This past year was jam packed with news of all sorts. Some was surprising, some of it was expected, while other news seemed to either be another dot to connect or an outlier dot to be connected later. We even got news from time to time which even in today’s world could be considered bizarre or surreal. Suffice it to say, were we receiving the current news of today just 15 years back, the financial and social worlds would have been in outright panic. Not so today, the sheep are sound asleep even while a few well intending herders are sounding the alarm. The populace in general have become dumbed down, beaten down and barely able to read past whatever headline it happens to be for the day. Let’s call the condition “comfortably numb”…
I promised to write a “fictional” account of what my thoughts were “the day after” the financial lights go out. This effort could easily be expanded into a full book because the ramifications of the coming credit meltdown are so far reaching. The following is my opinion and as such, if you don’t agree with some of the possibilities I will provide, then please just smile, grin and bear it or just stop reading. Here goes…
For years Jack and Jill America had gone through the daily life of what they believed was the American dream. They’ve been married 25 years and have their 2.3 children. Life has been getting tougher though, Jack and Jill both work but neither has had a substantive raise in nearly 10 years and their firstborn is now 3 years into college with the younger one getting ready for next fall. They have accumulated some assets over the years but will have to refi their home’s equity to complete paying for college. They’ve done everything they were told to do by the mainstream. They’ve contributed to their 401K’s at work and even added to personal IRA’s and even 529 plans to help pay for college. Jack and Jill have so far “climbed the hill” of life without any major setbacks, this is about to change as will their entire life!
Going into a long weekend, Jack and Jill have a conversation over dinner. They talk about the recent headlines they’ve been reading and the topic turns to the economy and markets. The Dow just five days ago hit an all-time high and the employment news earlier in the morning was really good! The problem is, the employment news said the housing industry was doing terrific, particularly in their region. Jill works in the mortgage market and Jack works for a bank so they both know this news doesn’t really add up, the discussion morphs into “are they really telling us the truth”?
Then, something starts to happen at the front of the restaurant. It looks like four or five couples are all arguing with the owner and the discussion is becoming heated. You see, their credit cards are not working, none of them! One gentleman slips out to cross the street and get cash from the ATM to pay his bill …but he came back empty handed. The “tone” begins to change once another customer who went to a different ATM machine returns with the news his card was also denied. The owner decides to call the police because it looks like he is going to be stiffed on most all of the tables since he generally is paid by credit or debit card 85-90% of the time. The police inform him this is happening everywhere in the city, at gas stations, Walmart, restaurants, everywhere! So, Jack leaves his business card and promises to come back on Monday to pay, a nice gesture but one he had no idea was pointless!
They spend the weekend watching the news feverishly because they found out it was not “just” their city having these problems …it was all across the nation. They feel some relief on Saturday morning as the “news” tells them a coordinated hack attack has taken down the clearing system for banks and is only temporary…but their warm fuzzy feeling turns to near fear when they go online to the internet. It turns out, the banks are being closed indefinitely and something about China and gold …and dollars being refused by foreigners. Jack doesn’t get it nor does Jill, how can this be? What do you mean the banks are closed and dollars not being accepted? Dollars are used all over the world …and what is Jack supposed to do Monday morning if his bank is closed? Will they still pay him his salary?
Monday morning comes and Jack goes to work only to find a sign in the front door “Bank closed indefinitely, sorry for the inconvenience” and a sign on the employee entrance with a phone number to call. He calls and gets a recording, “due to circumstances out of our control, you will not be required to attend work until further notice”. A cold chill washes down his back and he calls Jill. She is already on her way home because her mortgage company is also closed, what are they going to do they wonder? The first thought in both their minds is “food,” what are we going to do for food? When they meet back at the house, Jack pulls out $300 from a drawer that he tucked away after coming back from vacation last month. On their way to the store, they see huge lines as they pass gas stations. They both wonder why there are lines since credit cards aren’t working but they soon find out …the grocery store is mobbed and the shelves are almost bare. All of the canned goods are gone as are the basic staples like rice, pasta and beans. There are a few vegetables left, along with spices and condiments but nothing else. They were apparently too late.
As they were leaving the store, Jill thought, “what about dog food” for our 3 beloved canine children? Just as she started to say something, shots rang out and a big commotion near aisle nine. Oh my God said Jack, this whole thing is breaking down! They rushed out of harm’s way, got in their car and sped home. How could this happen they wondered as the stock market was near all-time highs? How could “hackers” create such a havoc and now apparently some lives are going to be lost? How could this happen, THIS IS AMERICA!
As they pull into their subdivision with the intent of getting online to get a better idea of what was actually happening, they are stunned when they see a sign at the front gate. The sign says “MANDATORY MEETING for ALL HOMEOWNERS tonight at 7:00 PM”. They just look at each other and say “this is not good”. What is going to happen? They were about to find out!
With trepidation, Jack and Jill showed up at the completely filled community center, the pitch and decibel level were off the charts. So much commotion and so loud, until some guy started clanging two metal garbage can tops together to get people to quiet down. As it turns out, the “guy” happens to be a long time County Sherriff’s Deputy, Dave. He informs the crowd that they are now on their own, as is everyone else in the country. The banking system has come down and will not be back up for an indefinite period of time, “the big one” everyone knew was coming but had ignored for so long, has finally arrived. The National Guard has been called out to the cities as have regular military. The cities are war zones he says, it’s only a matter of time before it spills out and into the suburbs.
The deputy also informs everyone that he will not be going to work the next day as he would not be paid anyway. He lives in this neighborhood and plans to stay home to protect his family and belongings, he also informs “all of my other coworkers have made the same decision,” we are all on our own now. Most shocking to Jill was when he asked for a show of hands as to who had firearms and who didn’t. She had no idea that almost three quarters of her neighborhood had guns. She was not a real fan of guns but Jack convinced her they should get their concealed handgun licenses. They had had their licenses for several years but the sad part is they never bought any guns because they didn’t see any immediate need, they do now!
Deputy Dave pretty much took over from that point. He chose who he wanted “guarding the gates” for a rotation on a 24 hour basis. The neighborhood also had several ex-military personnel. In almost light switch fashion, the community turned into a functioning military garrison. He also made clear, any crime from within would be dealt with swiftly and severely, theft of anything from within would be considered a capital offense. Groups began to form. Close neighbors began to group up and talk to each other. Jack and Jill saw three of their immediate neighbors all together and approached them. What are we going to do they all asked?
What exactly did “indefinitely” mean? One neighbor said he didn’t think there would be much of a problem for more than a week or so as his computer geek friends told him the problem was being fixed. Another neighbor said he wouldn’t be so sure of that, the Chinese have asked for an audit of U.S. gold and would not accept any dollars for any trade until they were satisfied we still had some gold to back our dollars. He went on to say the Chinese were rumored to be paying $50,000 per ounce for any and all gold for sale which would make U.S. gold worth trillions of $ …if we still had it. Jack asked the question, “what does gold have to do with any of this, dollars are in the banks, not gold?” You see, Jack, (like 95%+ of the populace) even being in the financial world didn’t understand what was happening even after the fact. His ignorant bliss was being shattered.
Several days passed, the dog food was almost all gone. Jack looked in the pantry and calculated they could keep eating for another 5 days before the food was completely gone. There had been talk about food pantries the government was setting up in cities, word also got around about one opening in the little town three miles away. Jack thought to himself, at least we won’t starve. His relief then turned to panic as Jill came in from next door, she was just informed that one of the neighbors was shot and killed as he was leaving town. He had gone in and bartered for a little bit of food, now, he and the food were both gone. In less than one full week, the United States had gone from “model civility” to lawlessness.
Jack was furiously thinking about what he could do to feed his family. He remembered the little old lady down by the river who had chickens, maybe he could buy some eggs? She was only two miles away and it would be safe to go on foot by jumping a couple of fence lines, so he told Jill his plan and set out with his $300 cash in hand. Sure enough, the little old lady was there and she met Jack with a shotgun pointed, she remembered him though from the bank. Jack asked if he could buy some eggs and she said “with what?”. Jack told her he would gladly give her $20 for a dozen eggs and the old lady just laughed at him. He said “how about $100 for a dozen?” she laughed again and said he couldn’t have any eggs for $1,000. She would however consider accepting something “real” in exchange. If he had a bicycle, or some 20 gage shotgun shells or something she could use, then he’d have some eggs. She thought to herself, this guy is a banker and understands money, maybe he has silver for exchange? … (Fat chance, I had to throw this one in for laughs!)
Jack got back home and told Jill the bad news about the eggs, he said the old lady actually wanted “something” for the eggs instead of his dollars. Jill now thought to herself, maybe jewelry or cooking utensils? What about her handheld sewing machine? Jill made the trek herself and did end up coming back with two dozen eggs and a promise for four dozen more next over the next 2 weeks so at least they would have something be it ever so small to eat for a time.
This little bright spot turned dark pretty quickly as all of a sudden the lights went out. They had not thought of this, nor did they think about their water supply. People were getting sick from drinking the water as the plant workers were not working to purify it. But now, now that the electricity is out, so is the water supply. No electricity = no pumps, no pumps = no flow, could it get any worse?
Jack and Jill lived for this first two week period after the banks shut down as well as they could considering their circumstances. They had little food stocked up. Nothing much to barter with. Even though they only lived two miles from a river, they had no way to purify water. If they did have food stocked up, they didn’t have any guns or ammunition to protect it (but they did have their “licenses!”) or themselves from other hungry souls in search of food. They went from a casual dinner together one Friday night to living like barbarians within two weeks. They had no clue whatsoever was coming, and when it did, they had no idea nor ability to deal with it.
As I mentioned at the beginning, this saga is fodder for an entire book. I apologize for not touching on all facets but it just could not be done in the space available. Suffice it to say, when the banking system comes down, EVERYTHING will change. Think of what life will be like within cities? Think about the average American today. 50 million live on food stamps and over half have less than $500 in savings. These people don’t have the ability to prepare. Think of the millionaires out there who have their wealth in banks? Or in stocks which cannot be traded? How many Americans can live off of the land today? Five percent? Less?
Without credit, nothing will work. Distribution will definitely break down which means after the shelves are cleared, they will not be re stocked. A new currency, one the people can have faith in as well as one that foreigners will accept will by necessity be introduced. How long a banking/system closure takes place is anyone’s guess, however, it is not a guess that a financial panic will engulf the U.S. as well as most of the world. We have lived a fantasy which has also engulfed “values” of all sorts. Asset values, wage values as well as social values. All of these will be re set. I can assure you, the “mindset” of this nation will change more drastically than any time in her history. I believe we will see a major shift in ideology, ethics and faith. If anything good can come from what I believe is coming, it will be this shift in thought process toward truthfulness and godliness. We as a nation have been moved so far down the rabbit hole on purpose to hide what was happening. Our society has been so dumbed down, the really sad part is when the tsunami does hit …the majority will still not understand why.
I assume if you are reading this then you already know “why,” your job now is to decide “what?”. “What?” …as in what you should do to prepare the best you can for what is mathematically coming!
I know a few “geniuses” who would call this “doom and gloom.” I call it common sense!
Thanks, Bill. Happy New Year!
More like fear mongering fiction. Sorry but the U. S. financial system is not going to collapse to the extent as some people imagine and it will not happen overnight.
And you know this because…?
Sorry you did not like it, it is your choice to either read or not read what I write. It was requested many times that I write a “fiction” of what I see coming. Don’t like it? Don’t read it!
thanks Matt, it is my opinion based on the current knowledge we have. Not trying to write doom or gloom, just where I see this going.
Quite possible scenario but I would be surprised it would go so far because USA will still be that time the number 1 army in the world and that it is not in the interests of the chinese to let them fall so low.
IMO Western people will have some reduced life level on a financial point of view but I do not think they will let the chaos spread completely in the west even if everything must be “closed” for a week or two while the new system is implemented (reset completed).
Anyway, still an interesting piece regarding our dependance to technology wherever it is banks, food, transport, water and so on.
Happy new year to you and all gold bugs all over the world !
Yes, a possible scenario that could happen sometime in later on in the future if certain things happen and people react a certain way. Of course there are other scenarios.
not many.
derivatives are bigger than anything on the planet including armies.
I’ve thought a lot about this and I can’t see any way to avoid this kind of a situation unfolding. The worst case would be if hyperinflation happened really fast and the military and police force was abandoned and / or unwilling to maintain order. Then chaos would ensue.
There are a few ways this could be softened. If somehow the military was paid in something real or military from another country was brought in, that would maintain some degree of order. But people will need to be fed and there will have to be some military trucks backing up and shovelling food off since so many people will be unemployed, they currently fill a huge amount of the labour force doing things like banking and other useless bureaucracies, and working in service industries selling all this mindless manufactured crap imported from China via the trade deficit which will instantly end. So expect unemployment to shoot up to 80% or something. But the military taking control of the food distribution network to feed the unemployed would be a major undertaking and you’d think we’d see some indications of that before it happens. They could just ramp up food stamps but what currency will they use?
If the hyperinflation is avoided and instead some instant devaluation occurs and then a reset based on gold or silver or something else “hard” to prevent a hyperinflation, then we still have the problem that unemployment will still shoot up to near 80% or something since so many people these days have jobs in the financial ponzi scheme. I can’t understand how they could possibly get jobs any time in the next few years. What are they going to do for a job? Maybe the devalued currency would encourage cheap manufacturing to move back over from China, as they did to the West, but this would take years to happen. The first 10 years of this collapse are going to be horrendous, I don’t know how the country will survive.
Could the financial system just slowly morph away from the dollar over years and the turmoil would be spread out a bit? I can’t see this happening either, the dollar is now so overprinted and lopsided and totally ponzied out, I can’t imagine how any of this could unravel slowly.
hyperinflation cannot be avoided.
Awesome article Bill.!! I shared on Facebook.
-Rodger-
thanks Rodger.
Bill,
I think your descriptions are very accurate, however writing about 3 weeks after the day it all collapses will be so scary that no one will believe it could get that bad.
I’m afraid we will see this event in 2015.
Very slim chance of it happening in the near future.
Sorry “J”, I believe it is a mathematical certainly and a very slim chance that the inevitable is not quite soon.
Dmitri Orlov believes the same…But what would he know about it (collapse)?
There is a good interview over @ http://www.DRescapes.com with him.
thanks.
Agree on time period…2016 at the latest.
in my opinion it will happen VERY fast when it does.
Thanks Bill for your brief overview.
“…this guy is a banker and understands money…”,I laughed out loud. After much research and learning about money and fiat currency and fractionalized banking I did a small experiment. In 2010 over about a three week period I walked into about ten different local banks and introduced myself to THE MANAGERS of these banks and asked them if they knew what fiat currency was. Not one manager knew. I was realy beginning to understand that they were not supposed to know. It was becoming obvious to me that TPTB are not going to reveal the con,even in college classes. If the conmen tell the shills the con you can’t con em’.
Beans,bullets and bullion,uh huh.
it’s like a giant Manhattan project where no one sees the whole picture, only their little part of it.
Nice Bill. Happy new year!
Thanks, same to you!
Having drinkable water is at the top of my list which includes having a good long lasting water purifier and, if on a well, having a hand pump..
the sustenance of life.
The time to start serious preperations was a decade ago. Those who started to read ‘between the lines’ and began to prepare, did so six years ago. And those who have had their eyes and minds opened since then, are well on their way.
Time is now running very short. If you don’t want to find yourself in Jack and Jill’s situation, then begin to prepare now. Not tomorrow, or next week, but now. Right now.
Everything you do to prepare will be of use to you even if nothing happens! But, do you want to take the chance that nothing will happen? A stitch in time saves nine.
I agree.
See Martin Armstrongs commentary on gold closing prices this year, a close under $1250 will signal lower prices next year, under $1155 will mean a test of $700 level…you’ve been warned, no excuses.
The use of barter (the little old lady with chickens and eggs) will be the main means of procuring items that were either forgotten to be included in preparations or items that were included but have been used up and need to be replenished..Having extras of good barterable items will be
should also be at the top of one’s list.
yes.
As I see it the survival of mankind may be at greater risk today than ever in human history.
see the most recent article provided by Dr. Paul Graig Roberts for details. http://www.kingworldnews.com
If I can add…the best case scenario might be that we choose economic warfare over the alternative.
So few have any idea of how at risk we are going into 2015.
So many have no idea of the truth.
Most know more about the workings of an iPhone than they do of the fractionalized banking system.
I agree.
Wow. I think even those who have prepared will lose. I think water will be the greatest need. Are you thinking an international force will implement martial law since U.S. soldiers aren’t paid? I hear rumors of Chinese and Russian troops already here. Down right scary, not sure who to trust anymore.
correct Jeremy.
Is this the reason they are buying survival kits for those who work in the banking and government money handling buildings?
I don’t know but I do know there IS a “reason” for everything.
Bill those few words say it all.
Everything happens by design or for a reason.
ie: Western Governments have written laws that are designed to deal with financial calamities that could occur in the future.
If a person depositing monies into a bank are now unsecured creditors then there is a reason for that change in status.
In my opinion there is no way that the FDIC in the USA or the CDIC in Canada will ever be able to cover the losses insured if there is a major bank failure event.
In Canada for example the CDIC has a fund pool of 2.7 billion and a credit facility of another 12 billion.
That credit facility is with the Canadian Government.
Add it anyway you want both USA and Canadian residents are positioned to bear the brunt of the losses of any future bank failure.
2015 is likely going to be a wake up call time for many and it is not going to be pretty.
I want to wish you and your family Bill Happy New Year but doing so is just words that will have little meaning if things go as we expect.
So Bill I am not going to say Happy New Year but I am going to say Thank You for opening the eyes of many in 2014.
Happy New Year to you but unfortunately the deck is stacked against you.
Time is short for long explanations so my hope is that people seek the Lord before its too late.
http://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/33839
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article44338.html
I remember what was told Roy by the Holy Spirit on September 10, 2001, ” They are going to collapse the economy. ” He rebuked me. The last thing I told him was that there was something coming down the road. There was the water color painting given to me on May 11, 1999 which was posted on the internet several years later with the interpretation of the painting which you can review at this site which point out this nation is in rebellion against God, there is the shedding of the infants blood by abortion, our green backs heading toward Europe representing financial collapse and the clouds of Communism coming over this country. There is also the scriptural references, 2 Chronicles 7: 19-22 KJV and Jeremiah Chapters 4-6 KJV, especially read 2Chronicles 7: 19-22. This tells us why September 11, 2001 went down September 11 went down according to the Word of the Lord.
http://www.biblegadteway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%207:%2019-22,%20Jeremiah%20Chapters%204-6&version=KJV
Can you tell me which of these have not taken place?
Bill
I think your wrong on the store shelves emyptying. With the Bank ATM machines down. So will
The store machines be down. 90% of the population only use THIER wallet full of plastic,
Credit cards. They have NO cash now days. The selves will not empty. Especilally Walmart,
Where all people on Goverment food stamps plastic use plastic.
I use cash on all purchases and I count 9 out of 10 people either in front or behind me, they
All use plastic now days. CASH is history, or they are all broke.
Just something I have noticed in the last 15 years.
you could be correct but I personally would not be willing to find out in real time. Better to go and shop now while you can still blend in with the sheep.
Dear Bill,
Thank you for your excellent remarks. Look what they are trying now.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-30/moscow-anti-corruption-protest-escalates-riot-police-arrive-live-feed
It is remarkable show anyway. It really is a master chess game.
It will be very sad if they succeed big – again. It will be like Nikolaj Kopernik on the flames time – again.
All the best to you.
U2 Al.
Great teaser and introduction, Bill! Seems plausible.
Me, I think there are positive forces within the military and Treasury who are working with counterparts worldwide to make the transition from dollar to gold/silver as quick and painless as possible. But, no doubt, the applecart will be upset for a while.
Exciting times, and the change will be for the absolute better.
thanks John.
Bill,
Your story is one of numerous possible course of actions. Whichever does come first people should expect a Back holiday from several days++. And whatever you hear from the MSM/Org I would think the oppisite i.e. “don’t worry” means “worry”. The best advise I can give others is to prep and prepared to hunker down if the Tactical Situation requires it. Here’s another thing, if anything like Bill’s story does occur A Lot of military personnel simply won’t show up. They will be busy taking care of their own families. And here’s another thing, don’t go against a military force on force and expect a positive result. Most of the military personnel are young men/women that will be just as scared as (Civ) are and at the same time thinking about the well being of their own families. At the higher level where my shoes land I would be focued on what’s Constitutionally legal Rules of Engagement (ROE), protecting the well being of civilians, preserving infrastruture & property, etc.
God for bid, if the grind goes down for an extended period of time then all bets are off. For years I have been asking my own kids questions, What if? What if the electricity goes down in the middle of winter -10… No running water, hungry neighbors knocking, etc. It’s time we ask our friends and especially all family members these questions!
Happy New Year
…and your kids probably think Daddy is a nutcase?
My dad is a nut case!!!!!
I joke with my kids and my very close friends about this..
I tell them upfront that it matters not if they think this of me….what matters is that they know that I am taking steps to try and protect them as best as I can,this in the event that my opinion of the future is partially correct.
It is a doubled edged sword…preparing yourself…trying to educate those important to you and not making yourself a target if things do go bad.
The time is here now to become good at concealing your effort to prepare.
sadly yes.
Thank you for the encouragement. Prepping is a lonely task. Being conservative is also a lonely position. I hold hope that what you describe will never happen, but common sense (mental math) tells me we are beyond repair.
Peace
something “not good” will come of all this.
Bill, I wonder if the upcoming elections in Greece will light the fuse for a euro collapse.I understand the front running candidate is anti bailout and is willing to call the bluff against further bailouts from the ECB.This could force the fed to do a backdoor bailout to stabilize the euro and would sound the alarm bells to other nations willing to exit the euro.Any thoughts?
we will have a pretty good idea within a month.
Great Bill. You poured a lot of work into this. Well done.
Happy New Year to you and yours.
mark in Victoria BC
thanks Mark, I really need a whole book to cover this.
My first question would be, ” if I can make the American Border with ten thousand silver dimes will I buy myself a month?” Is there a better idea for survival? Maybe a bullet proof camper?
I believe you will be OK in Costa Rica, but not sure you can book your flight after the event. There’s food everywhere and plenty sleep outdoors year round with no police bothering them. Different culture.
Obviously a week without credit cards in the USA and no food stamps means chaos, lawlessness, open theft of everything of value. No one will hide long from hungry mobs.
I don’t think so Markmouse, I lived in Costa Rica for 5 years and believe fully that Gringos will be target #1. Good luck even getting there after credit cards go down in any case.
If Ticos think you are a Gringo, work on your Spanish. Stay away from Del Rey and downtown. There is a lot of country there and into southern Nicaragua. You should already have your second passport if you are serious bout all this. I have a boat you should check out if you aren’t too picky.
Mike, I lived there for 5 years. It was BECAUSE my Spanish became good enough and I mixed with Ticos that I got an understanding of how they think. We decided to brave whatever comes, back in Texas with like minded people. Sorry, I think you are fooling yourself if you believe you will not have a target on your back. Banking systems all over the world will be coming down, Costa Rica will surely be one of them. We can argue this all day and not agree. I did my homework and left the country only to find my homework was faulty in my opinion. Good luck to you whatever you decide.
Just wondering why you think gringos will be targeted in Costa Rica. Won’t everyone know that gringos’ savings and wealth will be mostly gone? Will they be targeted out of spite? Maybe feelings people had towards gringos all along but did not act on because gringos paid the bills?
they will be targeted for their “stuff” after the banks go down.
Hello Bill,
I can understand timing is not possible. But any idea what circumstances might cause this? I believe as long as it is within this paper paradigm, they will be able to control it, like they have so far.
the list is long and continues to grow.
Bill,
I totally agree, it’s much better to be around like minded people when this goes down. It’s best to be with A small group or community of like minded people. My wife is from Latin America and I love the people and culture of that part of the world, but you won’t find me going there when the fertalizer hits the fan. To say I would be a target is an understatement.
this was our thought exactly.
I wonder if SE Asia would be more tolerant of gringos.
I don’t know.
Today would be a good day to visit your bank ATM and withdraw whatever you can.
In the world today one needs to not only have a full pantry of food but at least some water purification ability, cash on hand and a stack of silver at minimum.
If doing this makes you feel weird just pretend a Katrina type event is about to hit.
happy stacking everyone.
lead is also a “precious” metal.
Scary thought for many of us Bill.
One piece of video that I have found to be helpful in getting people to understand the risks is the Doug Casey Meltdown America.
http://www.caseyresearch.com/lg/meltdown-video
Thanks Mike.
Kudos to you Bill for writing this. As you said most people are so dumbed down, they don’t realize how fragile our society has become. The Sony cyberattack should wake us to how vulnerable we are if just one domino were to collapse. I look at buying gold, silver, extra food, guns and ammo as finanical insurance. I’m not ready to bet mine and my family’s life that a banking crisis, credit crunch, cyberattack, derivative meltdown, utility grid attack, pandemic or EMP attack will never happen. If you don’t own these things at the start of something bad it’s way to late.
Thanks again, Dan
PS Write that book!!!!!! Put me down as your first book sale.
thanks Dan, fiction may be beyond my talent ability.
Good read Bill. Reminds me of the usagold dark vision contest thirteen years or so ago.
If this endgame as you describe happens, then all politicians, civil servants, judges, lawyers, police, firemen, teachers, etc. will also cease to be relevant. The only social power structure to survive will be out of the barrels of guns – military and private owners.
Will the PTB have sufficient control over the former group to dictate to them like they do their lackey politicians? Will they pit the two guns against each other in order to reduce numbers? Why change the devil you do know and control for one with fangs? Are they that stupid or is there method in their madness? Questions.
I would think the PTB would rather incrementally and gradually paint a darker perception of the future with sporadic runs on banks, ATM, credit card, food shortages, EBT blackouts, etc. to inculcate a certain fear and eventuality to be avoided at all costs in the minds of the populace. This is where their tried and true problem, reaction, solution – Great Reset – would come into play before they would ever upset the apple cart and golden goose. If things get out of hand, then the military option is probably planned for too.
Again people will be given the Faustian choice of a new SDR fiat digital and cashless money system or on the other hand the dark future you mention with more theft, chaos, starvation, murder, death, etc. Again the choice and power is with a stupefied and confused people. Predator and prey come to mind here and the latter hasn’t a clue.
Your vision would actually and ironically be best in that like most systems that cleanse themselves from time to time, the soft of body and mind would be swept away leaving mostly the moral and honest as nature would sort out the riffraff. Somehow I don’t think the PTB want this eventuality either. I might be wrong at some higher level of consciousness but cynicism gets the better of me.
Those on an honest money standard of metals understand morality and honesty. Those on the credit/debt, loan and mortgage hamster wheel don’t understand that they are part of a system of theft. Every time people use debt instruments, they create money out of nothing inflating the money supply and stealing value from each other through their very own inflation. It’s amusing when people curse the bankers yet pay for most everything with a credit card.
Finally, I would expect a slow burn endgame with the pain and fear ratcheted up until the people make their final choice and solution to the PTB’s new/old system of debt slavery and peonage. Same as it ever was.
Again, your dark vision is the brightest and just how twisted is that?
in my opinion, there will be nothing “slow” about what happens once the move begins.
Hi Bill,
As you predict in your dark vision of how the endgame goes down, you lay out a deflationary depression similar to the ’30s with concomitant bank runs on currency. Wouldn’t this be where cash is king and the eggs very plentiful for any currency in hand due to scarcity?
On the other hand, an inflationary depression would be where cash is no longer wanted in a longer drawn out process of eventual hyperinflation lasting a couple years. No eggs for any cash and only barter. You state the case for both happening simultaneously.
I would think that the latter will play out and the deflationists are wrong only for the simple fact that they will never stop printing to pay off their debts at the expense of cash holders and dollars savers the world over. That’s a lot of money and time to burn through before confidence breaks. I reserve the right to be incorrect.
The fed’s stated policy is not to make the same mistakes as the ’30s. Never mind they view the world’s problems as cyclical and not structural while thinking that holding interest rates at zero and beyond will solve the moribund business cycle. This stated view is more for public consumption of a lie with very bitter austere medicine to be swallowed. As Charlie says, “Suck it up people.”
If neither scenario plays out, then it’s Japan style depression forever. Somehow I think something will have to give sooner or later if not eventually people in the streets demanding structural change with a new reserve currency to stop the pain.
Something will surely “give” …and $300 will not buy a dozen eggs.
Yes, agree.
Anyone with debt, currency and banked savings will be leveled after the reset into a currency basket backing the new system. All old debts will be prorated and carried over so no escape for the weary.
That change will happen, as you predict, all at once but more chaos with inflationary pressure for life’s necessities and deflationary pressures for assets from here to there a la Japan style.
I wonder how many eggs an SDR backed dollar will buy in the future. Eighty percent haircut with twenty cents on the dollar as survival bread crumbs? Just enough to keep the game going and the players at the table for another round on the paper treadmill.
The last thing the house wants is for people to cash out where their rules no longer apply. Seeing the current ratio of how many people have precious metal chips as opposed to paper ones, the house rules are well entrenched.
Those who are friends with Midas make the rules.
yes.
this is not what i expected.i thought your scenario would
involve hyperinflation(loss of confidence in the u s dollar).what you describe here is an implosion.did the
recent move by congress to allow us(taxpayer)to stand
for losses on derivatives move you in this direction?
i read an article about the war in Bosnia.lead was the
most precious metal.people traded everything(including
gold) for it.
i wish you and your family a happy new year
Happy New Year to you too DD. A dollar implosion would mean hyperinflation. Remember, this guy “Jack” could not purchase a dozen eggs with $300, that would surely qualify as hyperinflation.
Another thing to take into account in your scenario is the collapse of the healthcare system. We’ve become so damned dependent on all of the bureaucracy needed to manage the infrastructure, that I think one of the worst immediate outcomes of such a collapse will be a near instant shutdown of our ability to deliver medical care. Even if altruism motivates some in the medical field to keep trying to come to work, we won’t have the equipment, electricity, and supplies to render aid.
I, for one, have prepared a contingency plan using my freestanding, in-office operating room to care for my friends and colleagues in return for their services/commodities. I’m a former military general surgeon and know what needs to be in place. God help those who are dependent upon hospitals and large clinics for their medical care after the dominoes begin to fall….
yes, correct. Healthcare system will also be in collapse.
The following comment is what I posted on another site I follow.
I wanted to post it here as well as I realize that there is a quality of readers here that share my belief that we have a responsibility to try and awaken society to what is likely coming..
EXTREMES…
If you want evidence that the system is in trouble all one has to do is investigate the extremes that some have gone to in 2014 to keep the lie going.
The extremes that some have gone to in an effort to undermine the principles of supply and demand alone are nothing short of unbelievable.
Allowing gold and silver to be traded in paper form was only allowed so that the powers to be could manipulate our view of these precious metals as an investment.
As always lies always eventually are overcome by the truth.
Society can only survive if we demand the truth from our leaders.
Are we past the point of no return……..
I am very concerned that if we do not confront reality in 2015 that we may crest the hill of no return.
This is not the time to continue being complacent.
For those of us that see the true picture I suspect that many of us are gravely concerned.
Or at least we should be….
thanks Mike, we have already past the point of no return.
I suspect that we are past the point of no return but if one watches the MSM one thinks there is no news to report but fluff.
It boggles my mind that it appears that we are about to see a replay of 2008 and yet MSM continues to say little to nothing.
Never in my life have I ever wanted to be wrong as much as I do now.
Are we the only ones that understand that debt cannot solve the problem of tooooooo much debt…..
Society is so busy living today that they forgot about what happened in the last decade.
A Purchase Assistance Package is not going to fix it this time.
PAS is the politically correct term for a Bailout.
Fiat Currencies are looking to some like a Toxic Waste Dump.
All in my opinion of course but I must say that I am troubled about how most are totally unaware of the Western Predicament as I like to call it.
not 2008 all over again as the system was held together then, this time it will not.
In 2008 all the Wall Street mess was piled onto the dollar, ie taxpayers. Now the dollar is the problem and there is nowhere else to hide the insolvency.
correct.
Exactly as I see it also Bill.
If you have ever watched the Too Big to Fail Movie based on the book by Andrew Sorkin you would realize how complicated it was to save the system last time.
Not to mention the troubles with the EU, Russia and China on top of all of that…..
I do not believe that anyone has a Majic Wand big enough to fix it this time.
This time it is a World Wide issue…..
Lets hope that the next New York Times best seller is not a book entiled. The Domino Effect.
I am scared for all Bill..especially for the people close to me that will not listen…
Could it be possible that we have all been played? Everything and I mean everything screams COLLAPSE …. NOW! But, and this is a very big but, what if the USA has more gold than reported? I know we’ve all been told the 8500 tons are not in Fort Knox. But what if it is or somewhere else in the USA and the true figure is double or triple that amount? Officially it’s on the books for $42.22oz. All the USA has to do is revalue it on the books to a number that distinguish all it’s debt. Could it be that freaking simple?
No
Seems plausible to me. If, according to the people here, just having gold, or not, is all that Seperates us from getting through the coming storm, or not, then why isn’t the above scenario a possibility? The answer is because it destroys the rational for holding gold in the first place! Because it revels that it’s not the gold per se but the CONFIDENCE that is the most important thing, as Martin Armstrong has so aptly shown.
Gold is going MUCH lower this year, probably around the $1000 mark or lower, you’ve been warned, you have NO excuses! The dollar will get stronger as capital seeks the safe haven of the reserve currency, that’s all, no manipulation necessary.
…seeking the safe haven of a BANKRUPT currency you mean?
A poker game cannot be profitable unless you have a table of willing players with a large stack of redeemable chips.
The poker game that the West has played for decades has seen too many players leave the table.
As the players that have left redeem their chips US greenbacks the rules to the game will change.
The new rules will involve new chips with a direct tie to gold and silver.
Only those with gold and silver will be invited to the table.
It matters not what happens to the price of gold or silver short ter. What matters is that gold and silver will be part of the new system when the time comes for this new system to take hold.
Fiat Currencies are doomed…
When that reality comes to fruition is yet to be fully determined but I suspect that 2015 will begin the process.
good analogy.
“The dollar will get stronger as capital seeks the safe haven of the reserve currency, that’s all, no manipulation necessary.”
That will be only a short term trend, if it happens, in the ongoing saga of the death of the dollar. If you are out for short term profits then go for it; invest accordingly! I wish you much happiness from your dollar profits … lol. However, the “safe haven” status will soon end as the printing presses fire up even more to offset the rising dollar, and as it is revealed that the US has no gold left, then gold will be the new global safe haven. Everyone already knows this but are just waiting for the cue that collapse is happening and it’s then time to shift allegiances.
the problem cannot be the solution.
Jim Willie is never lost for words.
Another excellent piece that connects the dots from his point of view.
http://media.tfmetalsreport.com/audio/willienewyear.mp3
2015 is likely going to be the year that the new game begins.
I suspect that the next 3 months will bring many new developments.
There is definately a plan in play by the BRICS. This is likely being put into high gear as a result of the Russian sanctions as well as the unwillingness from the East to continue allowing the West call all the shots. This plan seems to be moving forward at what appears to be at an ever increasing pace.
Believe me I do not see the East as a friend, but I do truly believe that the system as it is is broken and it needs to be repaired.
We the West made a decision many years ago to take short term gain over long term thinking and seldom are short term answers the best ones.
Central planner decisions were flawed and now we are seeing how these bad decisions have placed us in a very vulnerable state.
So it is time to man up, acknowledge our mistakes and admit we fell into the trap set up by the East.
Our greed has come back to haunt us and it is time to rebuild.
Time to go back to sound money principles and hard work.
Of course some will prefer to destroy the masses so a few can keep their ill gotten gains.
Is it not time for government officials to start telling us the truth… and is it not time for those that have perpetuated the lie since banking deregulation took hold to return their ill gotten gains to the public willingly…..
As if that is going to happen……
Sorry folks.. the only thing that is coming is chaos.
They will just do a bail-in on all bank account deposits over $100,000. Your money is their money. It’s your kind contribution to support your country that has allowed you to live better than the rest of the world.
not mine Snoop.
I remembered that you were going to write this article this eve…It is pretty much how I think it will go down.
No need to write a book brother…many already have. Every time I read the truth from good men like you it is just further reinforcement that it is what is most likely going to happen. Only a few of us truly get it. Maybe a few more have enough time and funds to prepare.
Wife and I have 4 little grandkids…We must not fail them.
Thanks for your honesty and hard work.
thank you Lastman, and you are very welcome.
If you were a creditor (China) of this country and you owned some pieces of paper that said this country would pay you a lot of money (over $1T) and this country defaulted what would you do? Easy…you’d send your repo man (army) and collect the collateral that backed up those pieces of paper. You might even capture a few generals (GM & GE) and call it a fair trade.
There will be no collapse of American society without barbarians at the gate (Golden Gate Bridge).
we might get nuked but never conquered by an outside army, too many guns in too many hands.
Nah, Rome fell even though a lot of the citizens had swords. But I also believe we are due a nuking too. America will be humbled like every empire before it.
That’s why I’m not concerned about saving America, just my family and like-minded associates.
Roman soldiers sacked the country as they were no longer being paid.
In your fictional scenario above, nobody was getting paid so US soldiers might do some sacking of their own, in which case the country would become even more vulnerable to being overrun by Chinese soldiers. Believe me, they are coming, whether by pure invasion or by invitation as peace-keeping troops under the UN banner.
sorry, I disagree. Too many guns in too many individual hands.
OK, I guess I should start over and say the story is exactly in line with my thinking. I didn’t come to this website to start an argument so I apologize if it seemed that way.
I come from a prepping mentality background and reside in Texas as I see you do, Mr. Holter. Viva Texas and her prepared citizens. Hope to see you on the other side.
For anyone else who is still reading my message, pray like everything depends on God and work like everything depends on you.
no problem Shin, the reason there are few home invasions in Texas is because people know the odds are good there is a gun on the other side of the door. It is why Japan never contemplated invading, too many guns. Good luck to us all and God’s blessings!
What would cause the credit cards to stop working in your fictional story?
could be any number of things in my “fictional” (factual?) story, the most obvious being a bank holiday caused by a global reset.
Bill:
You state in your list of things to do #6 close or pay off my mortgage. If I don’t (which I can’t) what will my bank do if millions upon millions of citizens can’t pay their notes ?? I have most of the items on your list completed but How can I protect my home? what will the banks do ? Refi and take as much as I can out and invest in gold or silver ??
this is a tough question to answer. if the banks are even solvent and end up with all the real estate, we may see a revolution?
What a great story. So true and only skims the top. The sheep in north America seem to have no idea as to what may happen. They as most are sleep walking. There are so few around that lived through the last time such a happening happened. We are led to believe all is ok and who could Beleive such a terrible event could happen. The rulers would never let this happen!!!! Yet just look what happened in new Orleans a few years ago. Just from a storm. The powers that be tell us gold has no value and you can’t eat it and it can’t keep you warm. They are right. But someone who has extra will trade I am sure. Gold is part of our DNA. As gearld Celente states. You need the 3 ‘G’s”. Gold, guns, and a get away bag.
There is very little chance for the average person today to be able to not be hurt from what many say is coming. We are all going to be hit. The question is why not start and set away just a bit of gold !!! A gram at a time.
http://www.keyonepercent.com. Would be a place to look. Gold is not about how many currency units it takes to acquire it.
History shows that a gram of gold buys the same amount of stuff. We trade our time for currency. Yet we allow the banks and government to keep stealing our labour by creating a way to lessen our savings. By adding more and more currency as debt. For my family I am betting on history. I will not be immune to all the financial issues, yet with a bit of gold we will hold our own till things right themselfs. “listen to all follow none” as stated by Chris Duane
Become your own bank. Grow capital that has no third party claim.
http://www.keyonepercent.com
http://www.goldsavenue.com
thanks Richard.
Maybe not. The restaurant owner will make a list of diners who owe him for the meal. He will trade those credits for what he needs. Each business will do the same, especially the essential businesses. Perhaps Jack will offer to pick up supplies for the restaurant to pay his bill. The gas company will issue micro credit so he can do that. Lessons from the third world will be learned quickly. People will re-discover that cities/villages can create their own money as happened in the Depression. The internet will be useful for this and be maintained as an essential service, as will all useful assets. Better to get something than nothing. Bitcoin will emerge from the sidelines. Local will become more predominant and will become a real community. Jill will let some eggs hatch, will replant her flower garden with veggies and will do some babysitting/teaching on the side. Jack will assemble a few friends with cash and will start micro lending with a barter backup. Neighbours will pool resources to fetch water from the river. Obese people will regain health and energy for physical work. Etc.
Think positive and put away those guns.
I think I saw a movie that turned out like that. Yes, it was called, Pollyanna. Hayley Mills won an Oscar for her role.
or survivor?
I’d be willing to bet that as people are having their “community” meetings, the gov will be prepping the declaration of martial law. You hear the term in the news all the time these days…habituating the citizenry to it so that when it happens, everyone will welcome it and look to the gov as their salvation and protector. One thing that the gov will be capable of doing under martial law is going door-to-door searching for guns and whatever else they want/need. No probable cause is required. Your house and possessions (gold/silver) will be at their disposal. I suspect having everyone in an urban setting will be much easier from a control standpoint. And, from what I understand, but have not confirmed, under martial law, all elections can be suspended. Unlike the citizenry, I’m sure the gov has planned for this scenario. Remember reading about vertually every federal agency stockpiling ammunition? How about police agencies obtaining military tanks and weapons? Even small agencies. Under this scenario, planning is a game-changer!
thanks Robin.
For information regarding population/food/infrastructure/residence/pet/”authorized” transportation control, do a modicum of research on Agenda 21. FYI, these controls are already moving forward and have been for years. Agenda 21 has a presence in every major city in the USA.
And no doubt the UK will be similarly affected.The USA does not possess a monopoly on sheople believe me.
yes James.
When this event occurs,and I have no doubt it will,how far reaching outside America do you think it will be.Example,do you think Australian banks will fall,bearing in mind,they are better regulated than most,as a result of the Asian crisis of the 1990s?Regards,Patrick.
think ALL AROUND THE WORLD …several times over!