Letter Re: Advice on Buying Silver

JWR,
My wife and I have been discussing which type of physical silver to buy to get out of dollars, but we are unsure of where to start.  On your blog and in your books, you expound on the benefits of pre-1965 coinage with its 90% silver content, and we have looked at buying these coins in bulk from Northwest Territorial Mint.  While perusing that site, we also found that they sell one troy ounce Silver Eagles struck by the US Mint that are .999 pure silver.  There are pros and cons to both the pre-1965 coins and the Silver Eagles, and if we had enough money we would buy both in bulk, but our funds are limited.  Could you provide any input as to which silver you would suggest as a starting point?

Thanks for your site and all that you do! – Adam in Indiana

JWR Replies: I consider so-called “junk” silver (90% silver pre-1965 mint date U.S. dimes or quarters) to be the top choice for you, for three reasons:
1.) It has the lowest premium (“dealer markup”), per ounce, and
2.) It is the mostly widely recognized and trusted form of silver coinage in the United States, and
3.) The coin weights are low, making the cost per coin fairly low.

The per-coin weight could be an important factor in a post-collapse situation, when the dollar value of silver zooms up past $100 per ounce. In situations like that, a silver dime would be just the right size/value for small barter purchases such as a can of beans or one or two loaves of bread. But a full one-ounce silver trade dollar would buy you several days worth of groceries. Granted, these larger coins are still divisible into quarters or eighths with a cold chisel, but using dimes is far more convenient!

Economics and Investing:

To follow-up on a previously-mentioned piece: Firearm-friendly towns in Idaho lure gun makers. (Thanks to Mitch C. for the link.)

Peter Schiff Back on Capitol Hill

Reader Tom K. found a Deloitte study that shows some insights on America’s true debt situation: America’s Debt Crisis: New research reveals five unexamined risks

Pierre M. suggested: Damning Evidence in the MF Global Case

B.B. sent this: Driven by gold and silver prices, thieves target coin collections

Global Financial System, A “Dead End of Historic Proportions”

Items from The Economatrix:

Greece Warned as “Beyond Repair”

The Euro’s “Guilty Men” Are Now Steering Europe to Catastrophe

CEOs Losing Optimism as Job Slowdown Imperils US Growth

Odds ‘n Sods:

This law goes beyond Nanny Statism: Ohio House Okays Ban on Hidden Car Compartments. So, simply wanting to hide your valuables from thieves is now presumed to be criminal intent? That is madness. Just like bans on body armor, carrying guns or edged weapons, and fortifying house doors, this shows a serious erosion of our right to defend our lives and property. OBTW, a ban on body armor goes into effect in Alberta, Canada on June 15, 2012.

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For just the month of June, Freeze Dry Guy has announced: 20% Back when you mix and match purchase two or more different brands or two of the same Brand with different packaging (like #10 cans, buckets or pouches.) See details at the Freeze Dry Guy web site.

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Tracy R. recommended this interactive map article: Diabetes, Food Deserts, and Poverty

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Jay B. sent this: Forget composting, bokashi your waste instead.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"You will find an allusion to some mysterious cause for a phenomenon in Stocks. It is surmised that the deferred debt is to be taken up at the next session, and some anticipated provision made for it. This may either be an invention of those who wish to sell, or it may be a reality imparted in confidence to the purchasers or smelt out by their sagacity. I have had a hint that something is intended and has dropt from 1 which has led to this speculation. I am unwilling to credit the fact, untill I have further evidence, which I am in a train of getting if it exists. It is said that packet boats & expresses are again sent from this place to the Southern States, to buy up the paper of all sorts which has risen in the market here. These & other abuses make it a problem whether the system of the old paper under a bad Government, or of the new under a good one, be chargeable with the greater substantial injustice. The true difference seems to be that by the former the few were the victims to the many; by the latter the many to the few. It seems agreed on all hands now that the bank is a certain & gratuitous augmentation of the capitals subscribed, in a proportion of not less than 40 or 50 [per cent] and if the deferred debt should be immediately provided for in favor of the purchasers of it in the deferred shape, & since the unanimous vote that no change [should] be made in the funding system, my imagination will not attempt to set bounds to the daring depravity of the times. The stock-jobbers will become the pretorian band of the Government, at once its tool & its tyrant; bribed by its largesses, & overawing it by clamours & combinations." – President James Madison

Note From JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 41 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and E.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 41 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Unassisted Childbirth and VBACs, by Dr. J.E.

I read the article by “American Dad” titled “Prepping and Unassisted Childbirth”, and I must comment on some of his points.  As a “senior” practicing Physician, and an avid closet “Prepper” since the early 1980s, I have often considered the health consequences of a true SHTF scenario.  Only recently has my Family suddenly decided my preparations are not so “far out there” after all, but it has been a lonely quest these many years.  I long ago gave up trying to convince people to look past and through the media hype and actually “see” what is running the world view.  Either they do or they do not, but all you can really do is try to prepare for your Family, plan to join other like minded persons who may not be your Family, and bring along as many souls as you possibly can manage.  

You may also want to read www.shtfschool.com, where Selco (not his real name) will tell you in graphic detail of what happened to him in a year of SHTF in the Bosnia/Serbia arena concerning “basic” health related issues.  Selco is a Medical Professional, and he will explain how a “scratch” in that setting can kill you, leaving your children orphans.  I have corresponded with him, and what happened during that time left him a markedly “changed man”.  Nothing and I mean nothing can be taken for granted.

Having worked in third world countries, I have experienced first hand the effects of not having the best in medicines and medical expertise.  Certainly people do survive in these circumstances, some quite nicely, but that is often the result of “luck” more than it is anything else.  “Routine” maladies can and do quickly kill a human under these conditions.  It is horrifying and unnerving to witness these deaths and life threatening events knowing with simply the basic rudimentary elements of “modern medicine” available, most could have been prevented.  “Simple” pneumonias, small cuts and abrasions, minor fractures leading to disfigurement, the stench of gangrene, amputations (without decent anesthesia), and death become commonplace.  Remember this mental picture as I continue.

I am fortunate to have attended many hundreds of human births in my long career. Birthing is always a happy, joyous time…until it isn’t.   During my career my professional path has crossed the paths of Obstetricians, Family Practitioners, Mid-wives, Certified Nurse Practitioners, Obstetrical Nurses, Doulas, and “experienced” birthing Mothers.  I will state openly the following belief I hold dear:  It is every individual’s basic right to choose whatever type or degree of care they wish. It is also your obligation to assume the responsibilities associated with those choices.

American Dad laments, “The impersonal way hospital staff treated us; the overactive use of clinical equipment, terms, and technology; the fact that I had to keep briefing incoming personnel on our birth plan (since apparently they didn’t take the time to actually talk to read the copies I had provided, or talk to one another); the fact that they ordered my wife to lay on her back, which made the process excruciatingly slow and painful; the fact that the first thing my baby saw was a doctor dressed in a haz-mat suit; the way they whisked the baby away from mom as if the child were public property; the way they treated me like a useless observer and not the head, protector”. 

This interpretation of the birthing event in “modern” times is certainly different than anything I have experienced.  I shall refrain from lengthy comment concerning exactly “what” a newborn is capable of visually perceiving immediately at birth, but I do know most hospital settings allow one to practice anything the Mother desires as long as the modern techniques of frequent non-invasive fetal monitoring are allowed to proceed unencumbered.  Without a doubt, “fetal continuous monitoring” of the non-invasive variety has lead to a marked decrease in fetal morbidity during the birthing process in the last 20+ years.  Even with these data, most hospitals will forgo continuous fetal monitoring if the Parents insist.  They might, however, ask them to sign a liability waiver and an “against medical advice” waiver.  Those are very reasonable requests.

American Dad’s view of “Vaginal Birth After Caesarian Section” (VBAC) mirrors his obvious disdain of hospitals and their staff.  His comment, “The hospitals sure make a lot of money off of parents’ love for their babies, but they do treat all of the parties as ignorant, blundering, or unwelcome troublemaker” certainly is inflammatory, but neglects the simple fact most “Community Hospitals” are actively closing down their birthing centers.  The reasons are simple and straightforward:  they are losing money keeping them open, and the “liability” costs are too great.

Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) deserves a special commentary.  The possible catastrophic events associated with VBAC, although correctly stated as “rare” by “American Dad”, are impossible to predict with certainty, and occur so suddenly, the mother and neonate can easily both be dead in a matter of ten (10) minutes or less.  This requires an entire Operating Team (Obstetrician, Anesthesiologist,OR Nurse, OR Technician, Assistant Surgery Member, and a Large amount of dedicated surgical supplies) be continuously present in the Labor Suite throughout the entire Labor Event of possibly many hours.  This is why VBAC is usually limited to large “University Training Centers” where all this is available.  They are costly and consume an inordinately large number of resources that most VBAC patients do not understand and cannot assume.  Just whom does “American Dad” expect to “cover” these costs?

I doubt “American Dad” would agree to the “costs” of providing all this service on a “just in case” basis at a Community Hospital.  My guess is “American Dad” assumes the “worst case scenario” would never happen to his wife, and if it did, then he would consent to the C-section (“Worst case, we’d have to get another C-section.  Fine.”)  The problem is, in anything other than the scene described above, it is quite probable he would be facing a considerable risk of morbidity and mortality for both his Spouse and his unborn child.  It is doubtful the Surgical Team could be assembled in less than 30 minutes in a Community Hospital.  In “American Dad’s” case add to that time the trip from his home to the hospital.  “American Dad” is, however, willing to assume that risk, which is his and his wife’s choice.  Let us be clear, these are serious considerations.

American Dad agrees an “unassisted childbirth” (UC) would take some “serious training”.  Actually he is over-stating this.  Face it; for many thousands of years, Mothers have given birth quite “naturally” over 90% of the time without much assistance at all.  Simply brace them against a tree in the squatting position, give them a green twig to gnaw on for the pain, stand back, and let “nature” take its course.  It’s that pesky 10% that quickly made it clear “things” could be vastly improved by knowledgeable persons helping with the process.  After all, each new life is a priceless asset to the group, and the magnitude of the loss of a working Mother cannot be quantified in simple terms.

For those of you fellow Preppers kind enough to have stayed the course of this, here are my observations and simple steps to follow in a SHTF situation.

  1. Find the best of what you can find to suit the situation you are in concerning Birthing.  If you are in a position and are fortunate enough to have the availability of a trained Obstetric Physician, by all means, use that person.  If not, then find the best “Family” Physician (GP in the old parlance).  Next would be a Nurse Midwife or an Obstetrical Nurse.  Finally, an experienced Mother who has survived several successful births would be better than going it alone.
  2. Without the availability of #1, EXPECT SERIOUS LOSSES and morbidity.
  3. Do what you can to have a person with “advanced medical training” and experience in your group, or at least have access to that person.
  4. In a SHTF scenario, pregnancy cannot be considered “lightly”. Know the risks.
  5. Since order is usually eventually restored, plan your pregnancy wisely.

Events happen suddenly and swiftly in the birthing arena.  I seriously doubt “American Dad” or any lay person with no experience could act decisively and quickly enough with most of the common complications.  As “American Dad” correctly states, “Again, this isn’t rocket science.  The techniques aren’t mystical or complicated”, but it isn’t calming and relaxing either.  These situations are tense, messy (blood, amniotic fluid, bodily fluids), and emotionally charged.  It is a “pressure cooker” situation and “time is of the essence”.  You had best know exactly what you are doing.  A mistake here will be costly and unforgettable.

Each year we attend to people in our large western city who have a Home Birthing experience complication.  The people have similar qualities:  They are usually quite intelligent like “American Dad”.  They are well read.  Many are “professionals”, frequently Nurses.  Their “hearts” are in the right “place”.  Common to all I have seen and attended is the fact none thought anything would go wrong, or that they were really at risk of death.  By the time they present to us, their condition is frequently quite critical, costing several days in the hospital. 

As adults, each of these individuals has the capacity to make these choices to take these increased risks.  Shall we even broach the capacity of the unborn child to make the decision to not take these increased risks that are unnecessary without a SHTF event?  When we elect to “go it alone” when going it alone is not necessary, is that a fair choice to make for the unborn child.  It becomes far more serious with these thoughts considered.

“American Dad” has much useful information in his article, but the cavalier attitude he takes toward this subject will not well serve his readers.  There are reasons for how and why Professional Medical Practitioners do the things they do.  It’s not always a remuneration issue.  Frequently it is about common sense and giving you the best available chance to make it through a potentially very dangerous event alive and well.

JWR Replies: Home birth is gaining popularity (United States Home Births Increased 20 Percent from 2004 to 2008), but it is still a relatively low 0.67 percent of United States births. The statistics for planned home births show a very high success rate with “No significant differences were found between planned home and planned hospital birth.” But it is important to note that that this data is skewed, because expectant mothers who show any sign of pre-natal difficulties almost always opt for a planned hospital births. Thus, hospitals get all of tough cases, and it is mostly those that expect a “low risk” easy delivery opt for home birth.

One key metric is the transfer rate–the rate at which planned home births transition to emergency hospital births. These are usually precipitated by any signs of fetal distress, such as bleeding, umbilical cord issues, extended labor, or stained waters. (Meconium in the amniotic fluid.) Early transfer is a wise course of action. In the U.S., the transfer rate averages around 16%. In Sweden, the transfer rate is only between 6 and 12%. In some First World countries, midwives are required by law to order a transfer if labor goes beyond a set number of hours. But it is noteworthy that some of these transfers are not due to fetal distress, but simply because a midwife was called too early and becomes exhausted. (Midwives often work alone, and they cannot be expected to function well after 12 hours at a delivery home.)

For what it’s worth, three of our children were born at home, with plenty of prior planning.

I do recommend home birth for most moms. If nothing else, this experience provides crucial knowledge and experience for the potentially dark days ahead, when home birth might be their only option.

Letter Re: Development of Montana and Idaho Economies

JWR:
In today’s post there was a letter about the wisdom of encouraging development in Idaho and Letters Re: Development of Montana and Idaho Economies. The writer commented on how the new arrivals will ruin the area. I watched this exact chain events unfold over the last 35 years in rural Wisconsin where we bought and built our retreat. We purchased 113 acres in the second poorest county in Wisconsin. The area was mostly farming with pockets of recreational lake population. The lake we lived close to was a small (175 acre) “Grampa’s fishing Cabin” type lake. I was able to work outside the area in a very large city and commuted home for weekends. As time went by I was able to telecommute.
 
As the years pasted more and more big city Yuppies bought up the grampa cabins or inherited them. They redid the cabins into rural palaces. To make matters worse, a real estate man from the big city moved in and actively recruited his big city friends to buy up the local real estate including the smaller farms. The lake itself has gone from pristine and quiet to a dangerous water skiing mecca. The noise from boats that belong on Lake Michigan is unbearable. The traffic is out of control and speed limits are ignored. The newcomers’ children litter on the roads. It has turned into a rural city. In some cases the yuppies unemployed or derelict relatives have moved in permanently and crime has gone way up.
 
We have since moved to a more suitable small town for health reasons. The Yuppies are waging war with big farms over a myriad of issues. They are demanding Big City services. Taxes have gone up and up and up. Mayor Bloomberg would love this area now.
 
So in conclusion I would advise current American Redoubt residents to be very vigilant about what is going on around you. Don’t think it cannot happen there. JMHO – Carl in Less Rural Wisconsin

Three Letters Re: Why Not Canada?

Dear Sir,
I just wanted to mention that Canada’s Conservative Government has recently eased gun laws quite significantly.

Whilst pistol ownership is a nightmare here, I don’t see this as too much of an issue in rural areas, especially during a SHTF scenario.

When it comes to rifles however, if you have a permit to own non-restricted rifles, you have many good options. This permit is simple to obtain. Once you have it, you can buy non-restricted weapons without any kind of registration. So whilst the Government might know you have a permit, they do not know how many or what model of rifle you have. This is especially true if you go with private sales.

AR and AK style rifles are restricted, and are as much of a pain to own as pistols. However, there are many great unrestricted choices available, the Robinson Arms XCR, The CSA VZ58, the CZ 858, some KelTeC models, some JR Carbines, and of course the SKS. There are many rifles available that take AR magazines. Bolt actions [and pump actions] are no problem. You can even own Barrett .50 calibers.

If you browse the rifles available at Ellwood Epps (just north of Toronto), the ones marked “NR” can be purchased with the Non-Restricted permit.

Keep in mind that in Canada all magazines are limited to 5 round capacity with a simple pin. Removing this pin is illegal. – Regards, M.A.

 

Mr. Rawles,
I have some points in regards to your reply to C.N.’s post discussing the viability of Canada as a retreat locale.

The primary mechanism of gun control in Canada is the licensing system, which required prospective gun owners to take a 1 day safety course and apply for a license through the Canada Firearms Centre for a Firearms “Possession and Acquisition License.”  The safety training is mostly common sense but a valuable introduction to firearms.  The licensing application, I imagine, is slightly more intrusive than the FBI background check required in the US for grandfathered individuals to apply for a “Possession Only License.” 

Especially concerning Canadian gun ownership and confiscation, one important point to note is with recent abolition of the long gun registry the Canadian government is mostly “toothless.”  The long gun registry contained records for about 7.5 million “non-restricted” guns and 730,000 restricted and prohibited guns.  The most recent legislation has effectively ordered the records for the 7.5 million non-restricted guns be destroyed, and barring a court challenge by the government of Quebec to preserve just their data and given that there is no requirement to register any additional long guns I believe it is safe to say that data is good and gone.

Interestingly enough, there is evidence to indicate that with legal manufacturing and import of firearms prior to the most recent spate of gun legislation, there are as many as 10 to 15 million guns in the country.  I suspect gun owners who were burnt in the 1990s with orders to register or surrender their firearms under then new legislation probably will greet any similar legislation in the future with an equal (or greater) degree of non-compliance.

There was some concern that prior to the abolition of the registry that the RCMP would move to reclassify many “tactical” long guns to force owners to register them.  This has since not played out, and so it is possible for license holding gun owners to procure these firearms without an official government registration by only holding valid license.  While the RCMP have pressured vendors to maintain a ledger of sales, there is no such requirement among private sales and several great online communities such as Gunownersofcanada.com and Canadiangunnutz.com have sprung up with vibrant market places to facilitate private sales of guns.

Among some of the top picks for those with tactical tastes are sport versions of the M14, Tavor, VZ58, Mini-14, SKS, Kel Tec SU16 for rifles, and most pump or semi-automatic shotguns.  To be fair, there are stricter regulations and registration requirements of handguns and AR-15s and complete prohibitions of others such as AK-47 variants as well all full automatic firearms, suppressors, and various items such as Slide Fire stocks.

There are other pros to Canadian gun laws.  There are many loopholes on things such as magazine capacity laws, whereby capacity is determined by the gun a magazine is originally manufactured for, not what it is used in.  So, for example, a Butler Creek 25 round magazine designed for a 10/22 rifle can be used in a Ruger Charger pistol and is not legally a prohibited device.  Also, the legal requirement for “high” capacity magazines is such only that they must be permanently pinned or lanced and as such, most magazines such as 30 round AR-15 or 33 round Glock mags are limited to their respected 5 or 10 capacity by a simple aluminum pop rivet that blocks the followers.  Undoubtedly, if the laws ever change either through an act of parliament or through a WROL situation, I’m sure the idea will cross many gun owners to take a drill to their mags.

In addition, there is a very loose patchwork of restrictions on things such as barrel length and accessories for handguns that end up with looser restrictions on some items than in the US.  M4geries (some manufactured in Canada and imported from China) with 14.5, 10.5, and even 8.5″ barrels are regulated no differently than any other AR-15.  Shoulder stocks and carbine kits for handguns are not controlled or prohibited devices.  Shotguns with barrels as short as 8.5″ are classified non-restricted and subject to the least amount of regulations.

As for the affordability, while generally more expensive than in the US, Canada has some advantages.  Inexpensive (and increasingly higher quality) Chinese manufactured firearms have flooded into the Canadian market, with Norinco and Dominion Arms being big names in the community, providing good quality AR-15s, 1911s, 870 knock offs at astonishingly low prices (by Canadian standards).  There also are many domestic ammunition manufactures springing up as well providing very high quality offerings at reasonable prices.

Advanced training, including tactical shooting, is also becoming more popular in Canada with several schools opening up across the country.  Action shooting sports such as IPSC, USPSA, and IDPA are also growing.  Of course, hunting is also a established tradition as well.  Unfortunately self defence with a gun is essentially forbidden almost certainly resulting in punishment by process, as Castle Doctrine is not generally recognized under Canadian law.

Undoubtedly, there are some hideously draconian Federal gun laws in Canada.  An important consideration on that though is that they are hyper-enforced or supplemented by additional provincial laws in some places and barely enforced or outright ignored in others.  Ontario and Quebec are good examples of hyper-enforcement, where gun owners have to take additional safety certification in Quebec and where municipal police in Toronto will actively harass legal, licensed gun owners and nail them to the wall for minor paper offences (such as not getting the proper permit to transport a handgun to a gunsmith).  Conversely, the laws are generally under-enforced in other regions of the country including most rural areas and generally the Western provinces and Territories.

While the gun control crowd will vehemently deny it, Canada has a very strong, established, and (by my observation) growing, gun culture.  

While there is a general trend of nanny-state federal socialism and there are some blatant examples of dictatorial tyranny in Canada by my observation of recent actions of the US government (including the Patriot Act, Obamacare, NDAA, NDRP, and EX-PATRIOT to name a few)  Canada is increasingly becoming a more attractive place to live.

God bless, – H.T.C.

JWR:
You mentioned recommendng that consulting clients that they live inside Abbotsford, British Columbia. Unfortunately your information is out of date. Abbotsford is quickly becoming a crime-haven for British Columbia’s tens of thousands of marijuana growers. Gangs and gang-related shootings are becoming very common. Ethnic diversity in Abbotsford (which is the third highest in Canada after Vancouver and Toronto) seems to cause tension among the gangs. As of 2006, Abbotsford had the highest property crime rate, and the second highest violent crime rate among cities with a population between 100,000 and 500,000. And the scariest statistic: Abbotsford has the highest homicide rate in Canada. It was almost three times the national average in 2010. (All statistics taken from Statistics Canada, via Wikipedia)
 
Sincerely – Ryan in British Columbia

Economics and Investing:

The current liquidity crisis on the southern periphery of the Eurozone now appears likely to spread to all of Europe, and then globally. There are already quiet electronic bank runs in progress in Greece and Spain. On Monday, a bank “holiday” was announced in Italy. More bank runs will likely follow. As of today, Wednesday, June 13, 2012, I strongly urge all SurvivalBlog readers to immediately draw down their checking accounts and liquidate their CDs, passbook savings accounts, and most of the their stocks to buy tangibles. If you already own a retreat, an honest one year storage food supply, and a battery of firearms with ammo and plenty of magazines, then go ahead and buy physical silver. (But don’t neglect investing in those crucial “Beans, Bullets and Band-Aids” first.) With spot silver presently under $28.70, this is an ideal time to get out of paper and into tangibles.

The Midnight Flit: U.S. cities struggle with blighted bank-owned homes. (Thanks to Sue C. for the link.)

J. McC. was the first of several readers to mention this: North Dakota Considers Eliminating Property Tax

Madrid Leans on Its Troubled Banks to Buy Its Bonds

Jay B. sent something worth watching: Silver For The Pawn Star Masses. JWR’s Comment: Note that it confirms my warnings on the potential perils of buying any ingots larger than 100 ounce serialized bars.

Items from The Economatrix:

Eric Sprott:  Gold Alert

Oil Reverses As Spain Rescue Rally Wilts

Gold Dips As Euro Retreats, Buyers Favor Other Assets

Odds ‘n Sods:

Kevin S. liked this page: Building Abundant Ponds, Chinese Wheelbarrows, and DiY Algae Reactors

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The fine folks at CampingSurvival.com have again outgrown their warehouse. To lighten their load before moving, they have announced an across the board sale. For the rest of June, you can use coupon code “june2012promo” for 5% off every item on their site. Please mention SurvivalBlog when you order. Thanks.

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I recently watched the French documentary film “Eye of Vichy“, via Netflix streaming. It is a collection of original Vichy French propaganda films. I was amazed to see just how deeply collaborationist Petain’s government was with the Nazis. Granted, the Germans were holding a million captured French soldiers hostage, but why did the French become so enthusiastic about rounding up Jews, hunting down the resistance, and manufacturing war materiel for the Axis? There are lessons to be learned from this film. If we aren’t vigilant, we may have our own version of the Milice prowling the streets of American cities. OBTW, don’t miss the included propaganda cartoon showing Mickey Mouse and Popeye bombing France. Propaganda like that is pure evil.

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Reader R.B.S. mentioned this big crime news in central Idaho: Fish thieves hit anglers in Riggins.

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I just heard about a new directory of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses: Wounded Warrior Veterans Directory.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Paper money polluted the equity of our laws, turned them into engines of oppression, corrupted the justice of our public administration, destroyed the fortunes of thousands who had confidence in it, enervated the trade, husbandry, and manufactures of our country, and went far to destroy the morality of our people." – Peletiah Webster

Note From JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 41 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and E.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 41 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Why Not Canada?, by C.N.

I am often surprised to hear about people planning for an eventual societal collapse and hearing that you are choosing to remain in place where your worst fears are being realized. My question is, have you thought about the possibility of greener pastures  awaiting you just a short trip up north? I understand loyalty and having a fierce love for your country, however, in really bad times when bugging out is necessary, maybe Canada has what you might want for a short or long term visit. We are a kind and friendly people with one of the lowest homicide rates in the world (of 1.8 per 100 000), those are some pretty good odds.

If your country was to implode, why not come up here with us?
Perhaps you don’t really know Canada. Survival blog readers are a special type of intellectual and deserve to know the benefits of my country, as a precautionary measure. Due to the rural nature of most of our country, many of us are preppers or farmers or homesteaders by nature. I believe it’s fair to say that almost every Canadian knows someone who grows, fishes, or hunts, therefore creating a more self sufficient environment should something terrible happen.

Camping is a fun pastime for Canadians and you would be hard pressed to find a family who hasn’t experienced a night in a leaky tent  during a summer camping trip. The truth is, you just can’t hold your head high as a respectable Canadian if you can’t start a campfire, or properly get into a canoe. Many of us know our environment and our limitations within it.

Yes, we share the largest freshwater lakes but we have so much more then just that to offer. There are huge parts of Canada that are uninhabited and you can’t swing a cat without hitting 3 freshwater sources. 31,700 large lakes to be exact on our 9,900,000 square km (or 3,800,000 square miles) of land. 

Lots and lots of fresh water is not all we have, in addition to our being surrounded by 3 oceans we have the largest coastline in the world, 202 080 km or 125 570 miles long. We are the 2nd largest country in the world by area (including our waters) smaller then only Russia.

We are famous for our rugged and untamed landscape of 8 distinct forest regions, rocky Canadian shield, beautiful prairies, and stunning coastal regions. A tired joke from the prairies is that it took 3 days for my dog to run away (because it’s so flat that you can see him leaving for so long, get it?) Yeah, not as funny as it is true. Imagine that for a retreat location, being able to see intruders approaching for miles.

Plentiful forests are another great feature, enough wood to build with, burn and tap for delicious maple syrup. We love our maple syrup here.

Despite what you have likely heard, much of Canada is not entirely snow covered all year round, we have 4 seasons but they are not intolerable even without the comforts of the grid. Winter temperatures average around -15c (5 F) to -40c/F but that’s a really cold day, even here. Summer temperatures average between 20-30 degrees c (70-86 F) up to 40c (104 F) on a brutal hot day. This year my part of Canada didn’t even get snow, unfortunately the children were not as impressed as the adults.

Since Canada is so large (9,900,000 square kilometers, or 3,800,000 square miles), and has such a small population (35 million) in comparison, it should be an ideal bug out location for Americans, especially Christians since 77% of us identify ourselves as such.  

If I travel 2 hours north of the Canada/America border, it is likely that I would be lost in a less densely populated area. If I drove 5 hours north of that border I would probably be into thinly populated cottage/ fishing/ hunting country. If I went further than that, I would be in almost no man’s land with the odd smaller town spaced really far apart.

If population density is your concern, we can boast just 3.3 people per square mile, among the lowest rates in the world, with 80% of the population along the border, and mostly in the eastern portion of the country.

If the military is your concern, again Canada is the place to be. Our military (God bless them) is small to even us, with 67,000 regular personnel and 43,000 reserve personnel, hardly enough manpower to hold down just one of our major cities if one was concerned with martial law or that sort of thing.

As for natural disasters, Canada seems strangely immune as we have very few earthquakes, tornados or floods. Most often our largest threat from nature is a big winter storm which, I kind of enjoy. There is nothing like the feeling of being cozy and warm inside and watching the snow accumulate outside.

As a testament to our financial resiliency, somehow, we weathered the storm of 2008 seemingly virtually unscathed. By some  strange twist of fate our home prices are still rising and we are now the condo building capitol of the world. This shows that by some miracle Canada didn’t follow America during their unfortunate downturn. Perhaps our luck might continue should something worse happen, it might be possible for Canada to, against all odds, dodge that bullet again so to speak.

I am not a fan of poisonous things so a beautiful added bonus of living in Canada is that we have very little of that. Unlike the hotter climates, there is not a scorpion waiting in your shoe, nor a funnel web spider living under the rock your children play near. Our most dangerous insect by numbers is probably the mosquito which is found everywhere, only we do get relief from them for 3 seasons out of the year.

We do have some big scary animals, although again, the most dangerous is also the most unlikely. We have bear, deer, moose, wolves, coyote, mountain lion and caribou. The biggest threat now is hitting a deer with your car on a dark road at night. In the wild, the largest threat is likely a moose during mating season, they are fiercely territorial and will kill you just for being in their zone. Aside from the moose, and the possibility of getting in between a sow bear and her cubs, most animals seem to be content with not attacking humans. The bonus of all these large animals is of course, hunting. We are one of the worlds best destinations for hunting and fishing.   

What more could you want in a survival retreat?

Let’s recap and see if Canada covers all the basics of a great survival location.
 
1. Water – We all know how important water is, and if we are to believe the media then fresh water is becoming more and more unavailable to us. This is thus far, not a problem here and can’t possibly be for the foreseeable future.
 
2. Food – Canada has a very healthy population of fish and animals, easily enough to sustain a group living off the grid. Aside from the animals, there are many wild food sources including seaweed and plant life. It would be difficult to starve in the wild with even a small amount of information and gear.
 
3. Shelter – Forests and nature abound with many choices of what terrain to choose for a retreat and plenty of materials to build with and burn for fuel.
 
4. Population- A simple check of Canada’s population reveals that 80% of us live relatively close to the border, and of them, most densely populated around Lake Ontario. It would be fairly easy here to settle into an area where very little people are, and others would have immense trouble getting to. 
 
5. Threats – There are very few threats here from nature. We get very few natural disasters and we have very few poisonous insects, and dangerous animals. Man made threats could be a train derailment of dangerous goods, or a nuclear situation, which is possible almost anywhere.
 
To conclude, I love America, and its people and I am in no way suggesting that Canada is superior. I am simply pointing out the benefits in the event that something should take a turn for the worst in the beautiful land of the free. Canada is situated in a position to provide all that you may be seeking in a retreat location, hopefully courtesy of SurvivalRealty.com or just as a temporary bug out location with a well stocked Recreational Vehicle, maybe for an ‘extended hunting trip’.

I have nothing against South America but as more and more Americans seem to be setting up bug out locations farther south, I have wondered about the risk to benefit ratio there, rather than here. In my humble (and perhaps flawed) opinion one might want to plan a secondary location in a more environmentally stable area without the risk of mudslides, tropical storms, frequent and larger earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

When planning a bug out location or a survival retreat I hope that I have highlighted the benefits of your friends to the north. Our low crime rates and low population in comparison to our vast area coupled with our many natural resources seems, to me, to be an ideal location, one of the best in the world and only a stone’s throw away. 

JWR Adds: The objection most often raised to Canada can be summed up in two words: Gun laws. If it weren’t for that factor, then the warmer parts of Canada (such as the Bella Coola region of western British Columbia) would become a popular haven for American survivalists. I should mention that I have had a couple of hyper-pacifist consulting clients that refused to own any guns, even in the face of very traumatic times ahead. (One client was from Canada, and the other from the U.S.) Since isolation would be their only defense, I recommended that they both relocate to live inside the limits of either Abbotsford or Creston, in British Columbia. (Small farming towns.) There are some amazing properties in the province.

Two Letters Re: Development of Montana and Idaho Economies

Hi,
Just wondering if you could add something to your information on Montana and Idaho? Could you tell us a little about the differences in property taxes in these states. We live in Eastern Washington, and I have to tell you the property taxes are becoming a huge problem. There seems to be a move to get us all off of the open space or agriculture tax rolls if you are in the northern counties. We have considered a move to Montana. But this is one area we are not sure about. If we found a 40 acre farmstead in either state, could we afford the taxes in the future? Do you think it will stay stable there? Or will the “powers that be” force these new tax codes down Montana and Idaho’s throats as well? Thanks! – T.T.

JWR Replies:
You can find a property tax estimator for Idaho, here. The levy rates are based on where you live with any particular county. The rates tend to be substantially lower outside of city limits. As an example, I punched in a $200,000 value and a typical rural tax location code, and the calculator showed an annual tax of $1,113.21.

I didn’t find a comparable online calculator for Montana, but I did find this page. It mentions that in Missoula County (where a well-known fellow preparedness blogger lives), the average rate is $14.11 per $1,000 of value.) So that would be $2,822 for a $200,000 property. That is more than double the property tax rate of Idaho, but of course to compensate, there is no sales tax in Montana. And, needless to say, $14 per $1,000 is not nearly as much as what most people pay per $1,000 in many of the more populous states that also have a 6% or higher sales tax. For example the “sock-it-to-you” states of New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Texas have rates exceeding $18 per $1,000 of property value. (But at least New Hampshire, like Montana, doesn’t charge sales tax.)

 

Sir,
Do we really want economic development and tourism in these states?  Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of relocating to a low-population area?
 
Here’s what I predict will happen if the tourism and development boom the writer wants happens.  The yuppies will come to the area, fall in love with the scenery, and move there. Then they will complain about their neighbors, who have been there 50 years, saying they have “junk” on their property (meaning farm machinery), and they dare to butcher their own livestock and game!  Speaking of livestock, the manure really smells.  Pretty soon it’s “There ought to be a law against this…”
 
And the yuppies will demand all the “free” government services (paid for by taxation) that they had back in the big city.
 
When their population reaches a critical mass, they will have enough votes to raise the taxes and pass the laws outlawing a homesteading lifestyle.
 
Not to mention the population increase.  And they will drive up property values, making it unaffordable for people of modest means to move there, or to remain there.  The people who were there first will be taxed off their property.
 
People who want to make money in the American Redoubt states should think in terms of online and mail order small businesses.  Otherwise they will be bringing the Golden Horde into their retreat area.

JWR Replies: The majority of the new population influx appear to be conservative and pro-gun, so that is an advantage. Conservatives will continue to outnumber any liberal newcomers. And many of the liberal newcomers tend to have smaller families. The bottom line is that the demographics are on our side

Economics and Investing:

This hardly comes as news to most SurvivalBlog readers: Fed: Americans’ wealth dropped 40 percent. Stepping back to look at the big picture, we must ask: Cui bono? The banksters certainly haven’t lost much money, since the government obligingly bailed them out with taxpayer funds.

Greek Blackouts Risked As Power Companies’ Cash Runs Out: Energy. (Thanks to Dennis M. for the link.)

Who really benefits from credit derivatives?

Tyler Durden of Zero Hedge: The ‘Big Reset’ Is Coming: Here Is What To Do

The more the government tries to “fix” things, the more that it fouls things up: China tariffs could slam U.S. solar panel firms. (Thanks to Ken of GettingPrepped.com for sending the link.)

Over at Forex Crunch: Eight Holes in the Spanish Bailout

Items from The Economatrix:

Is it Time to Prepare for Another Recession? [JWR’s Comment: Gosh, did I miss something? Here in my region, we never stopped having the recession that began in late 2007…]

Jobless Claims Fall for First Time Since April

US Rating Faces 2013 Cut if No Credible Plan

Spain Downgraded By Three Notches