Unchained Preppers

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: JohnyMac on July 18, 2014, 09:26:49 AM

Title: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 18, 2014, 09:26:49 AM
Well now...It is truly amazing what 24 hours brings us. Lets review what has happened:

1) DJ took a 160 point drop yesterday: What will happen today?
2) Israel began air, land & sea operations against Gaza yesterday.
3) Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine shot down a commercial aircraft yesterday resulting in 298 people dead.

Then of course there is the usual crap like:

A) Tens of thousand of illegal immigrants migrating across the southern border. Twenty percent or so people under the
     age of 17. Many with vermin and disease we have not seen in the United States in decades.
B) ISIS has taken over 1/3 of Iraq.
C) Scandals that are eroding the faith in our federal government by its citizens.

Not to be over dramatic here but... Are we living the beginning of the end? The beginning of a complete breakdown of the system?

Things to look forward too are:

I)   November mid-term elections
II)  Q2 GDP report
III) Inflation on everyday household items like; gas, food, heating fuel, etc
IV) Reduction in our military - Quantity.
V) What have I missed?

So for you prognosticators and history buffs out there, What do you think is going to happen over the next 24 hours, week, month and six months. It's O-Kay to think outside the box and/or your comfort zone.

I will hold off my thoughts and predictions for a time in hopes of not tainting your thoughts.

Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: rah45 on July 18, 2014, 11:54:24 AM
I find it interesting that the downsize in our military's capabilities comes after a prolonged period of time in which our internal law enforcement agencies are increasing their own combat capabilities. We're reducing an already exhausted military, limiting our ability to deter or fight foreign aggressors. We're doing nothing but getting weaker. That's a bad thing, whether there is some greater, evil scheme in mind or not. I think we've already lost our top-dog position on this planet...I'm just waiting to see who is going to step up and take our place.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 18, 2014, 12:30:41 PM
To answer you question Rah45....China and or Russia.

What concerns me is that all of these events are having less and less affect on me. I guess I am becoming numb.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 18, 2014, 05:48:12 PM
Biblically I believe it is both of then together, and yes these are the end times toto. :)
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: Burt Gummer on July 18, 2014, 10:22:10 PM
What concerns me is that all of these events are having less and less affect on me. I guess I am becoming numb.  :facepalm:
This is a good thing, it means you won't go off half cocked on some emotional issue.
"Err the gays are ruining me 'merica..."
"Damn commies over thar are so much worse then our freedom lov'n corrupt polerticians... err..."
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 19, 2014, 07:22:49 AM
Good point Burt  :thumbsUp:
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 19, 2014, 10:39:54 AM
Or it means apathy has set in. :)  always another side to the coin.

And Gays are just another sin which did ruin this country along with all other perversions and greed that the apathetic people of "Merika" didn't care enough about to purge from their midst.

Another Biblical principle that we stopped observing a long tie ago amongst many others.  A nation founded by God will not stand when it turns from Him because of their sin or lack of action.  This has been clearly seen in my lifetime.

The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.
- John Adams


American politics and the Bible are intertwined no matter what the revisionist would like to have you believe. You can't talk about one without the other.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: rah45 on July 19, 2014, 10:45:47 AM
As long as the religion and the government are kept separate, and we are talking about the basic concepts of cultural norms being similar, I can agree with that.

America wasn't founded as a Christian nation, it is a nation founded by men who were mostly Christians. There is a difference.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 19, 2014, 12:58:30 PM
I don't know about that one Rah45. I really don;t want to get into a theological discussion here but you may want to do some research on the subject before you make to much of a definitive statement  ;)

Here (http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/politics/pg0040.html) is a good place to start:
Quote
The crucial role of Christianity in this nation's formation is not without dispute, although as Revolutionary leader Patrick Henry said: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship." CARL PEARLSTON


Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: rah45 on July 19, 2014, 07:37:07 PM
I don't either, and I think you misunderstand my intent. I'll clarify. Christianity supplies the backbone of our nation's founding documents, the successful parts of our national identity and culture...in short, America used to be synonymous with Christianity, and in many ways still is.

However, USMC stated (and I quote), "Gays are just another sin," something that shows where the line between the religion that is Christianity, and the liberty - guarding government that is supposed to be this republic, exists. I'm just making the point that if you are a Christian, you won't be able to hold the government responsible for allowing people who are homosexual, for instance, to do the same things that non-homosexuals do. The price of liberty for all, as long as you aren't violating someone else's rights, is that people can do things without your approval. 

This republic has been a noble experiment, but a break between the beliefs of traditional Christians and the more...ah..."liberal" elements of our society. Rome faced the same test...the test of whether a republic, or any nation, can persevere through evolving cultural norms (good or bad). We may survive this as a republic, but only if all the major parties can agree to respect their differences and leave one another's freedoms alone. Our freedom to have arms similar to the military as the Founders envisioned, their freedom to have guys marry guys (gag), etc.

I don't think we'll make it, though.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 19, 2014, 10:01:00 PM
Well written Rah45  :thumbsUp:
Title: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 22, 2014, 12:55:45 AM
“Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they, therefore, who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure...are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.”
— Charles Carroll (1737-1832) Founding Father and Leader from Maryland


Christians can not hold their govt accountable because they failed to participate. The 503C kept the church out of politics and we have all suffered for it.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: rah45 on July 22, 2014, 01:24:27 AM
Yep. Like I've said to others, you can have a secular constitutional republic, or you can have a theocracy,  but I don't believe you can have both.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 22, 2014, 03:51:55 AM
I would prefer the Republic guided by the God of the Bible as our founding fathers did. 
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: gapatriot on July 22, 2014, 09:54:18 PM
As a gay Muslim I find this thread offensive.  I don't want anyone taking my freedoms away.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 22, 2014, 10:27:47 PM
Funny quick story that has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with this topic.

A good friend of mine who served time over in the sandbox twice told me this story.

Although most people over in Afghanistan still live as our caveman relatives but with the internet. The intel guys use to strap on radio collection devises disguised as backpacks and walk through villages collecting intel.

Well the number one thing they would collect is goat and sheep porn. Yup you got it Muslim men having their way with sheep and goats.  ;)

Another story:

During their patrols they use to often bring the company doctor on patrol to pass out medical advise and such. One village was hit with a higher level of VD in men then an other village.

Well the doctor sought out the village chief and explained to him that none of the women that show up to his clinic have VD but 70% of the men do.

He further explained to the chief that if the men of the village were going to have sex they had to wear condoms.

The village chief told the doctor that NONE of the men were having sex with each other or with goats as it was against the Koran. The chief went on to explain to the doctor the men drank too much green tea.  :facepalm: 

I have a few other stories but I will not go in to them right now as we have women on the forum.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 23, 2014, 01:20:21 AM
JM,
I hope you are following the BRICS bank issue?  It will be the downfall of America when the global currency is replaced and we are devalued down to our actual currency value.  Thank you Q1-Qinfinity :)
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 23, 2014, 01:21:25 AM
As a gay Muslim I find this thread offensive.  I don't want anyone taking my freedoms away.

Er, you better read your Koran son, you are doing it wrong. LOL
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: Deathstyle on July 23, 2014, 01:45:50 AM
I dunno man.  Think if he reads that thing he'll actually realize hes been doing
doing right.  ;)
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 23, 2014, 07:40:27 AM
USMC0331, I am aware of it but really haven't been following it.

This would be a good new topic in General Discussion or News & Politics boards. Would you be willing to start the topic with a quick outline of what the acronym BRICS means and a few up to date articles on what is happening?

Thanks man!
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: EJR914 on July 23, 2014, 03:49:58 PM
As a gay Muslim I find this thread offensive.  I don't want anyone taking my freedoms away.

And I'm offeded as well.  I'm Jewish and his lover, so there! 
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: rah45 on July 23, 2014, 03:59:17 PM
As a gay Muslim I find this thread offensive.  I don't want anyone taking my freedoms away.

And I'm offeded as well.  I'm Jewish and his lover, so there!

Well, something bad must be coming down the line, because GAP and EJR both came back and posted!   :tinfoil:
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 23, 2014, 06:00:53 PM
It's all about the goat porn I posted earlier  :trolling:
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 23, 2014, 06:40:51 PM

It's all about the goat porn I posted earlier  :trolling:
Probably came up on their saved google search notification :)
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: gapatriot on July 24, 2014, 06:45:39 AM
I check in every once and awhile.  But goat sex does help to get me to post.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: gapatriot on July 24, 2014, 06:46:43 AM
I do have some cool stuff coming down the pike, but they are on hold. Life keeps getting in the way of me having fun.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 24, 2014, 07:44:23 AM
Gap  :lmfao:

Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: Well-Prepared Witch on July 27, 2014, 12:08:58 PM
Rah's comment, "The price of liberty for all, as long as you aren't violating someone else's rights, is that people can do things without your approval" is so spot on! 

For another side of the coin - many of us who are not conservative Christians look at the Religious Reich as the ones ruining the country with their bigotry, their desire for us to turn the clock backwards, and their efforts to steal away the rights for which we've fought so hard. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale was supposed to be a warning, not an instruction manual!

As to JM's original question, I go back and forth.  Some days I think that this is all normal, status quo for human kind to be killing each other in many ways for various reasons.  Empires rise and fall, mores change as we evolve and grow.  Other days I look at our resources dwindling, our world getting smaller so there's less room for the non-conformists and the anti-social types (both the human and country varieties), our methods of killing each other expanding and killing more people. 

So, in essence, I don't know.  I think there will always be unrest in the world.  War is, for better or worse, a human constant since prior to written history.  Disease is one of the ways Nature weeds out the weak and allows for evolution of new and interesting mutations.  Resources are, by definition, finite and with more people there's more stress on them. 

Does this mean that TEOTWAWKI is around the corner?  *shrug* Who knows?
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 27, 2014, 10:31:39 PM
Quote
Wellie wrote:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale was supposed to be a warning, not an instruction manual!

Thanks Wellie for your recommendation and I did read the novel again.

The book reminded me of Oliver Cromwell's government post the English Civil War BUT modern day.

I am a Christian but with that said, I do not and will not be part of a US Civil War UNLESS I am pushed into a corner.

I know that some of my liberal friends are VERY fearful of this type of change in politics.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 27, 2014, 11:53:48 PM
Quote
Rah's comment, "The price of liberty for all, as long as you aren't violating someone else's rights, is that people can do things without your approval" is so spot on!

The problem becomes when money is extorted out of the tax payer to provide one group their "rights" at the expense of the others not to want to participate.  So If I stop paying taxes because I don't support murdering unborn children (which my tax dollars are being used for) then is it a victim less crime that they have a "right" to that doesn't violate mine when I'm sent to prison for it? 
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: rah45 on July 28, 2014, 09:02:18 AM
You're spot on, USMC. Like I said, it only works as intended if everyone respects all of each other's freedoms, not just a select portion. They have the right as human beings to have males screw males, females screw females, etc. However, that influence starts, and should stop, in the private/unofficial channels. Nobody needs government to stick it's nose in it and legislate acceptance. That's not government's intended role. It's an abuse of influence and power.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: Well-Prepared Witch on July 28, 2014, 10:04:37 AM
I disagree (shocker, I know).  I don't want my taxes paying for invasions of countries without WMDs, deportation of refugee children, or subsidies for sports stadiums and corporations.  However, I still pay my taxes (mostly gladly) because I want roads, hospitals, social security so the elderly and the infirm aren't starving (or having to move in with me! My mom is on disability because of a chronic illness), fire departments who will come when my house is on fire, etc.  The thing about these choices is that they're compromises

I'm not naive enough to believe that I can get everything I want while other people get nothing that they want, or that the only things people can get are based on my beliefs and needs.  There are too many people on this small planet for anarchy, or even some kind of "every man for himself" way of being to succeed.  Not to mention that we need each other - I'm not a good shoemaker or auto mechanic, but I can raise and cook a tasty chicken and knit a sweater.  So we come to compromises that let us live together.

That, essentially, is what government is - people who make the decisions that allow us to occupy the same spaces.  Now, what kind of government and which choices they make is an open question.  I'd love a smaller government, but so many small government people just want it small enough to fit into my uterus, and small enough to fit through the keyhole of my bedroom door and tell me what decisions I can make or who I can love, while letting them do whatever the hell they want with their corporations, including poisoning my food supply, our water, our air, and the rest of our planet. 

Small government is a great concept, but I don't know how well it works when people seem completely unwilling to consider their neighbor's needs when they make their own choices, and seem unwilling to work with people of varying beliefs, colors, and nationalities to make things that benefit all of us.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: rah45 on July 28, 2014, 10:21:54 AM
I can agree with part of your post, Wellie. I think that with the population of the world the way it is, without government  purely as an organizational entity, we would be in trouble. However, like I was saying, I don't think government should overreach, either. It shouldn't tell people who they should love. It shouldn't make me pay for a woman's abortion. It shouldn't make me pay into a failed social security system for a grandmother I don't know who didn't save money to help herself in her old age, and hasn't learned any marketable skill to make up for her decreased physical abilities due to aging. I don't want to pay for the upkeep for millions of people streaming across the border, many of which have no intention of becoming Americans and continuing our (traditional) way of life, and are only here because they didn't or couldn't fix their own nations' problems.

All of these things can be addressed individually. You feel bad for a Hispanic family? Fine, adopt one of the kids, or get together with a private organization and pool your resources to bring the entire family over. Want to invade the Middle East for "X" reason? Okay. Get an organization together, raise funds and pay a mercenary group to do your dirty work. Mercs can be just as effective as the military.

Issues like toxic waste poisoning the air...well that affects everyone, even other continents if the problem became bad enough. Things like that do require a governing body to intercede on the behalf of all.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 28, 2014, 11:20:56 AM
Wellie makes a good case.

When I think of big government I think of departments within the government that prevent people from living like they have for centuries - The EPA immediately comes to mind.

While this government agency was started with all good intentions; heck we all like clean water and air however someone telling me that I do not own the water that falls from the sky. Or my neighbors can't sell the milk from their cow and goats - Is an example of a agency that has overstepped their original charter. That is just one agency in a the cornucopia we call Federal Government.

Government by nature wants to grow not unlike private and public organizations want to grow. A quick JohnyMac story is appropriate here.

I am a Scotsman so by nature I was/am cheap and never used G&A and Capital dollars that were budgeted for the previous budgeting cycle. I use to be ridiculed by other VP's in charge of divisions for not using those dollars. In some cases I was called on the carpet for not using the budgeted dollars and told by those boss's, "Use it before you lose it."

At the end of August, beginning of September, we started the budgeting process for the coming year.
During this process the VP's of their division were encouraged to budget a % more for G&A and capital expenditures then we used for the previous (Current year).

Why you ask... Again it is like the government it is human nature to want to be in charge of more and bigger bureaucracy's.

So it happens in public companies just like it happens in government.

One last comment, our current Federal government no longer fears the citizenry. We have moved into a period where the citizenry fears the Federal Government. Whether you are left or right you must understand this and work towards making our Federal Government leaner and responsive to the citizenry. 
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 28, 2014, 09:24:52 PM
I know this... .gov will not give up their corrupt power, history has proven that it must be taken back by the people.  Get ready, the war is coming sooner than you think.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: Burt Gummer on July 28, 2014, 10:32:39 PM
I think a good religious dicussion would probably breathe some life back into this forum if those contributing to it could behave like adults wit just a smidgen of logic...
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: USMC0331 on July 29, 2014, 12:15:05 AM
Don't do it.... it's a trap! LOL
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: Grudgie on July 29, 2014, 01:08:15 AM
Quote
  I don't want my taxes paying for invasions of countries without WMDs, deportation of refugee children, or subsidies for sports stadiums and corporations. However, I still pay my taxes (mostly gladly) because I want roads, hospitals, social security so the elderly and the infirm aren't starving (or having to move in with me! My mom is on disability because of a chronic illness), fire departments who will come when my house is on fire, etc.  The thing about these choices is that they're compromises

Sorry to veer off.. but are you implying these things wouldn't exist if there wasn't a governing body taking your money? Or are you saying the government does these things better than the private market, in spite of their murdering, stealing, corruption, and rape?

I almost felt guilty about starting this shit. You all were getting along so niceley until I popped in. But then I realized the ammount of violence that statists impose on people, and I decided to post anyway.

Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: special-k on July 29, 2014, 01:09:34 AM
I think a good religious dicussion would probably breathe some life back into this forum if those contributing to it could behave like adults wit just a smidgen of logic...


I seem to recall the last time we tried that......

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(http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/hindenburg050812/s_h22_hbgpat01.gif)

Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: Burt Gummer on July 29, 2014, 03:04:53 AM
I seem to recall the last time we tried that......
Yeah that didn't end up all to well... probably because my little caviat of "a smidgen of logic" tends to not exist when talking religion.


Most of the drama that was derived from that was due to what I believe are our presumptions of attitude tied to the text we read from others. That means that you can read the same sentence in more then one way yet we tend to read the posts here only once, and because we're all the best we know at reading we are certain it was correct the first time.  :sarcasm:
I am fully aware that to some I might seem as a "condescending know it all" or a "arrogant blabber mouth"! I notice it some times via responses but I'll never act on them.
This is always pops up on sensitive topics, where one party will misread or impose an additional meaning on a comment and then self righteously retaliates, then the person defending believes the attack is unwarranted and also believes he is correct retaliation. Next thing you know combat pm's start flying, minority opinions get rounded up put into camps and negative karma warheads are launched!

Keep in mind that whining and BS like this makes this forum seem petty and a hassle instead of a benefit. This has always been the reason why good people leave the forum, technique, Old Iron, MountainRedneck (who's doing well btw)
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but like myself could loose a few pounds ;D


Side note: what we prep for takes courage, and so does standing up for what you know to be right. This includes responding to difficult questions and admitting to yourself when you were incorrect. Look at this as practice, "social range time" .
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: rah45 on July 29, 2014, 06:08:07 AM
Good points, Burt.
Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: brat on July 29, 2014, 06:50:17 AM
Wow, very nicely stated Burt.

Title: Re: War? Crash? Tougher Times Ahead?
Post by: JohnyMac on July 29, 2014, 09:17:37 AM
It sounds like people are all in agreement. If a discussion on a touchy topic comes up like but not limited to religion, don't get butt-hurt.

May I also state, that if you feel insulted send a PM direct to the person who you feel insulted you. Don't flame-out here where everybody can read it.