Current Events and the Decline of America – Part #1

Mayhem. Violence. Looting. Destruction. Threats. Murders. Curfews. Civil Unrest.

Cities across the United States are burning. Literally.

The wrongful death of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer has lit a powder keg that has exploded. Cities across the nation are dealing with pandemonium as protesting turns into violent, destructive riots.

Cities with major protests/riots include Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Columbia, Denver, Detroit, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Grand Rapids, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Oregon, Raleigh, Richmond, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. Across all these cities protestors are causing mass destruction as vehicles are hit with numerous items such as bricks, bottles, clubs, and flames. Stores are being broken into, robbed, and in many cases set on fire.

Death and injury did not stop with George Floyd’s unfortunate murder. Numerous people have been killed and injured while engaged in rioting – or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s unfortunate, and somehow disturbingly ironic, that the majority of victims are a result of black-on-black violence.

The latest outcry from protestors and those who support them is to defund police. In Minneapolis, a “veto-proof majority of the City Council committed to dismantling its police department“. This same City Council and many others across the nation including elected politicians are stating that police do not keep communities safe. As ridiculous as that may seem historical figures who have traditionally been highly respected are now being vilified as statues and monuments erected in their honor are destroyed under the umbrella of “righting past wrongs”.

Insanity.

So – in the middle of 2020 the growing division in this country has reached a level that many suggest is the most divisive in US history – including the Civil War. Beyond the violence and tension across America, other potentially catastrophic issues such as $26 trillion in National Debt, a growing Cold War with China, millions unemployed, and…oh, let’s not forget….the second wave of a pandemic waits just around the corner.

Fantastic.

America – A Bit of History

In the early 1900s, the American people had a feeling of optimism. People had a perspective that anything was possible and the American dream was real. Being self-made, and responsible for your own success was commonplace in people’s thinking. Certainly, everyone did not agree on all issues of the time. Regardless, Patriotism grew in the early 1900s as people felt the American Spirit and all things were possible.

Through two world wars, the American people supported the idea of freedom and fighting evil wherever it showed itself around the world. America served as a beacon of peace and freedom. Citizens from Socialist countries around the world sought the American Dream. They dreamed of freedom and all the opportunities America provides. They loved America and proudly waved the American flag.

The Greatest Generation existed in an era of success, innovation – as well as turmoil as they lived through the Great Depression. They had a tremendous work ethic and due to living through years of economic struggles appreciated what they had. Many of this generation lost loved ones and friends in World War II. They understood, appreciated, and respected sacrifice.

People like those of the Greatest Generation are what made America great. Now – compare them to those today who fret over social justice, climate change, and other “important” issues such as making certain that we use the correct pronoun when referring to someone. Today’s generation has their perspective on issues guided by thins such as feelings – and emotion. Facts and logic no longer are important to those who have a cause which they use to justify their own existence.

The Decline of America

For more than 60 years America has been in decline and an effort has been underway to change the very fabric of this country. Political corruption and governmental policies have brought populations from rural America and concentrated them into cities. Illegal immigration to a large extent has continued to be allowed to occur and has vastly increased the numbers in the base of the Democratic Party. Why? Power. Even the great Conservative Ronald Reagan was fooled into supporting full amnesty for illegals back in the ’80s. Progressives for decades have written into law policies that have enslaved Black Americans and held them back economically as entitlements disincentivized them to explore their full potential. This was done under the guise of “helping” – and most were completely fooled.

The American people are not innocent in America’s decline. For more than 60 years the Constitution has been slowly shredded and government assumed power over much of our lives where the Constitution provides no authority. Those in government who made laws that expanded authority and grew government well beyond that which the Founders set forth were elected by the people. We are largely to blame.

Corporations and special interests have grown to own the vast majority of elected politicians. The Deep State is a significant power as it secretly influences government decisions and actions to obtain more and more power for those who already have it. Numerous policy changes over the last several decades have weakened the United States. Consider how as a country our level of self-sufficiency in regards to food production, technology, and medical supplies has been decreased to the point we rely on foreign countries for our continued way of life.

 

Is There Hope?

Earlier in this article, I provide a mere glimpse of the tremendous accomplishments past generations have made in addition to adversity overcome. Historically I and many others have believed there is no challenge that we as a people cannot overcome. Consider September 12th, 2001. The day after and for many months UNITED WE STAND was the battle cry of the American people who came together in unity against terrorism and fear.

It didn’t last.

Back in 1984, the American people backed Ronald Reagan for President and he won decisively. America’s Cold War against the Soviet Union was at the forefront of threats and the American people were largely unified behind the efforts to rid Communism from the world. The 80’s with Reagan as President was a time of great hope, prosperity – and Patriotism.

Below shows a state-by-state map of the 1984 Presidential Election Results.

1984 Electoral College, map, Reagan

Fast forward to 2016 and the election of Donald Trump. One of the most divisive elections in US history. The results shocked the world. Businessman Donald J. Trump won the election against Hillary Clinton even though ALL polling data and the mainstream media had him losing handily. While Trump won the Electoral College and thus the election – he lost the popular vote. Looking at the map below showing how counties across America voted, it would appear the country was largely united behind Donald Trump – I would agree. The popular vote was lost due to the large cities and metropolitan areas where for decades governmental policies moved large populations into concentrated areas.  In many cases, an individual city may have more votes than the entire rest of the state.

 

Is there hope?

Yes – but very little. The vast majority of politicians regardless of which side of the aisle they come from are corrupt. This has been proven over and over again for decades as good men(and women) are voted into office and they fail to follow through with the promises they made. While many will say that politics and preparedness have nothing to do with each other I believe facts tell quite a different story. When compiling a threat assessment as part of any preparedness system, one will find that the government at some point had a role to play in many of the listed threats.

So – here we are. We are in the middle of 2020 and living through endless headlines having us wonder what could possibly happen next. While I’m no prophet and predicting the future is certainly an effort in futility, I’ll provide a few thoughts:

  • Antifa and BLM will continue to promote violence and civil unrest in cities across the nation. Every new questionable police interaction will fuel the mob which will no doubt create more victims.  While similar events have occurred before and settled down quickly, this time will be different.
  • Politicians at all levels will take advantage of the discourse to further gain power, votes, and their agenda. Liberal leaders and celebrities will side with BLM and state while violence is not the solution they understand the frustrations and anger.
  • Cities with Liberal leaders will continue to allow destruction and anarchy pulling back law enforcement from holding those accountable for the destruction of public and private property and the violence many carry out.
  • Violence will continue in the cities with little threat to rural America. While there have been statements made to head out of the cities into neighborhoods by BLM and Antifa, it is unlikely this will be carried out in any significant numbers.
  • Trump supporters and “Patriots” who often quote the Constitution and enjoy their guns and Bibles will be called racists, White Nationalists, Fascists, and a threat to America by the mainstream media.
  • COVID-19 is not over and a 2nd Wave – regardless of the true risk and severity – will be major news out of the mainstream media, and Democrat Party. The Trump Administration will be blamed for ALL negativity reported.
  • The stock market will continue its roller coaster ride of high’s and low’s as the countries economic indicators are horrible at best.
  • The economy will keep moving forward for the time being. Some businesses affected by COVID will begin recovering and hiring people back. Other businesses will never reopen and will be gone for good.
  • Food supply streams will be inconsistent as a down growing season in 2019, and COVID-19 economic ramifications have a negative impact on the 2020 farmers’ ability to be profitable.
  • Gun sales will continue at a high pace with many first-time gun owners entering the market.
  • The Presidential Election of 2020: November of 2016 will look like an elementary school field trip in comparison. ‘Nuff said.

Is there hope? As stated – very little. The National Debt will continue to accelerate higher ever-increasing at faster and faster rates. I do not see a path which this is reversible. The division in this country may be irreparable. Possibly some event, some epiphany will bring people together to be unified. I see this as highly unlikely. Possibly the MSM will begin to report the news and investigate in an honorable fashion – with the TRUTH as the main objective. Highly unlikely. Is it possible that Christianity will see a mass resurgence and ethics, morals, and virtues will become mainstream once again. Don’t see it but we can certainly pray.

What can we really do? We can have as much influence as possible. We can spread the word of Freedom. We can educate others on the true history of this country rather than revisionist history being taught in schools today. We can vote for the best candidates from local elections all the way up to national with the HOPE that in some small way a difference will be made.

There are other actions we can take. Other actions we must take.

That will have to wait for Part 2.

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21 Comments

  1. The Sheltie Kid says:

    Looking forward to part 2, to see what you think can be done.
    I’m thinking we are heading towards the endgame.
    At some point, they’ll start rounding up the undesirables, which will include most people reading this. Once they are done burning and destroying statues and churches, they will start on people. History has proven that, over and over.
    They will not suffer unbelievers.
    The Mob rules now, and they will get their way. There is no one on ‘our’ side who can physically stand up to them. We have no big media, no antifa, no party-affiliated terrorist groups, no political party run and led party war machine. ‘Our’ politicians cave. Always. It’s what they do. Democrats don’t. Ever.

  2. 3rdMan says:

    Prepare for an uncertain future or a certain future is something doesn’t change. The day is coming when we law bidding God fearing Americans will be the outcast in American society. The Socialist/Marxist revolution is in full swing right now. Too many Constitutional loving Americans will not even realize what has happen until they are standing on the edge of a shallow trench that they were forced to dig. As a current LEO, I’m looking hard at retirement and moving further away from the big city. The black shirts of the Socialist/Marxist revolution are come for you and will replace us LEOs and they will have no quorums about enforce the new order.

  3. JBernDrApt says:

    Thank you for taking the time to share and give us your thoughts for consideration. Very well written and very informative. It’s right before us but too many fail to take the time to investigate for themselves and formulate their own personal thoughts and conclusions. We are in trouble and I continue to pray for our Nation, Christians, Churches and others to wake up and begin to return to the Lord and become a powerful influence on those around them. I also believe that we should always be prepared and that a national shortage of toilet paper doesn’t bring us down. Seriously, we must prepare and be prepared to act. Water, food, protection and skills must become part of our everyday lives. And multiple backups for each are needed. Those half prepared aren’t prepared at all. Wake up America. I’ll continue to pray, prepare, practice and repeat. I’ll continue to keep setting the example for my kids and grands to encourage them to do likewise.
    Thanks again JR. Keep up the Good Fight
    – Keep Looking Up

  4. V says:

    As always well written, from someone across the ocean . I find this topic so informative . I have always believed America to be the land of plenty and always admired the American constitution and wished every country had such a constitution to protect the rights of its citizens. Looking forward to part 2

  5. Arlene says:

    Excellent Rourke- thank you. I have been praying very hard-losing some sleep and
    calling, writing and e mailing our President and Rep. and Sen. DAILY. as well as newspapers- Looking forward to your part 2 .
    We must stay strong, unite and support one another amidst this painful turmoil and disgusting demonstration of radical leftist marxists hypocritical destruction of our precious monuments and sacred sites.
    This has been brewing in our universities for years .This has nothing to do with
    racism .Black Lives Matter is a scam under the guise o caring-it is an excuse for
    violent change. I have bi racial grand children .
    We must tell the President and all Gov and Mayors and Rep. to send in the national guard troops -send violators to prison and take back our nation a.s.a.p..
    Arlene

  6. goinggray58 says:

    So several recent pieces I have read are advocating “other” means… Code… “Nuff” said. So don’t say it here either.
    The standard answer has been, “vote em out!”, or term Limits, or Convention of States blah blah blah… See we have posed a corrective measure that will be effective we go back to whatever we were doing before we shard that wisdom of the ages. (tongue in cheek).. It is a good answer… but do they work?
    Well let’s look at that. We will assume that readers here voted conservative in the majority at least, for the sake of the discussion. Clearly not all offices are held by Conservatives. So, another answer we had was, get the majority so we have some control and can do conservative things to support our country. We did that in 2016 and midterms. So question… “How did that work out for us?”.
    For the most part we voted for conservative candidates that did not push back. In recent cases nothing was done about riots, COVID19 and in general an across the board apathy. They left us hanging. So does voting work? I mean I know we need to and all that, but is our control over our representatives working? Tucker Carlson (and I am not a regular Fox fan), recently did a spot that sounded as though he were encouraging a more direct approach… He didn’t dwell on it, and maybe it was me thinking that since he never said it directly. But maybe not.
    What are conservatives? In general they own property, work and are responsible big business and not big government. If we behaved as the framers of the constitution, we would risk and lose almost everything. Conservatives have a lot to lose; more to lose than an unemployed or unemployable kid living in a basement, who has nothing to lose. The same emotion drives both groups. Fear IMO. Opposite ends but still fear. Call it fear of loss and fear of never having success. The outcome is anger and division.

    If you’ve read Glen Tate’s work. One of his characters compared the French Revolution to the American Revolution; the French beg largely unsuccessful and American being largely successful. The end of the analysis was that the French version focused on revenge, where the American version focused on reconciliation. Today in my opinion we are far more like the French and the Early Americans. This leaves two options Stop it now and drive it as a reformation, or Burn it down and start over. A do over will most likely end in a more socialistic government and an elitist class. A reformation with reconciliation has a chance. Either can end in enough failure to make the US vulnerable to foreign encroachment or worse.
    Either way we need to be drivers and not abstainers. Drive the process can have a positive result, where watching and letting change guide itself will not have a positive result.
    Learn the old skills my friends. Prepare to be more self-sufficient in every sense. No one is coming to save us, unless it’s Jesus. Work on a group of friends loyal to each other. Coach the younglings softly but persistently. Vivat Jesus!
    GG58

  7. TheSouthernNationalist says:

    Seems we patriots have two choices.
    1. We can all come together as a militia wearing a common uniform with an insignia so we know each other and eradicate these communists from our soil.
    OR
    2. Load up on supplies (everything) and go grey.

    1. Arlene says:

      Southern Nationalist – Both are good. The first will probably get us arrested or killed but if they come to our small towns many of us are ready. I am willing to shed my blood for liberty if necessary. – for now I am praying and fighting with my vote and my words to all of our representatives. If we flood their e mails and phones and mailboxes they will wake up and take action sooner rather than later. Arlene

      1. Arlene says:

        Many black people are finally coming out against Antifa and BLM.We need to keep President Trump in to save our nation. and to fight that our schools educate our children in a patriotic manner. We educated our children at home. Arlene

  8. LargeMarge says:

    George Floyd was a suicide by an overdose of illegal drugs.
    He chose to suicide while committing crimes against his neighbors and his community.

    1. JR says:

      You are the only person in America that I have heard say such a thing. He was killed by a piece of shit human being. Period.

      1. robert orians says:

        George had three times the load of fentanyl in his system it takes to kill a man . Respiratory distress is the first sign of impending death . These facts are all documented . Before he resisted he was complaining that he could not breathe .

  9. Arlene says:

    Watched Fox with President Trump today-it is good that he is taking action and sending in a few Fed. types of law enforcement to the Dem. cities that will not enforce the law and stop the violence which is escalating. Finally the NYC police were “allowed” to clean up the
    City Hall protestors and they did it in one day.
    I have called and written support to the President and other leaders and to our state and local police .I put a Trump sticker and support the police on my vehicle-if
    I get any retaliation at least I will not have been be silent and afraid- that is precisely what the thugs want. Arlene
    JUst read Prepping for a Pandemic-very good. This author is different . Her name is
    Cat Ellis

    1. JR says:

      Thanks Arlene. The inaction by many of the city leaders to quell the rioting is disturbing at best. Action is long overdue.

  10. Arlene says:

    One of the biggest problems is that Fox is the only TV station showing the violence. The rest of the “fake” news is presenting false peaceful protests. Every citizen who is against this violence MUST contact the Mayors, Gov s, Senators , President etc. -write in to papers and
    show outrage over this militant destruction. The weapons the Bad guys have is unreal.
    and the average citizen in Chicago and NYC cannot purchase a firearm.Arlene

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