There's nothing new under the sun

Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again, there is nothing new under the sun.

The clock is ticking

The Doomsday clock is a recognized symbol of the world's susceptibility to devastation from a nuclear war, change in climate, and problematic technologies such as 3 D printing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, virtual and augmented reality,  and IoT (internet of things). Each of the above-stated technologies can be used for good and for evil. Many of these technologies will take the place of the human workforce, human social interactions, and possible disruption of society because we are so interconnected with technology. One hack could cause the world to come to a standstill. 

The Doomsday clock was first invented by Albert Einstein and the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, who helped develop the atomic weapons in the Manhattan Project.  The Bulletins and Security Board and the Board of Sponsors reset this clock each year. As of January 2022, the clock is set at 100 seconds to midnight. Our world is a powder keg waiting to go off. Russia and Ukraine, inflation, plaques, China and Taiwan, and I think soon, Iran and Israel. Israel will not wait around until Iran, who has repeatedly threatened to blow them off the map gets a nuclear weapon, Israel will strike Iran first. 

I am not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but I am a realist, sticking my head in the sand and hoping it all goes away isn't going to help my family when times get hard, and they will. We have been truly blessed with peace and prosperity in this country, and many people in this country think it could never happen to us, but history shows it can, and what we are seeing in our country now, it is a high possibility we will. Are you ready if we have a war, another pandemic, a natural disaster, global food shortages, or a depression? What would you do if the stores were out of food? How would you feed your family? So many people think the government is going to be their prince on the white horse, but don't count on it. People who have lived through depression will be the first to tell you that you have to depend on yourself if you want to eat. They will tell you about the government rations, how if mommy and daddy didn't raise animals and a garden they would not have eaten. I am not saying to go and hoard, but if it's not too late, buy a little extra food every shopping trip to put in your pantry. The prices are expected to keep rising another 22 percent this year. you need to buy it now, while you can still afford to.

Remembering the past

• When cash wasn't available, bartering with milk, eggs, produce and other necessities was payment.
• If you owned a cow, had a garden, or livestock you were considered well off because you could feed your family.
• Banks closed their doors abruptly, without any notice.
• No one ever thought that a bank would close without notice, and their money would be gone forever.
• The Great Depression touched every social class, except the very elite.
• Food that was normally snubbed became common meals, and they were glad to have them.
• There were a lot of displaced families, many family members ended up living together to help make ends meet.
• Not all areas of the country were affected in the same way by the depression. Those living in the big cities had it worse than those living in the countryside. Those in the countryside were able to plant gardens and raise livestock, and if they needed a good or service they couldn't grow or do for themselves,  they were able to barter and trade with others in the community that could provide them with what they needed.
• Hunting and fishing were other ways that some folks could feed their families.
• When the banks closed abruptly, you had only the money in your pocket, or money that had been hidden away elsewhere.
• People learned to forage for food in the woods. Eating wild edibles is how a lot of people survived.

Proverbs 22:3

“A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

Ways to prepare for uncertain times.

• Instead of investing in the stock market, invest in real gold or silver. Do not buy gold bonds, you need tangible gold. Silver is still affordable at around $30.00 an ounce and could go up to as much as 500%  once its price is not being manipulated.
• Don't keep all your money in the bank. If the U.S dollar plummets in value, it is better to have assets that can be used for survival, like seeds, solar generators, farm implements, food storage, guns, ammo, or anything that can be traded or sold if needed.
• Pay cash for everything, no credit.
• If you live in a city and can move, get out.
• Cut down on frivolous spending, and put that money toward self-sustainability, or if you have bills pay them off.
• Learn how to stretch your money.
• "Use it up, wear it out, or do without." Find new ways to use items that you already have, be resourceful.
• Learn to do with less. Do you really need an I phone? or the name brands?
• Cut down or cut out anything that isn't a necessity.

Proverbs 6:6-8“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”

History of recessions in the USA

There has been a total of 48 recessions since 1797. Most of these recessions were short-lived, however, now we are dealing with worldwide issues, as well as domestic problems which make everything worse. We are seeing droughts in the Western and Mid-Western states where many of our agricultural goods come from. We have a fertilizer shortage, and if you can get it is double the price, and farmers will in turn pass the cost to the consumer. We have countries that are prominent suppliers of grains stopping exports because they know what's coming. China has purchased and stored grains also. It seems the U.S. is the only one that hasn't taken these steps to ensure we have food to eat, so don't count on them to feed you. Here is a list of recessions and what caused them.

1. 2020 We all know the reason for the economic decline, the pandemic caused a loss of 20.8 million jobs. The stock market saw Volatility over the uncertainty of the pandemic.
2. 2007-2009 The Great Recession, was the longest period of economic decline since the Great Depression. Due to declining home values caused by the housing bubble collapse, which led to foreclosures, less household spending, and business investments. Predator leading by banks for home buyers was also a huge cause of the economic crisis.
3. 2001 was caused by the boom, followed by the bust of the dot.com businesses. The attack on the Trade Center in New York City also caused an economic decline in two quarters, the first quarter was by 1.1% and the 7th quarter 1.7%. The unemployment rate was at 6.3 in June of 2003.
4. From July 1990 to March 1991 was due to the 1989 savings and loan crisis, which made interest rates higher. The invasion of Kuwait in Iraq also added to the economic crisis. Unemployment topped at 7.8 in June of 1992.
5. 1980-1982 saw two separate recession periods. The first was in the first 6 months of 1980, the second was in July of 1981 to November of 1982. The recession was caused by the Federal Reserve raising the interest rate to fight inflation. In turn, business spending was reduced. The embargo on Iranian oil added to the economic crisis as it reduced oil supplies and increased gas and energy prices. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was negative for 6 quarters out of 12. Unemployment rose to a whopping 10 percent.
6. 1973-1975 This recession lasted from November 1973 to March 1975, President Richard Nixon was to blame for this recession. The OPEC oil embargo caused oil prices to quadruple. Nixon's actions to the crisis only aggravated the economic situation. Nixon put wage-price controls in effect which pushed prices to be too high, and the demand to be too low. Wage control put people out of work because employers couldn't afford to pay the high wages to their workers. Nixon also removed the United States from the gold standard because of the run on gold at Fort Knox, which led to inflation. The price of gold increased, while the value of the dollar plummeted. The result was stagflation, 5 quarters of negative GDP, and a rate of unemployment of 9 percent.
7. 1970 recession lasted 11 months from December 1969 to November 1970 this was a relevantly mild recession. Unemployment was at 6.1 percent.
8. 1960 This recession started in April and lasted 10 months ending in February 1961. This was another mild recession. Unemployment was at 7.1 percent. JFK ended the recession by agitating stimulus spending.
9. 1957  The recession took place from August 1957 to April 1958. The GDP fell to 4.1 %, then declined to 10 % in the first quarter of 1958. The Federal Reserve's contractionary monetary policy caused a slowdown in the economy.
10. 1953 Was a result of the tightening of the monetary policy following the Korean War.
11. 1949 Beginning in November of 1949, this recession lasted for 11 months and was caused by the Feds raising the interest rate too soon. This recession saw an unemployment rate of 7.9 percent.
12. 1945 This recession was caused by the demilitarization from World War II.
13. 1929-1938 (The Great Depression) The worst economic crash in American history. There are a number of situations that lead to the Great Depression. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates despite the recession. Businesses and people's life savings were ravaged. The Dust Bowl, a 10-year drought in the Mid-West devasted farmers. The New Deal instituted by Franklin D. Roosevelt helped in the first recession, and the second recession was ended when the drought ended.
14. 1907 "Panic of 1907," lasted from May 1907 to June 1908 and was caused by investors' losses that extended to trust companies. These companies were like banks but had lower reserves. The Federal Reserve was created to eliminate future banking collapses.
15. 1893 A failure of the Reading Railroad and a stock market crash caused this recession. The banks stopped all cash payments which led to the hoarding of cash.
16. 1873 The speculation of the national railway system led to the collapse of the largest American bank.
17. 1857 Panic erupted when the Ohio Life Insurance Company and Trust had money embezzled. Another mishap with a ship carrying gold to New York sank, and caused investors to lose trust in paper currency. Employers couldn't pay their employees, and businesses came to a standstill.
18. 1797 Began over land speculation. The First Bank of the United States and treasurer Alexander Hamilton increased the money supply which led to the boom and bust.

How many instances can you see in the above recessions that we have going on right now in the United States? It is not just here in the States, but it is a mess worldwide because of the pandemic, and because of leadership, or the lack thereof. We are no longer producing our own gas, we don't make many products in the U.S. even most of our medicines come from China. We are too beholden to other countries, for our necessities, that if we go to war with, or alienate one of these countries, we are in dire straits. What would you do if you could no longer get the medications you need for a serious health condition? What if OPEC would quit selling us oil? Would the administration we have now open the pipelines? I think not. Saudia Arabia is considering taking the Yaun as payment for oil, making it the new petrodollar, and the US currency will no longer be the standard.

Think differently about wealth

A new trend is taking place in America. Many people are looking to be self-sustaining, and to live debt-free. Many people are finding that is not the amount of money that you make that makes you rich, but how you spend it. Most of the population has credit cards that are maxed out, mortgages that they can barely meet month after month, work jobs that demand they work a crazy amount of hours, and send their stress level through the roof. 

Spending money to impress and make people think you are wealthy when you are not is very stressful. Many go into debt for a new car they don't really need or a house that is bigger or posher than they need in order to keep up with the Joneses, which in turn puts them in financial straights and they can't even enjoy what they have due to money worries and extra time working to pay for the things. 

The new rich is the person who knows who he or she is and doesn't need the house, car,  or designer purse to feel good about themselves, which is a false perception because it is based on a lie.  The person that knows what they have to spend and doesn't spend more than they make is a rich, wise person. Being debt-free brings peace, happiness, and true accomplishment.

I know very few people can go and pay cash for a home, but you can start out with something modest, and double up on payments to pay it off quicker. The bank likes to tell people they are homeowners, but you are not truly a homeowner until you pay the mortgage off, it is really the banks until then. Think about where you are spending money, what can you do without in order to make living debt-free a reality? Is eating out that important, or is paying off your home or bills? I think where most people run into trouble with money is that they think in the short term instead of the long term. We live in an I want it now culture. In the uncertainty we live in today, I believe that the more independent you are from loans, credit, or dependence on the government the happier and more peaceful, and richer you will feel.

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