(International Man)—Did you know the US Army missed its recent recruiting goal by 25% or 60,000 new soldiers? It’s the worst recruiting crisis for the Pentagon since the end of the draft in 1973.
Even families with military backgrounds, typically the source of most recruits, are becoming less inclined to endorse military life. Polls have shown an overly politicized military leadership and woke training programs and policies as the main reason for the steep drop.
For instance, critical race theory has embedded itself in the US military. This includes spreading racial narratives that erode unit cohesion, classes on anti-racism, training against so-called radicalization, barring white service members from specific diversity training sessions, and the deliberate silencing of opposing viewpoints, among other policies.
West Point has introduced a minor in “Diversity and Inclusion,” while the Naval Academy provides courses that focus on themes related to “critical race theory” and “intersectionality.” The US Air Force has even held recurring drag shows.
As part of this year’s “Pride” celebration, the Department of Defense trumpeted the story of a transgender soldier on social media.
These are just a tiny—but illustrative—set of examples of how the US military has embraced woke values.
It should be no surprise that fewer people want to participate in this Neo-Marxist nonsense while potentially taking orders from a man pretending to be a woman, subjecting themselves to the latest vaccine mandate, all while possibly dying, losing a limb, or getting PTSD from foreign wars that have nothing to do with where they come from.
Along the same lines, the US military is making a concerted effort to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons not because it improves its capabilities but for political reasons—to appease the climate hysterics. However, so-called green alternatives—like electric vehicles and batteries—are not really green. They require rare strategic metals that are dirty to mine.
It also increases the US military’s dependency on China because Beijing dominates the production of the components that go into so-called green technologies. They’re also more expensive and less reliable than hydrocarbons as a power source.
In short, by embracing green and woke policies, the US military is in a self-inflicted steep decline. It’s an internal cultural rot that shows no sign of reversing as it hollows out what was once a formidable fighting force. At the same time, the US faces an increasingly capable, non-woke peer competitor on the rise—China. If current trends continue, China has an excellent chance of surpassing the US militarily, economically, scientifically, and in various other fields.
According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, China has a “stunning lead” over the US in 37 out of 44 critical and emerging technologies, particularly in the defense, space, energy, and biotechnology sectors. China’s rise—and the potential displacement of the US as the preeminent global power—is arguably this century’s most important geopolitical story.
Lee Kuan Yew, the former leader of Singapore, once correctly said:
“The size of China’s displacement of the world balance is such that the world must find a new balance.
It is not possible to pretend that this is just another big player. This is the biggest player in the history of the world.”
This trend had already picked up incredible momentum even before the US military embraced self-destructive policies. Those misguided policies have accelerated the trend by allowing China to narrow the gap faster than most expected. The situation will soon reach a tipping point.
Thucydides Trap
Sooner rather than later, we will find out whether the US can live with being #2… or, if not, what Washington will do about it. According to Harvard professor Graham Allison, there’s a 75% chance the US and China will go to war.
Allison bases his view on a dynamic called Thucydides Trap, which refers to the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace a ruling one, the result is often war.
It’s named after the Athenian historian Thucydides, who observed this dynamic in Ancient Greece. Today, it’s playing out between China and the US. Allison studied 16 cases of Thucydides Trap throughout history. The result was war in 12 of them—or 75% of the time.
Military conflict between the US and China is not inevitable. But if history is any guide, there’s an excellent chance it could happen soon.
Further, it’s becoming less likely every day that the US would prevail in such a conflict. That is pressuring Washington to act sooner rather than later.
A full-blown economic war is even more likely. I think it’s a virtual certainty, and we are probably already in the early stages of one right now.
To sum it all up, the US and China are battling over who will be the world’s most dominant power. It’s the ultimate geopolitical competition and a megatrend with enormous investment implications.
As tensions between the US and China continue to rise, I expect Washington and Beijing to focus on securing critical commodities and ensuring access to stable supplies. I think we can bet on the geopolitical competition between the US and China causing increased demand and unstable supplies.
That’s why obtaining exposure to strategic commodities could be a winning move as the US-China rivalry heats up.
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
Here’s the bottom line…
Unfortunately, most people have no idea what really happens when the two biggest world powers collide, let alone how to prepare… The coming crisis will be much worse, much longer, and very different than what we’ve seen since World War II. Countless millions throughout history were wiped out financially—or worse—as big powers collided.
Don’t be one of them.
That’s precisely why I just released an urgent new report with all the details, including what you must do to prepare. It’s called The Most Dangerous Economic Crisis in 100 Years… the Top 3 Strategies You Need Right Now. Click here to download the PDF now.
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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.
