Warning From Wall Street Broker: “The Entire System Has Been Utterly Destroyed”; Recommends “ALL customers Withdraw From All of the Markets”

by | Nov 18, 2011 | Headline News | 187 comments

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    Editor’s Note: You will rarely, if ever again, see a brokerage firm close their doors not as a result of losing all of their customers’ money, but rather, preemptively in order to prevent them from being wiped out. That’s exactly what Ann Barnhardt of Barnhardt Capital Management did Thursday morning when she advised clients that her firm was liquidating all customer brokerage and options accounts. In a series of letters published on her web site, disseminated by Zero Hedge, and brought to us by The Daily Crux, Ms. Barnhardt takes the unprecedented step of shutting down her firm in order to prevent losses in what she says is a system that “is no longer functioning with integrity and is suicidally risk-laden.”

    The reasons for her taking the steps she did to save client investments are, in our opinion, nothing short of heroic (prompting even Rush Limbaugh to give her kudos) given recent developments in the global economic crisis that include the collapse of government primary dealer MF Global and the untennable situation in Europe. While most Wall Street tycoons and brokers continue to manage money in a highly leveraged marketplace on the verge of collapse while talking their books on financial news shows in an effort to instill confidence in their customers who are swallowing the hopium hook, line and sinker, Barnhardt will have none of it and chose, instead, to pull the plug and get her customers out.

    This is an absolute must read warning for all American investors. Though Barnhardt’s firm dealt primarily in futures and options trading, she cautions that ALL markets have been infected with systemic contagion, including the underlying cash commodities – known in layman’s terms as the physical delivery of goods. With the recent collapse of MF Global, the details of which suggest direct fraud and theft of customer accounts, and the government’s lack of any serious response, Barnhardt seems to think there is a real possibility of cascading, system-wide failures in the broader financial sector.

    Look out folks, because if she is right then we’re in serious trouble – and soon. The takeaway is, if you’re not sure what is happening in the markets then get out and get your money to safety, otherwise it will soon be added to the asset pool of the organizations complicit in orchestrating the destruction of our financial markets and economic system.

    Without further ado, prepare to be blown away:


    BCM Has Ceased Operations (source)
    Posted by Ann Barnhardt – November 17, AD 2011 10:27 AM MST

    Dear Clients, Industry Colleagues and Friends of Barnhardt Capital Management,

    It is with regret and unflinching moral certainty that I announce that Barnhardt Capital Management has ceased operations. After six years of operating as an independent introducing brokerage, and eight years of employment as a broker before that, I found myself, this morning, for the first time since I was 20 years old, watching the futures and options markets open not as a participant, but as a mere spectator.

    The reason for my decision to pull the plug was excruciatingly simple: I could no longer tell my clients that their monies and positions were safe in the futures and options markets – because they are not. And this goes not just for my clients, but for every futures and options account in the United States. The entire system has been utterly destroyed by the MF Global collapse. Given this sad reality, I could not in good conscience take one more step as a commodity broker, soliciting trades that I knew were unsafe or holding funds that I knew to be in jeopardy.

    The futures markets are very highly-leveraged and thus require an exceptionally firm base upon which to function. That base was the sacrosanct segregation of customer funds from clearing firm capital, with additional emergency financial backing provided by the exchanges themselves. Up until a few weeks ago, that base existed, and had worked flawlessly. Firms came and went, with some imploding in spectacular fashion. Whenever a firm failure happened, the customer funds were intact and the exchanges would step in to backstop everything and keep customers 100% liquid – even as their clearing firm collapsed and was quickly replaced by another firm within the system.

    Everything changed just a few short weeks ago. A firm, led by a crony of the Obama regime, stole all of the non-margined cash held by customers of his firm. Let’s not sugar-coat this or make this crime seem “complex” and “abstract” by drowning ourselves in six-dollar words and uber-technical jargon. Jon Corzine STOLE the customer cash at MF Global. Knowing Jon Corzine, and knowing the abject lawlessness and contempt for humanity of the Marxist Obama regime and its cronies, this is not really a surprise. What was a surprise was the reaction of the exchanges and regulators. Their reaction has been to take a bad situation and make it orders of magnitude worse. Specifically, they froze customers out of their accounts WHILE THE MARKETS CONTINUED TO TRADE, refusing to even allow them to liquidate. This is unfathomable. The risk exposure precedent that has been set is completely intolerable and has destroyed the entire industry paradigm. No informed person can continue to engage these markets, and no moral person can continue to broker or facilitate customer engagement in what is now a massive game of Russian Roulette.

    I have learned over the last week that MF Global is almost certainly the mere tip of the iceberg. There is massive industry-wide exposure to European sovereign junk debt. While other firms may not be as heavily leveraged as Corzine had MFG leveraged, and it is now thought that MFG’s leverage may have been in excess of 100:1, they are still suicidally leveraged and will likely stand massive, unmeetable collateral calls in the coming days and weeks as Europe inevitably collapses. I now suspect that the reason the Chicago Mercantile Exchange did not immediately step in to backstop the MFG implosion was because they knew and know that if they backstopped MFG, they would then be expected to backstop all of the other firms in the system when the failures began to cascade – and there simply isn’t that much money in the entire system. In short, the problem is a SYSTEMIC problem, not merely isolated to one firm.

    Perhaps the most ominous dynamic that I have yet heard of in regards to this mess is that of the risk of potential CLAWBACK actions. For those who do not know, “clawback” is the process by which a bankruptcy trustee is legally permitted to re-seize assets that left a bankrupt entity in the time period immediately preceding the entity’s collapse. So, using the MF Global customers as an example, any funds that were withdrawn from MFG accounts in the run-up to the collapse, either because of suspicions the customer may have had about MFG from, say, watching the company’s bond yields rise sharply, or from purely organic day-to-day withdrawls, the bankruptcy trustee COULD initiate action to “clawback” those funds. As a hedge broker, this makes my blood run cold. Generally, as the markets move in favor of a hedge position and equity builds in a client’s account, that excess equity is sent back to the customer who then uses that equity to offset cash market transactions OR to pay down a revolving line of credit. Even the possibility that a customer could be penalized and additionally raped AGAIN via a clawback action after already having their customer funds stolen is simply villainous. While there has been no open indication of clawback actions being initiated by the MF Global trustee, I have been told that it is a possibility.

    And so, to the very unpleasant crux of the matter. The futures and options markets are no longer viable. It is my recommendation that ALL customers withdraw from all of the markets as soon as possible so that they have the best chance of protecting themselves and their equity. The system is no longer functioning with integrity and is suicidally risk-laden. The rule of law is non-existent, instead replaced with godless, criminal political cronyism.

    Remember, derivatives contracts are NOT NECESSARY in the commodities markets. The cash commodity itself is the underlying reality and is not dependent on the futures or options markets. Many people seem to have gotten that backwards over the past decades. From Abel the animal husbandman up until the year 1964, there were no cattle futures contracts at all, and no options contracts until 1984, and yet the cash cattle markets got along just fine.

    Finally, I will not, under any circumstance, consider reforming and re-opening Barnhardt Capital Management, or any other iteration of a brokerage business, until Barack Obama has been removed from office AND the government of the United States has been sufficiently reformed and repopulated so as to engender my total and complete confidence in the government, its adherence to and enforcement of the rule of law, and in its competent and just regulatory oversight of any commodities markets that may reform. So long as the government remains criminal, it would serve no purpose whatsoever to attempt to rebuild the futures industry or my firm, because in a lawless environment, the same thievery and fraud would simply happen again, and the criminals would go unpunished, sheltered by the criminal oligarchy.

    To my clients, who literally TO THE MAN agreed with my assessment of the situation, and were relieved to be exiting the markets, and many whom I now suspect stayed in the markets as long as they did only out of personal loyalty to me, I can only say thank you for the honor and pleasure of serving you over these last years, with some of my clients having been with me for over twelve years. I will continue to blog at Barnhardt.biz, which will be subtly re-skinned soon, and will continue my cattle marketing consultation business. I will still be here in the office, answering my phones, with the same phone numbers. Alas, my retirement came a few years earlier than I had anticipated, but there was no possible way to continue given the inevitability of the collapse of the global financial markets, the overthrow of our government, and the resulting collapse in the rule of law.

    As for me, I can only echo the words of David:

    “This is the Lord’s doing; and it is wonderful in our eyes.”

    With Best Regards-
    Ann Barnhardt

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      187 Comments

      1. Another one bites the reality dust.. tell us something we all don’t already realize..

        We all are swimming upstream – against the current..just some are better smimmers than others..

        All we can do is hang on and make the best of it..

        • swimming upstream in poisoned waters

        • Ann Barnhardt is an individual of exceptional integrity.

          • Who would have thought integrity and honesty from a real bull shit consultant.
            What ever Ann decides to do in the future she will succeed because of her honesty and integrity.

            • still some hope for this great county!

            • WE have a true Patriot in Ann Barnhardt ladies and gentlemen. Here is a woman who belongs in office on a Constitutional Party ticket for Congress.

              The Retards will elect theirs. The Libturds will elect theirs. Special interests will try to elect theirs.

              Patriots must control the middle in the next Congressional election to ensure that all legislation benefits American taxpayers, families, and small business owners.

              Barnhardt for Congress! I like the sound of that. Ok, 534 more are out there. Let’s find them.

              80 million gun-owning voters can restore a constitutional America without firing a shot!

              Pass it on.

          • This shows that there is hope. Some people still have a conscience. She could easily have rode this train to the bottom and pretended to not see what was happening.

          • Amen. I had goose bumps as I read this to my husband — in part because this, to me, is one of the most concrete and reliable indicators of what is REALLY happening to our financial system (and who can dispute it after this?), but also because I was in stark admiration of Ms. Barnhardt’s incredible integrity. God bless her. I’m praying for our nation — that God might bless her citizens to get through the chaos that is certainly coming.

      2. wow that is a really bold statement and hopefully enough of these idiots start catching on who voted for obama about how much of a threat he really is doing. I have never heard as so much bashing towards obama and he deserves it more than anyone else. just take care of your kind.

        • One should try and see a bigger picture and realize that it does not matter which puppet sits in the big house.
          TPTB proceeding as planned regardless.
          The rest is just an illusion (or a delusion) created to give sheeple a fake feeling of “choice” and “freedom”.

          • Oh, Room # 6–like voting?? LOL

            • But of course… LOL

            • Exactly like voting. No one will enter the system as it currently exists and make a difference. You do understand the “system” is completely corrupt and beyond the ability of any one person to fix?

              Unless you assign “divine” abilities to any single candidate, you are kidding yourself.

              The entire system needs to burn. Then, maybe we can elect someone to direct the rebuild process. Until then, your “choice” via exposed election fraud is an illusion.

          • I agree that it’s certainly not just Obama, but the entire economic paradigm and capitalist system which is inherently flawed. Any system which supports, encourages and rewards greed at the expense of the community and the planet is clearly unsustainable.

            BTW, Marxism may be an incorrect reference. Perhaps she meant Fascism? Marxism has nothing to do with corporatism and markets.

        • Our only hope against the fraud Barry O. How could anyone in their right mind think that there is any other sane option in 2012?

          “After he emerged as a front-runner in the Iowa straw poll, many speculate Ron Paul may be the one who is to replace Barack Obama in the White House next year. The physician, author, initiator of the Campaign For Liberty and Texas Congresmann, Paul presents an unusual figure on the US political scene.

          The Republican, who promotes the ideas of limited government, non-interventionism and individual liberties, has distanced himself from Romney, Cain, Perry, Bachmann and Gingrich on practically every issue. Sharp and outspoken he seems to be the one who could bring change to America, for better or for worse. Here are some of his most remarkable quotes:

          On war. We can achieve much more in peace than we can ever achieve in these needless,unconstitutional,undeclared wars. (Republican debate in Des Moines, Iowa, August 2007)

          On freedom. There is only one kind of freedom and that’s individual liberty. Our lives come from our creator and our liberty comes from our creator. It has nothing to do with government granting it. (Brainy Quote)

          On the US politicians. With politicians like these,who needs terrorists? (June 2011)

          On Barack Obama. Obama explicitly threatens to bypass Congress, thus aggregating the power to make and enforce laws in the executive. This clearly erodes the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. It brings the modern presidency dangerously close to an elective dictatorship. (Ron Paul’s open letter, November 2011)

          On the US presidential elections. “There’s a risk I could win.” (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 2007)

          On the US intervention in Iraq. The only weapon of mass destruction in Iraq is the US military. (Brainy Quote)

          On use of violence. Legitimate use of violence can only be that which is required in self-defense. (Brainy Quote)

          On the US economy. Believe me, the next step is a currency crisis because there will be a rejection of the dollar, the rejection of the dollar is a big, big event, and then your personal liberties are going to be severely threatened. (Speech at CPAC, February 2010)

          On capitalism. Capitalism should not be condemned, since we haven’t had capitalism. (Great Quotes)

          On national ID card. I am absolutely opposed to a national ID card. This is a total contradiction of what a free society is all about. The purpose of government is to protect the secrecy and the privacy of all individuals, not the secrecy of government. We don’t need a national ID card. (Brainy Quote)”

          • Amen! Ron Paul 2012!

          • My only question is ‘Where does Ron Paul stand on the re implementation of Glass-Steigle?’ I’m just wondering how the Libertarian philosophy deals with such things.

          • EA

            Re: Ron Paul – why no mention of his position on ILLEGAL immigration?

            In his book “Liberty Defined: 50 Essential Issues That Affect Our Freedom.”

            Paul’s position is “Maybe a ‘green card’ with an asterisk could be issued.” This “asterisk” would deny them welfare and not grant them immediate “automatic citizenship.” as deporting ILLEGAL immigrants will require “splitting up families and deporting some who have lived here for decades.” And, deporting is “incompatible with human rights.” Really? What about constitutional rights and sovereignty? Leftest speak here?

            No welfare to ILLEGALS? – Like legislators don’t know there are already laws on the books that ILLEGALS are not entitled to receive welfare? It’s the ILLEGALS children that are entitled to welfare –both foreign born and jack pot/anchor babies AND it’s the parents (on behalf of those children) that get the checks for food, housing, transportation, LEAP, medical etc, etc. What? Do they think we tax payer’s don’t get we are being lied too yet again with the double speak. ILLEGALS get welfare.

            For those of us who are incensed over ILLEGAL immigration. Paul says, “…It’s hard to hide the fact that resentment toward a Hispanic immigrant is more common than toward a European illegal immigrant…” Gee, don’t get that one – almost 80% of the ILLEGALS are Latino/Hispanic and 5% are European. Sounds like another amnesty for 30 million law breaker/invaders. As if the first three amnesties, which again, mostly benefited our neighbors south of the border, never happened. When is enough – enough of uncontrolled immigration? Please, I want a better life and piece of the American pie for my children too -their birthright. They don’t get to claim and vote in two countries.

            So, I’m now a racist because I don’t get a sense of fairness in letting only one race/culture dominate and invade our country while they violate our constitution and laws to rob our treasury, subvert our culture and language, overwhelm our tax supported educational, judicial, social and medical institutions, infiltrate our political system, violate our voting process and by over populating decimate and fracture our infrastructures – housing, schools, water, roads, bridges, just to list a few of my grievances. No melting pot for these folks. Press 2 for the agenda of La Raza.

            All this aided and abetted by our government using citizen tax funds to support a two tier justice system, immunity for crimes against citizens, employment and job preference for public work projects, funding advocacy agencies adverse to tax paying citizens, financial aid for higher education and loop holes exclusive to ILLEGALS allowing yearly tax refunds up to $10,000 an adult.

            Paul, opposes the E-Verify program and is against laws that prohibit employers from hiring ILLEGALS, like the Arizona laws. Sounds like a repub here. Has anyone else noticed the numbers on ILLEGALS (and not that 12 million government figure used for the past 15 years either) and the numbers of citizens unemployed? Coincidence???

            I’d like to be able to support the man – however, he and others underestimate the magnitude and impact of this issue. Immigration is about wanting to become citizens of this country. This latest migration of 30 million isn’t about assimilating, it’s an invasion and they have and will spit on our flag and walk on our Constitution, while consuming and devouring our treasury, foundation, core principals, shared language and values and Ron Paul put’s an “asterisk” on it’s importance.

            • Yep – you’re a racist.

        • In regard’s to Obama. I could smell this turd way before I could ever see the outhouse. It’s funny that a lot of intelligent people voted for this chump. I guess that makes me a genius for knowing better. There seem’s to be many geniuses on this blog. I’m in good company.

        • I have proof that the Republicans are planning another housing bubble. I suggest that removing Obama could have even worse results.

          • You have proof? Present it.

      3. WOW! There are still good people in the markets…or there were I guess I should say.

        • ….and what would you think if you found out she sold “puts” on a ton of things that plummet, albeit temporarily, because of her actions? I’m not saying she did. It would not surprise me though.

          As a side note but related I was listening to a local talk radio show yesterday (1360AM Modesto) where Mr. Dave Diamond was talking about congress passing regulations that declared pizza and french fries “vegetables” so that schools and government agencies could continue to buy them for lunch programs. He speculated, as I just did, that a bunch of congressman were probably going deep on certain frozen food company stocks. Sadly this practice of congressmen and women trading on inside information is not illegal.

          Our president is required to deposit his investment holdings into a blind trust while in office – I think its time that rule apply to every one in congress as well.

          • What president? He didn’t make millions from selling a book…

      4. I’m sure she’ll be Time’s next person of the year, right?

        What an incredibly honest, principled person. I bet ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN are camping on her front lawn until they get an interview. 🙂

        Have a great day,
        Mal

        • I hope that was sarcasm. cause I’ll bet not. In any case she has my best wishes

      5. I always read Zero Hedge as well, for some truths not commonly told.

        Yes there are still good and honest people in the world.

        Terry W. Reed
        LNL PROTEKT

          • Perky! Now if I could just get some vegetable pizza seeds.

          • How many times did she say Jack Ass? I would buy her a pair of red cow girl boots. Are those real? It doesn’t matter. Gettie up.

            • I dunno. Maybe she did the right thing for the wrong reason? In any case, her personality leaves something to be desired, doesn’t it. I agree with ninaorket (post following this one). Tee hee…

          • she retired so she can pursue her lifes dream of working at…

            HELGA’S HOUSE OF PAIN!

            as a black latex full body cat suit with silver tipped cat-o-nine tails wearing DOMINATRIX!

            i wonder if she’s single?

            • Make that 11 thumbs down and just three up? Am so tired I can hardly see straight tonight… not sure what happened exactly… but in any event, I want my vote on ninaorket’s comment to be registered as a definite thumbs down! Totally inappropriate and in poor taste.

            • Blabbermouth Shultz won’t allow her cat suit to be on loan, especially to a Conservative.

            • NinaOrket has always been a retard on this site. You’re just arting to notice it lately. With her constant calls for violence I have long suspected she’s a federal agent provacateur trying to rile up the readership of this site for investigation and destruction by the FBI/DHS police state apparatus.

              That you are collectively waking up to what a psychopath/federal agent she is, is no surprise.

          • Too bad she punctuated her incredibly valid points with name calling…loses credibility…you value human life more than books, then insult a human by continually calling that human an insulting name. Too bad.

            • Sticks and stones will break your bones but names will never hurt you.

            • No, actually, I think the “names” were pretty appropriate. When I get wound up like she is wound up I tend to use more apt descriptions with even less tact.

              In fact, in legal language, your term “human” is also quite an apt description of the “people” Ann was referring too. “mindless beast” is quite fitting. The fact is, people really don’t understand most of the language they hear. They pretty much gloss over it like, well, the sheople they are. (Wo)Man / Sheep hybrids (sheople) really have allowed us in this pinch. They elect the people we have in Washington and our state houses and they seem to act as if they’re then done.

              The technical name for the man she identified as “jackass” is “psychopath”.

              …never truly a man, only emulating emotion and conscience.

      6. and this is how “it” – the end – starts… the corruption of the banking/investment/bonds/stocks/stock market lottery-playing/fiat currency industry drives itself and us to the brink of solvency then over the edge… invest in the 4 precious metals: lead, brass, silver and gold – without the first 2, you won’t be able to keep the other 2….

        • Prepping Preacher,

          I wish there were more preachers like you…who were aware of what is happening and warning the people to prepare. If there were, I think alot more people would listen.

          May everyone be safe and keep praying and prepping.

          KY Mom

          • There are more pastors like him. I did an entire series on globalism and hyperinflation in Biblical prophecy and how it is coming ever closer to being fulfilled.

            • alot of pastors and preachers just like our own state governors and congress critters… now work for the feds and fema… beware of those standing before you with bible in hand! their pockets may be filled with fema payoff money…

            • Prepared Pastor,

              This is good to hear! 🙂 So many people are unaware. The turmoil around the world only grows. Our economy is headed toward a cliff. I know some good and kind people who still are not “awake” or prepared at all. They don’t want to think about anything bad that may happen.

              It gets very frustrating sometimes. There are some in my family that ignore my warnings. They respond, “That could never happen here. This is America.”

              Instead they continue spending as usual and have not saved any food or other provisions. It is very sad.

              KY Mom

            • Great–needed are more like you ,too.

      7. ya’ll might wanna think about… prepping for nukes… what will you and your family do in a nuke attack… do you live within 25 miles of a military base or a national strategic assest? do you live downwind of these assests?

        etc etc etc… once the markets go belly up… crash completely in a few months… ww3 will be in full gear an people are going too start throwing nukes around and here’s a hint to all you patriotic americans- amerika is the bad guy this time around, amerika and nato!

        attacks will happen here on amerikan soil…

        there is coming a change up in global power… and america is not the top dog anymore folks!

        arm up stock up prepare
        preditor or prey the choice is yours…

        • Plastic sheeting & duct tape for the windows? Iodine?
          Kinda figured it was something to think about if we went off grid and the Nuclear Plants went into meltdown, but nuke attacks? I’m still leaning toward viral outbreaks myself, if not by the terrorists then by our own gov.

          • @sandy – good points… i’m just sayin’ prep for them… russia and china both are building 1000’s huge bunker systems right now for a reason… and the u.s. gov is buying up all of the emergency rations private companies can make at the moment… amerika’s last card to be played will be ww3 full theater spectrum engagement!

            And a whole lot of fed retiree’s and high rollers are building private bunkers and actual castles here in america!

            something is coming…

          • Sandy has it about covered, now might be a great time to buy a few bottles of Iodine Tincture and a few hundred KIO3 potassium 85mg tablets, remember how the price went up a few hundred percent after the tsunami in Japan.

            • In the BOB and have extras.

        • Use the Ground Zero calculator at http://www.carloslabs.com/node/20 to see the effect of different nuclear devices if they would hit near you.

        • nina, we may be able to protect ourselves from a radiation leak a few hundred miles away, but a nuclear attack? No way. There just isn’t any protection from that kind of radioactive fallout, unless we have a hole in the ground to stay in for a very long time.
          We’re prepped for anything, but not nukes. Game over.

        • I work on site. I’m an ordained Minister hired by FEMA to spread the Good Word according to Napolitano. The nukes here are outbound. Our top dogs already decided it’s not in their best interest to self-radiate. You didn’t get the memo, did you?

      8. With this coming from someone IN the business, how can people doubt so easily?

      9. Jesus is coming soon.

        • . . . . and, boy, is he pissed.

          • yep, pretty much

          • Righteously so. Coming this time not as The Lamb of God but as The Lion of Judah.

        • Little late for Jesus

          • @cof no no just in time!!!

            • And then what’s gonna happen,” If Jesus is gonna save all you” then why are you prepin ?

            • “And then what’s gonna happen,” If Jesus is gonna save all you” then why are you prepin ?”

              @COF – we prep because GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELPS THEMSELVES! How many times must this be repeated on this site?!?

            • Joseph prepped for 3 1/2 yrs for the 3 1/2 bad years. God saved him. Why not us?

              I hate when people pervert God’s Word.

            • Wasn’t Noah a prepper too? It seems to me the Bible is filled with preppers.

          • COF said “If Jesus is gonna save all you” then why are you prepin ?”

            It’s a legitimate question to ask a (particularly pretrib dispensationalist) Christian “why prep?” A question I’m sure most have asked themselves.
            SOME of my answers:
            – is America mentioned in end times prophecy? Many say “not specifically.” Why not? Are there going to be events that take us out of the international picture? Economic collapse or pandemic or terrorist actions for example? The point is LOTS of things are possible to varying degrees of probability. If I don’t have preps when I need them then my children and grandchildren are at the mercy of fate (ie. the government, society, nature etc), if I have preps and don’t ever need them then praise God I have (or will be leaving behind) some stuff.
            – Noah was a prepper in a big way and under Gods direction, and the final days will be “as in the days of Noah.” This oft-cited undercurrent of foreboding that urges so many to prep, whether Gods warning or not, is tangible non-the-less. Gods Word is full of examples of people who have prepared and survived. To prepare doesn’t show a lack of faith. God certainly can act supernaturally, but instead generally chooses to act through normal people.
            – although I hold to a pre-trib rapture of the Church, I agree that there are good arguments for a pre-wrath or post-trib rapture. Unlike so many others I have been wrong at times. Jesus will (in fact has already) saved us. But I will hedge my bet on a pre-trib rapture by what has become an enjoyable and freedom instilling hobby of prepping.
            Not a real cohesive answer, but hopefully you get my main drifts.
            – prepping is NOT just for the end of the world, but for everyday disasters too.
            – Jesus has already saved us.
            – prepping brings confidence, courage and hope.

      10. isnt that exactly what Midas Mulligan did?

      11. “swallowing the ‘HOPIUM HOOK’, line, and sinker”…..love that phrase.

      12. A lot of us have money in the stock market that we can’t take out. My wife’s 401k is in the market. We stopped paying in but there’s no way to get the money out and buy gold with it.

        • I can definitely understand your frustration Farm Cat… Maybe there are assets that you can switch over to in your 401k? A precious metals fund maybe? I am not familiar with the inner workings of 401k investing, rollovers, etc., but it wouldn’t hurt to contact someone who specializes in this. Here’s an article to get you started and perhaps some google searches will yield some positive results as well: http://www.ehow.com/how_5175814_buy-gold-k.html .

          There’s got to be a way to diversify those holdings somehow, or did they basically lock every American with a private retirement account into a scheme that has locked them in to investments that could get crushed if stock markets fail? On top of that, I am still very concerned that 401k’s and IRA’s and pensions int he US will go the way of a country like Argentina where the govt just decides they are going to nationalize them and that’s it.

          At least you have stopped putting funds into it for now until we figure out what the heck is going on with the economy and financial markets so you avoid throwing money further down a black hole.

          Best of luck with this FC.

          • CEF, allocated metal in canada

        • While it stinks to take a big it on what is yours, couldn’t you cash out early and pay your current tax rate plus the 10% penalty? Even a 40% loss of the paper value is better than a total wipeout.

          FWIW, I plan to do this myself soon as we locate a property to buy. We’ve targeted an area to move to, but we’re racing to pick the right place now.

          Short of that, I suppose you could move into high dividend-yielding stocks of companies most likely to survive systemic collapse and come out on the other side IF you believe there will be an other side to this collapse (eg – Europe now, but the rest of the world limps along until the U.S. goes through what Europe is facing now.) You might lose 90% of your value for a time, but in an “other side” scenario, at least they’ll be still standing in some form and worth more than a wiped out currency.

          On the other hand, if like many of us you expect total collapse (an other side that does not include functioning major corporations of any sort) just cash it out, take the hit, and acquire whatever preps you most need — a place, ammo, food, meds, PMs, hand tools, seeds, etc.

          best of luck to us all; we will need it sooner rather than later,

          Anthony Schiano

          aka “President Malthus”

          PS – Sorry for no new posts on my blog of late, but I am in high-prep mode for this very reason. That said, the resources linked there and basic documents are still useful tools, aggregated conveniently for preppers’ use and the use of those you’re trying to desperately to wake up before its too late. (We’ve all got that frustrating friend or loved one we’d rather not give up on, in terms of ever opening their eyes, but fear we must.)

          • I’m in Farm Cat’s position. I locked into an annuity with a company that is large enough to sustain a major economic hit. But if you look at the reality of the situation, if the dollar crashes and Europe and Asia go with it, all fiat money will be worthless and everyone will be in the same boat. Stock up on barter items folks. BBB will be the new gold.

        • Farm Cat:

          A few things to consider:

          1) A financial planner, 99% of the time, is going to give you the ol’ diversification speech. If you listen to the average planner, they’ll spread you out in a S&P 500 index fund, a small cap fund, and overseas fund, and depending on your age, a certain percentage in a bond fund or two. Since you believe total collapse is coming (right?), this advice won’t help you a bit.

          2) By not contributing to the 401K, you may be losing out on the matching funds. (Are there any?) I get dollar for dollar matching on mine up to 5%. That’s an immediate 100% gain on what I contribute. It’s ‘free’ fiat currency.

          3) Contributions to a 401K come off the top pre-tax. Contributing lowers your taxable income.

          4) This is risky, and I advise you to seek additional counsel, but you can usually take out a loan on your 401K. If you truly think it’s SHTF time, you can take the loan money and invest in PMs or land. You can pay back the loan with devalued fiat currency later. I’M NOT ADVISING YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THIS IS ADVICE AND INFO ONLY. Seek out people that you trust. But at least you have some additional information to chew on.

          Take care,
          Mal

        • If she has or will terminate employment, she can roll this over to an IRA that either invests directly in precious metals or better yet, a self-directed IRA which invests in a trust set up by a trusted friend or attorney. The IRA invests in the local trust and the local trust buys and holds the physical precious metals.

          • Thanks for this information…going to do some research on this.

        • Farm Cat, If your wife quits her job, she will have access to the 401K. She can roll it over to an IRA. Or cash out.

          Your choice….is the job good enough that it weighs against access to the money in the 401K?

          We have been down this road before and I share from experience. We rolled into a traditional IRA that was merely placed into a Money Market account. We are now cashing out, dividing it between years for a better spread of IRS “income” on the 1040. Not being of age, we take a 10% penalty.

          Here’s a warning that few people know about and no financial guys will share: Cashing out an IRA means a 10% penalty, regardless. An additionally penalty will be charged if you set up a new IRA and then cash out within 2 years. BE CAREFUL WITH THIS ONE! So, if she were to quit her job, it would be less of a penalty to cash out the 401K, not to transfer it to an IRA. That will essentially lock you in for 2 years unless you want to pay 25% for early withdraw.

          Good luck!

        • Farm Cat

          You can roll over a percentage of your 401K into an IRA and then take money out of your IRA with a 10% penalty. Typically you can’t directly take money out of your 401K.

          In the meantime try PHYS for what you can’t get out. It’s a Canadian gold fund. Why Canadian? Because they don’t allow the fund to be leveraged like GLD.

        • And Farm Cat, don’t ya wonder who set up the rules??
          HHmmm…

          When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by
          compulsion – when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain
          permission from men who produce nothing – when you see that money is flowing to
          those who deal, not in goods, but in favors – when you see that men get richer
          by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them,
          but protect them against you – when you see corruption being rewarded and
          honesty becoming a self-sacrifice – you may know that your society is doomed…..Ayn Rand

        • I lowered the amount I put into my 401k just enough to get the maximum company match. I then took a loan out against my balance (my 401k permitted a loan of 1/2 my balance) and purchased physical metals and some property. I pay back my loan as a payroll deduction at 4% interest.

          So I got the best of both worlds, free match of fiat money, I pay myself interest and I had money to invest in real assets.

        • Farm Cat

          In most 401K accounts you have a fixed interest or money market option within the 401K. If that doesn’t work see what the loan options are for your 401k. I would urge everyone to look into the trading rules of any of their retirement plans regardless of whether it’s a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan.

          Some plans let you move around from fund to fund anytime. Others are much more restrictive and you can only move around once a month, once a quarter or even once a year.

          I’ve seen people who believe America has past the point of no return and simply cashed out and paid the penalty and tax.

        • Farm cat, how about a financial hardship? They just won’t let her withdraw at all?
          Take a distribution and pay the taxes. It’s worth it. Tha gains she’ll have from putting that $ into something safer will more than offset the $ you lose paying the taxes.

      13. A big shot over the financial bow. Klaxons are going off.., sounding the alert. Raising the american flag upside down to show distress.

        Wheres our SUPERMAN., when we need him… uugh!

        • Superman is here

          • Apologies. I realize now that this image crosses the line.

            • Mac….I’m gonna need to spend preppin $$ on therapy after that one ! Bring that shotgun video back so we can chill out.
              Montgomery County Texas

              • Back by popular demand!

                And here’s Mike going to town at full speed with a 20 round drum dump:

            • Isn’t that a Zero on his chest, for loser?

            • Yeah, that image crossed the line–it was an insult to Superman.

            • Don’t worry Mac. On this one I just pulled the plug on the wire that goes from my brain to my mouth…..and what a comment it would have been. Just trying my damndest to rise above (on this one).

            • Mac,
              That vid set to music is awesome !

          • Regarding Super Obama:

            Faster than the rebounding economy,
            More powerful than the weakening dollar,
            Able to leap a Wall Street building in a single bound,
            It’s a blurb,
            It’s insane,
            It’s Over Zealous Obama Man.

            My first try. 😉

            Thanks Mac for the inspiration.

            • You guys are killing me! 🙂

            • @ Mac : Thx for the videos…..I feel much better now !
              Montgomery County Texas

      14. I thank God every day for allowing me to live in these most interesting of all times. The entire world is going ‘bat-shit-stark-raving-crazy’ right in front of my eyes!!! I’m a just poor ol’ man who couldn’t afford the price of a ticket to a show of this magnitude if it were appearing in a theater near me as a matinee. Hang on homies! The ride gets pretty intense from here on!!!

        Please be very aware of what’s happening around you at all times. God Bless and good luck to all.

      15. I have tremendous respect for someone who will take a stand like this. We need more people like Ann Barnhardt in this world.

        • Mac; after reading anonymouslady posting.., how about adding a hall of heroes / true leaders to your site, when you are ready to expand SHTFPLAN. Ann Barnhardt deserves to be recognize for a long time.

      16. Another person added to the short list that I read every day that has character and true grit with a pair. Can you just imagine a hall of Congress with people like this and a president like Nigel Farage with VP Ron Paul. Now that would be a start to digging out of this mess. No insider trading for City Mayors and above. Six year term limit for Congress and above including Supreme Court.

        Raise the margins on precious metals to cash only!

        • Anonymous…

          “No insider trading for City Mayors and above.”

          NO insider trading for ANYONE! It’s illegal. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that what Martha Stewart went to jail for?

          I am totally digusted by the blatantly open criminal activities of our congressmembers, bankers, etc.

          GO, ANN!

          PS: Mac, thanks for the Saiga video. I love that one. Really calms the boiling blood.

          • It’s already there. Ask Martha, she’s my grandmother.

            • Tell Grams thanks for me. That was a great pumpkin pie recipe! Now if I can just remember how she knitted that sweater from dryer lint…

            • She worked in the Big House laundry.

        • WE can take this country back if WE let the Ann Barnhardt in each of US out.

          Engage your government or be enslaved by it.

          Demand the US Constitution be adhered to and be reflected in all legislation, at every level of government.

          America is OURS to win or lose.

          Its up to this generation of Americans to determine the future of OUR nation and the fate of the world.

          Let your Barnhardt out!

      17. Folks, keep Ann Barnhardt in your prayers. She may have become the number one whistle blower, putting her life in danger. Kudos to her for taking a stand.
        Grace be with you all.

        • I feel sorry for any Jack Ass that takes her on!

          • Jack Ass as in Lindsey Grahm ? 🙂

        • She is probably the type that sleeps with a loaded 45 in her hand and has laser alarms across the doors that lead to her room to sound the alarm if someone gets in her house. OTOH, she does go to work each day and would be vulnerable at that time. I’ll pray for her safety.

      18. Looks like we know have 5 bullets in the Russian Roulette pistol.

      19. Barnhardt Shrugged…

        just sayin…

        • Ann knows where Galt’s Gulch is and I’m thinking she’s on her way.

      20. If now is not the time for citizens of the us to declare open season on the bastards in congress, on Wall Street, the “black” house and in government who are responsible for this situation, I don’t know when will be.

        If every member of our military has sworn to uphold and protect the Constitution of The United States why hasnt there been any attempt to stop those in power who are making a mockery of the Constitution and treat them like the treasonous traitors they are? What good is an oath if no one is willing to act upon it when necessary?

        • Join the military today and tell them you want to be on the Joint Chief of Staff. Guess who you work for?

        • black house? – Really? Clever? Adds what?

      21. This lady is a certified Right Wing extemist loon
        notice there has been ZERO coverage on this other then
        alternative websites such as this? Not in the Newspapers
        or for that matter the bastion of Right Wing looney toons
        on TV Fox news. How come just about everyone never heard
        of this chick until yesterday ? What does she manage 2
        dollars in her funds?

        • Uh huh,

          Why don’t you go invest your money with Jon Corzine? He heads a major global financial derivatives brokerage called MF Global. I heard he’s really eager to take on new investors.

          I’m sure your money will be safer with a left-wing ‘loon’.

          Mal

          • BINGO!

        • If you were involved in the ponzi scheme that she has blown the whistle on, would you want this reported? Answer: No. -So it is blacked out, most likely by executive order.

          If you were listening to the woman state, “…the reason the Chicago Mercantile Exchange did not immediately step in to backstop the MFG implosion was because they knew and know that if they backstopped MFG, they would then be expected to backstop all of the other firms in the system when the failures began to cascade – and there simply isn’t that much money in the entire system. In short, the problem is a SYSTEMIC problem, not merely isolated to one firm.” Would you want everyone invested in the markets hearing this?
          Answer: No. -So, once again, the only folks who are going to report on this are the alternative media sources.

          Wake up my friend -left wing, right wing are simply two heads from the same snake and neither head is going to talk about this.

          • But, as soon as I read this, I emailed it and that will get forwarded and forwarded again and …wait–you didn’t email this to your contacts??
            Oh, just saying.

          • +100 always has been same snake with two heads AND snakes come in ALL colors

        • Not true uh huh. This is all over the news – except the criminal news stations who cover everything up. (CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, & company.)

          They are not covering this because it doesn’t fit with the agenda. To “Fundamentally transform the United States of America”. i.e. destroy America as we know it

        • Totally agree, Uh huh. She comes across as another Michelle Malkin or Ann Coulter. That she is popular here is very telling. And I am not putting down the GOP or defending the Left. I find both parties disgraceful. I just do not like zealots of any kind.

          • dph,Can’t stand women that are correct? You may not like how she presents the material, so disprove her facts.
            Personnally, she is like a lot of people: fed up, angry and loud about it.

            • I’m fed up, too. But this woman is not someone I would ever listen to. That’s all.

          • @dph you have to admit… she knows her facts… and she is more “man” than most men in her bravery and convictions to stand and deliver as she does in her vids!

            ya gotta give the lady some “RESPECT” for her beliefs and passion!

            She should be a Sheriff, judge or a state prosecutor… she could do alot of good in the world!

            Kinda a shame she is retiring…

          • Moderation in defense of liberty ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.

        • ROFL!

          Good ole Uh huh doesn’t understand what it takes to become a hedge fund broker, much less run and own a brokerage.

        • Wow there Uh huh. You forgot Murdoch and the Koch Bros. in your babbling. Oh, and don’t forget AFP and Freedomworks.

          Now you better run along back to camp. It’s almost bong & cookie time.

      22. i bet her vehicle has those balls on it, they prob pink

        • Only if she has a class IV hitch!

        • Bumper sticker on the back of my motorcycle say’s – I’ve Got A Pair and the balls are chrome (matches the bike);-D

          • Ladyhawk:
            At least you were smart enough to have them plated to last…;-)
            More than can be said of most other investment “vehicles” out there!!!
            LTR,
            GFG

      23. Wow, this woman is so honest. Thank God for her. I will show it to my father-in-law whom I advised to get out of the market two years ago. He can not see what’s coming. My daughter and her husband came to visit for a few days. Once again I tried to talk to them about what is going on in our country. They work hard and buy everything they can afford. Love their electronic toys.Son in law in military. When I asked them what they thought about the tension in the world, They said “well everyone knows something is going to happen,oh well” I asked, are you prparing at all. No.
        Mom do you want to go with us to Disney Land next spring, the kids really want it. I give up. The stress of having to pretend life has not changed and everything is going to be alright, and Mom you’re just a little crazy made me physically ill.Broke down my immune system and got a cold. I hardly ever get sick. I am tired of being laughed at also.
        I have introduced them to your site Mac, hoping they would get something out of it. I will show this article to all the unbelieving gang and family that I try to wake up.They just can not believe the American system can break down to the point that the government can not save us. unreal.

        I have been feeling an urgency to prep more. Thank goodness God is on the Throne or we would not stand a chance.

        You guys help me and keep me from stressing ou to much. You know what is going on. People around me are completely oblivious to what’s coming.

        stay prayed up please and of keep prepping.I’m buying some more silver after reading survivors. Can’t afford gold.
        God bless you all.

        • @lynda from maine … stick with 1 one troy ounces of silver (Better than Gold!) and check your prices against the ebay auctions at ebay.com… they give you a real good idea of what the real market prices are and staying with 1 troy ounce keeps you safe usually from counterfetters!

          Check Out your suppliers only buy from those in business for 5 or more years! Those with a strong clientel base and good rep for cust serv will retain better value on the black markets after a crash – shtf scenario!

        • Stay strong Lynda. Most of us here have the same issues with our loved ones and it is so frustrating. We all need to vent from time to time and there are lots of good people here who will give you encouragement. If it weren’t for this site and reading other like minded people’s comments I fear I would give in to discouragement and give up preparing for the future.

        • Lynda, go to a remote sight and scream or holler a bit. You aren’t alone. Smile that God has trusted you with the ability to see things that others(especially family) can’t see. Think Noah and Joseph, preppers.
          And then rejoice with your knowledge and relationship with the Lord.
          Stay in His grace.

          • And Lynda, when you get depressed because you can’t reach your loved ones..remember, we’re all gonna end up at the same place—if we believe..and the guilt thing(I’m rather tired of talking to stones myself)??
            Don’t forget; 600 years those pepople were warned and God closed the ark door, NOT Noah.
            Feel better??

        • Wow, I’m not sure why but your post grabbed my attention more than any of the regular “my family doesn’t get it” posts.

          I think it is because we are pulling into the home stretch and every day it becomes more obvious we are able to focus on a new detail or two. I see the hardcore supporters of OWS remain regardless of the fact that they have lost all support by normal, sane, working Americans. Then I realized that they will stay because as soon as the financial collapse hits and everyone figures out they have lost their 401ks, their money market accounts and every single paper asset has been stolen then millions of angry people are going to be in the streets demanding that heads roll and guess who’s going to be there to lead them? Yup, the 20 year old college kid with the Che T shirt.

          I have been trying to get my kids to wake up & see what is happening but they are like most people. They think dad is getting a bit eccentric in his old age. I cannot stand by and watch them get hurt but they refuse to listen. I want to scream sometimes. I am getting depressed.

        • In the same same boat. Family and friends don’t get it or don’t want to get it. They’re in the matrix. They don’t want to be unplugged. Consumerism is a strong drug. Everyone is addicted to it especially during this holiday season. It breaks my heart. My co-workers think I’m a bit of a loon. Even my wife. I pray that things will work out, but the mess is soooo BIG! How can it? There are consequences to all things. Our nation has squandered it’s blessings. I don’t want anyone to suffer but sometimes I feel that I just want to be vindicated for the way I think. Is this wrong? Keep praying. Keep stacking. Keep prepping. Keep informed. “If you see everything is in God’s hands, then you can leave everything in God’s hands. God bless you all reading this site!

      24. I’m with you Uh Huh. Something weird about this. Personally, I am suspicious of anything or anyone as emotional. Seems to me, rational thought stops when you get this wound up. If she was calm, well spoken, and deliberate, I would take her more seriously. Most street fighter tpyes will tell you that you don’t have much to fear from someone who is screaming obscenities at you. You must respect and even fear, the quiet sorts, who are deliberate and thoughtful in their actions, because their mind is already made up.

        Semper Fi

      25. I have never heard of her.. but the markets have been acting in bizarre fashion for several years. Knee-jerk is not always a good reaction. If you have substantial fiat reserves, you can not just simply pull the cash and stuff it under your bed. You can not keep it in a virtually non interest bearing account. If you have been fortunate enough to have accrued a nest egg; you need to be managing it yourself and placing it in the most reasonable investments possible. If the SHTF really does occur, neither having “cash” nor having a balance in any account will mean squat. If what happens is something “short” of a SHTF situation; you need to have positioned yourself to at least get a reasonable return on your savings.

        I have chosen to move into stable, healthy companies that pay good dividends and have a long track record of doing so.

        Act, don’t react. Make your own decision, don’t follow or be led.

        • When was the last time you saw anyone ask what the P/E ratio was on any stock they were buying? People buy what they think is “hot” without ever looking to see if the company is even viable, much less profitable. (?, See solyndra)

      26. The stock market is not investing, it’s a casino. The casino is now run by high speed computer generated trading. You can’t compete against them or with them. The banks are offering no interest on your savings. Retirees are being wiped out. Their plans have been destroyed by the PTB. Cash is deteriorating because of monetary inflation (printing press). No place to go but commodities, ammo and food. Is that a bad thing?

      27. This letter fits nicely with one I read last week. It’s a bit pompous, but so is the author.

        I wonder what these protesters think wall street’ers will do for a living once they are unemployed? Once the economy crashes? Here is their answer.

        “We are Wall Street. It’s our job to make money. Whether it’s a commodity, stock, bond, or some hypothetical piece of fake paper, it doesn’t matter. We would trade baseball cards if it were profitable.

        I didn’t hear America complaining when the market was roaring to 14,000 and everyone’s 401k doubled every 3 years. Just like gambling, it’s (sic) not a problem until you lose. I’ve never heard of anyone going to Gamblers Anonymous because they won too much in Vegas.

        Well, now the market crapped out, & even though it has come back somewhat, the government and the average Joes are still looking for a scapegoat. God knows there has to be one for everything. Well, here we are.

        Go ahead and continue to take us down, but you’re only going to hurt yourselves. What’s going to happen when we can’t find jobs on the Street anymore? Guess what: We’re going to take yours.

        We get up at 5am & work till 10pm or later. We’re used to not getting up to pee when we have a position. We don’t take an hour or more for a lunch break. We don’t demand a union. We don’t retire at 50 with a pension. We eat what we kill, and when the only thing left to eat is on your dinner plates, we’ll eat that.

        For years teachers and other unionized labor have had us fooled. We were too busy working to notice. Do you really think that we are incapable of teaching 3rd graders and doing landscaping? We’re going to take your cushy jobs with tenure and 4 months off a year and whine just like you that we are so-o-o-o underpaid for building the youth of America. Say goodbye to your overtime and double time and a half. I’ll be hitting grounders to the high school baseball team for $5k extra a summer, thank you very much.

        So now that we’re going to be making $85k a year without upside, Joe Mainstreet is going to have his revenge, right? Wrong! Guess what: we’re going to stop buying the new 80k car, we aren’t going to leave the 35 percent tip at our business dinners anymore. No more free rides on our backs. We’re going to landscape our own back yards, wash our cars with a garden hose in our driveways. Our money was your money. You spent it. When our money dries up, so does yours.

        The difference is, you lived off of it, we rejoiced in it. The Obama administration and the Democratic National Committee might get their way and knock us off the top of the pyramid, but it’s really going to hurt like hell for them when our fat a**es land directly on the middle class of America and knock them to the bottom.

        We aren’t dinosaurs. We are smarter and more vicious than that, and we are going to survive. The question is, now that Obama & his administration are making Joe Mainstreet our food supply…will he? And will they?”

        • Letter was dropped from an office building in Chicago by the Board of Trade down upon the crowd of protesters.

          • BULLSHIT! They don’t work no 5am to 10pm in downtown Shitcago. And the majority of workers aren’t union privileged whiny teachers. These Mother Fuckers aren’t any special breed. They couldn’t even change the oil in their shiny new BMW’s to save their lives. Just for that piece of arrogant crap, people should call their bluff. Good luck stepping off your high horse, out of your entrenched managerial monopoly, trying to get a already filled teaching job while all your snob coworkers cannibalize each other for even less than they do now.

          • Amazing. These people actually think they are smarter than everybody else.

            If things really turn to shit, those whiny teachers know where you live. If people in the “financial services industry” don’t have the means to flee the country entirely, they will find themselves hunted down like the vermin they are.

            I live near a low-level bankster. In a real meltdown situation, People will be in no mood to hear about how he was “just an employee” and had to “do his job”.

        • Very Interesting. Thanks for sharing it with us Mr.B.

        • I notice that the scumbag who wrote it didn’t have the cajones to sign it. What a pantload. These vermin couldn’t dress themselves in the morning without their valet’s help.

      28. It’s a helluva mess and even as a man…… I’m scared.

      29. If its in paper, get out. That has been the warning for the last couple of years. Cash In. Take the cash and buy physical gold and silver. If there is a coin shop near you, go there.
        Order on line ONLY if they will insure the package and KNOW WHO you order from. Watch out for fake coin and silver coins. American Eagles in gold and silver are the best.

      30. Sorry, but while at first glance this woman seems reasonable, after viewing a couple of her videos, I am convinced she is off her rocker. A rigid, religious zealot who believes the devil is out to get us…ugh.

        • So who says that the Devil ISN’T out to get us? Just because someone holds a view that you do not, does not make them wrong.

      31. For what it’s worth regarding cashing out your 401K assuming you left your job and are able to,
        after you pay the penalty, after you pay the Fed Tax, after you pay the State Tax, if what’s left is not enough to pay off your house, don’t do it. That way if you end up facing foreclosure before TSHTF you can draw a hardship loan against your 401k, make your house payments and not lose everything you’ve worked so hard prepping for.

        • Agreed about the mortgage–an investor said if you can’t arrange a free and clear loan for your home, max out the mortgage and buy PMs, or whatever; IF you can afford the monthly.

        • Don’t cash out your 401K. Start a self-directed IRA and buy that piece of farm/retreat property you’ve been wanting. Lots of rules so do your research first but you’ll be glad you did it. At least your money will be safe.

          • @ Mr. Blutarsky:
            You mentioned using a self-directed IRA to buy a farm/retreat — have you pulled this off, or at least researched exactly how to do so? I’ve been looking into it rather than cashing out and losing 35-40% of purchasing power, but thus far I’ve only found info that says one cannot purchase property for a self-directed real estate IRA if you plan to reside in it yourself. I thought maybe I could get around it by being my own tenant and renting to myself, but I cannot find a lawyer and accountant who can set it up for me in legally defensible fashion. If you’ve got insight, I’d love it if Mac would accept a guest post from you on this, and I’d gladly link it at http://www.MalthusUniversity.com as well. Thanks in advance for any insight on this!

            best,
            Anthony Schiano
            aka “President Malthus”

      32. People that make a REALLY big stand like this are often a little whacked. Perfectly rationaly people rarely walk away from a paycheck like Ann was receiving.

        I agree with those who said, it take a heck of a lot of integrity to do what she has done. Hopefully this wakes up some more folks to what is going on in the world.

        We need more people in positions to be heard to shake the bars of this cage!!! Ann is a revolutionary!

      33. Thank you from the depths of my heart, and may God eternally bless you Ann Barnhardt.

        A whole load of crap is yet to come. Knowing this can really take a lot out of ones hopes and dreams. But then, When one reads an article such as this, it reminds each of us that there is hope for mankind still. It is so good and so very refreshing seeing some real integrity and honor once again.

        I thank God it’s still in some people.

        God bless you all, and good day.

      34. but amazingly the markets keep going up and are maintaing around 12,000.

      35. and you bet when you invested your would be safe.surprise! the jokes on you.

      36. Joseph was wise. he prepped for 7 yrs of famine. all of egypt was saved ,not to mention his own family.

      37. ann is NOT a wall street broker. never was. please dont insult her by labeling her as such

      38. “Ann Barnhardt is an individual of exceptional integrity.”

        Amen to that, Brother. She is probably an exceptional person in many ways. God bless her for the care she had for the financial welfare of her clients. I suspect that this is HIGHLY unusual in the cut-throat, dog-eat-dog world of high finance.

      39. Greetings everyone!
        CHANGE is arriving on time and on target.Ms. B.is totally correct in her comments on the “Markets”.Ever notice how “after hours trading” seems to make as much(or even magnitudes more) money on positions in most markets that are “closed” to the common man?
        We are now seeing the 1929-1930’s CRASH replayed with a vengeance with of other people’s money.Retirement funds,401k’s IRA’s and the rest will soon be toilet paper.Goldie-Saki’s firm partners are “almost” all “retiring” by the end of the year to get their “golden parachutes” and run as fast as possible.Wonder what they KNOW that hasn’t been told to the rest of us?Bet they’re rationalizing they can avoid retribution for their criminal fraudulence that will come to light.Wonder why Mitt Romney destroyed ALL his electronic files/records while governor?Guy must afraid of something he’s done will come to light!
        the Capitalist system(I’m NOT a socialist)ALWAYS over heats and fails massively due to the “financial men of intelligence,fine breeding and good education” I.E. Ivy League people.You see what we got(and soon to receive more of) with both Bush I&II and Obama(ALL Harvard grads,surprise,surprise!!)I hate to say it,but looks like the Great Trib. mentioned in the Bible is arriving inyour local area soon.Those “duggerites with twenty plus brooding’s” will be in for the greatest surprise of their little self-centered TV lives as well as the rest of us.Wall Street knows all too well the “handwriting on the wall”(a story out of the Bible,look it up)is upon modern civilization Earth wide.CHANGE is Coming.The planet needs it.We need it.The current MF debacle is the first many to come.Who needs the obtuse Mayan stories when it’s All written for us in the Bible.St.John really was onto something when he penned the last book.Got your towel yet? No? Pity.
        Best to All(smokem’ while you got ‘im)
        GFG

      40. Keep the job.
        They pay me like an IT second class citizen…I work outside IT as an “Analyst” yet they make me do the IT stuff our IT area won’t do. The IT area budgets over $750k for a project and give a timeline of 8 months. My bonehead bosses have me do the thing with “toy software” ms access in one month. Got it done. When I press them for a raise they say no. SO>>>>>> I’ll sit there…learn all I can, work on my own webisite knowledge base. Revenge of the cubical dweller….slack off time…do just enough to keep the job. Keep stuffing money into metals. One day when all the damn boomers are dead, I’ll buy a nice house on the ocean from their bankrupt kids. Stay prepped up. Just got back from a walk. I live in a double. Walked past a mcmanssion for sale for $1.2M. Ha…my shit hole house is about $100k and just 4 blocks away. Suckers.
        This is the age of thieves. Only put money into metals. For my 401k All I buy with just the min match is a stock called CEF. Allocated metal in Canada. Enjoy watching all the boomers die. The greatest generation spawn the worst generation. They got in power and sold all the factories and shipped it all out. It’s only right they all are fired by the incoming generation. We refuse to buy their overpriced homes. They drove up the prices. To succeed..to the exact opposite of what the boomers do.

        • With you on that outlook,brother.”the Man” decided that the social contract meant nothing to him.Paid in kind is the only way to go!
          Hope the best to All
          GFG

      41. The SP500 appears to be still in a positive territory, therefore it is still not time to panic.

        http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff474/PhilippinoBob/SPX.gif

        The line in the sand is at level 970. Once that line is crossed we will have a good reason to worry, until then, enjoy it while you can.

        • Better to be years early than to be one day too late! The whole market is a ponzi scheme and a casino! And it’s spelled FILIPINO! God bless.

      42. Hi,

        I wrote the following reactionary piece after the Banksters raped me [and my family] over 20 years ago. Back then, when I couldn’t pay the usurious 19.5% interest on my Aussie mortgage, I lost the lot! Very VERY painful, and that’s why I hate the bastards!

        So I did the research and realized that the old Babylonian usury racket foisted on the dumbed-down peoples of this long-suffering world by a handful of heartless bloodlines would eventually self destruct, and take most of us with it!

        So I wrote these words over 20 years ago…

        # # # #

        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        © 1991–2011 Christopher D. Day

        Rap Intro

        Congratulations! Look what you’ve done,
        We live your corruption, are ya havin’ fun?
        Your puppets deceive on the flickering screens,
        We could not resist the “Master of Dreams.”

        Chorus 1

        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        Keep ‘em entertained, and keep ‘em poor… said,
        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        How do you plead? It’s been decreed!
        Justice? It’s called “The Rule of Law.”

        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        “In God’s Name,” we proclaim,
        When we ring the bell, you better sell… said,
        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        Created by the SUPER rich to keep us poor.

        Rap Verse 1

        Well it’s plain to me, where there’s more than three,
        We talkin’ ’bout a conspiracy.
        The boys up top have got it down,
        Their funny-money makes the world go round,
        Create the credit, get em’ hooked,
        Gangsters, Banksters, Corporate Crooks.
        Redraw the world with digital borders,
        Serfs unite… it’s a New World Order!

        Chorus 2

        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        Keep ‘em entertained, keep ‘em poor… said,
        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        You’re a number, not a name,
        In Big Brother’s terror game… said,
        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        Barcode the kids, put an eye in the sky,
        We’ve got your numbers so don’t even try… said,
        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        Created by the SUPER rich to keep us poor.

        Rap Verse 2

        Interest and inflation, the two sides of the one,
        Give us all your money and you might end up with some.
        They say it all began when interest was demanded,
        When the Banksters create more money, very few can understand it.
        Seeds become more flowers, beasts create more beasts,
        Money grows on TV screens, miracles never cease… Hallelujah!

        Chorus 3.

        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        Keep ‘em entertained, and keep ‘em poor… said,
        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        How do you plead? It’s been decreed!
        (off-mic) Justice? Hah! We call it “The Rule of Law.”
        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        “In God’s Name” we proclaim,
        When we ring the bell, you better sell… said,
        BOOM, BUST, WAR!
        Created by the SUPER rich to keep us poor.

        Rap Finale

        United in Global Division, the Dark Force appears supreme,
        The living dead celebrate its power,
        Until soul wakes from the dream.

        [finis]

      43. The woman is honest and is protecting her clients, but I question the “blame it all on the current administration” line. Deregulation, dishonesty and deceptive practices have been going on for decades. The promise of Mr. Obama’s rhetoric has certainly not been fulfilled by results, but I don’t think he’s completely to blame for all of our economic woes. Didn’t Bernie Madoff start his little scam sometime before this administration took office? The one thing that holds true through all administrations, Democrat or Republican, is that the rich will keep looking for ways to get richer, legally or illegally, and the rest of us will just keep trying to survive. The financial sector makes things so complicated, on purpose, that it is impossible for the average person to understand anything that goes on in the markets. All we know is that gas, food and heating oil keep getting more expensive, real wages are shrinking, the political commentators keep shrieking and going on witch-hunts, seeking out the newest person, innocent or guilty, to blame and burn, all the while selling their latest “I know everything” memoirs. They, and this includes the government, media and financial institutions, want us to be uncertain, confused and wary. They think that this will keep us towing the line, keeping our heads down and being good little serfs. And up till now it has worked; materialism, greed and shallowness have marked our lives for decades. But the end times are coming, there is going to be a radical change in our civilization and maybe, just maybe, this time we’ll get it right and the measure of a human being won’t be how many Ipads or kindles he owns, or how big the starter castle is. In the mean-time, to quote Mark Russell “Throw the bums out, let’s get all new bums.” And keep prepping, everyone. It’s getting closer every day. Glad to know you are out there; what a community we have!

        • Why am I not at all surprised to hear this….

      44. Hi everyone that responded to my post. And the regulars at this site. Youguys are great’ Thank you for your encouragement and kind words. I found this quote a few days ago.

        “We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth…
        For my part, I am willing to know the whole truth;
        to know the worst, and t provide for it.”

        Patrick Henry

        Any of ever in the northeast and a place to stay, we’ver got room in the old farm house. Might have help with the chickens and the cows. Plenty to eat and lots of hard work. If your flight be in the winter, get ready to deal with fire wood.

        stay prayed up, keep prepping. God is still on His Throne. Lynda

      45. LOL! This loon lost me at “marxist”

      46. Well, I salute the author, and I hope her premature retirement will give her a chance to study a little bit of political science. Whatever else he may or may not be, Barack Obama is NOT a Marxist. Not even close. Believe me, those of us on the Left have been hoping and praying for a little Marxism-wise leftward drift, and all we get is quite the opposite: ever more rightward tilt (and/or appeasement and/or capitulation and/or surrender).

      47. So she’s correct that the bogus financial markets are nearing the end as those in charge steal every last penny that they can. Where she derails on her Marxist Obama tirade is laughable. That she has the simplistic, narrow, audacity to point out Obama, and ONLY Obama, makes every word she utters contemptible, questionable and laughable. Bush W.? Nope. Reagan? Nope. Bush I? Nope. As if they never existed… Virtually every politician is owned, Period!! by the Goldman Sachs of this world. Her narrow minded politics have blinded her from the bigger picture, and to blame ONE SINGLE individual for what has been coming for decades is preposterous!!!!

      48. I wonder if she shorted the market…

      49. Taking the country and rule of law back will require prying it from “their” cold dead fingers.

      50. This is total hogwash to blame Obama, who came in AFTER the recession was already far underway. This is a fear and blame tool of the greedy banks and corporations who lured people in to loan, credit card, home mortgage, etc., debt way beyond their means. It is simply a scientifically predictable failure of the imperfect Capitalist system. For those of you who think looking at it’s failures means we’re pushing Communism(red scare) or Socialism (pinko scare), think again. To be a patriotic American does not mean unregulated thievery by Wall Street and the 1%. America is the 100%, each member with equal voting power. The direction of America, as it was planned by constitutional framers, was not bought and sold by the biggest, meanest, baddest Corporations. Corporations didn’t have a vote. Why would they even plan for districts to have representatives and for each person to have a vote if all the dream of this American experiment in liberty was about was who can step highest while kicking the other guy down? Whose head can I squash? Is that the American Dream? This is a rich banker pointing fear and blame away from it’s self. “No… it’s that guy over there… It’s him!!” All I can say to you weirdos is find me and shoot me because I’m going to keep talking. I actually am a survivalist, too. The very rich and the stupid may believe this banker’s ridiculous idea of Obama as the cause, but most of us hard working people getting up in the morning to contribute our services to the rest of our community, hoping to earn a livable wage, recognize that greed can only go so far- it is self-limiting, just as the corporate military industrial complex is only temporarily self-sustaining. Unbridled greed eventually bleeds out all it’s feeders, and produces a collapse from the artificiality of the whole mirage of a stable system. Loan debt, investments, etc. are based on the idea that the rich will get more and more, while somehow wresting it away from the poorer and weaker folk. The poorer , weaker folk eventually get more tired and more hungry till they get really pissed off and refuse to cooperate. The whole economic system we are based on is a Ponzi scheme, starting at the Dawn of Man. Man is a fallen creature. We are like animals- dog eat dog. This is done by sending the middle class jobs overseas so companies don’t have to pay legitimate American level salaries, or obey labor, environmental or work safety laws. Thus children can be forced to work 12 hr days and sleep by their sewing machines. This is also done by union busting. When the “s_it (finally) hits the fan”, it’s been flying for a long, long time and certainly had absolutely nothing to do with Obama. “Labor” has been beaten with clubs at the start of it’s organizing and is experiencing an attempted beat back now. This blaming is just the rich getting desperate, now that the middle class see what has been really going on and are refusing to allow this rape to continue. Watch the movie “The Grapes of Wrath”. Why, if we are in such a desperate recession are the biggest corporations making record profits? Health, home, and car insurance CEOs are getting paid millions while premiums rise higher and faster than any of us can keep up with. Our pay has been frozen and yet these costs keep rising and rising. No wonder there is the distinct smell of collapse- even my cat can smell it. When 9/11 occurred, my cat was howling because he could sense the anxiety of everyone. He’s got his nose and ears up again… Let’s all get with reality, & plan for a new world order where humanity can pay, & get, their fare share & work together, without fear, & with an amount of freedom for the pursuit of happiness. Now THAT was the American Dream.

      51. “Moderation”, you say?! I dare you to leave it in place.

        • We take you up on your dare ! 🙂

      52. Not sure if any posted Ann’s audio interview, but if not there is an hour + interview of Ann Barnhardt talking about her terminating her cattle hedge brokerage business and other issues on the Patriot Radio Program with host Andrea Shea King–have listened to it twice, very powerful:

        http://www.blogtalkradio.com/askshow

        Scroll down…
        Nov 21 broadcast, listen online or download

        The interview with Ann starts around 30 minutes into the broadcast. Also about a week earlier Andrea King featured Ann on the show discussing the MF Global contagion. Have not listened to this yet.

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