America In Distress

January Paid Subscriber Giveaway

Clearly I am running late this month! Here it is Feb 4 2024, and I am just now getting the January giveaway post published! Apologies. I’d like to thank both NationalBodyArmor.Com and Empshield.Com for sponsoring this month’s giveaway! If you guys have not checked out their websites please give them a look! Also don’t forget to download our new cell app called American Prepping Academy on both Google and Apple Play Stores!

You might notice that a facsimile of the American flag is upside down in the picture above… Here is what ChatGPT says about the history and meaning of flying the flag upside down:

Hanging the American flag upside down is a recognized signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property. This practice is rooted in maritime traditions, where visual signals and flags have been used for centuries to communicate specific messages across long distances. The upside-down flag signal was adopted for broader use, including by the military and other entities, to indicate situations of severe distress.

The U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. §§ 1-10), which formalizes the rules for display and treatment of the American flag, mentions this specific use. According to Section 8(a) of the Flag Code, "The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property." This means that inverting the flag is not meant as a sign of disrespect, but rather a powerful call for help or an alert to a grave situation.

This symbolism has been adopted domestically in various contexts, including political or social protests, to draw attention to critical issues or perceived crises. However, it's important to note that using the flag in this manner outside of actual situations of extreme danger can be controversial and is often met with mixed reactions. The intent behind flying the flag upside down is key—it's supposed to signal distress, not disrespect or general dissent.

I think the key word from above is Distress. So I asked it to define distress and here is what it said:

Distress is a state of extreme discomfort, suffering, or pain that can be physical, emotional, or psychological in nature. It represents a condition in which an individual or group experiences severe adversity or hardship, leading to a need for immediate assistance or relief. Distress can manifest through various symptoms, including anxiety, sadness, confusion, physical pain, or a sense of overwhelming pressure. It often arises from situations like illness, loss, traumatic events, financial problems, or environmental emergencies, affecting one's well-being and ability to cope with daily activities. Distress signals the presence of a critical issue that requires urgent attention to mitigate harm or provide support.

I think that last sentence really sums it up nicely. Lately, I have come to realize that America is in distress. I find myself wondering if it is time to start flying our real flags upside down. I will admit that my normalcy bias is eroding at an alarming rate. For the last 12 years or so within the Prepping community I have been known as the level headed guy who is shouting that the sky is NOT falling and we have plenty of time. Everything is going to be all right. While I do still generally hold that view, I am getting quite concerned. We may be approaching a tipping point.

There are currently multiple factors and developing situations taking place that could have very serious and dire consequences to our nation almost none of them being reported in the news. If you have been sitting on the fence or just dipping your toe in the prepping pond, you should jump in. Get serious, because the likelihood of needing to be as self sufficient as you can be is quickly increasing and this situation is not going to change with a favorable Presidential election. This is way more serious than just one election. We are facing deep cultural and societal issues that one person cannot fix. This will take a massive grass roots effort and a lot of hard work from us all.

I believe that financial independence is keenly important in the coming years. I am personally (and you should too) trying to figure out how I can change my living situation so that I can be as debt free as soon as possible. And for us that will likely mean another move to a lower cost of living area after I retire from the USAF. Changing your location to a lower cost of living area is one of the most impactful things you can do to quickly restructure your financial situation.

Personally, I am considering purchasing a property and building an off-grid homestead. I want to be free from the bondage of mortgage debt. I have eliminated most of my other debt. But the mortgage payment has me shackled down and I don’t like it one bit. Change is coming and having a slave master ruling over you in the form of a debt to a bank is not going to be fun at all. I highly recommend evaluating your current situation and doing whatever you can to make big changes to get out of high cost of living densely populated cities. Especially big liberal cities. Move to a lower cost of living more rural area and get serious about becoming more self-reliant. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

Click below to get signed up as a paid subscriber to help me educate the public about disaster preparedness and get in on the monthly giveaways! I am also planning to occasionally upload some new unfiltered and raw content relating to the cultural and societal threats I alluded to in the post above. These will be behind the paywall and will not released to the general public on Youtube.