Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” – Romans 9:8 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – December 03, 2016

Today, we present another entry for Round 68 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $15,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  4. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. An infrared sensor/imaging camouflage shelter from Snakebite Tactical in Eureka, Montana (A $350+ value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. 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,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  6. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  7. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value), and
  10. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).
  11. A $250 gift certificate to Tober’s Traditions, makers of all natural (organic if possible) personal care products, such as soap, tooth powder, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion, and more.

Round 67 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Bugging-in vs. Bugging-out, by John M.

In most preparedness magazines and on most prepper websites, bug-out bags are an ever-popular topic for discussion. The idea of “bugging-out” in a SHTF scenario makes us dream of an idyllic cabin in the mountains where we grow or hunt our own food and live happily ever after, or it’s where we take on an enemy in a Red Dawn (United Artists, 1984) scenario, hopefully minus the attrition rate of the Wolverines. However, practical preparedness should be about looking at possible real-life scenarios, rather than things that rarely happen. In a real-life emergency, would it be better to “bug-out” or “bug-in”? It depends largely upon the type of emergency situation. What are the dangers of each?

“Bugging-In”

In most situations, “bugging-in”, “holing-up”, or sheltering-in-place would probably be the best course of action. During a winter storm, you have protection from the elements and a secure place in your own home. Likewise, in a tornado situation, a home is much more secure than being out in the open. Special precautions should be taken in tornado country to prepare for such an eventuality. Droughts, heatwaves, power outages, earthquakes, and local unrest (riots) are all best waited out inside the shelter of one’s own home, if one is properly prepared. Even tropical storms may be waited out with proper preparedness, as long as one is ready to leave in a moment’s notice if the situation turns ugly.

Proper preparedness is the key if one is to wait out an emergency situation in one’s own home. Having foodstuff stored to live on, until supplies are available, is obvious. Water is also necessary but sometimes overlooked. One should plan for at least 72 hours of food and water in most suburban and urban areas. More rural areas could take longer, depending on the severity of the emergency.

A major mistake often made is energy for cooking and heating. Each year, there are numerous fatalities from carbon monoxide poisoning during winter power outages. Using a campstove or barbeque indoors for cooking or heating, without proper ventilation, can easily result in death. Homes with gas stoves and heaters have a readily available energy source, but caution should be taken after emergencies, such as earthquakes, to be sure there are no leaks that cause fire danger or risk of asphyxiation. To prevent such problems, in the event of an earthquake, turn off the outside gas valves as soon as possible. Fireplaces, candles, oil lamps, and other heat and light sources made for indoors should be used with caution to prevent injury and accidents.

Another benefit to sheltering-in-place is that weight and space are less of an issue. Materials and tools may be stored to secure the home from the weather, such as plywood, hammers, and nails. This also helps secure the home from the damage done by vandals. Tarps or plastic sheeting with duct tape can also be used to replace broken glass during storms or to seal windows and vents in the event of chemical spills or terrorist attacks using chemicals or biological weapons. Saws and other equipment will be readily available for recovery efforts after an event.

There are many comprehensive lists available on the internet for emergencies, and they vary significantly based on the background of those creating them. As a rule of thumb, one should have the following items:

  • Food and water to last at least 72 hours.
  • Cook stove that can be used indoors. (Many gas ranges can be operated even when the power is out.)
  • Fuel to last 72 hours.
  • Medications and supplies for special needs, such as infants and the elderly.
  • Small tool kit, with wrenches to turn off gas, hammers and nails, screwdrivers, and other basics.
  • Flashlights.
  • Battery-operated (or hand-crank) radio.
  • First aid kit.
  • Toiletries.
  • Matches.
  • Can opener.
  • Battery backup for cell phones.
  • Cash.

(For more comprehensive lists, see http://lds.about.com/od/preparednessfoodstorage/a/72hour_kit.html or https://www.ready.gov/kit.)

One of the hardest parts of sheltering in place is that it can get boring or very stressful. Books and games can help alleviate this problem, especially with small children. Cards are an excellent way to have many games for numerous people or a solitary individual. The Bible provides activity for the mind and comfort for the soul.

Security is often a concern for preppers. While firearms are an appealing solution, it is best to check local laws before purchasing or using one in self defense. Often a baseball bat or an axe handle is a more discreet but still viable choice. However, even the sound of a cartridge be cycled into a shotgun will make the boldest men hesitate. But in most cases, short of riots and civil unrest, a simple presence in one’s home is enough to deter all but the most determined invaders. During storms, it is also helpful to board up windows and unused doors, not only to prevent break-ins but storm damage as well.

One additional benefit to holing up in one’s own home is being around familiar people. Get to know the neighbors before the emergency. During an emergency, you can pool resources, guard each other from unknown threats, and help in recovery efforts. Knowing who to trust and what skills each person has is an important part of preparedness.

“A man’s home is his castle,” as the saying goes, and this is even more apparent during emergency situations. It is a fortress against the elements and protection from the outside world. Travel can be perilous in emergency situations. (Most deaths during Winter Storm Jonas were vehicle related, according to “At A Glance”, 2016.) The smartest thing may be to simply stay put.

“Bugging-Out”

Some situations are extreme enough that staying in place is not an option. These may include tropical storms, wildfires, flooding, and even volcanoes. These usually include a government-mandated evacuation notice. In some instances, after an earthquake or tornado, or when civil unrest begins to build, it may also become necessary to “bug-out” on short notice. In such a situation, it is important to have a prepared plan and an emergency kit that can readily be loaded into a vehicle.

Evacuation plans should include not only a destination but routes (and alternate routes), ways of communicating with family members, and rendezvous points, in case emergencies occur when members are separated. All family members (including those living far away) should be familiar with the plan.

Bug-out bags have become a popular term for emergency kits in recent years. Unfortunately, with the rise of apocalyptic thrillers and zombie shows, these are often created with a more tactical nature. For practical preparation, it is important to remember the types of things you will need if forced to move to a FEMA shelter, friend’s or family member’s home, or a motel along the way. The idea of relocating to the mountains is a romantic notion, but in the event of an evacuation one would have to travel several hundred miles to an unfamiliar area to get away from the emergency, and you may still be affected. Tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico produce monsoons in Arizona. It’s better to find a more fixed solution than a tent in the hills.

Emergency kits for evacuation are different than what might be used for sheltering-in-place. They must be kept in containers that can easily be loaded into a vehicle at a moment’s notice. Aside from the items included in a shelter-in-place kit, an evacuation kit should also include the following:

  • Spare clothes, especially undergarments
  • Blankets
  • Flares
  • Dishes/utensils
  • Axe
  • Shovel
  • Emergency car kit
  • Rope
  • Legal documents
  • Insurance paperwork
  • Medical records (immunization records, at the very least)
  • Other irreplaceable items, such as family Bibles or records (Remember, however, many “irreplaceable” items may be covered by insurance).
  • Emergency contact information & emergency plans, including maps (for more comprehensive lists, see http://lds.about.com/od/preparednessfoodstorage/a/72hour_kit.html or https://www.ready.gov/kit)

If an evacuation kit is needed during a shelter-in-place event, the evacuation kit may be used, but be prepared to pack them up quickly if the situation changes.

A lot of time and energy has gone in to firearms for “bugging-out” or evacuations. These are important, but as much planning should go into learning laws and there should be a strong debate as to whether they are taken in an emergency situation. I could find no specific guidance as to whether or not they are specifically banned from emergency shelters, but laws vary from state to state. During Hurricane Katrina, many people were evacuated from Louisiana to Texas and other states (A Failure of Initiative). In 1997, flooding in Marysville, CA forced residents into shelters at Beale AFB. As a military installation, civilians were not allowed to carry firearms. Additionally, you may be forced to stay with friends or family who do not share your views on the Second Amendment. Careful judgment should be taken before including a firearm in an emergency kit.

TEOTWAWKI

Preppers are forever discussing how to prepare for The End Of The World As We Know It (TEOTWAWKI), whether it comes in the form of an EMP, nuclear attack, economic collapse, or zombie apocalypse. These scenarios are much less likely than the emergencies previously listed. Under such extreme circumstances, the ideal location to be is probably a farm in a small town. Few are fortunate enough to live in such ideal locations and fewer can afford an emergency retreat to evacuate to. Even those who have such a retreat run the risk of someone else arriving first and taking up residence. For the rest, each must assess their own situation.

An established home has the benefit of storing all of one’s supplies, having solid shelter and known neighbors who can share the burdens of survival. One has the “home court” advantage of knowing where to find resources and the weaknesses in defense. One can begin preparing their home with fruit trees, water collection and storage, and other long-term needs. And there is the added comfort of “home”.

However, a home may not be the ideal location. Bad neighborhoods can quickly get worse, when food and supplies become scarce. Modern homes are completely dependent on outside utilities to dispose of waste and supply water and energy for cooking and heating. In crowded urban areas, close quarters can become a breeding ground for diseases not seen in over a century. A “bug-out” bag may be the only answer in some situations.

Summary

In September 2001, the U.S. suffered the worst attack on the homeland in our history. We were not prepared. Two years later, the northeastern part of the U.S. suffered a major blackout (“Major power outage hits New York, other large cities”, 2003), one of the largest blackouts in history. Many were not prepared. But in both situations, people in this nation pulled together and helped each other. Later, Hurricane Katrina would not be as unifying. Each family should take time to prepare for emergencies to the best of their ability. Each situation must be evaluated separately, and good judgment should be used in deciding a course of action. There are a number of resources available online or in print. Take the time to study your needs, possible scenarios for your area, and make an individual plan that fits. Be prepared.

References

Red Dawn, United Artists, Movie, 1984

“At a glance — 49 deaths on East Coast in Winter Storm Jonas“. Silive.com, 27 Jan 2016,

“A Failure of Initiative: The Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina”, US House of Representatives, PDF, 16 March 2006, h

“72-hour kit”, Lds.about.com, Web, retrieved on 15 Sept 2016 from

“Build a kit”, Ready.gov, Web, retrieved on 15 Sept 2016 from

“Major power outage hits New York, other large cities”, CNN, Web, 14 Aug, 2003,

Letter Re: SAR’s and CTR’s

Hugh, I’ve read for years about how banks raise their eyebrows concerning large cash withdraws. I am beginning to think this is more hype than substance.

I have been a contractor for 20+ years and have never once been questioned about large cash withdraws. Over the life of my business, I have restructured three times– sole proprietor, partnership, and finally in 2003 an “S” corporation. As any decent responsible person does, I pay my taxes. But I also don’t leave money in the bank after my obligations have been met.

A typical transaction for me goes like this: My customers pay me by check, I deposit the check in my business account and pay my business expenses. After my expenses are met, I transfer the sales tax and appropriate payroll tax over to a separate tax account that is tapped every quarter by Uncle Sam and King Insleee. (I make the deposits; they make the withdrawal, and it’s been that way for decades.) I essentially drain the checking account except for a small amount to keep the account open, I then repeat the process all over again after the next deposit.

The checks I write to myself, that I cash at the same bank, typically run anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 monthly, depending on how much is left in the account after my obligations. I have never had a teller ask me, or even question my acts, even once while they are counting out a stack of bills to me. The bank has had 20 years of opportunities to call me out on my actions or have me fill out some sort of form for tax reasons. I’ve never experienced either.

I have come to the conclusion that so long as you aren’t acting like you are doing something sinister while doing your banking or being a jerk about it, tellers have no reason to treat you with suspicion.

Also, this isnt our grandparent’s economy. A thousand bucks by today’s standards is a month’s of groceries, a tank of gas, utilities, and maybe a little walking around money at the end of the day. Two thousand bucks is just adding the mortgage to the mix.

Blessed in the Redoubt- L.O.

Economics and Investing:

10 to 15 law schools could close if enrollment keeps shrinking, higher-ed market analyst says

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Russia Says Foreign Spy Agencies Preparing Cyberattacks on Banks

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Americans Not In The Labor Force Soar To Record 95.1 Million: Jump By 446,000 In One Month

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Everyone Welcome, Competition Not Allowed

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Obama Regime Stiff-Arms Lawmakers Questioning Secret Refugee Deal – D.S.

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The Burning Platform: Time to Say Goodbye… – No, they are not closing their doors. – B.B.

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Sweeping Legislative Attack On Gun Clubs, Ranges & Everyone Who Uses Them Threatens A Wide Swath – G.W.

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Land of the Free, Home of the 33,000 Violent Street Gangs – B.B.

o o o

Liberal tells Megyn Kelly that the cop who shot the Ohio State attacker ‘rushed to judgment’ – This is what we are up against. – P.M.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” – Genesis 26:2-5 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – December 02, 2016

On December 2nd, 1823, what became known as the Monroe Doctrine was declared by President James Monroe to Congress outlining a foreign policy initiative that forbade European interference in the American hemisphere but also asserted U.S. neutrality in regard to future European conflicts.

Letter Re: Doulton Water Filter

I have made a very similar PVC tube filter as in the article. It holds 1/2 gallon at a time. I have an RV filter on the faucet to pre-filter the water. A lot of homemade water filters like this have it sit on top of a 5 gallon food-safe bucket with a spigot towards the bottom. I prefer the one gallon glass jar. – R.V.

waterfilter

Economics and Investing:

As Auto Lending Rises, So Do Delinquencies – J.S.

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Silver Prices and Interest Rates

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After a War on Cash, can the War on Gold be far behind? – DSV

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GAO Assails Department Of Education’s Cost Estimates Of Income-Driven Student Loans, Projects 39% ($137 Billion) Of 1995-2017 Loans Will Not Be Repaid – CLP

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OMV reverses earlier announcement, will accept cash for most transactions – D.R.

o o o

SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Ohio State Official DEFENDS Terrorist… FB Post Will Make You Physically Ill – W.C.

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Starting Today, Feds Can Hack Millions Of Devices With One Warrant – H.K.

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An article found in Emergency Management magazine– a publication mainly for city/county/state/federal emergency managers: Prepper Movement, While Not Mainstream, no Longer Just for Doomsday Outliers – T.H.

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Video: Springfield Armory M1A Socom 16 meets the X-Products 50 round .308 drum! – W.C.

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Italy: The Next Stop on Populism’s Global March

Round 67 Non-Fiction Writing Contest Winners Announced!

First prize goes to L.M. for “Purchasing Power: Past, Present, Future- Part 1”, “Part2”, “Part 3”, “Part 4”, and “Part 5” which was posted on November 8th through November 12th, 2016. The following prizes were awarded:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second prize goes to Z.M. for “How To Find Food in Your Own Backyard” which was posted on October 4th, 2016. The following prizes were awarded:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. An infrared sensor/imaging camouflage shelter from Snakebite Tactical in Eureka, Montana (A $350+ value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third prize goes to A. Smith for “A Life Submerged: The Gray Man Existence” which was posted on October 16th, 2016. The following prizes were awarded:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. 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,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value), and
  9. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).

Honorable mention prizes ($30 Amazon.com gift certificates via e-mail) have been awarded to the writers of these fine articles:

November in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran of Gainesville Coins

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover the price action of gold and examine the “what” and “why” behind those numbers.

What Did Gold Do in November? Gold was riding high to start the month, but after Donald Trump’s thrashing of Hillary Clinton in the Presidential election, investors bailed from safe havens like gold and bonds to join the party in stocks. By November 3rd, gold was trading above $1,300 an ounce.

Factors Affecting Gold This Month

There was one overriding factor affecting every single market in November:

TRUMP

Everyone knows about all the politics involved in November’s Presidential election, so we will skip right to the economic news. The Friday before the election saw gold rack up its fourth weekly gain in a row, while stocks hit their longest losing streak in 36 years.

The safe haven demand for gold by investors afraid of a Trump win totally disappeared the day before the election, as the FBI closed their probe into Clinton’s email server. Spot gold closed $22.80 lower at $1,281.20– the largest one-day drop in five weeks.

That FBI probe may have helped Trump, though when it was all said and done, he really didn’t need any extra help. The night of the election, as more states went to Trump, the markets panicked. Stocks crashed, and gold shot up $60 higher to hit a 3-year high of $1,338 an ounce. But as the night continued and more states voted for Trump, the markets reversed themselves. Trump’s landslide victory meant that there would be no questioning the election results, and the markets want certainty above all else.

Trump’s promise of tax breaks, reversing Dodd-Frank regulations on banks, and a huge spending program to replace the nation’s crumbling infrastructure gave stocks plenty to cheer about. Stocks hit back to back all-time highs, as everyone wanted in on the party.

These plans caused inflation forecasts to shoot higher, and investors bailed out of the low-yield bonds that they were holding. This caused the biggest bond crash in years. Inflation expectations also sent the U.S. dollar shooting skyward to its highest point since March 2003.

The irrational exuberance in the stock market and stronger dollar gave a one-two punch to gold, driving prices below $1,200 an ounce at one point. This led to some profit taking by speculators, which helped gold build a floor at that level.

Stocks may be in for a rude awakening. Trump’s tax breaks and huge deficit spending plans will certainly be opposed by Tea Party Republicans in Congress. The fight will be even sharper when debt ceiling negotiations are added to the mix. Congress suspended the debt ceiling in late 2015, because they thought it would hurt their reelection changes. That debt limit will become active again on March 16, 2017, and the U.S. government will already be above it.

Speaking of Tea Party Republicans, they are going to need support from the public to help “drain the swamp”. Some Republican lawmakers met behind closed doors after the election to make secret plans to bring back “earmarks” in Congressional spending measures. Otherwise known as “porkbarrel politics”, the measure was squashed by Speaker Paul Ryan, but he will face a strong push, when Congress meets again, from those Representatives that want their pork for their districts.

On the Retail Front

American Silver Eagle sales recovered somewhat in November, at just over three million coins. However, much lower sales seen over the summer has meant that any chance of yet another record year has vanished. Year to date Silver Eagle sales were just over 37.4 million by the end of November. U.S. Gold Eagles and Gold Buffaloes saw 145,000 troy ounces in sales for the month, bringing the year-to-date total to 1.13 million ounces.

North of the border, The Royal Canadian Mint released their sales numbers for the second quarter. In the 13 weeks ending July 2, gold coin sales were 53% higher from the same time last year, at 251,400 ounces. Silver bullion coin sales were 24% higher, at 8.4 million ounces.

You might remember Bernard Von Nothaus from his unsuccessful fight with the government over his Liberty Dollar silver rounds. This time it’s Wells Fargo Bank giving him grief. Nothaus began making silver and gold Trump Dollars shortly after the real estate mogul began his run for the White House. Demand was so great that Wells Fargo suspended his account due to the number of orders he was taking, bringing his work to a halt

Market Buzz

While the Trump Administration axing Dodd-Frank is a given no matter who becomes Treasury Secretary, one prominent name on that list is John Allison. The former CEO of BB&T Bank and a writer at the Cato Institute, Allison is a fierce proponent of deregulation and the free market, and he is also known for his desire to end the Fed. If that doesn’t make him sound “sound money” enough for you, he’s also been quoted as saying we should probably return to the Gold Standard.

Allison isn’t a lone voice in the matter, as Dr. Judy Shelton– an economist who advocates sound money policy– is on Trump’s Economic Advisory Team. Dr. Shelton used her work in studying the Soviet banking system in the 1990s to predict that the USSR would collapse, two years before it did so. Among other things, she champions an idea that was earlier put forth by Alan Greenspan: issuing gold-convertible bonds as a way to reintroduce gold into the international financial system.

Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has emerged as an unlikely ally in Trump’s efforts to repeal the Dodd-Frank Act, which regulates banks in an effort to prevent another Too Big To Fail banking crisis. All is not rosy for banks under Greenspan’s plans, however. He wants to hike the capital requirements for banks to as high as 30%. In the same talk, he forecasts that long-term interest rates as high as 5% were on the way.

John Mauldin warns that you should probably buy some gold as insurance against these five risks that face a Trump Administration.

Will Trump take the fall for an impending recession that started before he took office? Jeff Thomas at International Man thinks so, as he recounts how the Democrats used the press to turn President Herbert Hoover into Public Enemy #1, way back in 1929.

Some Wall St analysts are worried that the massive infrastructure program that Trump has promised could be too much of a good thing and overheat the economy. With the stock market taking off before Trump even moves in at the White House, concerns that the Fed may already be behind the curve on inflation are growing.

Is gambling with derivatives by the Too Big To Fail banks going to blow up again and take the world economy with it? After reading this and looking at these charts, you’ll probably want to minimize your exposure to the global banking system even more. With the higher inflation that will result from Trump’s infrastructure program and the expulsion of illegal aliens, $300 trillion of derivatives that the Big Banks hold will suddenly have to be honored. The American public will not stand for another Wall St bailout, which means stockholders, bondholders, and depositors of a failed bank will end up getting “bailed in” and their money used to save the bank.

Jim Rickards warns that the next global financial crisis will be far worse than 2008. He notes, “The next crisis will be the third since 1998. In 1998, Wall Street bailed out a hedge fund. In 2008, central banks were forced to bail out Wall Street. In 2018, if not sooner, who’s going to bail out the central banks?”

The IMF, Rickards says, who will force the world’s central banks to accept the IMF Special Drawing Rights as the new world currency, while the G20 group of nations becomes the de facto world government.

Depending on the triggering event of societal upheaval, you may decide to take bugging out to the extreme by relocating to a different country. Your options will be limited, unless you have a passport issued by a second country. Nick Giambruno at International Man explains the easiest ways to gain dual citizenship and have that second passport ready if you need it.

More proof that banks don’t take safeguarding your accounts: Hackers stole money out of 20,000 bank accounts at Tesco Bank in Britain. Tesco refuses to say how much money was stolen, but several posts to social media tell of $500 and more missing from individual accounts.

Looking Ahead

Europe has a very good chance of catching fire starting in December, thanks to populist movements that have gained support after Donald Trump’s victory. Two important votes will occur on December 4th.

First, a referendum in Italy to amend the Constitution to reduce gridlock looks to be headed for defeat. If it fails, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has promised to resign. The populist and euroskeptic Five-Star Movement is the odds-on favorite to win control of the government, much like the Republicans captured both houses of Congress and the White House. Five-Star could pull Italy out of the euro common currency or even follow Britain out of the EU completely. As an example of how crazy this election is, the “establishment” party wants to shake up the do-nothing Parliament, while the “anti-establishment” parties are fighting for all those extra Senators to keep their jobs.

Also on December 4th, Presidential elections in Austria will pit Norbert Hofer, leader of the far right Freedom Party, against a coalition of establishment parties backing economist Alexander Van Der Bellen. Hofer promises to enact immigration restrictions even stronger than those proposed by Trump during the U.S. Presidential campaign in order to deal with the hundreds of thousands of Muslim refugees that have flooded Austria.

In a case that kind of proves Hofr’s point, Norway was forced to release a radical Islamist cleric when Italy suddenly withdrew its extradition request. Mullah Krekar has been repeatedly arrested for making death threats and urging other radical Muslims to commit criminal acts.

On the other hand, the “Merkel Red Carpet” for immigrants in Germany has been rolled up, as real Syrian refugees complain that the mosques in Germany are more extremist than the ones back in Syria. German police simultaneously raided 190 mosques, homes, and offices on November 15th, looking for militants belonging to the “True Religion” extremist organization. At the same time, the German government outlawed the group for recruiting for ISIS.