucks an hour. I show up on time and hard 8 to 10 hour shifts. Now, are there lazy Americans out there. Hell yes! But don't let anyone fool you into believing that none of us are willing to work out asses out.

On my first day, I carried a ton of old shingles onto a trailer. Fortunately, I had some help unloading it in a landfill. My name is Reginald Kaigler and I graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint with a BA in criminal justice and sociology. I had hoped to become a parole/probation officer, but when the economy tanked, state governments stopped hiring.