The end of Social Security Benefits (Folks have been scaring us with this one here in the U.S. Since the 1970's. It will never happen.)

I think it is always healthy and realistic to stay "apprised" of current trends and situations. That way, if one is advised, at least one is able to attempt to prepare against a major crises and at least "sees" it coming.

As we are now in a "global" environment financially and no longer "independent" of one another i.e. individual countries, nations, ect. what one nation does, economically, affects ALL the others as a whole.

We are in a global economic condition today, not as it once was when each country was "buffeted" against economic distress because each country was not soooooooo dependent upon the export and imports of its products by another.

It is to EVERYONE's benefit to stay informed on world current affairs; not only our own here in the USA.

Right now, in our Congress, we have a UNIFIED group of individuals who are DETERMINED to reduce the amount of government spending that is being done in this country, i.e. government subsidized social programs because THEY (members in Congress) believe it is NECESSARY to reduce the $16 TRILLION debt that USA has racked up over the years (and I am sure that the debt is MUCH, MUCH more than that) (and just how much is 16 TRILLION dollars, I cannot imagine how many rooms that money would fill, how many homes it could be stacked into, anyone else can?) and since the Repubs had to surrender to tax increases on the wealthy in this country that was decided at the end of Dec. 2012, in order to replace the Bush tax cuts that would have meant tax increase on ALL American citizens, working class poor included, now these same Repubs, who are campaign supported by the wealthy are attacking the government social programs because these programs had been excluded from the "Cut, Cap, and Balance Act" that they so feverishly sought back in 2011, which is when the "infamous party of 6 (3 Repubs/3 Dems) enacted the automatic spending cuts to occur if Senate and Congress could not agree upon a spending plan to operate the government which neither side will agree to and have showed cowardness and fear of being voted out by the citizens because of agreeing to any measures to reduce spending, this same automatic spending cuts that go into effect, now known as Sequester, was implemented which meant MANDITORY CUTS, across the board to all of government's spending, and this same Sequester went into effect 3/1/13.

On 3/27/13, our government's debt limit reached it's limit, and it was up to the legislature (Congress, who rules the purse strings of government spending) to raise our debt limit, (now folks we are now at 16 TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT here in USA to investors, both in the USA and to foreign countries, primarily CHINA, who by the way no longer wants our paper money, that government wants TANGIBLE assets, because it knows that our government is constantly printing up a money supply and that the U.S. dollar is no more that toilet paper, our dollar used to be the primary currency traded in foreign countries, but now our biggest debtors, i.e. CHINA no longer wants payment with dollars, in fact a new global bank has just emerged into the global banking system, it's known as BRICS which consist of CHINA, BRAZIL, RUSSIA, your major industrial nations, and this same BRICS is now competing with the IMF global bank, primarily funded by you know who, USA, to eliminate the DOLLAR from the global currency trade as the dominate CURRENCY. So now we are set for a CURRENCY WAR between USA and the ECONOMICALLY emerging and stabilized countries who do not have a HUGE SURMOUNTABLE DEBT LOAD that we carry at 16 TRILLION DOLLARS, and counting!

Once the legislatures met to vote whether to RAISE our countries debt limit to borrow yet again to fund all of our social programs, our ongoing perpetual wars, our $$$ we give to buy friends and influence foreign nations into our way of thinking and to "buy allies" of foreign nations in the middle east, which nations are underdeveloped and dependent on our useless dollars, (it takes A BILLION DOLLARS A DAY to fund the operations of our government and all the government agencies in this country and all the social programs available, A BILLION DOLLARS A DAY, and I'm wondering how much is that, how many rooms would that fill in a house, how many houses, anyone know?) so the Congress agreed to allow our President to raise the DEBT LIMIT, YET AGAIN, for 6 MONTHS, contingent upon more spending cuts being made which is now being HASHED OUT IN THE SENATE and CONGRESS as this post is being made! So, they'll hash out more spending cuts to social programs and we'll get to ride this emotional roller coaster that will have the investors and businesses even more uncertain as to how this in going to effect the spending power of folks in this country and the vulnerable economy as it is, and then in 6 MORE MONTHS we get to watch what measures the Congress will demand from the President in order to get another DRAW from our debtors to fund this country.


Folks this is not FEAR MONGERING. This is ABSOLUTE REALITY. It is necessary that ALL INDIVIDUALS pay attention to what is going on in our government and what is being decided that will DIRECTLY AFFECT EVERY ONE OF US HERE IN THE USA.

Europe and other nations are feeling the desperate weight of "austerity measures" imposed on them because of government spending.

Right now we have among us here in the USA major metropolitan cities who are on the verge of BANKRUPTCY, i.e. Detroit,Michigan is just one, and in CALIFORNIA, one major city has already declared bankruptcy, the first ever to do so, "google Major California City Declares Bankruptcy" and read about it.

Also, all of our States are discovering they do not possess the ability to meet the pensions of the employees who are now eligible or have been able to draw off from. And they are desperately looking for ways to fund this deficit, and have appealed to the federal government, but the Feds say, "no can do, you'll have to develop your own measures to deal with it" and have declined assistance to the States.

My country is in a mess.

AND FOR THE SAKE OF ALL OF US, it behooves the public TO PAY ATTENTION to what is going on, not only here in the USA but abroad, because it is not WARS that concerns me, it's economic collapse.

We barely missed it back in 2008-2009 when this country WOULD HAVE had major lenders to FOLD, because of mismanagement and overextending of credit and had it not been for the government bailout that our President got the blame for allowing, but in fact in was Mr. Bush who implemented it before we left office because he knew the severity of the impact of all these HUGE BANKS and the auto leading productions giants, i.e. Chrysler and General Motors (Ford was struggling too, but it's corporate CEO's took the stance they'd deal with their trouble themselves, and did not seek help from the government, i.e. government bailout) all these financial institutions and corporations were kept from going bankrupt by giving Congress giving authorization at Mr. Bushes' urgency, and MR. BUSH signed the okay for the GOVERNMENT BAIL OUT OF these TOO BIG TO FAIL INSTITUTIONS, and MR. OBAMA followed through with it;

HOWEVER, during MR. OBAMA'S 1st term, he enacted and authorized the DODD - FRANK bill which no longer provides government assistance to BIG BANKS AND BIG ORGANIZATIONS who overextend credit and mismanage their money, so this time, in case the economy goes south, which it is teddering right now,

THERE WILL BE NO MORE GOVERNMENT BAILOUTS for these TOO BIG TO FAIL LENDERS, CORPORATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, these are now on their own having to resolve a financial hardship.

So, this is all just fact.

Research, research, research for yourselves what I have just shared.

And, if you don't want to stay apprised and learn for yourselves,

then just pull up a chair and watch.

You'll get a theater seat's view.

We have now entered the new era here in USA of NEW AUSTERITY MEASURES. An era we haven't seen to cause such an impact, that many of us have ever seen before. And we haven't fully yet seen the impact of the cuts that went into effect on 3/1/13, but before the year is over, we will. Already, many government social programs have had funding reduced or eliminated. And, this is just the beginning.

It really began in 2012, 2013 is here and we are receiving a new blow to the government subsidized programs, and as long as Congress wittles away it, we're apt to get even more cuts.

And, next year, if no budget plan is arrived between Congress and Senate, here goes another slash to government social programs because this was implemented at the agreement between the "infamous party of 6" I mentioned above, signed into law, and made a permanent means of meeting the operation of government when the legislature cannot come to an agreement themselves.

Don't take my word for it,

Inform yourselves. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

What do your think the "preppers" are really prepping for?

What I am saying, in sincere and unrelenting love to all my fellow Americans, members on here

we are headed for social unrest among those who rely on government social programs to survive. Once these programs been wittled down or eliminated, where will these folk go for a means to meet their needs?

Civil unrest.

I don't think it is by "accident" that our military is doing "military" drills over our major metropolitan cities where a great significant amount of folk rely on government social programs, i.e. New York, Miami, Huston, Las Angeles, the list goes on and on. And that our major metropolitan cities police forces now have an arsenal that matches our military in its means to defend the police against rioters;

Stay safe folks.

And stay aware of what is going on.

If a "Greece" breaks out among us because of people reliant on social programs to exist, be prepared to protect yourselves. Folks may become desperate.

The Department of Homeland Security is using images of American citizens as "target" practice at its weapon's training of its agents. Something to ponder on.

Civil unrest won't happen overnight.

Probably not this year.

But as the government programs continue to be reduced or eliminated. . . . .

Folks can become desperate to get their drugs, alcohol, food, what ever they are using the funding for. . .

even those who are using it to meet their bare essentials who are using it in good faith will become desperate.

And, as food prices increase, fuel prices increase, utility costs increase, any thing and every thing that can, increases, (except for the wages and the jobs availability, that is),

Desperation folks, make people do things they wouldn't do otherwise.

Research, research, research, what I am saying; don't take my word for it.

Look up and Look around, notice things, learn what it really going on around us for yourselves.

And, stay safe, as safe as you can.

((((Hugs)))

Well, Beau, thats an interesting question.

I think of meteorologists when I think of fear mongering, like Weather Channel naming the winter storms. We need to be AWARE of our weather conditions, and heed warnings, but not live in fear of each snowflake.

Some of the fear mongering is NOT about issues we SHOULD be watching out for. I am very much against being an ostrich and hiding from real danger here or abroad. But if a person has severe anxiety or severe depression, then maybe they should keep the news turned off. Regaining a strong psyche is more important. We are often spectators than anything more.

The pure bloviating by BOTH halves of our incompetent government are a really good example of playing to the fears. I don't listen any more. The sun rises and sets, the air is there to breathe.

Climate is still in the hands of God and His servant, mother nature. All the talk in the world will not change that.

I fully agree, BobCJ. At the moment white people are being murdered daily by blacks, and nothing is being done about it (in South Africa). It upsets me a lot, so I stopped watching the news. I rather focus on God, who is in full control of the whole universe!