I am a retired attorney whose primary practice was not litigation but issue advocacy in the public sphere. I am writing to you in your specific capacity as the Supreme Court justice assigned to oversight of the District of Columbia Circuit, on behalf of a great many fellow Americans who share a sense of outrage and horror at the treatment of those who have been arrested and imprisoned in connection with the events of Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., and at the gross and blatant abuse of power being wielded against them by both the Executive and Legislative branches of our government under the control of the Democratic Party, abetted and facilitated by ideologically aligned key leaders of the Republican Party, the established corporate news media and the newly monopolistic giants of the social media.
To those of us who grew up with a deep appreciation for, and pride in, the legendary implicit fairness of our nation’s constitution and culture – confident because of past experience that justice would ultimately prevail in all social conflicts and controversies because of a shared commitment by our leaders to the rule of law and objective truth – the current state of our politics and our popular culture seem distressingly surreal, a nightmare of lawlessness and insanity.
Those of us who get our news outside of the mainstream sources (which typically censor or misrepresent these things to serve the narratives of the conspirators) watch incredulously as one after another whistleblower steps forward with shocking testimony of ideologically driven/protected moral corruption and criminality at the highest levels of government, expecting each time that there will be an accounting, a consequence for the culprits and a re-affirmation of our foundational cherished ethics and ideals by “responsible adults” who bravely put virtue and principle ahead of political expedience and fear of retaliation. We are instead sickened to learn that those same institutions tasked with investigating and enforcing the law – our Department of Justice and FBI, for example – harbor and empower the most aggressive and destructive malefactors.
To whom can the people turn in this season of “government by organized crime” that has usurped our right to delegate power to whom WE see fit, by rigging our ballot tabulators like Atlantic City slot machines and stacking our swing-state judiciaries with partisan hacks whose allegiance is not to the law but to Don Corleone? Could our constitutionalist “deliverer” be you, Justice Roberts? We hope against hope that you are, even as we wonder why you did not allow the 2020 election fraud to be exposed in open court on the merits of the cases. Many conservatives are so frustrated and angry these days that they will sternly berate me for merely giving you the benefit of doubt that you were complicit in that coup.
To my knowledge there is no specific matter before you at this time that might restrict your freedom to investigate the J6 conspiracy beyond whatever boundaries of “trusted sources” you may be hedged within by those with a vested interest in hiding it. And so I offer you one single source that you may use to test whether you are getting the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the “J6 insurrection”: It is an exceptionally well-reasoned and video-documented report by Revolver News on the questions of corruption in the prosecution of the “J6” defendants and the possible orchestration of the Capitol breach by agents of the government. You may find it here.
I confess that even as an attorney I do not know the limitations of your power to take action against what I hope you will agree with me after investigation is an existential threat to our republic. (I suspect there are arcane corners of the law that are not part of legal training these days.) Nor do I know what powers you possess outside the scope of your office. But I do know that in the genius of the Founders they intended the seat you hold in the Judicial branch to be – above all other things – a check on the other two branches for the preservation of the republic, meaning that your moral duty is higher than your official job description. I thus implore you to rise to the role of the “responsible adult” who works to end this national disgrace by any available means, and at the very least to investigate for yourself and publicly take “judicial notice” of the hard facts of our present reality, before all trust in our government is lost.
As a pastor, I know that the only true deliverer for America is the same Jesus Christ who was once openly honored by the court you lead. I frequently draw attention to the case of Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States (1892) for the court’s own refreshing summary of America’s defining Christian history and its inseparability from our law and culture. Reportedly, you are a Roman Catholic whose own faith should align much closer to that of the Founders than to those abusing power today to serve contrary ends. You know that corporately as a nation we must give an accounting for the sin we have allowed to flourish in this land: the tens of millions of unborn children we’ve sacrificed and the intentional defilement through perversion of the innocence of those allowed to be born – on the altar of “sexual freedom.” But you also know that true repentance can spare us the consequences we otherwise fully deserve. In that context, you hold a unique place of responsibility and opportunity – an Esther as against a Haman – at a comparably critical point in time. I ask you to take “judicial notice” of that as well, in respect to the ultimate high court of the law above the law.
Respectfully,
Pastor Scott Lively, J.D., Th.D.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.