Category: Opinion

Posted on

Knowledge is the easiest tool to carry!

Knowledge is the easiest tool to carry!

Knowledge is indeed one of the most portable and valuable tools we can carry with us. It can be accessed and applied anywhere, anytime, transforming our lives and the world around us.

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, staying curious, learning, and expanding our knowledge is more important than ever. Whether it’s through reading, taking courses, attending workshops, or simply seeking out new experiences. We can all continue to grow and develop our minds.

The best part is that knowledge can be shared and passed on to others, creating a ripple effect of positivity and progress. So, let’s all strive to be lifelong learners. Use your knowledge to positively impact the world!

Here are some valuable pieces of knowledge to consider learning:

  • First aid and basic medical skills: Knowing how to treat wounds, stop bleeding, and provide basic medical care can be crucial in a crisis situation.
  • Food preservation and storage: Learning how to preserve and store food can help you and your family survive a prolonged crisis.
  • Water purification and conservation: Knowing how to purify and conserve water can be essential for survival.
  • Basic self-defense techniques: Learning basic self-defense techniques can help protect yourself and your loved ones.
  • Communication skills: Knowing how to communicate effectively, including alternative methods like ham radios and messaging apps, can be vital in a crisis situation.
  • Basic construction and repair skills: Learning these skills, such as fixing broken appliances and building simple structures, can help you adapt to a crisis situation.
  • Mental health and stress management: Understanding how to manage stress and maintain mental health can be crucial for coping with the emotional toll of a crisis.
  • Community building and conflict resolution: Knowing how to build and maintain a community and resolve conflicts peacefully can be essential for survival and success.
  • Basic agriculture and gardening: Learning basic agriculture and gardening skills can help you grow your own food and become more self-sufficient.
  • Alternative energy and power generation: Knowing how to generate alternative energy, such as solar or wind power, can help you maintain a reliable source of power.

Preparation is key. Start by learning the basics and gradually build your skills and knowledge.

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

Ensure you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. For safety and preparedness, it’s always better to be proactive than reactive.

Posted on

How do I Prepare For A Devastating Economic Collapse?

How do I Prepare For A Devastating Economic Collapse?

Preparing for an economic collapse requires a combination of financial planning, lifestyle adjustments, and building resilience.

Build an emergency fund: Save 3-6 months’ worth of living expenses in a liquid, low-risk account. This fund will help you weather financial shocks and unexpected expenses.

Diversify your income: Multiple sources of income can reduce your reliance on a single job or income stream. Start a side hustle, invest in dividend-paying stocks, or pursue alternative sources of income.

Pay off high-interest debt: Pay off high-interest debt, such as credit card balances, as quickly as possible. This will reduce your financial obligations and free up more money for savings and investments.

Invest in tangible assets: Invest in assets like gold, silver, or real estate, which can retain value during economic downturns.

Stockpile essential supplies: Build a stockpile of essential supplies, such as non-perishable food, water, and medical supplies, to ensure you’re prepared for potential shortages or disruptions.

Develop a skill set: Acquire skills that are valuable in a post-collapse economy, such as gardening, food preservation, or basic first aid.

Build a community: Connect with like-minded individuals and build a community that can support and rely on each other during difficult times.

Learn about alternative currencies: Familiarize yourself with alternative currencies, such as cryptocurrencies or local currencies, which may become more prominent in a post-collapse economy.

Prepare for alternative energy: Invest in alternative energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, to reduce your reliance on the grid and prepare for potential power outages.

Stay informed and adaptable: Study economic trends, global events, and potential risks. Be prepared to adapt your strategy as circumstances change.

Consider alternative housing: Explore alternative housing options, such as a self-sufficient homestead or a community land trust, which can provide greater control and resilience.

Develop a plan for alternative transportation: Invest in alternative transportation options, such as bicycles or alternative fuel vehicles, to reduce your reliance on public transportation and prepare for potential disruptions.

Build a food storage system: Develop a food storage system that includes non-perishable food, a garden, and a plan for preserving and distributing food.

Prepare for alternative healthcare: Invest in alternative healthcare options, such as natural remedies or community-based healthcare systems, to prepare for potential disruptions to the healthcare system.

Stay positive and focused: A collapse is not the end of the world, and with preparation and resilience, you can thrive in a post-collapse economy.

    Preparing for an economic collapse is a long-term process that requires patience, discipline, and a willingness to adapt. You can build a more resilient and sustainable future by taking these steps,

    Stay Vigilant and Be prepared

    In addition, take these steps to ensure you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive regarding safety and preparedness.

    Posted on

    How Will World War III Destroy Our Way Of Life?

    World War III

    World War III would drastically change daily life. Here’s how:

    • Global Disruption: The world economy would likely collapse. Trade routes would close, causing shortages of basic goods.
    • Security Threats: You could face immediate threats to personal safety. Cities could become battlegrounds, and survival might depend on where you are.
    • Communication Breakdown: Technology could be targeted. Internet, phone, and TV services might stop, cutting you off from the world.
    • Political Shifts: New alliances would form. Countries may change leaders, and the global power structure could shift.
    • Cultural Impact: Millions of lives would be lost. Communities could be torn apart, leading to mass displacement.
    • Resource Scarcity: Access to food, water, and medical supplies would become a struggle. The basics of life could be in short supply.

    How prepared are you for such challenges? What would you do if everyday comforts disappeared overnight?

    Preparing for the impacts of World War III requires practical steps. Here’s how you can start:

    Build an Emergency Kit

    • Food: Store at least a 3-month supply of non-perishable items like canned goods, freeze-dried meals, and high-calorie snacks.
    • Water: Have at least one gallon of water per person daily for at least three days.
    • First Aid: Include bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, and prescription medications.
    • Tools: A multi-tool, flashlight, spare batteries, duct tape, and a portable stove for cooking.
    • Sanitation: Stock toilet paper, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and trash bags for hygiene.
    • Personal items: Keep extra clothing, blankets, and items like a manual can opener.

    Learn Survival Skills

    • Water Purification: Learn how to filter and purify water using methods like boiling or water purification tablets.
    • Fire Starting: Practice making fires without matches, using tools like a fire starter, flint, or magnesium stick.
    • Basic First Aid: Take a first aid course. Know how to treat injuries, perform CPR, and manage basic health emergencies.
    • Navigation: Learn how to use a map and compass in case GPS services are unavailable.

    Create a Communication Plan

    • Designate Meeting Points: Choose several places where your family can meet in case of evacuation.
    • Alternative Communication Methods: If phone networks go down, establish a way to contact loved ones, such as using radios or setting up a message system.
    • Family Roles: Assign specific responsibilities to each family member so everyone knows what to do in an emergency.

    Stay Informed

    • News Sources: Follow trusted sources for reliable updates on the global situation. Radios or satellite phones can be useful if internet access is lost.
    • Alert Systems: Set up alerts for your area, like weather warnings or local emergency notifications.
    • Monitor Tensions: Pay attention to global news, especially regarding military actions or diplomatic changes.

    Secure Your Home

    • Reinforce Entry Points: Strengthen doors, windows, and locks to make your home more secure from intruders.
    • Create Safe Rooms: Designate a safe space in your home where family members can gather if there’s a threat.
    • Escape Routes: Know multiple ways to evacuate your area, and keep a map of safe routes to your designated meeting points.

    Consider Self-Sufficiency

    • Grow Your Own Food: Start a small garden to grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs. It will help you reduce your dependence on grocery stores.
    • Alternative Power: Invest in solar panels or a generator to ensure you have access to power if electricity is disrupted.
    • Barter and Trade: Develop skills in areas such as food preservation, carpentry, or animal care that can be traded for resources.

    Build a Support Network

    • Local Community: Connect with neighbors and nearby families. Sharing resources and skills can make survival easier in a crisis.
    • Group Plans: Establish mutual aid agreements with others. For example, if someone has medical knowledge, you might be able to offer food in exchange for care.
    • Stay Flexible: Prepare to adapt quickly. Being part of a network gives you options if your plans change or resources run low.

    Do you feel prepared for each of these areas? What would you focus on first to get ready?

    Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

    These practices ensure that you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. For safety and preparedness, it’s always better to be proactive than reactive.

    Posted on

    Self-reliance is the foundation of a life well-lived

    Self-reliance is the foundation of a life well-lived

    It’s the ability to depend on yourself for your physical and emotional needs rather than relying on others or external systems. In a world that constantly encourages dependency—whether on technology, consumer goods, or the validation of others—self-reliance is a skill that brings true freedom and fulfillment.

    Let’s explore what self-reliance means, its significance, and why it’s more relevant today than ever. Understanding these core principles will set the stage for your journey toward greater independence and resilience.

    What Is Self-Reliance?

    At its core, self-reliance means having the ability and confidence to care for your needs. It’s about being independent in your actions and decisions, not relying on others for validation, approval, or support.

    Self-reliance is not about isolation or refusing help when necessary. Instead, it’s about being self-sufficient, adaptable, and resourceful enough to handle life’s challenges without feeling overwhelmed or helpless.

    In practical terms, self-reliance involves:

    • Emotional independence: Managing your feelings, thoughts, and reactions healthily without constantly seeking approval or reassurance from others.
    • Financial independence: Ensuring you can support yourself financially, with enough security to handle unexpected challenges.
    • Physical independence: Caring for your physical needs—whether it’s maintaining your health, repairing things around the house, or growing your own food.
    • Mental and intellectual independence: Cultivating critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills so external pressures or opinions do not overly influence you.

    Why Self-Reliance Matters

    Self-reliance is crucial for many reasons, both practical and philosophical. Let’s break down some of the key benefits of cultivating this skill:

    Freedom and Control

    • The more self-reliant you are, the less control others or external factors have over your life. Financial independence, for example, allows you to make choices based on your values, not based on monetary constraints.
    • Emotional independence gives you the strength to withstand life’s inevitable setbacks and challenges without relying on someone else for reassurance or comfort.

      Resilience in the Face of Adversity
    • Life is full of uncertainty. Being self-reliant helps you bounce back when things go wrong, from financial hardships to personal loss. When you’re capable of managing your own needs, you’re less likely to be crushed by circumstances beyond your control.

      Personal Growth and Empowerment
    • Self-reliance fosters a growth mindset. It encourages you to continuously improve, learn new skills, and take responsibility for your life and actions. When you’re reliant on yourself, you become the creator of your own destiny rather than a passive participant in someone else’s plan.

      Living According to Your Values
    • When you depend on others or societal systems to fulfill your needs, you may be forced to compromise on your values to conform. However, self-reliance allows you to create a life that aligns with your deepest principles and beliefs without being swayed by outside influences.

    The Pillars of Self-Reliance

    To become truly self-reliant, you must build up several key areas in your life. These pillars will help guide you toward independence and autonomy in a sustainable way:

    Emotional Independence

    Emotional independence is managing your emotions without excessive reliance on external validation. It’s about handling stress, disappointment, joy, and sadness without depending on others to fix or manage your emotional state.

    Healthy emotional independence allows you to stay grounded in your values and decisions, regardless of the opinions or actions of those around you.

    How to Build Emotional Independence:

    • Practice mindfulness and emotional regulation techniques, like journaling or meditation.
      • Learn to cope with discomfort by confronting your fears and negative emotions instead of avoiding or suppressing them.
    • Cultivate self-compassion and self-acceptance so that you do not base your worth on the approval of others.

    Financial Independence

    Financial independence is one of the most practical and essential aspects of self-reliance. It means you can support yourself and make decisions without being tied to the financial expectations or limitations of others.

    Achieving financial independence involves budgeting, saving, investing, and growing your wealth over time. It’s not just about how much money you have but how well you manage and plan for your financial future.

    How to Build Financial Independence:

    • Track your spending and create a budget that prioritizes savings and long-term goals.
      • Eliminate debt, especially high-interest debt like credit cards.
    • Build multiple income streams through investing or side hustles to reduce reliance on a single paycheck.

    Physical Independence

    Physical self-reliance means caring for your body, living space, and immediate environment. It’s about knowing how to grow your own food, fix things around the house, and stay healthy without relying on outside help.

    Learning basic physical skills, such as cooking, gardening, cleaning, and repairing items, gives you the tools to manage your daily life more effectively.

    How to Build Physical Independence:

    • Start a garden, learn to cook from scratch, and invest in DIY home repair tools.
      • Establish a consistent exercise routine and prioritize your physical health through healthy eating, adequate sleep, and regular activity.
    • Educate yourself on basic survival skills, such as emergency first-aid, home maintenance, and budgeting for household needs.

    Mental and Intellectual Independence

    Mental self-reliance means thinking critically, making decisions based on your judgment, and learning independently. It’s the ability to seek knowledge and insights without constantly depending on others to provide them.

    Intellectual independence involves developing your beliefs, values, and understanding of the world. It’s about not merely accepting the ideas and opinions of others but examining them critically and forming your own conclusions.

    How to Build Intellectual Independence:

    • Read books on various topics, especially those that challenge your current worldview.
      • Practice critical thinking by questioning assumptions, considering different perspectives, and being open to changing your mind.
    • Develop the habit of lifelong learning through courses, seminars, and engaging in thoughtful conversations.

    Self-Reliance vs. Isolation

    It’s important to note that self-reliance is not the same as isolation. While becoming self-reliant means reducing your dependency on others for survival, it doesn’t mean cutting off all connections. Humans are inherently social creatures, and relationships and community are still important aspects of life. True self-reliance is about balance, being capable of standing on your own two feet, and recognizing when collaboration and support from others are necessary.

    The Road to Self-Reliance: Starting Your Journey

    Self-reliance is not something that happens overnight. It is a process of consistent learning, unlearning, and personal development. Each step you take toward emotional, financial, physical, and intellectual independence strengthens your ability to navigate life on your own terms.

    Remember, becoming self-reliant is a marathon, not a sprint. You can build the foundation for a truly independent and empowered life by taking daily small, deliberate actions.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Self-reliance is the ability to depend on yourself for your needs, from emotions to finances.
    • It is essential for freedom, resilience, and personal growth.
    • The pillars of self-reliance include emotional, financial, physical, and intellectual independence.
    • Self-reliance is about balance; it doesn’t mean isolating yourself but rather learning to handle life’s challenges without over-dependence on others.

    Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

    These practices ensure you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive for safety and preparedness.

    Posted on

    Pathways To Self-Reliance: How To Become Independent

    self-reliance

    In today’s fast-paced and complex world, it is essential to cultivate a sense of self-reliance – the ability to rely on oneself rather than others to meet one’s needs.

    The benefits of self-reliance, including increased confidence, reduced stress, and improved overall well-being

    • Increased Confidence: When you are self-reliant, you develop a sense of confidence and self-assurance. You know you can handle challenges and overcome obstacles, boosting your self-esteem and overall well-being.
    • Improved Problem-Solving Skills: Self-reliance requires thinking critically and developing creative solutions to problems. This helps you develop problem-solving skills, which are essential in all areas of life.
    • Reduced Stress: When you are self-reliant, you are less likely to feel stressed and anxious. You know you can handle challenges and make decisions without relying on others, reducing your stress levels.
    • Increased Autonomy: Self-reliance allows you to make your own decisions and take control of your life. You are no longer dependent on others for your happiness and well-being.
    • Better Time Management: Self-reliance requires prioritizing your tasks and managing your time effectively. This helps you become more productive and efficient in your daily life.
    • Improved Resilience: When you are self-reliant, you are better equipped to handle setbacks and failures. You know that you can bounce back from adversity and continue moving forward.
    • Enhanced Creativity: Self-reliance encourages creativity and innovation. When you are not limited by the constraints of others, you are free to think outside the box and come up with new and innovative solutions.
    • Better Decision-Making: Self-reliance requires you to make decisions based on your own values and principles. This helps you develop better decision-making skills and become more confident in your choices.
    • Increased Sense of Purpose: Self-reliance gives you a sense of purpose and direction. You know you are working towards your goals and achieving your desired outcomes.
    • Improved Relationships: Self-reliance can actually improve your relationships with others. When you are confident and self-assured, you are more likely to build stronger and more meaningful relationships with others.
    • Reduced Dependence on Others: Self-reliance reduces your dependence on others for your happiness and well-being. You are no longer reliant on others for your sense of purpose and fulfillment.
    • Increased Self-Awareness: Self-reliance requires a better understanding of yourself and your strengths and weaknesses. This helps you become more self-aware and better equipped to make decisions that align with your values and goals.

    Self-reliance can profoundly impact your life, increasing confidence, reducing stress, and improving overall well-being. By developing self-reliance, you can become a more confident, capable, and resilient individual.

    The consequences of relying too heavily on others, including decreased autonomy and increased vulnerability

    Decreased Autonomy:

    • When you rely too heavily on others, you may feel like you’re losing control over your own life.
    • You may start to feel like you’re incapable of making decisions or taking care of yourself.
    • Decreased autonomy can lead to feelings of frustration, resentment, and powerlessness.

    Increased Vulnerability:

    • When you rely too heavily on others, you may become more vulnerable to their opinions, emotions, and actions.
    • You may feel like you’re at the mercy of others and that they can easily manipulate or control you.
    • Increased vulnerability can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.

    Other Consequences:

    • Loss of Personal Responsibility: When you rely too heavily on others, you may feel like you’re not responsible for your actions or decisions.
    • Dependence on Others: Relying too heavily on others can lead to a sense of dependence, damaging your self-esteem and confidence.
    • Lack of Self-Awareness: When you rely too heavily on others, you may not develop a strong sense of self-awareness, which is essential for personal growth and development.
    • Inability to Adapt: Relying too heavily on others can make it difficult for you to adapt to changes or challenges, as you may not have the skills or confidence to handle them on your own.
    • Feeling Trapped: When you rely too heavily on others, you may feel like you’re trapped in a situation or relationship that’s not fulfilling or healthy.
    • Lack of Personal Growth: Relying too heavily on others can stifle personal growth and development, as you may not be challenged to learn new skills or take on new responsibilities.

    Examples of Relying Too Heavily on Others:

    • Financial Dependence: Relying too heavily on others for financial support can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and resentment.
    • Emotional Dependence: Relying too heavily on others for emotional support can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.
    • Physical Dependence: Relying too heavily on others for physical care or support can lead to feelings of vulnerability and dependence.

    Breaking Free from Relying Too Heavily on Others:

    • Developing Self-Awareness: Take time to reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and values to develop a stronger sense of self-awareness.
    • Building Self-Confidence: Focus on building your self-confidence by taking on new challenges and achieving small victories.
    • Setting Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries with others to maintain your autonomy and independence.
    • Seeking Support: Seek support from others and prioritize your needs and desires.
    • Practicing Self-Care: Prioritize self-care and take time for yourself to recharge and refocus.

    By recognizing the consequences of relying too heavily on others, you can take steps to break free and develop a stronger sense of autonomy, self-awareness, and self-confidence.

    Conclusion

    Developing long-term self-reliance requires dedication, persistence, and patience. Remember to be kind to yourself, celebrate your progress, and stay committed to your goals. With time and effort, you will become a more confident, capable, and self-reliant individual.

    Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

    These steps ensure you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive for safety and preparedness.

    Posted on

    The Rise of the Immortal Dictator: What Will AI Mean for Freedom and Government?

    AI

    John & Nisha Whitehead January 29, 2025

    “If one company or small group of people manages to develop godlike digital superintelligence, they could take over the world. At least when there’s an evil dictator, that human is going to die. But for an AI, there would be no death. It would live forever. And then you’d have an immortal dictator from which we can never escape.”—Elon Musk (2018)

    The Deep State is about to go turbocharged.

    While the news media fixates on the extent to which Project 2025 may be the Trump Administration’s playbook for locking down the nation, there is a more subversive power play taking place under cover of Trump’s unique brand of circus politics.

    Take a closer look at what’s unfolding, and you will find that all appearances to the contrary, Trump isn’t planning to do away with the Deep State. Rather, he was hired by the Deep State to usher in the golden age of AI.

    Get ready for Surveillance State 2.0.

    To achieve this turbocharged surveillance state, the government is turning to its most powerful weapon yet: artificial intelligence. AI, with its ability to learn, adapt, and operate at speeds unimaginable to humans, is poised to become the engine of this new world order.

    Over the course of 70 years, the technology has developed so rapidly that it has gone from early computers exhibiting a primitive form of artificial intelligence to machine learning (AI systems that learn from historic data) to deep learning (machine learning that mimics the human brain) to generative AI, which can create original content, i.e., it appears able to think for itself.

    What we are approaching is the point of no return.

    In tech speak, this point of no return is more aptly termed “singularity,” the point at which AI eclipses its human handlers and becomes all-powerful. Elon Musk has predicted that singularity could happen by 2026. AI scientist Ray Kurzweil imagines it happening it closer to 2045.

    While the scientific community has a lot to say about the world-altering impact of artificial intelligence on every aspect of our lives, little has been said about its growing role in government and its oppressive effect on our freedoms, especially “the core democratic principles of privacy, autonomy, equality, the political process, and the rule of law.”

    According to a report from Accenture, it is estimated that across both the public and private sectors, generative AI has the potential to automate a significant portion of jobs across various sectors.

    Here’s a thought: what if Trump’s pledge to cut the federal work force isn’t really about eliminating government bureaucracy but outsourcing it to the AI tech sector?

    Certainly, Trump has made no secret of his plans to make AI a priority. Indeed, Trump signed the first-ever Executive Order on AI in 2019. More recently, Trump issued an executive order giving the technology sector a green light to develop and deploy AI without any guardrails in place to limit the risks it might pose to U.S. national security, the economy, public health or safety.

    President Biden was no better, mind you. His executive order, which Trump repealed, merely instructed the tech sector to share the results of AI safety tests with the U.S. government.

    Yet following much the same pattern that we saw with the rollout of drones, while the government has been quick to avail itself of AI technology, it has done little to nothing to ensure that rights of the American people are protected.

    Indeed, we are altogether lacking any guardrails for transparency, accountability and adherence to the rule of law when it comes to the government’s use of AI.

    As Karl Manheim and Lyric Kaplan point out in a chilling article in the Yale Journal of Law & Technology about the risks to privacy and democracy posed by AI, “[a]rtificial intelligence is the most disruptive technology of the modern era… Its impact is likely to dwarf even the development of the internet as it enters every corner of our lives… Advances in AI herald not just a new age in computing, but also present new dangers to social values and constitutional rights. The threat to privacy from social media algorithms and the Internet of Things is well known. What is less appreciated is the even greater threat that AI poses to democracy itself.”

    Cue the rise of “digital authoritarianism” or “algocracy—rule by algorithm.”

    In an algocracy, “Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai, CEOs of Facebook and Google, have more control over Americans’ lives and futures than do the representatives we elect.”

    Digital authoritarianism, as the Center for Strategic and International Studies cautions, involves the use of information technology to surveil, repress, and manipulate the populace, endangering human rights and civil liberties, and co-opting and corrupting the foundational principles of democratic and open societies, “including freedom of movement, the right to speak freely and express political dissent, and the right to personal privacy, online and off.”

    How do we protect our privacy against the growing menace of overreach and abuse by a technological sector working with the government?

    The ability to do so may already be out of our hands.

    In 2024, at least 37 federal government agencies ranging from the Departments of Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to Health and Human Services reported more than 1700 uses of AI in carrying out their work, double from the year before. That does not even begin to touch on agencies that did not report their usage, or usage at the state and local levels.

    Of those 1700 cases at the federal level, 227 were labeled rights- or safety-impacting.

    A particularly disturbing example of how AI is being used by government agencies in rights- and safety-impacting scenarios comes from an investigative report by The Washington Post on how law enforcement agencies across the nation are using “artificial intelligence tools in a way they were never intended to be used: as a shortcut to finding and arresting suspects without other evidence.”

    This is what is referred to within tech circles as “automation bias,” a tendency to blindly trust decisions made by powerful software, ignorant to its risks and limitations. In one particular case, police used AI-powered facial recognition technology to arrest and jail a 29-year-old man for brutally assaulting a security guard. It would take Christopher Gatlin two years to clear his name.

    Gatlin is one of at least eight known cases nationwide in which police reliance on AI facial recognition software has resulted in resulted in wrongful arrests arising from an utter disregard for basic police work (such as checking alibis, collecting evidence, corroborating DNA and fingerprint evidence, ignoring suspects’ physical characteristics) and the need to meet constitutional standards of due process and probable cause. According to The Washington Post, “Asian and Black people were up to 100 times as likely to be misidentified by some software as White men.”

    The numbers of cases in which AI is contributed to false arrests and questionable police work is likely much higher, given the extent to which police agencies across the country are adopting the technology and will only rise in the wake of the Trump Administration’s intent to shut down law enforcement oversight and policing reforms.

    “How do I beat a machine?” asked one man who was wrongly arrested by police for assaulting a bus driver based on an incorrect AI match.

    It is becoming all but impossible to beat the AI machine.

    When used by agents of the police state, it leaves “we the people” even more vulnerable.

    So where do we go from here?

    For the Trump Administration, it appears to be full steam ahead, starting with Stargate, a $500 billion AI infrastructure venture aimed at building massive data centers. Initial reports suggest that the AI data centers could be tied to digital health records and used to develop a cancer vaccine. Of course, massive health data centers for use by AI will mean that one’s health records are fair game for any and all sorts of identification, tracking and flagging.

    But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

    The surveillance state, combined with AI, is creating a world in which there’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. We’re all presumed guilty until proven innocent now.

    Thanks to the 24/7 surveillance being carried out by the government’s sprawling spy network of fusion centers, we are all just sitting ducks, waiting to be tagged, flagged, targeted, monitored, manipulated, investigated, interrogated, heckled and generally harassed by agents of the American police state.

    Without having ever knowingly committed a crime or been convicted of one, you and your fellow citizens have likely been assessed for behaviors the government might consider devious, dangerous or concerning; assigned a threat score based on your associations, activities and viewpoints; and catalogued in a government database according to how you should be approached by police and other government agencies based on your particular threat level.

    Before long, every household in America will be flagged as a threat and assigned a threat score.

    It’s just a matter of time before you find yourself wrongly accused, investigated and confronted by police based on a data-driven algorithm or risk assessment culled together by a computer program run by artificial intelligence.

    It’s a setup ripe for abuse.

    Writing for the Yale Journal, Manheim and Kaplan conclude that “[h]umans may not be at risk as a species, but we are surely at risk in terms of our democratic institutions and values.”

    Privacy­—Manheim and Kaplan succinctly describe it as “the right to make personal decisions for oneself, the right to keep one’s personal information confidential, and the right to be left alone are all ingredients of the fundamental right of privacy”— is especially at risk.

    Indeed, with every new AI surveillance technology that is adopted and deployed without any regard for privacy, Fourth Amendment rights and due process, the rights of the citizenry are being marginalized, undermined and eviscerated.

    We teeter on the cusp of a cultural, technological and societal revolution the likes of which have never been seen before.

    AI surveillance is already re-orienting our world into one in which freedom is almost unrecognizable by doing what the police state lacks the manpower and resources to do efficiently or effectively: be everywhere, watch everyone and everything, monitor, identify, catalogue, cross-check, cross-reference, and collude.

    As Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO remarked, “We know where you are. We know where you’ve been. We can more or less know what you’re thinking about… Your digital identity will live forever… because there’s no delete button.”

    The ramifications of any government wielding such unregulated, unaccountable power are chilling, as AI surveillance provides the ultimate means of repression and control for tyrants and benevolent dictators alike.

    Indeed, China’s social credit system, where citizens are assigned scores based on their behavior and compliance, offers a glimpse into this dystopian future.

    This is not a battle against technology itself, but against its misuse. It’s a fight to retain our humanity, our dignity, and our freedom in the face of unprecedented technological power. It’s a struggle to ensure that AI serves us, not the other way around.

    Faced with this looming threat, the time to act is now, before the lines between citizen and subject, between freedom and control, become irrevocably blurred.

    The future of freedom depends on it.

    So demand transparency. Demand accountability.

    Demand an Electronic Bill of Rights that protects “we the people” from the encroaching surveillance state.

    We need safeguards in place to ensure the right to data ownership and control (the right to know what data is being collected about them, how it’s being used, who has access to it, and the right to be “forgotten”); the right to algorithmic transparency (to understand how algorithms that affect them make decisions, particularly in areas like loan applications, job hiring, and criminal justice) and due process accountability; the right to privacy and data security, including restrictions on government and corporate use of AI-powered surveillance technologies, particularly facial recognition and predictive policing; the right to digital self-determination (freedom from automated discrimination based on algorithmic profiling) and the ability to manage and control one’s online identity and reputation; and effective mechanisms to seek redress for harms caused by AI systems.

    AI deployed without any safeguards in place to protect against overreach and abuse, especially within government agencies, has the potential to become what Elon Musk described as an “immortal dictator,” one that lives forever and from which there is no escape.

    Whatever you choose to call it—the police state, the Deep State, the surveillance state—this “immortal dictator” will be the future face of the government unless we rein it in now.

    As I point out in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, next year could be too late.

    WC: 2133

    Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

    These steps ensure you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive for safety and preparedness.

    Posted on

    How do I prepare for a devastating terrorist attack?

    How do I prepare for the results of a terrorist attack?

    Preparing for the aftermath of a terrorist attack involves planning for both immediate physical safety and emotional resilience, as well as understanding how to navigate a potentially chaotic environment. While no amount of preparation can fully mitigate the impact of such events, being ready can increase your chances of staying safe, helping others, and coping effectively afterward.

    Here’s a breakdown of how you can prepare for the results of a terrorist attack:

    Develop an Emergency Plan

    • Create a Communication Plan: During an attack, communication systems (phone lines, social media, etc.) may be overwhelmed or disrupted. Establish a plan with family and close friends for how to reconnect. This could involve designating meeting places, using text messages for a quicker communication, or relying on social media to check-in.
    • Know Evacuation Routes: Familiarize yourself with multiple evacuation routes from your home, workplace, or other common places you frequent. Knowing how to exit safely is crucial if you’re caught in a building or public space during an attack.
    • Account for Support Needs: If you have children, older family members, or others with support needs, ensure their safety and mobility are factored into your emergency plans. Make sure everyone knows how to reach one another in an emergency.

    Build an Emergency Kit

    • Essential Supplies: Prepare a kit that you can grab quickly if you need to evacuate. Include items such as:
      • Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days)
      • Non-perishable food
      • First-aid supplies (bandages, antiseptic, medications)
      • Flashlight and extra batteries
      • Multi-tool or basic tools
      • Personal hygiene items (wet wipes, sanitary products)
      • Important documents (ID, health insurance, emergency contacts)
      • Cash (small denominations, as ATMs may be down)
      • A portable phone charger
    • Medication and Special Items: If you take medications or need medical equipment, ensure you have enough for several days and store them in your emergency kit.

    Know How to Respond During an Attack

    • For Active Shooter or Bomb Threats: If you’re caught in an active shooter or bombing situation, remember the “Run, Hide, Fight” principle:
      • Run: If it’s safe, get as far away from the threat as possible.
      • Hide: If you can’t escape, find a safe space to shelter in place. Lock doors, barricade windows, and stay out of sight.
      • Fight: As a last resort, fight back using anything available to protect yourself and others.
    • During an Explosion or Chemical Attack: If you hear an explosion or are exposed to a chemical weapon:
      • Take cover immediately (duck behind something sturdy).
      • If you’re outside, move away from the site of the explosion and cover your nose and mouth to protect against harmful fumes or dust.
      • If you suspect a chemical attack, move to a sheltered area (like a building) and seal the doors and windows as best as you can.

    Mental and Emotional Preparation

    • Recognize and Manage Stress: It’s natural to feel anxious or scared, especially after a terrorist attack. Learning stress-management techniques, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or guided meditation, can help calm yourself in high-stress situations.
    • Understand PTSD: The emotional impact of experiencing or witnessing a terrorist attack can be severe. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect survivors, witnesses, and even first responders. Know that seeking professional mental health support is vital after such an event.
    • Support Systems: Develop strong support networks with family, friends, and neighbors. Knowing that you have people you can rely on for emotional or practical support can help you feel more secure.

    Know How to React After the Attack

    • Stay Informed: Follow news updates from reliable sources to stay informed about the situation. Authorities will provide instructions on evacuation routes, emergency shelters, or other safety measures.
    • Avoid Unnecessary Risk: If you’re in a location affected by an attack, avoid returning to the scene unless authorities advise it’s safe. Follow evacuation routes or instructions, and don’t rush back into danger.
    • Help Others If You Can: If you are safe and able, assist others in need. This could involve helping injured people, directing others to shelters, or offering emotional support. However, ensure that you’re not putting yourself in harm’s way by doing so.

    Understand How to Access Resources and Aid

    • Know Emergency Contacts: Familiarize yourself with the emergency contact numbers for local authorities, hospitals, and support organizations. After an attack, lines may be busy, so having backup contacts can be helpful.
    • Accessing Shelters and Services: After a terrorist attack, you may need to seek temporary shelter. Be prepared to find nearby evacuation centers or safe zones. Local governments or organizations like the Red Cross may set up emergency shelters.
    • Legal and Financial Assistance: In the aftermath, there may be legal and financial assistance available for victims. Be aware of support organizations and government programs that can help with medical costs, property damage, or other needs resulting from the attack.

    Recovery and Long-Term Resilience

    • Psychological Support: After a terrorist attack, mental health recovery is crucial. Consider accessing counseling or support groups that specialize in trauma recovery. Many organizations, like the American Red Cross, offer resources for coping with trauma.
    • Grief and Loss: If you’ve lost loved ones or witnessed devastating events, the grieving process can be long. Seek support through professional services, peer groups, or religious institutions to help navigate these emotions.
    • Resilience Building: In the long term, building community resilience is key. Engage in local efforts to strengthen your neighborhood’s response capabilities, like joining a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or other preparedness programs.

    Support for Victims and Community Solidarity

    • Be Part of the Recovery: After a terrorist attack, helping rebuild and recover is essential for individuals and the broader community. Whether it’s through donations, volunteering, or simply supporting your neighbors, contributing to the recovery process can help foster resilience.
    • Promote Unity and Combat Division: Terrorist attacks often aim to create fear, division, and distrust. It’s important to remain united and work toward healing, regardless of differing backgrounds or beliefs. Acts of solidarity, understanding, and empathy strengthen communities in the face of adversity.

    Conclusion

    While it’s impossible to predict the exact nature of a terrorist attack or its aftermath, being prepared in a variety of ways—both physically and emotionally—can help you navigate the chaos and stay safe. Developing an emergency plan, staying informed, having an emergency kit, and knowing how to respond during and after an attack are all essential for personal safety and community resilience. Additionally, emotional preparedness and knowing where to access mental health and community support will help you recover more effectively from such traumatic events.

    Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

    These steps ensure you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive for safety and preparedness.

    Posted on

    Our World Is Becoming An Extremely Hazardous Place!

    Our world is becoming a very dangerous place!

    The increasing threat of terrorism can feel daunting. However, addressing these threats often requires both individual actions and collective efforts at different levels.

    Given the evolving nature of terrorism and the potential for various types of threats, preparing for terrorist attacks involves personal awareness, community resilience, and national security efforts. Citizens can play a role in reducing vulnerability to terrorism through preparedness, vigilance, and cooperation with authorities. Here are some key ways individuals and communities can prepare for and respond to increasing terrorist threats:

    Stay Informed and Aware

    • Understand the Threats: Stay updated on current threats, local risks, and trends related to domestic terrorism, extremist ideologies, and cyber threats. Trusted news sources, local government updates, and homeland security alerts can provide timely information.
    • Familiarize Yourself with Threats: Terrorism can take various forms, including active shooter situations, bomb threats, cyber-attacks, and mass casualty events. Understanding the different types of attacks and common tactics can help citizens respond more effectively if an incident occurs.

    Be Prepared for Emergencies

    • Personal Emergency Plan: Develop an emergency plan including evacuation routes, communication methods, and contacts. This plan should account for the possibility of being separated from family members or experiencing disrupted communication.
    • Emergency Kits: Keep an emergency kit with essential supplies like water, food, medications, first-aid materials, a flashlight, batteries, and a portable phone charger. These supplies can help you survive for several days if necessary.
    • Know How to Respond to Active Shooter Events: The “Run, Hide, Fight” protocol is widely recommended for active shooter situations:
      • Run: Escape the area if it’s safe to do so.
      • Hide: If escape isn’t possible, find a secure hiding place.
      • Fight: Defend yourself and others from the attacker as a last resort.

    Recognize Suspicious Activity and Report It

    • Stay Vigilant: Be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded or high-risk areas like airports, public transportation hubs, and large events. If something feels out of place or suspicious, trust your instincts.
    • See Something, Say Something: Report suspicious behavior or activities to local authorities. Examples could include individuals who are acting strangely, making threatening remarks, or engaging in unusual activities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) encourages citizens to report such behaviors to local law enforcement or the FBI.
    • Know How to Report: Familiarize yourself with the local or national reporting systems for terrorism-related information. The FBI’s “Tips and Public Leads” page and local law enforcement agencies can provide contact information for reporting suspicious activities.

    Support Counter-Terrorism Efforts

    • Community Engagement: Strengthening ties within your local community can help identify and counteract extremist behavior before it escalates. Communities that are resilient and inclusive may help prevent radicalization and promote social cohesion.
    • Prevent Radicalization: Terrorist groups often prey on vulnerable individuals, so supporting efforts to prevent radicalization can help address the root causes of violent extremism.
    • Promote Public Safety: Work with local law enforcement, community leaders, and public officials to support efforts that improve public safety, including counter-terrorism initiatives, training, and information sharing.

    Cybersecurity and Protecting Digital Information

    • Cybersecurity Awareness: Given the increasing role of cyber-attacks in modern terrorism, citizens should ensure their digital security by using strong, unique passwords, avoiding phishing scams, and being cautious about sharing personal information online.
    • Stay Safe Online: Be aware of extremist propaganda, recruitment efforts, and disinformation campaigns that could spread on social media platforms or online forums. Report any suspicious or harmful online content to platforms or authorities.
    • Secure Devices: Use encryption and multi-factor authentication for sensitive accounts and communications to help protect your data from being exploited by cyber-terrorists.

    Work with Emergency Responders

    • Understand Local Emergency Response: Familiarize yourself with your area’s emergency response plans, including evacuation routes, emergency shelters, and medical facilities.
    • Basic First Aid and CPR: Learning basic first aid and CPR can enable you to provide critical help in the aftermath of a terrorist attack or other emergencies. Consider taking a Red Cross or other certified course.
    • Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): Consider joining or supporting local CERT programs, which train volunteers to assist emergency services during disasters and attacks. These teams often work alongside first responders to help save lives and manage immediate needs during and after an event.

    Support Mental Health and Resilience in Your Community

    • Community Support Systems: Terrorist attacks can cause widespread trauma and emotional distress. Establishing or supporting community networks that provide mental health resources, counseling, and resilience-building programs can help people recover and regain a sense of safety and normalcy.
    • Building Mental Resilience: Preparing yourself mentally and emotionally for potential threats is also crucial. Practicing mindfulness, stress management techniques, and maintaining social connections can help individuals handle the psychological toll that fear of terrorism can create.

    Support Law Enforcement and National Security

    • Respect the Role of Authorities: While citizens should remain vigilant, it’s also important to recognize that law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies play a primary role in preventing and responding to terrorism. Supporting their work through appropriate channels, such as reporting concerns or participating in community programs, strengthens national security.
    • Foster Trust Between Communities and Law Enforcement: Strong relationships between communities and law enforcement can enhance collaboration and early intervention, which is vital for preventing and responding to terrorism.

    Advocate for Balanced Counter-Terrorism Policies

    • Champion Human Rights: While advocating for stronger counter-terrorism measures, it’s essential to ensure that these measures do not infringe upon civil liberties, privacy, or human rights. Support policies that balance security with the protection of individual freedoms.
    • Encourage Smart, Evidence-Based Policy: Support counter-terrorism measures that are rooted in intelligence, data, and thoughtful analysis, rather than fear-based decision-making. Effective counter-terrorism policies should address the underlying causes of extremism and provide a comprehensive response.

    Conclusion

    While citizens can’t eliminate all threats on their own, their actions and preparedness can contribute to making communities safer and more resilient in the face of increasing terrorism risks. By staying informed, being vigilant, supporting local and national counter-terrorism efforts, and preparing for emergencies, individuals can actively reduce their vulnerability to attacks. Ultimately, a collective effort between citizens, law enforcement, government agencies, and community groups is crucial in addressing the growing threat of terrorism in the United States.

    Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

    Taking these steps ensures you and your loved ones are better prepared to handle emergencies effectively. It’s always better to be proactive than reactive for safety and preparedness.

    Part Two: How do I prepare for the results of a terrorist attack?

    Posted on

    It’s Time to Talk About Our Constitution

    The U.S. Constitution
    By Kevin Frazier

    January 10, 2025

    The impending 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence seems like the perfect time to talk about our Constitution–its values, its strengths, its weakness, and, yes, even its potential amendment or revision. A national conversation on the state of our constitutional order, though, requires we avoid succumbing to convention-phobia–a fear that any talk of constitutional reform or a convention will automatically lead to an outcome unaligned with the public interest. It’s a fear Americans didn’t used to have. And it’s a fear we need to get over. Sadly, convention-phobia seems to be spreading.

    As reported by The New York Times, officials such as Representative Jodey Arrington (R-Tex.) have resurfaced proposals to amend or revise the Constitution. Rep. Arrington and others should have a chance to fully explain their rationale for any amendments and alterations. Those opposed should, in turn, have a platform to contest those ideas. All of this should and could occur in a civil, open fashion. In short, we should use this moment to follow the model set by the Founders in debating the ratification of the Constitution.

    The Founders did not doubt their collective capacity to debate the adequacy of the Constitution and decide whether contemporary challenges warranted further amendments. Consider the nature of their public debates over the proposed Constitution: delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, farmers across the nation, merchants in myriad cities, and others engaged in open and thoughtful discussions about the ins and outs of the document. The Federalist Papers were just a small subset of a larger exchange of essays among Americans concerned about the future of the country. In addition to Jay, Hamilton, and Madison, many others penned articles setting forth the federalist perspective; a community of writers did the same with respect to anti-federalist views.

    We should heed their example. Instead, many of us will just read headlines and accept whatever view the authors wanted to pass on. 

    The Times’s headline–“A Constitutional Convention? Some Democrats Fear It’s Coming”–primes readers to associate constitutional discourse with conservative aims and, by extension, to ignore, if not oppose, such conversations. It’s these sorts of headlines that give rise to convention-phobia. Below the byline, the authors persisted in slanted coverage intended to quash robust constitutional discourse. They warn that there are “almost no rules governing how such a constitutional convention would work.” They speculate that a convention may be populated by “lobbyists and special interests[.]” They quote partisan sources such as Erwin Chmerinsky to confirm that convention “fears” of Democrats are “very legitimate.”

    While it’s true that the Constitution leaves many details unaddressed in Article V, it’s not true that Americans lack the capacity to fill in the blanks. Absent from the Times coverage is any mention of the fact that Americans have long demonstrated a capacity to responsibly reform and revise fundamental legal documents. The article leaves out the fact that since the 1770s there have been more than 250 state constitutional conventions. In many such instances, residents of those states had to craft novel rules and procedures. Those Americans figured it out. So can we.

    The Times reporters also chose to ignore the mountains of legal scholarship on how a federal constitutional convention could work. They additionally omitted important efforts like the 2024 Model Constitutional Convention hosted by Center for Constitutional Design at Arizona State University in which students from around the country participated in a mock convention. Analysis of scholarship and details on emerging efforts for public engagement with big constitutional questions would increase our collective resiliency to unproductive allegations that we’re not to be trusted with our own governing document. 

    This is unfortunately not a new phenomenon. Stories that focus on flags flown by wives of justices more so than the content of the Supreme Court’s opinions trivialize our politics and infantilize our populace. 

    It is hard to imagine our Constitution, as is, can preside over another 250 years of American innovation and leadership. Now’s the time to at once celebrate the spirit and letter of that document while also critically analyzing whether it still furthers the values that motivated our Founders and sustain us today. We can and should remember, as pointed out by Professor Edward Corwin, that “[t]he one power known to the Constitution which clearly is not limited by it is that which ordains it–in other words, the original, inalienable power of the people of the United States to determine their own political future.”

    Kevin Frazier is an assistant professor at St. Thomas University College of Law and a senior research fellow in the Constitutional Studies Program at the University of Texas at Austin.

    This article was originally published by RealClearPolicy and made available via RealClearWire.

    Posted on

    Richmond and Los Angeles Have Been Mugged By Reality

    Cal Fires
    By Rob Smith

    January 10, 2025

    Windsor Farms is a beautiful residential neighborhood in Richmond. My great uncle developed it 100 years ago. The streets are laid out in the style of an English village and there are many stately Georgian homes with beautiful gardens.

    During the George Floyd “Summer of Love” antifa and Black Lives Matter marched through Windsor Farms, no doubt to protest against “nice stuff,” preferring everyone to live in graffiti ridden squalor as a measurement of social justice fairness.  I wrote at the time that if any of these Georgian mansions were given to any of these neo-Marxist protestors, within 6 months all the windows in the house would be busted out, there would be broken glass and 3-foot-high grass in the front yard, and the mechanical systems would all be trashed.  The same is true with a city. Give these types of people the keys to any city and in short order, the city, just like the free house, will be destroyed. They are incapable of taking care of anything.

    Here in Richmond, we just went through nearly 3 days with no municipal water. Now, we have to go through 2-3 days of not being allowed to drink the water coming from our taps.  Several hundred thousand people in a major metropolitan area with hospitals, manufacturing plants, universities, nursing homes, and millions of square feet of office space had no water. It’s third world. Our race hustling, low IQ Marxist mayor hired a DEI candidate to run the Department of Utilities, the first time ever a non-engineer held that post. Her major initiative was hiring other DEI candidates to work for Public Utilities. Incompetent boobs, hire other incompetent boobs and before you know it, there are more boobs than the runway at the Bada-Bing.

    Los Angeles is burning down. The government incompetence there is extraordinary. LA has its own DEI problems. Its fire chief was hired because she is an outspoken lesbian. Her initiative has been to hire more women and LGBTQ firefighters. Yep, I want a 99 lb mentally ill woman who thinks she’s man pulling me out of a burning fire! Who wouldn’t?

    I’ve been known to be unabashedly blunt, but of course always right. DEI is the process of hiring simple minded knaves at the expense of competent and qualified artisans. Worse, it instills a sense of unearned entitlement in those who “Didn’t Earn It.” It is a cancer metastasizing through the ranks of work forces given grave responsibilities, and it spreads to the point where no one in an organization has the work ethic or skill to change a light bulb. 

    As bad as DEI is, what’s worse is the political class that initiates DEI policies. There should never ever be any reason to vote anybody into office that has not had a career in real world practicalities. Community activists, academics, government apparatchiks, non-profit do-gooders, clinicians, blah, blah, they generally know nothing other than the au courant platitudes of the bougie Bolshevik chattering class. In Richmond, 8 of our 9 council members are women, and the one man is a soy boy. Have any of these folks ever crawled under a house to fix a leaky pipe, changed the oil in a car, operated earth moving equipment or walked a police officer’s beat at 2 am in the morning? Have any of them started a business from the ground up and hired and fired dozens of employees? No. Yesterday, I ran into my friend Frank. He runs a small independent HVAC company. Frank understands how things work. Cities need guys like Frank to run them as opposed to purple haired social justice Sallyboys. 

    When I was fresh out of law school, my real estate mentor hired me to build a subdivision. I had to learn to read plans, to know how sanitary and  storm sewer systems worked, where the run off went, how it was tested,  where the water came from, fire hydrants, water pressure, gas pipe lines, underground power, soil compaction, emergency contingencies and a host of other real world matters that I likely never would have learned had I become a practicing lawyer or an academic. I’m not special, there are thousands of local people who know everything about these real-world issues. Yet, no one on our city council knows anything about such matters because they are political activists, academics or lifelong government hacks. They are talkers and not doers. Just about anybody I know who runs a business could have taken a tour of Richmond’s water treatment plant and immediately noticed the lack of emergency redundancies and the peril the city was in, but soft hands politicians can’t because they’ve never done anything in the practical world. There are no Franks.

    If It’s even possible to be more brain dead than the politicians running Richmond, the prize goes to California. Every advanced civilization from the ancient Minoans ( 2,000 BC) to modern times knows that to have an adequate water supply, communities need to impound water. I learned how to do this developing real estate. Every civil engineer and earth moving operator recognizes that to have a plentiful water supply, water must be captured and held in storage. But the political leadership in California doesn’t have a clue. California has plentiful and abundant water resources, but what does it do? It lets its water run off into the Pacific Ocean instead of impounding it. Now Los Angeles is burning to the ground. Fire hydrants have no water.  There are more than enough resources to make millions of acres of barren land fertile and to give communities all the water they need to fight forest fires and keep land from drying out. But the deranged, brainwashed, wacko politicians refuse. It’s better to have half of LA destroyed than to “harm the environment” by using California’s natural resources to make its environment better. No Frank would ever think like this in a million years.

    If politicians were more like Frank they might know something about forestry. My family owned timberland as did many others I knew growing up. California owns a million acres of forest land, and they do the exact opposite of what all private owners do to be protect the value of their land. Any tobacco spitting, shotgun toting good ole boy knows what these government flunkies don’t.  One has to cut fire roads through timberland. Good stewardship requires “thinning” of underbrush. Brush needs to be cleared under electrical lines and limbs need to be cut back from power lines. If not, you get forest fires.

    How in the world does the City of Richmond not know that crucial infrastructure needs a budgeted sinking fund for maintenance and that a water treatment plant needs multiple redundancies that need efficacy checks on a weekly basis? How is it that California does not know that it needs to impound water and manage its forest land? The astounding incompetence is mind blowing. Isn’t it high time to judge woke politicians not by their words, but by what they do? As Forrest Gump famously said, stupid is as stupid does.

    Frank doesn’t have a PHD in Gender Studies. He’s never participated in a pro-Palestinian rally. He doesn’t even drive an EV, but he’s a hell of a lot more capable of running a city than the flunkies running Richmond and California.

    This article was originally published by RealClearMarkets and made available via RealClearWire.