NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE (still increasing)

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

As many of you know, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' jobless claims soared in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Last week, it reportedly dropped 21,000 to 393,000 new initial claims for unemployment. The media storyline is that sense the aftermath of the storm is easing, the jobless claims are dropping. The problem is that much of the increase in joblessness isn't even coming from New York and New Jersey. What's interesting is that many of the states that reported decreases weren't even in the affect area.

Read more about the jobless claims

U.S. Pending home sales 5.2% soared in October. If this is accurate, this maybe a sign that the housing market has found its bottom. What grabbed my attention was the stark contrast between regions.

Pending home sales in the Midwest and South rose 15.6 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively, while the West and the Northeast dropped by 1.1 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. As a guy living in the Midwest, I can tell you that there are so many people leaving their homes for rentals (and other states) that I suspect a disproportional amount of these sales are going to rentals.

Read more about Housing Sales

Although, the housing sales are encouraging, I'm still concerned about wages, the quality of employment an the number of Americans still on food stamps. As of August 2012, we had a record 47.1 million Americans collecting food stamps. Some people have argued that much the increase is explained by the Obama's administration easing of the requirements. But the fact of the matter is that historically, we only see large increases in food stamp participation during recessions and hard economic times. The number soar in late 2008 before Obama even entered the Oval Office.

Between August 2011 and August 2012, there was a 1.6 million increase in the amount of Americans receiving food stamps. It's been climbing for 4 straight years.

The government has been able to artificially lower the unemployment rate by excluding the millions of Americans who have given up looking for work because there is no real work. The funny that is that the government's NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE continues to raise. Because people can't find work.

So all of the spin in the world won't change what is now obvious to anyone who is looking. This country is in an economic depression.

What Black Friday Says About America

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

Isn't it sad that after Americans stuff themselves with Thanksgiving dinner, they humiliate themselves and one another by fighting over cheap junk at retail stores. Traditionally, this commercial event would happen the day after Thanksgiving. But in recently retailers have become more desperate for sales so they are opening up earlier. Last year, Walmart opened at 10pm. This year impulse than an actually decision. Like every year, the Black Friday crowds were violent and shameful all across the nation. Grown men and women pushing and shoveling each other to get the best deal on electronics and toys.

This year, a shopper was robbed outside of Best Buy in Myrtle Beach. Two people were shot outside of a Walmart in Florida.

Two People Shot in Fight Over Wal Mart Parking Space
 
The battle of the herd was recorded when growups and teens pushed and shoved for some smart phones.


There was a massive mob fight among teenagers at Woodland Mall. The Kentwood Police took two teens into custody. Another shopper maced security guards

Disturbance leads to scare at Westroads Mall





One of the most bizarre sights was watching teenage girls scream and push each other outside a Victoria's Secret store on Black Friday. Why does 16 year old need lingerie? Boys don't care about that crap. Attention: Ladies of all ages. Guys don't care. Either your hot or your not. Victoria Secret isn't going to make a difference.

What's happening in America is a sick and corrupt education of the youth. Not only are supposedly grown up men and women making fools of themselves on Black Friday, but they are teaching their children to do the same. I don't have a problem with people shopping on Black Friday, but when you start hurting other human beings to get this crap, you lose my respect.

What Happened to the Budget Surplus of the 90S?

We had budget surpluses in the 90s, what happened?

The reason why we had a tax surplus is because the largest demographic (the baby boomers) were in their 50s, at their most productive and spending more money (on housing and cars) than they ever would. That stimulated the consumer economy and fueled growth. We also had the raise of new technologies (the PC and Internet industry) that drove growth. The massive spending on the part of baby boomers lead to a great influx in tax revenue. Doing this time, the U.S. government didn't have a significant population drawing from the social programs.

When the baby boomers entered their 60s, they began to cut back in spending. This meant that baby boomers stop buying bigger houses. And while doing so, more of them started to draw from the social programs. You couple that will the raise of globalization and the de-industrialization of America and you have a massive economic downturn.

Hurricane Sandy & Riots After the Election?

 By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

Hurricane Sandy a Lesson For NON-Preppers

People diving through dumpsters looking for food, isolated neighborhoods in Queens being attacked by looters dressed as utility workers, long lines of cars outside of gas stations, officials complaining about the federal response in Staten Island and chaos sweeping across the New York/ New Jersey area. This isn't the end of the world, but the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Millions of people are trying to put their lives back together, after a rare storm created havoc in the largest city in America.

Hurricane Sandy death toll climbs above 110, N.Y. hardest hit
 
After the power went out, police protection was so bare that some people in Queens started arming themselves with bats and guns and bow and arrows. There was endless tv reports on desperate city dwellers calling out for help. Officials blaming FEMA and the Red Cross. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is why I prep. I don't prep for the end of the World, I prep for life. Unexpected things happen in life that can change your world. I prepare for emergencies because I realize that emergencies happen. There is no excuse for grown men and women to not prepare for simple emergencies.And as you watch these desperate people on TV, you need to ask yourself, am I going to be one of these people?
 
Queens residents arm themselves in the post-storm blackout from looters
Drivers facing long lines, empty pumps in New York

The Election and Riots

I was video recording a video on Hurricane Sandy, when I was interrupted by a guy who saw one of my videos on youtube. He mentioned the election and we started thinking about Obama. He was a supporter and I rejected both Obama and Romney. The video below is the raw, unedited footage of what happened. Enjoy! Should Blacks Support Obama in 2012?


In short, I don't see the need to support either Obama or Romney. They're both corporatist warmongers who are nothing more than show pieces designed to divide the people.  Liberal comedian Bill Maher made one of the most irresponsible comments of this election cycle on his HBO show Real Time. 

"If you're thinking about voting for Mitt Romney, I would like to make this one plea: black people know who you are and they will come after you"

Of course, he was kidding, but it wasn't funny. Some Obama supporters are making threats about rioting if Obama should lose. I should point out that most black people are not assholes who would engage in this behavior. With that said, whatever these angry fools do, they should stay out of white rural areas, because unlike the white Chicagoans attacked by black teenager mobs, these white people have guns. A massive crowd of blacks entering their area to destroy property would end in disaster. Frankly, I think enough of Obama's angry black supporters know this. So I doubt we're going to see riots after election night. Enough said.

Anti-Gun Laws Could Get People Killed During COLLAPSE

 By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

There's foolishness and then there's Illinois. Remember Chris Rock's comedy piece about fighting crime by making people pay an insane amount for bullets? If not, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinklemay seems to have taken the idea and run with it. Preckwinkle is proposing a new set of taxes on firearms and bullets. The proposal calls for a nickel per round tax and an additional $25 tax for each firearm. Preckwinkleis convinced that this will lower crime and raise more tax revenue. After all, we all know criminals don't steal ammo. What's fascinating about this idea is that we know that it will not work. Chicago has some of the most extreme anti-laws in the country. Law abidding citizens are not allowed to carry firearms, yet the city has had 409 homicides this year alone. Granted, it's not as bad as the early 90s, but most of the crime is coming from gangs, not the average Joe at a shooting range.

Official proposes bullet tax to curb Chicago crime

But this anti-gun foolishness has sparked a rather gloomy thought in my mind about how these people will fair if law and order breaks down. What would happen to these anti-gun proponents in a full-scale collapse scenario? I'm not survivialist, but I think it's safe to say that by not preparing for a situation that requires self defense is setting oneself up for failure. Let me be frank, criminals don't care if you're anti-gun. If society breaks apart, people will become desperate and dangerous. A Glock 17 or a Sig Sauer maybe the only thing that prevents a single mother from getting raped or a married man from being stabbed to death by home invaders. I don't care if you like guns. I don't cars or cellphones, but I need a cellphone and car for my job. When it comes to guns, people will have to do what it takes to survive.

These anti-gun laws are setting people up for failure. It's conditioning people to not protect themselves and that is simply irresponsible. Why make it harder for law abiding citizens to protect themselves? I strongly recommend everyone buy a gun legally, learn how to use it, store it safely and legally carry it everywhere you can. If you're a single woman living by yourself, you maybe targeted by a predator. If you're a cute college girl living on a GUN FREE ZONE campus, remember you'll be a very attractive target for a predator.  After all, you're not supposed to have a gun. If you're living in a upper middle class neighborhood 20 miles outside of a city, the desperate city-dwellers people may target you before they focus on their broke ass neighbors.

People tell me all of the time to get out of the city, but what they don't realize is that most of the desperate people in the city will be looking for suburbanites with resources.

After all, many people will assume that a family with three late model cars will have food. The funny thing is that if society collapsed tomorrow and the lights went out, there would be millions of upper middle class citizens with 50 inch TVs, 60,000 dollar cars, 300,000 dollar houses and less than a week of non-perishable food.

No matter how you feel about guns, if you're serious about helping your family survive, you can't ignore the need for a gun. Don't like the TV shows like "The Walking Dead" convince you that if there's a social breakdown, you will be able to pick up a firearm and shot with the marksmanship of a Navy Seal. If you get a gun, make you know how to use it. You don't want your first shots to happen during a crisis. And forcing law abiding citizens to take on an additional tax burden may put good people in a bad situation. 


 

Five Things Single Mothers Can DO Before SHTF

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

As most of us know, there is no shortage of gun talk in the prepper community. After all, one of the best important emergency preparations is self defense. But when if you are not apart of a specialized prepper group with years of food supple and a mountain of guns. When if you're just a regular Joe or Jane? When if you're a single woman or a single mother living by herself? How should a single mother approach prepping?

Obviously, I am not a single mother so my perspective is limited. However, I was raised by a single mother so I think I can make some observations. Because most single moms are working on a more limited budget, they will forced to be extremely economical. This means that they must identify the best deals on large quantity of food for their children, but they must also find a way to secure their homes if there are riots. I am not an expect in home defense or guns, but I have learned a thing or two after prepping for 3 years. Here are 5 things I think every single mom should do right now.

1. Secure Your Doors (and Windows)
Start by buying good locks for your doors, putting locks on the windows and removing hiding spots around your house such as enormous bushes. Buy a 2 x 4 wood piece that is 4 to 5 five long, two high quality metal brackets and screws. Put the brackets on each side of the door and place the wood in the brackets to make the door harder to kick in. The idea to give yourself more time to respond to a home invasion during SHTF (shit hits the fan.) You can put these items aside and use them if things get too bad. View my video below for more details.




2. Acquire a Firearm (Legally) and Carry It
Research the local laws and see if you can legally own a semi-auto handgun. Most states offer a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) permit so you can carry it at all times (except in gun free zones.) The process usually involves taking a 4 hour NRA gun course (100 to 150 dollars) + 100 rounds of ammo), bringing the certificate to the county (or state) office, paying 100 to 120 buys for the paper work, getting your fingerprints recorded and receiving the permit 5 to 8 weeks later. Felons are obviously unqualified.

Using a firearm correctly can save your life. But don't just get a gun, learn how to use it and practice as much as you can. At least once a month. You may want to take additional classes. You may also consider getting a safe and teaching your children about the importance of gun safety.

3. Connect With Other Single Mothers
Look for other single mothers in your neighbor and start talking about the things that matter to you. Get coordinated with family members. It may not be a bad idea to live near your brother. That isn't always possible. It may help to have your brother do some yard work, just to show the neighbors that you are not alone. You may not know it but predators notice when a woman is "doing it all by herself." When the SHTF, he may decide to take advantage of the situation if he thinks that men won't be around. Think of it as a show of force.

4. Get A Dog
Not a cat, because although I love cats, if a rapist enters you house, a cat will not help you. A cat will not attack the man or even warn you. A lab can be a great family dog, loving to the kids, warn and help protect you. If you are allergic, you can find non-allergic breeds.

5. Find A Natural Healer
There may not be access to hospitals during a SHTF situation, so knowing a natural healer may help your children if they get sick.




 

Police Warn "Enter Detroit At Your Own Risk!"

By Reginald Kaigler (DEMCAD)

“Enter At Your Own Risk” is what the Detroit Police union is telling visitors about the city of Detroit. The Detroit Police Officer Association (DPOA) held a political rally warning Michiganders that the city is becoming more dangerous. The union warned that the department is "grossly understaffed", while the homicide rate continues to soar. Detroit Police Officer Association (DPOA) Attorney Donato Ioriotold the press that the police force is shrinking as more officers exit the city.

Enter At Your Own Risk: Police Union Says ‘War-Like’ Detroit Is Unsafe For Visitors

Frankly, I don't blame them. Many cops simply can't afford to work in Detroit. They pay is dropping, but the cost of living is raising.

I live 60 miles north of Detroit in a city that shares more than a few similarities with Motown. Like Detroit, my home town (Flint, Michigan) is a decaying industrial city littered with abandoned buildings, burnt out homes and a struggling economy. Both Flint and Detroit have extremely high crime rates. They are consistently ranked as the most violent cities in the country every year. In 2011, Flint was ranked the most dangerous city in America, even beating Detroit. Flint had the second-highest murder rate and the highest rates of aggravated assault, burglary and arson in the country.

Most Dangerous Cities In America Based On Analysis Of FBI Statistics>

The state police added detectives to help Flint police officers, but the problem seems to be bigger that staffing. It's bigger than manpower. I travel to Detroit quite often to visit family members. I've brought family members to Belle Isle, Greektown, The Detroit Zoo (in Royal Oak), The Detroit Institute of Arts. I've even toured the neighbors where I grew up (in Detroit) and other locales. So unlike most commentators bashing Detroit, I've been inside the city.

I've seen the good that the city has to offer. But when it comes to crime, I think Detroit is experiencing a social and moral breakdown. The government is corrupt to the core, the tax base can't support a decent education system, too many drug addicted zombies are willing to kill for almost nothing, too many young people have embraced a thug culture of degeneracy, criminals have become emboldened the citizens' fear and too many incompetent people are having too many children and not installing good values in the youth.

I have family in the Detroit suburbs and in the city who are afraid to enter many parts of the city. And some family members' fear of being out at night resembles Robert Neville fright in the 1971 classic film "The Omega Man."

So how can I respond to this threat? Should I avoid the city at all cost. I don't blame you if you decide to never visit. But I will walk a different path. I have family in Detroit and I already live in a dangerous city. My plan is to continue enjoying the jazz festivals that Detroit has to offer. I'm going to visit the Detroit Opera House and visit Mexicantown. I'll walk through Downtown Detroit the same way I walk through Flint: armed with my Glock 21 (45 ACP). I have a Concealed Pistol License and am I want to live as peacefully as I can. But I refuse to be a prisoner in my home. 

I refuse to let the bad guys keep me away from Detroit. I will walk through Detroit with a great sense of awareness and learn to survive. Because as the United States declines economically and politically, millions will be too desperate, too drugged out or too spiritually drained to care about morality. 

Whether you know it or not, Detroit is coming to a town near you. 






The Other Side of Detroit: GREEKTOWN



The Other Side of DETROIT: The Detroit Institute of Arts


The Other Side of DETROIT: The Detroit Zoo (Royal Oak, MI)