For years, George Soros has been the de facto Bond villain in the eyes of many in conservative and alternative media. The phrase “Soros-backed District Attorney” has been used so often since 2015 that Google gave up on suppressing the term.
George is horrible. His son, Alex, may be much worse and he’s now in charge of everything. Here’s an article by Tyler Durden from Zero Hedge followed by my commentary that explains why I’m so concerned about this turn of events…
George Soros Skips Former ‘Heir Apparent’ — Hands Reins of Empire to ‘More Political’ Son Alex
George Soros is handing control of his $25 billion empire to his son Alex – who in recent years has been seen flying around the world to conduct business on behalf of his family’s Open Society Foundation.
In doing so, the 92-year-old Soros is passing over the family’s one-time ‘heir apparent,’ Jonathan Soros, 52 – the third child from George’s first marriage, and a Harvard-trained lawyer who stabilized the Soros investment firm after a tumultuous period saw several investment chiefs come and go.
“I expected Jonathan to be the one,” said former Open Society Foundation president Aryeh Neier, who ran the organization from 1993 to 2012.
Jonathan Soros thought he was the one as well, telling the Wall Street Journal; “I always knew he could change his mind,” adding “As a trader, it’s the thing he’s most famous for.”
Their differences upended the succession plan. George was impulsive. Jonathan was analytical and contemplative. Jonathan was respectful of George but pushed back when he disagreed with his father’s decisions, according to people who worked with them. When they butted heads about two senior hiring choices, George felt his authority challenged. Jonathan felt undermined.
Looking to keep peace in the family, Jonathan left the Soros’s investment business in 2011, he said. His father soured about picking him to lead the foundation. “We didn’t get on on certain points,” George said. “That became evident to both of us, particularly to him, and he wanted to be out on his own.” -WSJ
“We ended our business relationship on pretty good terms,” said Jonathan of his father. “I was disappointed but not regretful.”
Enter Alex – the oldest of two sons from George’s 2nd wife, Susan Weber, who was elected chairman of the Open Society Foundation in December and is now responsible for directing political activity as president of Soros’ super PAC.
Alex – once an unlikely choice to lead the family – cared little about finance and instead loved football and philosophy. He’s described by the Journal as a once-introverted fat kid who was embarrassed by his family’s wealth who blossomed into a red-shoe wearing party animal.
He cared little about finance and couldn’t persuade his father to watch football. Instead, they spent hours discussing ideas and global politics. His thesis topic, “Jewish Dionysus: Heine, Nietzsche and the Politics of Literature,” thrilled his father. For Alex, “it’s football, philosophy and politics, in that order,” said Svante Myrick, one of his friends. -WSJ
But now, it’s all business.
“I’m more political” said Alex, who recently met with officials from the Biden administration, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and heads of state such as Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss affairs related to the Open Society Foundation – which donates roughly $1.5 billion per year to various causes and groups around the world.
Foundation money also goes to universities and other educational organizations. The Soros super PAC, Democracy PAC, has backed the election campaigns of district attorneys and law-enforcement officials seeking to reduce incarceration rates and racial bias in the justice system, among the efforts that have riled the right.
…
The selection of Alex, a hip-hop fan and New York Jets devotee, was once a long shot. Early on, Alex barely spoke up in meetings and was best known for his highflying social life. “Gorgeous models, NBA pals and hide-and-seek at his mansion: Welcome to the lavish life of investor George Soros’ playboy son,” said one Daily Mail.com online headline in 2016. -WSJ
Alex is also the sole Soros on the investment committee overseeing Soros Fund Management – which will migrate most of its $25 billion to the Open Society Foundation in the years ahead. Approximately $125 million has been set aside for the super PAC.
Between 2004 and 2006, Alex worked part time at the foundation. According to people who worked there, he didn’t make much of an impression – much less as a likely successor.
“Alex used to come to board meetings, but he hardly spoke,” said Neier.
Orange Man Bad
According to Alex, he’s concerned about the prospect of Donald Trump retaking the White House in 2024 – and has suggested a ‘significant financial role’ for the Soros organization in the effort to defeat him.
“As much as I would love to get money out of politics, as long as the other side is doing it, we will have to do it, too,” he said, as if his Super PAC didn’t employ Marc Elias, the Democrat superlawyer who worked tirelessly to change election laws leading up to the 2020 election.
According to Elon Musk – who recently compared George Soros to supervillain Magneto, the selection of Alex was “just a formality,” as “Alex has been de facto in charge for several years.”
Just a formality. Alex has been de facto in charge for several years.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2023
The Journal cites Alex as suggesting that speed had become too constrained on college campuses and elsewhere, saying: “I have some differences with my generation in regard to free speech and other things—I grew up watching Bill Maher before bed, after all.”
If @AlexanderSoros is serious about freedom of speech, then we have common ground.
But destroying public safety by electing DAs who won’t prosecute violent criminals needs to stop.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2023
Not everyone has sharks with lasers on their heads, Alex…
Why I’m Concerned
It’s easy to see George Soros as a rich guy throwing his money around for the sake of politics like other rich guys, but that’s actually very far from the truth. Nobody in the modern era has been more politically impactful than Soros and Open Society Foundation. The organization has done for leftist politics across the globe what the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has done for vaccines.
Under the helm of Alex Soros, they Open Society Foundation and the various organizations under their control will be more dangerous than they were under George. To understand this, we have to see the differences between the two. That’s an in-depth article for another day, but here’s a quick primer…
George Soros is ideologically driven. He believes in controlling situations and achieving goals by putting the right people in the right places. This ideology has been the force behind his promotion of radical District Attorneys across the nation. They find true believers, then help them get elected. It has proven to be more consequential than any political maneuver since the rise of Neoconservatism.
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
Alex Soros is philosophically driven. This differs from his father’s mentality because it does not require true believers in the movement. It requires control. Where his father has leveraged people he trusts, Alex Soros only trusts people he can leverage.
Open Society Foundation under George Soros has been a powerful force in guiding leftist politics in America and worldwide. Open Society Foundation under Alex Soros is going to take full control of as much political clout as they can access. Alex will be more direct. While George wouldn’t want to be seen with politicians because he wanted his influence to be from the shadows, Alex will force politicians to take press shots with him so everyone knows who their boss really is.
This is the direction that George Soros wanted. Otherwise, he would have selected Jonathan who is more comfortable in the shadows like his father. The fact that he selected Alex means the Soros patriarch has approved plans to take their clout to the next level. This is why I’m so concerned.
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.
