(Daily Signal)—My colleague Tony Kinnett captured a rather revealing declaration at the anti-Israel protests in Chicago ahead of the Democratic National Convention this past week. A protester shouted, “Reproductive justice means Palestinian liberation.”
This leftist gobbledygook is nonsensical on its face (abortion isn’t exactly legal under Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, and legal protections on abortion in the U.S. will have no impact on civilians in Gaza), but it reveals a nihilism at the root of much leftist protesting. The protests aren’t really about the omni-cause of climate alarmism, LGBTQ+ demands, abortion, Palestine, or whatever the college kids are into these days. Instead, they represent a challenge to authority, an attempt to “stick it to the man,” regardless of the consequences.
These protests echo a culture that has lost faith in itself and is committing suicide.
Former CIA analyst Martin Gurri examines this phenomenon in his superb book “The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium.” Gurri explains that while modern protesters often coalesce around a specific issue, they have little interest in policy solutions or actual governance. These protests often devolve into a sort of nihilism, where protesters—who usually have actually benefitted from the capitalistic system they loudly condemn—attempt to saw off the tree branch on which they sit.
What better example than the DNC protesters, many of whom wore pins reading, “Make it great like 68”?
Button on several of the marchers. A bit on the nose, tbh. pic.twitter.com/umc32qgPf8
— Tony Kinnett (@TheTonus) August 19, 2024
As my colleague Jarrett Stepman noted, the 1968 Democratic National Convention saw hordes of anti-Vietnam War and far-left protesters descend on the Windy City, making an already negative mood even more sour.
Parallels to 2024 are indeed rather eery. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had dropped out of the race amid criticism in his party (sound familiar?) and his vice president, Hubert Humphrey, eventually won the Democratic nomination. Anti-war protests rocked the convention, a former Democrat launched a third-party bid, and high-profile assassinations (of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy) shocked the nation.
In 2024, President Joe Biden fills the shoes of Lyndon Johnson, Vice President Kamala Harris those of Hubert Humphrey, and anti-Israel protesters take the place of Vietnam War peaceniks. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of the man assassinated in 1968, mounted a third-party bid (before dropping out and endorsing Trump Friday), and the near-assassination of Donald Trump echoes in the minds of many voters.
If there’s one thing Democrats don’t want, it’s a repeat of 1968, when Nixon won the presidency due in part to the split in the Democratic Party.
Yet the 2024 protesters consciously echoed the troubles of 1968, and they actually succeeded in breaking through the Secret Service barrier—however briefly—on the first day of the convention.
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The protesters also openly condemned Harris, portraying her as an enemy of “Palestine” and with blood on her hands.
Effigy of Kamala Harris with blood on her hands less than a mile from the DNC, here in Chicago @DailySignal @MarchOnDNC2024 pic.twitter.com/I9EPpauLHY
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) August 19, 2024
Yet if 2024 were a binary choice between the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, and Harris, Harris would be far more likely to support the Palestinian cause. Harris has openly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, a policy critics say will enable Hamas to regroup and stage another terrorist attack like the attacks Hamas carried out in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The Biden-Harris administration has loosened sanctions on Iran, which has likely enabled Tehran to send more money to Hamas. The Trump administration, meanwhile, had tightened those sanctions, weakening Hamas’s sponsor in the Middle East.
Harris may be an imperfect candidate for anti-Israel voters, but she represents their interests more than Trump. So why are these protesters targeting Harris and the DNC?
It seems they just want to watch the world burn. Either that, or they have a financial incentive to be there.
Martin Gurri notes that many of the 2011 protests—from the Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street to the Indignado protests in Spain and even housing protests in Israel—involved middle-class leaders who benefitted from the system but nonetheless had unrealistically high expectations of government. He attributes the modern protest movement, in part, to the exaggerated promises of politicians, who believe technocratic government will enable them to bring about a utopia, and the dashed hopes of the people who take those promises seriously.
Gurri’s work reveals a latent nihilism in the West. Francis Fukuyama’s much-criticized book “The End of History and the Last Man,” noted that the fall of Communism left free-market capitalism and representative government triumphant and predicted capitalism would reign supreme. Yet Gurri notes that there is always an alternative to the ruling ideology—the rejection of the entire system. Late-empire Rome didn’t lose out to the competing ideology of feudalism; it collapsed from within, and feudalism rose from the ashes.
The death wish of nihilism represents a most insidious foe, and only a wake-up call to reality can defeat it. Contrary to the Left’s demonization, the West has what Psalm 16:6 calls a “goodly heritage” and we all richly benefit from the system these protesters rail against.
Many leftist protesters may believe the system is evil, but that does not change the fact that they themselves benefit within it. These people have conveniences our remote ancestors could only dream about. From running water to electricity to washing machines, microwaves, and the tiny computers that fit in the palm of their hands, they enjoy an embarrassment of wealth and knowledge. Yet many of them claim that the entire system is unjust, rooted in white supremacy, colonialism, anti-LGBT animus, or whatever the hip complaint is today.
The Left’s causes are often bundled into one chaotic mess, with protesters claiming that helping Susie get an abortion in Michigan will somehow improve the life of a toddler in Gaza, or that Tom’s decision to drive an electric vehicle in Georgia will somehow prevent a tsunami from drowning the Maldives beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean. It doesn’t matter that none of it makes sense—the point is to condemn the system.
Of course, a vast network of far-left donors props up pressure groups on all these issues, sending a message to the elites in power that they should yield to the activists’ wishes, or else. This also provides a handy excuse for the government to favor radical causes—the people are “demanding it.”
Ultimately, however, these protesters’ revolt isn’t about implementing a specific policy, it’s about railing against “the system” and sending a message. Martin Gurri astutely notes the real root of that message—cultural suicide.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.