Fed Throws Gas On Already Raging Financial Inferno: “We’ll Have One Disaster After Another”

by | Dec 21, 2015 | Aftermath, Commodities | 101 comments

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    This article was written by Michael Snyder and originally published at his Economic Collapse blog.

    Editor’s Comment: Investors are in the process of reacting to the Federal Reserve’s interest hike, and some places are taking a hit as markets adjust, and the debt bomb prepares to ignite. But several other sectors are also reaching the tipping point, and a grand disaster is seemingly in the works. Was it all planned this way?

    The Rate Hike Stock Market Crash Has Thrown Gasoline Onto An Already Raging Global Financial Inferno

    by Michael Snyder

    If the stock market crash of last Thursday and Friday had all happened on one day, it would have been the 7th largest single day decline in U.S. history.  On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 367 points after finishing down 253 points on Thursday.  The overall decline of 620 points between the two days would have been the 7th largest single day stock market crash ever experienced in the United States if it had happened within just one trading day.  If you will remember, this is precisely what I warned would happen if the Federal Reserve raised interest rates.  But when news of the rate hike first came out on Wednesday, stocks initially jumped.  This didn’t make any sense at all, and personally I was absolutely stunned that the markets had behaved so irrationally.  But then we saw that on Thursday and Friday the markets did exactly what we thought they would do.  The chief economist at Gluskin Sheff, David Rosenberg, is calling the brief rally on Wednesday “a head-fake of enormous proportions“, and analysts all over Wall Street are bracing for what could be another very challenging week ahead.

    When the Federal Reserve decided to lift interest rates, they made a colossal error.  You don’t raise interest rates when a global financial crisis has already started.  That is absolutely suicidal.  It is the kind of thing that you would do if you were trying to bring down the global financial system on purpose.

    Surely the “experts” at the Federal Reserve can see what is happening.  Junk bonds have already crashed, just like they did in 2008.  The price of oil has crashed, just like it did in 2008.  Commodity prices have crashed, just like they did in 2008.  And more than half of all major global stock market indexes are already down at least 10 percent for the year so far.

    You don’t raise interest rates in that kind of an environment.

    You would have to be utterly insane to do so.

    The Federal Reserve has thrown fuel onto a global financial inferno that is already raging, and things could spiral out of control very rapidly.

    As far as this upcoming week is concerned, we have now entered “liquidation season”.  Investors are going to be pulling their money out of poorly performing hedge funds before the end of the calendar year, and as CNBC has pointed out, more hedge funds have already failed in 2015 than at any point since the last financial crisis…

    Liquidation season occurs when clients of poorly performing hedge funds ask for their money back. It tends to occur at the end of a quarter or year. In response, hedge funds must sell stocks in the open market to raise the money that needs to be returned to investors.

    That means if a hedge fund performed poorly this year; it is probably flooded with liquidation requests right now. In fact, there have been more failed hedge funds this year than any time since 2008.

    The dominoes are starting to fall.  We have already seen funds run by Third Avenue Management, Stone Lion Capital Partners and Lucidus Capital Partners collapse.  Amazingly, there are some people out there that are still attempting to claim that “nothing is happening” even in the midst of all of this chaos.

    As they say, “denial” is not just a river in Egypt.

    And this crisis is going to get even worse as we head into 2016.  Egon von Greyerz, the founder of Matterhorn Asset Management, is convinced that we will soon see “one disaster after another”

    Greyerz predicts, “I think we will have one disaster after another, first in the junk bond market, then in emerging markets and, after that, the subprime markets. Subprime car loans and student loans I see as another massive problem area. It is going to be one thing after another that will unravel. Since 2008, when the world almost went under, we have printed or increased credit by 50% or by $70 trillion, and the world economy is still struggling to survive. I think the real change in confidence will come down when markets come down. . . . I think things will come down very quickly.”

    And I think that he is right on target.  The global financial system is more interconnected today than ever before, and when one financial institution fails, it inevitably affects dozens of others.  And the failures that we have already seen are already spreading a wave of fear and panic that may be difficult to stop.  The following comes from Business Insider, and I think that it is a pretty good explanation of what we could see next…

    • Funds such as Third Avenue and Lucidus close, liquidating their portfolios.
    • Investors, spooked by the closures and the risk that they might not be able to get their money out of these funds, make a rush for the exits while they still can.
    • That creates even more selling pressure.
    • Funds sell the assets that are easiest to sell as they look to reduce risk, which pushes the selling pressure from the risky parts of the market to the higher-quality part of the market.
    • Things evolve from there.

    If you have been waiting for the next financial crisis to arrive, you can stop, because it is already unfolding right in front of our eyes.

    The only question is how bad it is going to become.

    In the final analysis, I find myself agreeing quite a bit with Charles Hugh Smith, the author of “A Radically Beneficial World: Automation, Technology and Creating Jobs for All“.  He believes that the ridiculous monetary policies of the Federal Reserve have played a primary role in setting the stage for this new crisis, and that now this giant financial “Death Star” that they have created “is about to blow up”

    By slashing rates to zero, the Fed ruthlessly eliminating safe returns for savers, pension funds, insurers and the millions of people with 401K retirement nesteggs. In effect, the Fed-Farce has pushed everyone into risk assets–and then played another Dark Side mind-trick by masking the true dangers of these risky assets.

    As oil-sector debt blows up, as junk bonds blow up, and emerging markets blow up, we are finally starting to see the real costs of going over to the Dark Side of endless credit expansion and throwing the gasoline of near-zero interest rates on the speculative fires of financialization.

    The Fed’s hubris has led it to the Dark Side, and now its Death Star of impaired debt, phantom collateral, speculative frenzy and bogus mind-tricks is about to blow up.

    Personally, instead of saying that it “is about to blow up”, I would have said that it is already blowing up.

    We have already seen trillions upon trillions of dollars of wealth wiped out around the world.

    Energy companies are failing, giant hedge funds are going under, and the 7th largest economy on the entire planet has already plunged into “an outright depression“.

    Everyone that warned of financial disaster in the second half of 2015 has been proven right, but this is just the beginning.  Now that the Federal Reserve has thrown gasoline onto the fire, our problems are only going to accelerate as we head into 2016.

    So for the upcoming year, let us hope for the best, but let us also prepare for the worst.


    beginning-of-the-end-snyderMichael T. Snyder is a graduate of the University of Florida law school and he worked as an attorney in the heart of Washington D.C. for a number of years.

    Today, Michael is best known for his work as the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog and The American Dream

    If you want to know what things in America are going to look like in a few years read his new book The Beginning of the End.

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      101 Comments

      1. Mr. Snyder, please find another job. You’re boring me to death with your fear porn. Obviously there is something wrong but it was hardly a crash asshole. If if if, you’re gonna if us all to death. Now did anyone hear bout that little stunt Hillary pulled on Saturday night? The one where she used the restroom and was late returning? I’m betting that was all scripted and is evidence of her arrogant, condescending mindset. Many think she’s been promised the job and if that’s true, you’re gonna look back at today and wish you were still here.

        • What gall Snyder has to show his face after his big “Shemitah” FAIL!

          • I did see a note where those irritating stats usually appear, it said the market was “temporarily closed”. I gave it no more thought until now.

        • Hey Mac, these Michael Snyder articles are really making your site look trashy. Can we get some more useful articles?

          • “You don’t raise interest rates in that kind of an environment.”

            No, you don’t. Not in a “normal environment”. This is the “new normal” so it is perfectly normal to respond unconventionally. So the correct response is: “Yes you do !!!”

            As one of those who have argued for a 25 bps rate hike, suggesting in September that it would come before the end of the year or in January; and identified the likely benefit of doing so, let me just point out that the drops in the stock market has taken some “froth” out of the markets, EXACTLY as I predicted it would.

            And that is a good thing. 🙂

      2. “By slashing rates to zero, the Fed ruthlessly eliminating safe returns for savers, pension funds, insurers and the millions of people with 401K retirement nesteggs. In effect, the Fed-Farce has pushed everyone into risk assets–and then played another Dark Side mind-trick by masking the true dangers of these risky assets.”

        http://www.amazon.com/Financial-Serial-Killers-Hustlers-Swindlers/dp/1616080310?tag=duckduckgo-d-20

        http://www.texemarrs.com/122009/god_of_greed.htm

        What is going on here – is fairly simple to understand, at least for those of us who are familiar with the overwhelming preponderance of jewish financial swindlers who have dominated Wall Street and the Banking and financial sectors.

        Gentile investors who finally snapped out of their zombie-like trance – spurred on in part by the exposure and media publicity of high profile Wall Street jewish thieves like Bernie Madoff – decided to say to hell with the Stock Market, and were refusing to put their money into financial instruments that gave the jewish swindlers an easier opportunity conjure up ways to steal it. Fed up gentiles told themselves that it was better to park their investments in a local bank or credit union and earn a measly 2 or 3 percent on a CD than to risk having it stolen from them by the endless parade of Bernie Madoff vampires who inhabit Wall Street.

        Well, the vampires on Wall Street weren’t too happy about this infuriating attempt by the lowly goyim to put their money out of the reach of their parasites – so, they exerted pressure on the banks and credit unions to continually lower the interest rates paid on super safe CDs, Money Market Accounts and savings accounts.

        This was and is intentionally designed to punish the “selfish”, uncooperative goyim and to deprive them of any decent return on their savings for having the audacity to try to starve the thieving vampires on Wall Street. Small investors who are desperate enough and who have to rely upon investments which pay a decent rate of return due to the fact that they are on a fixed income – are forced to pull their money out of the super safe banks or credit unions or the other ‘safe’ investments and put it back into the Stock Market, in the vain hope that they can get a better return on their money.

        This is precisely what the Wall Street vampires want, because now, they once again have access to the investments of the lowly gentiles and can set about to conjure up a new swindle that will let them fleece another round of investors.

        Here is another excellent book that is a little dated (1992), but which will chronicle the corruption and swindling that the self-chosen have been pulling on Wall Street:

        http://www.amazon.com/Den-Thieves-James-B-Stewart/dp/067179227X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450690813&sr=1-1&keywords=den+of+thieves

        • The oows, with their religiously regulated group paranoia, have therefor become a self fulfilling prophecy. They are indeed persecuted, not as they tell everyone, because of the apparently continuous and mysterious existence of irrational anti-semites, but because of the inevitable reactions to their own behavior.

          “Behind Communism”
          Frank L. Britton

          A recommended book.

          • Just shoot them all Genius. Aren’t you ready yet?

            Those evil people who loan money, and those poor, poor souls who sign on the dotted line.

            Vote for the red team Genius, that will fix everything.

            You facists will scream communism all the way to the ovens.

            • Townsaver, For one thing I am anything BUT a fascist, and another thing is I don’t vote for any of the fascists, and another thing is this shit isn’t about money lending it goes waaaayyy deeper than that, and for another thing I am as ready as I will ever be (probably a lot more than you) so can you come up with something better, like oh say, SOMETHING INTELLIGENT?

            • Townsaver, For one thing I am anything BUT a fascist, and another thing is I don’t vote for any of the fascists, and another thing is this shit isn’t about money lending it goes waaaayyy deeper than that, and for another thing I am as ready as I will ever be (probably a lot more than you) so can you come up with something better, like oh say, SOMETHING INTELLIGENT?

          • Genius:

            I hope you looked back at the “Sanders” subject and read ‘Hunters’ posts directed at you. The Rebel U Tube song he posted up is too funny.

            He also posted he had been in moderation for 39 hours. What the hell?

          • Genius:

            I think you need to post your “braille” post on every thread.

            • I am going to repeat this for you politically challenged folks…

              If Trump puts an end to the FED RESERVE only then will anything change. Until then THEY WILL TAKE ORDERS JUST AS THEY HAVE FOR THE LAST CENTURY! Fuck Me, when will you people EVER learn? Problems caused by politics CANNOT BE SOLVED BY POLITICIANS! Bunch of braindead BRANCH MANAGERS! You will NEVER vote your way out of this shit! I thought most of you were smarter than that. As long as you have fed notes as money, YOU ARE THEIR SLAVES! Do I need to WRITE IT IN BRAILLE AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS FOR YOU TO GET THAT? ok rant over 😛

              • “agree on all points ! amazing how many are almost completely brain dead and simply cannot count or keep track of the obvious lies ? This last spending bill created another 1.2 trillion of cyber money which is in fact just more debt, not money at all ? And of course it is all put off into some future point where all will be better ? WTF ? Most people think as long as they have a new pickup and their stuff, all is well ? HA HA HA HA HA HA .

                Here is a similar comment on another thread at this site
                Could not agree more. Anybody that thinks things are gonna work out has not been paying attention for the last 10 years at all and obviously does not know what is happening as we speak. To say it in another way, these people would be the believers of the many illusions we all live under here in USSA today !

                What they do not grasp is that there is no solution as they think of solutions in the old paradigm of political and economic events. The current system has to collapse for a new start. There is no other way. And we do not know how that will pan out,although it should be obvious it will mean many will suffer and nearly everything people think of as their stuff or what they value, will be lost and a new value system will be the norm. There will be a RESET and it is already in motion as we speak. The only solution to any of it is to be prepared in every possible way, that includes your health,fitness and mindset. Beans and bullets are NOT the answers by themselves, not even close.”

              • Genius: Proving over and over why he uses that name.

                It was a good rant and one that closely meshes with some of my own. Nothing shows you how crooked the whole system is like seeing that they’re all subcorps of the IMF. The US Government, FBI, IRS, DHS, CIA, NSA, EPA, Fed Res, 50 States, etc.

                Anyone ever watch “Adam Ruins Everything”? Well, my personal favorite is Adam Ruins Security. Its a pet peeve of mine that we give up essential rights for no real effect. That being said, he said nearly all of the “security measures” do nothing to increase our security. He called it “Security Theater”.

                So, I’m coining a new term. We see all this voting and letter writing, etc, etc, etc. What happens? They pass Obama(don’t)Care anyways. CISPA? They just slip it in so you won’t notice. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t true representatives feel bad about doing stuff like that? Sure they would! They’d be breaking their contract, so to speak, with their constituents. But, all these Criminal Bastard Thieves care about is making sure they don’t LOOK LIKE they’re breaking their contract.

                So, here is the new term. We vote, we get “representatives” that, litteral FAKE their representation. They are liars and thieves and oppressors. So what do we have?

                Representation Theater.

                They don’t give one little flying FRACK about us nor do they care what we think. They’re so much smarter than us, right? They know whats best for us more than we do, so they try to tell us. Its all a lie. They do, however, care if we get upset and pissed off about things. So, they hide what they can and then when they can’t hide it, like Obama(don’t)Care, they just do it and point fingers, swear they’ll repeal it, then they don’t. Liars. Thieves. Murderers. Traitors.

                Really, if these guys don’t burn in hell for their sins, no murderer or rapist would ever have to worry about any punishment.

                Representation Theater: A constant stream of lies spewed out on the stage of life.

                • Yes, this is Representation Theater and I don’t want a seat this year.

                • I have previously called it false representation and we need laws against such and well enforced ! Today laws are only enforced selectively for political purposes so most mean diddly squat and should not be obeyed ! Only fools and sheep obey illegal laws.

        • Tucker:

          I, for one, want to thank you for your posts. Truth is hard to discern even at shtf.

          The long, self-chest pounding, see how intelligent I am, promoting non-violence, never ending posts are growing weary to say the least.

          Engaging yourself as a precinct committee person is laughable to say the least. We are way, way past that making a difference, if it ever did.

          Anyone that sings the praises of Reagan, has not really studied what went on during his administration; he was just an actor, and a good one, for the PTB at that stage of the game.

          Anyone supporting Turd Cruz must be blinded to the Goldman Sachs connection, or the realization that, if he is nominated, he has already passed the litmus test of AIPAC. He was booed off stage during a speech where he stated his total support for Israel. Check out wifeys time in the Bush administration and then tell us Cruz will save America (she was/is a member of the CFR, does that ring an alarm bell to any of you?),

          I suppose Glen Becks’ support of Cruz holds a lot of sway with some posters here. No way Beck doesn’t know that Cruz and wife are Washington insiders. So apparently he is not “Mr. Truth” to his listeners/supporters either. He is just controlled opposition like Faux news.

        • Tucker, another great post.

        • The”J” in Jewish is capitalized, you dumb sch**ck.

      3. “Everyone that warned of financial disaster in the second half of 2015 has been proven right.”

        If you are so right, Mikey, why are you blocking most dissenting comments to the contrary? I think he also believes in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.

        If rates go back up this week, then the article will read as follows:

        “The markets fluctuate and this is not an indication that the sky is falling. In fact it is an indication that the markets are being manipulated. That is why the economic collapse blog is issuing an even redder alert for the first half of 2016.”

        I bet this guy also sees jesus in his toast every Sunday morning.

      4. Wealth isn’t being wiped out, it’s being stolen. Make a lost of the names of who is doing the stealing. You’ll need an accurate account of the criminals for future reference. :::wink::::wink:::

        • LoL, lost of names? Yeah, LIST of names. Still waiting on that edit feature.

          • If there’s any of us left to do the “rounding up”. Been reading these article like this for 10 years or more and the beat goes on. Pretty soon those like us will have faded from memories and all that’ll be left will be the “dumbed down, thumb flying, I-pad pilots”.

          • Same shit, just another tequila sunrise.

        • Joe,
          It is being stolen and they are just getting started. And it’s not just the poor and middle class. Those above the middle class aren’t exempt from wealth confiscation.

      5. To be fair, I think what we need is a crash. No one in their right mind thinks what the markets are doing reflects reality. Our currency becomes more worthless by the hour, and will continue to do so as long as the status quo is maintained. The crash is exactly where we need to go. A general rule of thumb I use is that if it scares the bankers and the corporate elite, I’m all for it.

        JoeRepublic made a good point, but one must also remember the persistent dumbing-down of Americans. The “average” American will not think of the bankers running the system when this thing goes down. They’ll riot locally, and destroy the lives of people who did nothing to cause the problem in the first place. The bankers, corporate elite, and legislators know that nearly all of the Americans will NOT focus on them when everything comes crashing down. The people have been dumbed down far too much. You will see rioting, you’ll see looting, you’ll see everything we saw in Katrina. It’s entirely predictable, and it’s sad. While those of us on this, and similar forums, have our eyes open, we’re one tenth of one percent. We’re a rounding error.

        If the great reset is coming, I say lets do this and get it over with. It’s going to suck, but we’ve delayed this far too long as it is. If anything, we’ll knock those “entitled” Americans off their false pillars and bring them to the ground. I live in a rather liberal part of the US, and I see these people all the time. It makes me sick. Lets stop screwing around and lets do this. Our country really does need this. Look at them as you walk around. You know it’s true.

        • 1adventurer,

          They should’ve let it happen in 2008. I really did not expect the fed/tptb to be able to kick the can down the road this far! If one leg was rotten before, now the whole body is rotting through and through. Recovery may not be possible!

          Louisiana Eagle

        • The problem with a “crash” is assuming things will improve. I contend when it crashes, there are those who have caused it and have plans of their own to replace our system with something more sinister.

          • stan – i believe your right.
            The “reset” wont be just financial it will be a cpletely new system of government rammed down our throats.
            For or well being , of course.

          • Stan:

            The “blueprint of that “something sinister” is already in motion. Bolshevik Russian Revolution 1918 will show you what is in store for America/Americans.

        • I agree. It’s going to take something catastrophic to change direction in this country. Too many people are living in their protected bubbles of one kind or another. These bubbles will burst eventually and the sooner the better.

          If that hideous Clinton woman gets elected president maybe that will encourage the formation of organized militias around the country. Never in my life would I have thought in terms of an armed resistance movement in the U.S.

          The establishment can only keep its boot on the public’s neck for so long. One set of rules for them and one set of rules for us peons. You just watch, Hillary will get a walk on sending classified material via her unauthorized server. You and I would have been in prison by now.

        • the problem is this crash and “unrest” will not bring a cleansing. It will be portrayed as such but it will be nothing less than the end of the American “possibility”, for all peoples, and the beginning (or end) of a return to a feudal/techno Babylon.

          No good will come except maybe the pleasure of seeing those entitled morons on the guillotine line with you.

          • Absolutely agree.

      6. Another bs article preaching doom and gloom where none is to be found. Period.

      7. Snyder says:

        “If the stock market crash of last Thursday and Friday had all happened on one day, it would have been the 7th largest single day decline in U.S. history. On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 367 points after finishing down 253 points on Thursday.”

        Maybe Snyder needs a “crash” course in econ/stock market 101.
        The two day total was less than a 4% drop of the DOW, which is only comprised of 30 huge corporate stocks. Although the DOW is a good indicator of the current condition, it isn’t the tell all. Even if it were, it takes a 10% drop in the market to spell out a “correction”, while another 10% added to that has to take place, even before before a “bear” market exists. There are other stock groups included in that equation, like Nasdaq and the S & P.

        Then, and only then, do we begin to begin, the escalation to the 30% drop needed to be called a crash.

        So, I wouldn’t be getting my panties in a wad quite yet, over a few swings in the DOW. In fact, there are other really big players, bigger than the fed reserve, in the game right now; and their agenda doesn’t need or want a crash of the markets and the dollar, to happen just yet. In fact the market crash will not happen in domino falling fashion. When it comes, it will happen before average investors have a chance to get their dollars out.

        In fact, the up and down swings is where the real quick money is made by the Wall Streeters. The bigger the swing, and the bigger the purse, equates to the “bigger the profit”.

        It’s kind of like the condom manufacturers and the Funeral Homes; they make their money coming, and going.

        • cradle, I like your final sentence. As we said in the liquor industry, sales are good when the economy is good and sales are better when the economy is bad!

          Adventurer, good post, too. We all know insane liberals. And, although we’re in a ’rounding error’ minority, I like our chances over mindless liberals any day.

          Going to the bank today and make yet another withdrawal to feed the can under the mattress…

          • I am learning to make hooch! It gets bad enough I will own a bar and sell hooch from my own fruit. Snort. I do hope it does not get that bad even though I see no other outcome. Skills… skills… skills. I garden and am learning additional skills.

            • Great minds think alike…I have 10 gallons sitting on the dining room table waiting to be bottled. 5 of Concord, and 5 of Worden.

              • It is true, great minds may not be in control of the Bigs, but we do what needs to be done. I lived in Mexico during their big devaluation. First they allowed dollar accounts. Then the nationalized dollars to pesos at 1/8, which was the going rate. Then they devalued the peso. Stole all the middle class money. I had one small peso account and had dollars back home in the US. There were riots but the military came out full force. From then on, when I needed pesos, I exchanged with friends. Even at the going rate, as the peso kept plummeting, they came out ahead.

                The biggest difference between Mexico and the US today? Middle and Upper class people could hire peasants to grow food for them… for nothing much more than some food. In the United States we don’t have that peasant class to be our personal gardeners. Their entire infrastructure did not fall, but I remember 35 people living in each house, all related. Their food was kept in locked cabinets, and with someone watching at all times. Family or not… a roof, yes… food no.

                • Reb, I do NOT plan on selling or trading hooch in shtf because drunk people get stupid ideas and that could be VERY dangerous for you. Only my very closest friends will share and no others need even know about it. A better idea for barter is tobacco. I have never heard of anyone going off the deep end or commiting crimes after smoking lol.

                  “RECIPE FOR COLD DISTILLED SCHNAPPS”

                  Take a 5 gallon food grade bucket put in 12 pounds of sugar and fill to the 4 gallon mark with boiling water. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. When the mix cools to about 90 degrees add 2 tablespoons yeast (wine yeast or distillers yeast will make more alcohol) cover with either a non gasketed lid or a gasketed lid with an airlock. Ferment for 2 weeks then stir in 1/4 cup of bentonite and let settle overnight. Siphon the liquid into another clean bucket (leaving the crud in the bottom of the first bucket) and repeat with another 1/4 cup bentonite. Siphon that mix out and back into the first bucket (after cleaning it)again leaving the sediment in the bottom. Take the mix and pout it into bowls (as big as will fit in your freezer) and freeze the bowls of mix. After a day or two take a large screen collander and hold it over a clean bucket and work the frozen slush through the collander into the bucket(the alcohol will not be frozen you are just seperating the ice from the alcohol). After squeezing and working approxametly half of the slush through throw the ice out and save the concentrate in the bucket. You can filter this mix through activated charcoal if you have it to improve taste. Add flavoring (I like root beer) and sweeten to taste. Bottle in mason jars and you have a great sippin drink thats about 35% alcohol 🙂

            • I had to stop brewing until I catch up on my drinkin’.

              ———————————————————

              Best SHTF preps:

              A cast iron bathtub for the gin and a stovetop still for the brandy… {SNORT}

            • Rebecca

              Just trying to be helpful to you and all with this post. You can buy a still on line legally. It is for production of Ethanol. I have a friend who takes care of that. I started stocking up on cheap liquors years ago. Condoms will be useful for most as well. Toilet paper will be gold. I don’t want to give up my Charmin Ultra Soft. lol
              Do you can vegetables? My wife handles that. I am the butcher in the group. I have hunted most of my life so I can process animals. We also have chickens and American Guinea Hogs. I have a man cave that I built a bar in. It has a tv, pool table, and a unused rusting stripper pole. lol If things crash it has a wood stove and will be converted into a bar or a place for people to sleep if we run out of room in the house. The man cave was bought as a 14 x 40 shed. Then I insulated, wired, and finished it.
              For those who would like to connect with others to learn skills. Oath keepers is a good resource. Yes to be a member you have to be prior service, police, fire, or rescue squad. Regarding classes and connections most members don’t care whether you were any of these. They teach weapons classes, land navigation, first aid, herbs, ham radio, security teams, food storage, ect. They normally have connections with other local resources like the Mormons. There is a doctor in our local group.
              If you are worried about security regarding the group it is no problem. I only know where 3 or 4 of them live and those are the ones that know where I live and have earned my trust. Several people in the meetings are not members of Oath Keepers but are preppers. Hopefully I have helped someone or all on here.
              I try to do that with most of my post.

              Merry Christmas to All.

              • Mike and Reb, Yes you can buy a still in the US but they have to report the sale to ATF. Buy one on ebay from china and you don’t have to have any trail. Just go on ebay and search distiller. Just sayin’

                • You can also build your own or do the Popcorn Sutton thing. Pick up a serviceable pressure canner at an auction or flea market. Using readily available parts from your box store you, too, can peek out from behind your closed curtains for the revenuers while cooking off a small batch of sunshine.

                  There are plenty of tutorials for the do it yourselfers online.

                  Prost!!!

                  • That pressure canner distiller is the one I want. My pressure canner cost $5 at Goodwill but I use it for canning. I keep looking for a bigger one for canning and will convert this one. I keep an eye open but now that I have started making alcohol, it becomes higher on the list. I have seen pressure canner the same size as mine, too oops small.

                    • Keep in mind you can only fill your still to 4 inches from the top or you will get a bunch of crap in the worm. A pressure cooker will do small batches for the amount of work involved. A 10 gallon pot is a good size for stovetop work. 5 gallon is ok but about the minimum. Your worm MUST be copper or your hooch will taste like ass. I would start out with the 5 gallon ebay unit because it is already made and good to go. You can see how it is made and copy it to make a larger one later from a stainless pot.

      8. they have for some time been destroying the present financial system, smart people have prepared for this, it appears the military and police are preparing for a civil war, so thanks to what your leaders have done, now you will have to fight each other just to stay alive, i suspect this has been planned for a long time. One thing its hard to understand all these attacks that happen around the country, why has there never been any against the traitors who created the problems instead of innocent people, are all of these attacks false flags just to pass more laws for tyranny?

        • charlie, YES

        • It does not make sense, and what does not make sense usually has an agenda. Martial law, loss of civil rights, control from above. Occupy Wall Street told them that millions do know who is causing the problem. Of course their government hacks will go after guns. Don’t think Republicans will vote for you, they have not done so for over 40 years. The vote for their owners.

        • Charlie

          I know that the Cloward and Pivin strategy that our current idiot in the white house learned is to never let a crisis go to waste. I agree with you that none of this makes sense to a normal human being. We are not dealing with normal humans though.
          The politicians are all controlled buy the people the Fed and other world central banks. At least that is my belief. That is where the true power lies. Without money there is no power. The only way you win elections in this country now is with money. The politicians are no different than the big money people. They don’t want to lose there power and I believe they know what is coming.
          It only makes sense if you consider what there ultimate goal is. I believe the current idiot meant what he said when he stated he wanted to ” transform America “. He is doing just that. He wants America to drop to the level of a 3rd world country. In fact he wants all countries to be equal. Then they can have there one world government with only the elite in power. Only the elite will have money and power. Everyone else will have equal shares in there socialist utopia. They will control everything and have ultimate power.
          Immigration is currently destroying us and Europe. I believe that is by design. It is part of the process to overwhelm the system and cause a crash. Then there will be war and a drop in population. Then the elite will swoop in and bring peace, control, and one world government. At least that is what I be leave they hope to do. There are elites that will be involved in the war. They will be fighting over power and resources. I do believe they all know the final outcome but don’t know for sure who will control it.
          Just trying to help.

          • Mike in Va your synopsis of events to come are “spot on”.
            Check into the FEMA camps popping up.
            Check out the mass production of plastic coffins.
            Download these documents and pore over them, scrutinize
            the language used. I think you’ll get a very clear picture of
            what “our” future holds.
            Agenda 21
            E3G Underpinning the MENA Democratic Transition Feb. 2013
            Adoption of the Paris Agreement Draft decision -/CP.21.
            I strongly urge everyone to well arm themselves.

            • Mary thank you for the info. It is so refreshing to have people trying to help instead of arguing over beliefs. I thank you so much.

      9. The foul stench everyone smells is from the shithole of fascist filthy evil vile Corporatist Globalist New World Order controlled America being flushed down the toilet, good riddance filthy vile evil disgusting genocidal shithole of the world.

        • See you on the other side Ronson!

      10. I agree that 10% is only a correction. None of the circuit breakers kicked in to stop a free fall last week in stocks. So it is business as usual for the Markets. Only when the Banks close for a Holiday will we know for sure the Financial’s have finally broke.

        Do you think we may evolve into a Greece episode?

        Bank Bail Ins, Stock Market Failure, and how the government handles retirements/SNAP cards. It is going to be a Three Ring Circus for sure.

        Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome, to the Hope and Change. The Greatest Show On Earth.

      11. I would like to comment, but I do not want “officials” at my door.

        • Don’t let that stop you
          They gonna come anyways

        • Ponomo

          I used to be the same. Then I decided what good am I if I don’t try to enlighten others. Then in talking to some prior special operations guys I know they said it is impossible to come for even a quarter of us. Logistically it is impossible and a nightmare to do it in a timely manner. Can they come for some. Sure. I am already on a list somewhere as most of us are. In the big picture of things I am just a peon. I don’t care anymore anyway. I try my best to wake people up. I feel that is my duty. Not saying you are wrong. It is a personal decision that we all must make.

          • I am already listed, but I am nobody, a peon. I like it! I am glad to hear there are too many to round up because I always think I should shut up and hide. Then I can’t because this peon is American. I disagree about it being “our fault”. Blaming victims is classic abuser lies. Difference is we cannot go the easy route and walk away.

          • I completely agree. Many Americans have grown fat, dumb,lazy,apathetic, spoiled and afraid to say what they think,feel and mean ! That is part of why we are where we are today ! Fear and cowardice to speak the truth of many matters ! Way pats time to simply speak the truth and not worry about the control freaks we call government ! Those that are afraid to speak their truth are part of the problem, not part of any solution going forward ! And I don’t get a crap what you think of it ! 🙂 Time to nut up and stand up or lose all, pretty simple stuff.

      12. If you still have your savings in a bank, you have 2 options: 1. Withdraw it now. 2. Lose it.

        • Three years ago it took me over 4 hours to get Wells Fargo to cut a measly $11000 check for closing. Money from my own account and nothing close to funds in all my accounts. I am not sure I could. Like others, I hack draining in small amounts. Still just legal tender toilet paper. Even gold and silver drop in value if there is no food and water.

      13. This engineered crash of 2016 will make the engineered crash of 2008 look like a joke..

        Aka,

        HCKS.

      14. I survived the crash in 2008 only because I saw it coming. Surviving the 2016 crash will be harder because there is less resilience. So much is already gone and people who had savings no longer have enough to back them up. One half million already live on the streets. We have about 100 tent cities. The economy is already gone. Investments will disappear as will bank accounts. Land, food, water will make you well off. All the top dogs with their bunkers are counting on servants that can “do” things to survive and continue to take care of master’s need. I hope that this time we do not. We always have, every time they destroy the economy through greed. I am up in the mountains getting off my dependence on this corrupt structure. I don’t plan to wait on the rich class anymore. The millions without food or the capability to grow more…. scare me, and I am fearless. I do not want the reset any faster than it has to come. Every person who wakes up and gets started with preparing means one more person with skin in the game and a force against chaos.

        • Rebecca:

          Thanks for your informative posts.

          BTW: check back on the Sanders thread and see Hunters post to Acid Etch about his “disparaging” remarks to you.

          Hunters post was in posting purgatory for 39 hours, go figure. About the time the thread changes so no one looks back?

          Is that a form of censorship?

          • Makemyday,
            Thank you. Acid Etch hates women and especially hates women who think and speak. Boys howdy I am that! I’m my daddy’s girl and my mama’s too.
            If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have missed Hunter’s post and been the poorer for it. Hunter is a good man.
            I appreciate you.
            Rebecca

      15. Hey Snyder, per your “RED ALERT” prediction, the economy is supposed to be collapsed by December 31. You find another job yet? Since you have been predicting a collapse for YEARS, and finally pinned it down to by the end of this year, looking for another area of employment where you can consider yourself an expert might be a good idea. After all, haven’t you cost your readers enough money in lost dividends, false prophet?

      16. Rate hike was bad. Rate hike was good. Rate hike was late. Rate hike was early. It is not the rate hike, it is the debt. The only way the system continues is if the people continue to accept dollars that are printed out of thin air. When that stops the party starts. No govt. checks , EBT or anything. Desperate people trying to survive. Good luck to all.

      17. While I appreciate the continued efforts of ‘experts’ to warn us they still fail to realize that any rules or so-called fundamentals no longer apply.

        We’re in a 1’s & 0’s market. They (whoever ‘they’ are on any given day) can simply create, move or delete as many 1’s & 0’s as it takes to do their bidding (which, IMO, is simply to make more profit for their friends and family).

        Oh, the horrible market is UP 80 right now.

        • Well, we might have some luck in a bad market today afterall, DOW now DOWN a few points. We’ll see if the PPT can crank their monkeys up before C.O.B.

      18. What have they got left to do, but burn it down. After all Gas is cheap now!!!! (LOL)
        Sgt.

        • Styrofoam and gas woooo hooo! Let’s party lol.

      19. People need to figire out how to erase drstroy records of bank holdongs ie mortgages ect when end comes and 6hat would gove back to people and d4stroy banks wealth

        • Nice thought but since everything is electronic with plenty of copies everywhere it’d very tough if not impossible.

          Plus, since the banks have the gov’t (local, state and fed) in their pocket they can have their armed enforcement branch do their bidding to remove any property you have. And don’t worry, pay anything you want to off – they don’t care. They’ll just come up with a new law, rule, mandate or regulation to remove from you whatever they want.

          The only thing bankers and the gov are going to understand is short ropes and tall tree’s – and LOTS of them.

          • This is where hackers come in. They can do a reset.

      20. Long Time Preppers are ready for what lies ahead.
        There is no use in candy coating the future. Like Rebecca, I sort of want it so that others can get prepared but strongly tired of all the Negatives we have to deal with.

        There is hardly any mention of the immigration problems in Europe. Very old Videos. No mention of violence and the gun sales. Trump commands the spotlight and Obama has played the Race Card. What a loser Obama is.

        As we play with the niceties of the financial debacle. Remember that civil unrest or civil war may be around the corner.

        Are your ready?

      21. There is over a trillion spent every year maintaining the worldwide police state that continues expansion that threatens the entire worlds population. Big money in murder. These warmongers obviously do not believe in a benevolent creator.

        • Imagine if trillions were not spent on police. About the only job expansion area!

      22. If anyone thinks the midget bitch will do anything to damage her tribal interests he/she needs to take a new drug. Mr. Snyder is setting up the 2016 for his economic predictions that so far hasn’t produce anything scientific and tangible except the fear porn.

        This was my not PC comment so we that have a Merry Christmas to all except the usual trolls and those on the taxpayers money to hide the truth.

      23. Another Snyder article? YAWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! I’ll go back to sleep.

        • Off topic but important: thehill.com/263632-democrats-want-to-buy-your-guns New gun control bill proposed in congress as we speak.

          • Brave; Congress doesn’t have enough money. How can I sell what is at the bottom of the lake?

            • Jim, LOL. You make a good point. According to the article, it’s just another buyback scheme, but this time at the FEDERAL level. But something tells me this one would be different. don’t like the sound of it.

      24. Stocks, bonds, FRNs, precious…

        meh…I’m a bitcoin millionaire. {SNARF}

      25. Everyone argues about this crash and that crash….it’s all BS.

        We’ve had a crash…it started in 1913….it’s called the Federal Reserve. The crash that they started was the buying power of the dollars….it has crashed 97% .

        John Maynard Keynes said in his book ” The Economic Consequences of the Peace:

        “Lenin is said to have declared that the best way to destroy the Capitalist System was to debauch the currency.

        By a continuing process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens. By this method they not only confiscate, but they confiscate arbitrarily; and, while the process impoverishes many, it actually enriches some.

        Lenin was certainly right. There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose.”

        Well…JMK was right..the Federal Reserve has done its job .

      26. We live on the west coast. Western Oregon to be exact. Before you pity us please understand that we are quite rural and as close as most to selfsuffeincy. I tend to read this and other doom web sites, well, because I am old and that is what old people do. I realize that different areas of the country are affected differently in these times. Our economy seems at least to be pretty strong. I realize that fundamental economics would say BS but property values are rising, not much of a foreclousure problem etc. This may change real quickly but at the moment no signs of it.
        God help me, I do watch some television. The only mainstream is usually local news for weather and traffic etc. The local news is usually quite bubbly except for the shootings in major cities.
        Now for what pisses me off! These warm and fuzzy news broadcasts are interrupted frequently for pleas for toys for the thousands of children who the broadcasters assure you will have no Christmas without your donations. Then they break to commercial which likely starts with a Toby Keith or a Bruce Willis Pleading for $19. a month pledges to help support wounded servicemen and women. WTF? the government sends them off now to be maimed and then lets movie stars and singers plead for help to rehabilitate them? By the way, the Wounded Warrior project then has to try and justify their high salaries and expenses. The next program you see is letting you know that you are scum if you don’t want to approve of bringing hundreds of thousands of people from foreign countries who have nothing and quite possibly will never be productive, as well as being potential terrorist threats. This should serve to cause the news stations to plead for yet more toys for the poor and if some of the immigrants are in fact terrorists add more wounded servicemen and women as well as civilians to the wounded warriors project. I think that I need a drink. Would some of you earlier posters share your recipes for booze? Am I just confused or is this insanity?

        • Skeptic
          Its not your age. I was feeling that way about a week ago. And “thought” it was me. Now i don’t feel so blah. I was in conversation with a friend and was thinking i was just a Grinch. I’m in my mid 30s and don’t normally drink but i just had to. Thanks for helping me see I’m not the only one with those thoughts.

        • Skeptic,
          There is a female celeb that has asked people to donate so poor kids in other countries can have a bowl of Gruel. No kidding. If these hypocrite celebs were serious about humanity they wouldn’t be flaunting their wealth and lavish lifestyle. Anything any celeb is selling I’m not buying. The “fans” of these celebs/stars
          are nothing but meal tickets.

      27. THE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS

        1. The six most important words: “I admit I made a mistake”.

        2. The five most important words: “You did a good job”.

        3. The four most important words: “What is your opinion”?

        4. The three most important words: “If you please”.

        5. The two most important words: “Thank You”!

        6. The one most important word: “We.”

        The Least Important Word: “I”

        WHAT Did Oslama Miss ?

        • Another very important word: NO! People need to learn that word and use it!

      28. Genius, damn right about the word NO. That covers a lot of things.

      29. POPE-POINT OF FACT CEASER, DELIVERS THE THREAT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ALL FREE PEOPLE.

        This is why i trust my scientist friend. He says it best. The Cabal always announces what they plan to do, before the do it. Its allows the dumb down masses to accept their faith. In other words, its just a nice way of the lucerfarians telling us, that we ared Dead as phuck.

        That this may be the last year of Christmas. Ofcourse, he is planning on ending the holiday with his 40 Mulsim Cardinals in the Church. Need to let us patriots, veterans, and Preppers, and the USRNSF” United States Red Neck Special Forces know what you have planned.

        See link, you be the judge.

        http://yournewswire.com/pope-says-this-may-be-our-last-christmas/

        Thats why i decided to insulate and seal up my Bug out Bag. I dont need to deal with Sudden & accidental water damage. I could be under water with my bug BOG with my head above or under the surface, and still the water wont get into my contents. The water leaks through, and leaks right back out.

        I am going to tell you all a little secret about myself and why i talk the way i talk, why i am a patriot and why i talk about about the chinese soldiers and why i will not hesitate to shoot them and kill them. What you will hear from me is a really bad story involving one of my family members and what happened to him. The chi-coms rape their own women, shoot thier will full machine gun fire in public stadiums, they cut organs our of people alive, and if they come here to do that, i will kill them. This is not being directed at the good Chinese people who live in Texas, who love our state, and like working with us, because i have good chinese friends, that have told me this, they told me-” you would not belive what its like to live in China”.. Trust me, i know. I have heard.

        I am just trying to help readers and preppers know what that dictator Z jing ping is planning. His generals have told the military in meeting in China, that no man, woman and child must be speared. That they must kill every one us. And for the PLA, who in Texas at hidden locations, getting ready to implending the orders from the current muslim United Nations Muslim organization, you better be carefull when you decide to roll in tanks and ammored personal carriers, Most younger males from 18-35, dont like when foreignn soldiers come into America, and rape thier girlfriends, wifes, and sister and daughters, these Americans will kill you. How do i know, they have told me that if that happens here its all our war. Any chinese soldier on American soil reading my post. Do not test these intructions. You are going anywhere and you not going to get to leave. You die here.

        As for agency ass clown trolls coming on here talking crap about me being some little teenager in momys basement. Keep talking, if you ever see me, you would literally piss your phucking drawers.

        Aka

        HCKS…

        MOLON BITCHES, COME AND TAKE IT IF YOU, GET YOUR ASS SHOT THE PHUCK UP.

        • Sounds like you have a lot of second hand knowledge and have been “told” about things. You sound unhinged and in need of help. Seriously, no one here should play along with your psychosis. I am not a troll nor with an agency. I am not trying to be mean but you have detached from reality. Please listen to me and hopefully other shtf community members. You need to seek help.

      30. “But when news of the rate hike first came out on Wednesday, stocks initially jumped.”

        Snyder was wrong or misinformed there. At 2:00 PM, the time for the big announcement, the Dow dropped over 100 points, then recovered and moved up a little. Then by the close of the market, it had risen another 70 points.

        So the market didn’t initially jump. It merely recovered from a large drop.

      31. Rebecca, good post.. that’s come really good stats on the curent situation..keep prepping and you will be in the 3% of the remainding survivalist.

        Now to address that piece of sh….t
        That commented about my post.

        And mr anon, you can go
        Phuck off and eat sh…t, and if you think your are bad enough you can come to my state and meet for a challenge.. you are noting but pure mouth. The Russian spetsnatz that talked crap to my chick friend had to leave when I ordered him to leave, what makes you think that I am not going to do some thing if you threaten my life.. real dumb down people do not visit these sites and read any thing on here, so you are a Muslim or chinese soldier working for DHS.. our governor is the safe guard against crap like you that want to come to my city and phuck with citizens like me, or mess with my girlfriend or arrest us to take us away and then execute us. Keep dreaming, thank God for the second amendment, that allows people like us to shoot and kill muslims jihadist pricks like yourself. So kiss my ass and phuck off.. you are nothing but mouth, without your AK you are noting more that a coward pussy standing and pissing your pants once you’ve seen me up close and personal..All we know about isn’t nothing much or the fact that you may a killer, possible murderor of some kind.. you seem to be very concerned about my content. You got my IP address, let me know what you prefer..a surprise attack on my at my place, I am ready for that or we can meet publicly then i will call my cops friend then contact law enforcement red necks in my area then you can meet me off of Mason Rd in Katy Tx..that’s when you will know the trouble that you are really in..so don’t come on here and talk crap to me, you Muslim jihadist punkass.

        Aka,

        HCKS

        Agency ass clown super moderator.

        • Again. Not trying to piss you off or fight or sneak up or meet you. Just concerned about you

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