Posted on 12/23/2021 6:53:23 AM PST by blam
History has shown us that collectivism detests the individual. The man who can exist independent of the system, who thinks for himself, who is not easily swayed, and who has values rooted in absolute truth which he refuses to give up – this is the enemy of collectivism.
But if we take a closer look at one aspect of the individual – his ability to exist independent of the system – is it not clear this is an end goal of prepping?
Is that not what a prepper strives for – the ability to exist independent of the world around them so that disaster does not affect them in the way that it affects others?
It is, and this is why collectivism criminalizes preppers over and over again.
We’ve seen it before and we’re seeing it right now, most notably in Turkey.
Turkey Is Cooked, And We All Know It.
For those who keep a fairly accurate pulse of world events, you know that the fiat currency of Turkey – the lira – is collapsing.
As of this year the lira has lost approximately 40% of its value, and from all appearances, it shows no signs of stopping its downward spiral anytime soon.
Inflation is rapidly leading to hyperinflation within Turkey and the Turkish citizens have recognized this. People began attempting to step away from the lira and delving into cryptocurrency in an attempt to protect themselves.
And then the Turkish government made crypto illegal as a form of payment on April 30, 2021. This was done to prevent “irreparable damage.” What’s ironic about this is that the Turks said this was because cryptocurrencies were “neither subject to any regulation and supervision mechanisms nor a central regulatory authority.” [source]
That’s a fun train of logic from the people that are in the process of destroying their own currency.
Crypto – long argued to be the libertarian response to centralized currency – is kind of scary to delve into if landing in a Turkish prison happens to those caught with it. And attempting to dump their personal lira savings into US dollars, euros, or any other fiat currency is practically impossible for Turks as well. Their hands are tied. What then is the natural response?
Your country is being rocked by hyperinflation. Your fiat money is worthless. Forex is regulated to the point of being impossible. Crypto is banned. The price of food has shot up 27.1%.
What do you do?
You don’t want to just watch your life savings be vaporized. You aren’t going to watch your family starve.
And so, you may think it’s a wise idea to put your money into something that will retain its value. This is the reason people invest in gold and silver after all, isn’t it? This is the reason James Wesley Rawles pushes guns, tools, and gear for investment, right?
And that’s exactly what people in Turkey started to do.
Then The Criminalization Of Turkish Preppers Began.
People there have started turning to tangibles. They saw what was coming – how things were taking a turn for the worse – and so they attempted to prepare for it.
Then, the ironically named Justice and Development Party (AKP) submitted a bill to the Turkish Parliament asking for fines of anywhere between what would be $7000 – $144,000 USD for those “hoarding….food and other goods”.
That was Step 1 in the criminalization of preppers.
Step 2 took place this past week as 51 various Turks were arrested by police for “panic hoarding” new cars. Turkish media widely reported people were investing in new vehicles as a means of inflation protection.
But this was deemed to be a threat.
These 51 individuals were accused of “lowering dealership inventories,” which allegedly led to higher prices. The AKP fiddling around with their centralized banking system most certainly couldn’t be the cause. It must be the citizens’ fault that inflation is rocking the country.
And so, anybody who attempts to protect themselves from totalitarians must be stopped.
The Criminalization Of Preppers Coincides With Inflation And War.
Look at what we’ve witnessed in Venezuela – yet another collectivist society that has been rocked by hyperinflation. It was there, after communist policies caused a 20% shortage of basic goods, that Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz called for prosecutors to target those who were “hoarders” of staples of daily life.
In other words, if you had a supply of rice stowed away in your basement, you were no longer safe. Now, you were a target.
We’ve Seen This Vilification Even Within The United States.
Consider that it was in early 2020 that the mainstream media criticized those they deemed to be “hoarders” in unison. Have too many cans of soup in your cart? According to the media, you are now worthy of public shame.
It was during this same time that we saw a Brooklyn man have his home raided by agents who confiscated his supply of N95 masks for “hoarding” them. Keep in mind he had purchased all of these masks. They were not stolen. They were legally his possessions.
“Something needs to be done about those people!” is what the TV indoctrinated were being led to say, in the hopes that public support could be used to “justify” whatever policies were going to come down the road in the near future.
Despite public opinion, building up our personal stockpiles is exactly what we need to be doing. And now, before it’s too late. Check out this FREE quickstart guide to help you create your own food supply quickly and affordably.
What Are We Going To See Next?
Is Turkey the canary in the coal mine? Is what is happening there – massive inflation bordering on hyperinflation (all caused by government policy), nobody producing anything, massive shortages of goods, and the criminalization of preppers to the point of outlawing any degree of independence from politicians whatsoever – simply the first case of this noxious policy?
Within the US we’re already seeing widespread shortages of goods. We’re already seeing massive inflation to the point that this is the highest levels of it the US has ever seen.
Does the complete criminalization of preppers within America come next?
You're gonna need a bigger root cellar.
Already in Oregon and probably other “Blue” states too... collecting rainwater is verboten, punishable by large fines and even jail! Living “off grid” is also criminalized in many U.S. communities. Our feudal lord wannabe masters demand “no other gods before them!”
The 16th Amendment (income tax) has “progressed” to the point the government has first claim (withholding) to the fruits of your labor. In the not so distant past, such stolen labor was called “slavery”... and a bloody war fought to end it. Now such stolen labor is called “fair share” and “economic justice!” Old Serpent smiles.
The guy in Brooklyn was not arrested for hoarding N95 masks. He was selling them at inflated prices up to a 700% markup. One might debate whether that’s right or wrong but portraying the incident as the author does is simply fearporn.
From that date in 1933 to 1 January 1975, it was illegal for any US RESIDENT to own non-jewelry gold. From the crisis of the beginning of the Great Depression to the crisis of the COVID Pandemic, Presidential Executive Orders can be quite intrusive and dictatorial. Amazing how much the SWAMP will take when we do not resist!
….you can sell your property for whatever someone is willing to pay....
That’s going to make Jay Leno and his car collection public enemy #1.
Just recently I've started accumulating cans of soup with these special prices for quantity. That can of soup is a complete, 300-or-less calorie meal for $1.29 (what I'm paying).
It's important to understand he source of that canned food, though. Unfortunately I can't trust any food items coming from China.
Regarding prepping/"hoarding" in general - not only is that not amoral/illegal, it is a PUBLIC SERVICE. The person who hoards in the immediate aftermath of a disaster is not being particularly moral, but the person who accumulates provisions in general is one less person out there emptying the shelves when disaster does strike.
In fact, after a while I find myself putting back some supplies for neighbors (I hope they love Vienna Wieners!).
Oregon is a big state, and most of the rain harvesters live in rural areas. Many sheriffs and county officials in rural counties will likely not enforce such rules.
Look at New York: when the governor brought back mask mandates, 30 county executives, mostly in the upstate area, said they would not enforce the governor’s decree.
The prepper handbooks and newsletters I’ve read emphasize keeping quiet - very quiet- about everything you’re doing.
You don’t want nosey neighbors knowing what you have should the time come - or worse, the government.
Good advice, good advice.
Like I wrote, you can argue you that all you want but the article misrepresented the facts.
I don’t necessarily disagree with you.....but being arrested for having them or arrested for selling them at what the government decrees to be an excessive price is a distinction without a difference.
So many folks in Hawaii live off grid.
Solar & wind electric, propane for cooking and hot water, septic tanks, and most important catchment systems for water.
They are not a burden on the lives of those on the county or grid systems.
They should be left alone.
I and others also suggest NOT buying in bulk, but a little extra every week. It doesn’t kill your budget and also allows for better product rotation, which too many folks forget.
just my $0.02
Define “hoarding”.
Don’t let polypragmayons define it.
Quantities exceeding any rational explanation may be “hoarding”.
Large amounts of shelf-stable products contributing to prolonged nutritional needs is not hoarding.
Large amounts of perishable products with no apparent way to consume, distribute, nor store before spoilage is hoarding.
Yes, all have a right to buy whatever they want.
Deliberately buying up staples with the practical outcome of causing societal collapse understandably elicits a DGAF response regarding rights.
Prepping should end where you have more than enough to the point of wasting resources.
Of course it is.
They are already demonizing preppers as “hoarders”.
*** It’s important to understand he source of that canned food, though. Unfortunately I can’t trust any food items coming from China. ***
Nor should you.
10 ‘Made in China’ Cancer-Causing Foods Full of Plastic and Pesticides You Must Avoid
https://www.theepochtimes.com/10-made-in-china-cancer-causing-foods-full-of-plastic-and-pesticides-you-must-avoid_3005504.html
We used to have used to have 3ight in this countrymto live totally,independent of society, and not pay a dime for anything if we so chose to do so.
A person could roam around, sleeping in the wilderness, make their own clothes out of either discarded stuff, eat off the land, and never have to buy anything like,insurance, liscences etc.
The unconstitutional ruling of the Supreme Court put an end to that when they ruled that a government could compell someone to buy something they didn’t want, or face a penalty for not doing so.
Now we are told we must get vaccinations if we want to work, ride transportation, go,into a store, socialize etc. For, ow we could I suppose go off grid, and avoid it all, but in Australia, a worried to do that, and was arrested and taken to a covid camp even though she lived far outside of,any contact with others where she chose to live off grid. That may be coming here as well. NY tried to pass something similar to what Australia does, thankfully it failed, but Chicago, and several other states are now requiring proof of vaccination justnto be able to but groceries or socialize or do business.
Lif3 is starting to seem like,like, old song that says Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
If memory serves me, in WW2 the government confiscated “excess” food that people in TX had stored.
As regards “precedent”, does our corrupt government and equally corrupt judicial system even pay lip service to “precedent” anymore?
We all hope local law enforcement won’t enforce unconstitutional (anti-constitutional) laws, but some will and some have in Oregon (link below). The last line of defense against these increasingly totalitarian decrees from wannabe despots are local officials. Will they resist? The BIG TYRANT has no power without their army on mini-tyrants to do the dirty work.
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