Category: Current Events & Politics

Letter Re: SARs and CTRs

Hugh, Regarding L.O.’s letter and “don’t act suspicious and you won’t be suspected”, SARs and CTRs are required by federal law. CTRs for any cash transaction for $10,000 or more are required. This is also true of a cash transaction at a jeweler, car dealer, et cetera. Also, in high crime areas (drug areas), the bank may be required to report any cash transaction over any amount set by a federal agency. For a time, in Eastern KY, all transactions over $3000 required a CTR. These are done without the customer’s knowledge or permission, usually after the transaction is completed, …


Letter Re: Dakota Access Pipeline

As a resident of North Dakota and having to hear about this every day, the facts are: The pipeline is in a corridor with another older line that goes under the water (90 feet below the riverbed); The water intake for the reservation is a moot point. The old intake at Ft. Yates will be replaced on 1/1/17 with an intake another 70 miles away from the crossing; The Standing Rock tribe was asked for input on the pipeline at least six times, and they never bothered to show up; During the design of the line, it was rerouted in …


Letter Re: Safe Deposit Boxes

My mother was visiting me when she saw the post man deliver a certified mail gold coin delivery. She immediately said, “You should get a safe deposit box.” I tried to explain several things to her: 1) The Patriot Act from almost 14 or 15 years ago gives the federal government the legal right to open any safe deposit box and seize the contents, 2) FDR explained the rationale behind his 1933 bank holiday in the first fireside chat where the government seized precious metals, so “yes” it has happened here before, and 3) (here’s where my argument gets iffy.) …


Letter Re: What is Your (HJL and JWR) Take on the Dakota Access Issue?

I’m having difficulty understanding the Dakota Access issue. What is your take on the situation? The reporting that I’ve seen has been scarce and one-sided. I thought I read that the initial proposed route was outside of sacred land, but the proposal was rejected. This prompted the police to intervene. Recently I saw the new route would go right through a large watershed area. Understandably the Indigenous People are concerned. Is this truly police overstepping their bounds and once again violating trust with Indigenous Peoples yet again? I’ve been in and out of the hospital recently, so if you covered …


Seven Warnings to the Progressive Feminist, by J.E.

Considering we are at the precipice of the possibility for the first female, militant feminist to take control of the greatest country in the world, I thought this article appropriately timed. Feminists, who may read this, you need to consider some serious questions. Are you honestly prepared to endure the reality of the feminist ideology lived out to its fullest? What would this even look like? If this is a concept you haven’t pondered fully, would you consider listening to a well researched argument against the suicidal movement of militant feminism? Moreover, are you willing to listen without judgment rather …


Thoughts On An Often Misunderstood Caliber, by R.R.

I want to share some information regarding an often misunderstood and maligned caliber, which I recently began learning more about after coming across information on the Fort Hood shooting while studying the ballistics of the shooting. The FN 57X28mm What is FN 5.7X28mm? This is a round specifically designed for a class of weapons called PDWs– personal defense weapons. It’s intended for supporting troops to replace their pistols with something half the size of an M16 but with enough capacity and punch to defeat a helmet or soft body armor, and it’s a significant step up from a pistol or …


Letter Re: Buying Krugerrands

Hugh, With regard to purchasing Krugerrands as opposed to American Gold Eagle (AGE) coins or Canadian Maple Leaf (CML) coins results in some states such as mine (in the American Redoubt, thank God) not charging sales tax on collector coins, but they do on bullion. Since Krugerrands do not bear a (symbolic) monetary denomination (like AGEs and CMLs do), and only have a gold weight and fineness, they are taxed as bullion, which usually drives their cost above the others when tax is taken into account. – KW


Giving Thanks in 2016, by Sarah Latimer

I don’t know about you, but I greatly enjoy the “Quote of the Day” section of SurvivalBlog. They often put a big smile on my face and get a “wow” response. Some people really know how to put use words to put a situation into perspective. Recently Hugh posted one such quote that was quite timely. The quote seemed so relevant to our experiences of late, with our nation’s liberals literally breaking down in tears, marching, and going so far as to turn their backs on our nation by leaving and giving up their citizenship and even some who are …


Letter Re: What are Your Thoughts on Required AR Registration in California?

Gentlemen, I live in California. After 12/31/2016, no California resident may purchase an “Assault Weapon” (AR-15, AK, et cetera). Those who own them on that date may keep them, but we must register them on the California Department of Justice website by 12/31/2017. I am trying to decide whether to register or dispose of such weapons and buy something like a Mini-14, which is not considered to be an “Assault Weapon’ by the state. If I own such weapons, I will register them. Others may choose a different course, but I would not. I am planning to become a resident …


Letter Re: Purchasing Power

HJL: That was a great article series. I personally work to create things with my knowledge, skill, and labor that will ride with inflation. Since I do it myself, my labor goes into the thing that rides with inflation without being taxed. I’ll also note that insurance companies watch very carefully what they will have to pay to fix your car or your house and adjust rates accordingly. My income is a percentage of that premium. My income is therefore indexed. The other side of the coin is that when business activity drops by half, like it did in contracting …


The Drama is Not Over: It is Still Time to Pray and Take Action, by Sarah Latimer

Well, it has been an eventful month since I last wrote on SurvivalBlog. I decided to take my own advice and enjoy some of those Golden Moments of Silence, where I simply soaked in special moments, beauty, God’s Word, made memories with those I love, and deposited these inspirations in my soul. Since I last sat in front of my keyboard to address you, I have enjoyed fellowship with numerous friends and family, seen some spectacular sights, and experienced dramatic events, most of which were wonderful and beyond description. I have made some new “survivalist” friends and gained greater respect …


Purchasing Power: Past, Present, Future- Part 5, by L.M.

If one was to purchase gold and silver as insurance and track the spot price at kitco.com on an hourly or even weekly basis, one is missing the purpose entirely. Do you review your health, home, or automobile insurance policies weekly? Of course not. You review it before you purchase it, put the policy in a safe place, and bring it out when you need it. Then there is the camp that loves to argue that silver and gold are a worthless store of value and that good stocks with good dividends are the way to protect your purchasing power …


Letter Re: Fingerprinted To Sell Gold Coin

Dear JWR and HJL, It appears I have missed something along the way. I recently went in to a local pawn shop that a year ago was a coin and jewelry shop. My husband and I have purchased from the coin and jewelry shop a number of times and I had sold a gold necklace once. You surrender gold and get cash; it was that easy. The same owner turned it into a pawn shop. This time I went in to sell a single gold coin, and the owner took my drivers license information and my thumb print. I was …


Purchasing Power: Past, Present, Future- Part 4, by L.M.

The real currency of the world has become trust. Dallas Fed chairman Fisher stated, “Fiat money is a game of CONfidence and faith and if these are lost it is over.” (emphasis added) Did he really just admit that this is a CON game? I thought we were supposed to play our part in this grand charade and pretend it had value? What is the matter with him? What in the world does this even mean? Sadly, we are past the time in history when being honest was considered noble and right! Governments are past it, and soon people around …


Purchasing Power: Past, Present, Future- Part 3, by L.M.

Largest Theft in History As expected, Ms. Yellen smiled last week, announcing no change to the Fed’s extraordinary policies. For the last eight years, she has been aiding and abetting the largest theft in history. Thanks to ZIRP (zero-interest-rate policy) and QE (quantitative easing), every year, about $300 billion is transferred from largely middle-class savers to largely better-off speculators, financial asset owners, and the biggest borrowers during that period– corporations and the government. The financial press, nevertheless, finds something vaguely heroic about enabling the grandest larceny ever. Bloomberg says, “Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen braved mounting opposition inside and outside …