Freedom Now Requires A New American Dream ⋆ Politicrossing
Connect with us

News

Freedom Now Requires A New American Dream

Published

on

I am not a perfect human being. In my younger life I told lies, committed foolish acts of teenage rebellion, drank too much, chased girls, and wasted lots of money. But, in the grand overview, previous personal shortcomings aside, I have always been a good citizen. In 1995, when I graduated from high school, I joined the military to serve my country. I had heard stories of my grandfather, a B-17 Bomber pilot in World War II. The military of 1995 had changed since the second World War. In 1995, we were at peace, there were no Nazi’s to hunt, no Normandy beaches to storm, and no Iwo Jima’s. Nevertheless, I wanted to emulate an ideal I had in my mind of how so many men of the “Greatest Generation” lived their lives, served their nation, and raised their families.

After the war, he built a small business, purchased a modest home, and started a family. Without a college education, many men of the Greatest Generation and the one after were able to retire comfortably. The homes they purchased increased modestly in value, the economy, not immune from difficulties, expanded and grew continually from the end of the second World War until the financial meltdown of 2008. In short, if you were an adult between 1945 and 2007, and you were a good citizen, worked hard, and played by the rules, you could count on a pretty decent life for yourself and possibly much more. Be good, work hard, pay your taxes. Bonus points if you served your country. These were the rules. If you followed them, you could expect to be rewarded. This was the American Dream…then.

This was the assumption I was operating under in 2006 when, at 29, I purchased a brand new home in a new master planned community outside of Phoenix, Arizona for $180,000. Like many people in those days, I was ignorant of the economic warning signs and the “housing bubble” that was about to burst. I was making good money at the time and so was my soon to be wife. At 29, I was invincible, so I financed a new car too. Growing up, I had watched my parents and my friends’ parents do it this way… new cars in the driveway of a 3 bedroom ranch home. This was “The American Dream.” I was entitled to it! Little did I know, that the American dream was over and it is never coming back.

Some 18 months later, I learned the hard way that I am not entitled to anything. My $180,000 home was valued at just $54,000 dollars. We were the last people living on our street. Every other house on our side of the street was empty, with a “Bank Owned For Sale” sign out front. Across the street, were half built homes in various stages, abandoned by construction crews and contractors. One weekend, a group of about 30 Mexicans spent the weekend in the empty house next door. They were kind and friendly. It occurred to be that they had used it as a drop house. A few weeks later, vandals began breaking into the empty homes on our street to steal appliances, copper wire, bathroom fixtures, whatever they could get their hands on. My wife and I had both lost our jobs, and we had a baby on the way. Fortunately, I was able to get another job. Unfortunately, I had to commute an hour and 20 minutes both ways to get to it.

We tried in vain for over 8 months to see if the bank would cut us a break. Perhaps they would change our loan or help us out we had hoped. Making the car and mortgage payments was a struggle, and we always somehow paid both on time, no matter what. There was a store that sold groceries that had misprinted labels at a discount. We did nothing extra. We were trying to make it. We were good citizens. This went on for months. One day, we were at a normal grocery store and we had devised a system of typing into a calculator the amount of each product that we put in the grocery cart. This to ensure we wouldn’t go over our tight budget to so we could pay that mortgage. I will never forget this moment. There was a big screen television, and the news was on. I watched it live as they announced the government bailout of all the banks. The “Troubled Asset Relief Program.” I was shocked. The big banks were getting bailed out, but we weren’t! I looked at my wife, I looked at my 6-month-old daughter. In an instant, I went from shock, to anger, to being fully awake to the whole corrupt system. I decided to stop paying the mortgage at that moment. We left the grocery store that day with 2 grocery carts full of food!

Everyone has a breaking point. That was mine. For me, that was when the social contract had been broken. The decision I made that day resulted in my eventual filing for bankruptcy. It set me back financially by about 10 years. It also set me on a journey of learning about our corrupt financial system and the federal reserve. I took lessons learned from having to be frugal and financially, I eventually recovered and I started down a path of slowly becoming self reliant and self sufficient. 13 years ago, I started a plan of action to 1). Become totally debt free. 2). Build my own home free and clear. 3). Not to depend on any major utility companies or corporations for my basic needs of food, water, and shelter. Today, my cars are paid for and I have no debt save a student loan (and I am waiting to see if they “forgive”” it before I decide to pay it off)

This is the new freedom

Three years ago, I finally realized my second and third goals. I purchased 5 acres of land in the mountains. It is in a very remote area 5 miles from the nearest paved road or power line. The place is safely nestled in at 7,500 ft and my closest neighbors are a good half mile away. They are all respectful of private property, they also live off grid, and they all own guns. Last fall I finished the first half of the home, made of earthbags. The summer days rarely get warmer than 82 degrees and the nights are cool so there is not a need for air conditioning. The air is dry and there is plenty of year round sunshine to power a small solar system that keeps a solar refrigerator, freezer, a water pump, and a few lights operating. We have plenty of trees on the property, and a wood stove to keep us warm in the winter. We have a propane oven and stove top, chicken coops, and space for gardens. I am very fortunate to get high-speed internet in this remote area because of a high hill on my property and a 40 ft pole I installed and a great local company that can beam a signal my way. Most of my neighbors are not this lucky.

I am nowhere near finished building our off grid paradise; we lived up here for an entire year until June of this year. A year living on site enabled us to complete a significant amount of work that otherwise would not have been possible. Now we return on weekends to finish the project. I can currently describe the place as livable, but not yet cosmetically pleasing or totally comfortable. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Here is the cool thing. My family has a home. Since I purchased the land outright, I placed it in a shell company, protecting it from any possible future creditors. Our home is off the grid, far away from COVID, Antifa, and anyone or anything else that may want to bother us. We have plans for an extensive rainwater collection system, lush gardens, raising chickens and other small animals for our own food. Many of our neighbors do the same and barter with one another for what is needed. One person brags about how she can go 6 months to a year without ever having to go into town for food. I want to get to that point.

Our politicians are totally corrupt at virtually every level. I figure the chances of the entire financial system crashing again are pretty high. Civil War, Martial Law, a Chinese military invasion, a Communist takeover… I feel like these are all possibilities, some more probably than others. I am under no delusions that should they do away with private property rights and the US Constitution that I will hold my home forever. I know that with whatever is coming, I may survive a little longer and a little more comfortably than most. I also know that I would much rather go down shooting to defend my off grid homestead than I would in defense of a 3 bedroom ranch with a 30 year fixed in a master planned community. This is the new freedom; and building it in a remote community of like-minded patriots should be everyone’s new American Dream. For if there is to be a better civilization built upon the ashes of the one that is about to fall, it will be built by people like us.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about this article. Please take a minute to share them in the comment section by clicking here. Or carry the conversation over on your favorite social network by clicking one of the share buttons below.



 
 
 

Join the conversation!

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.



Life

With Representatives Like Kelly Daughtry, We Can Take Back America

Daughtry is a soft-spoken woman who gets things done

Published

on

When President Trump takes office next January 20th, he’s going to need a cadre of strong-willed Congressional representatives. It’s not enough to simply retake the White House, we need the foot soldiers with the unshakeable resolve to restore America.

In North Carolina’s 13th district, one candidate is firmly rooted in the values that made this country great, and will make it great again. Her name is Kelly Daughtry and, quite frankly, the nation needs many others like her.

Raised in rural North Carolina and the daughter of a U.S. veteran, farmer, lawyer, and entrepreneur, Daughtry has been a practicing lawyer for the past 25 years in Johnston County, where she makes her home. She’s been in the trenches and is not skittish about the slings and arrows that come with taking bold, conservative positions for what is right.

Clear Positions on Vital Issues

Daughtry is exceedingly clear on where she stands and on what will improve the lives of American citizens. She is a vigorous supporter of law enforcement and decries ‘de-fund the police’ movements wherever they arise. She understands that, by and large, the men and women in law enforcement are dedicated, hardworking individuals who, in many instances, put their lives on the line.

Similarly, Daughtry supports the U.S. military and our veterans. She knows that nations around the world with rogue leadership wish to do us great harm, and that we must maintain a strong military at all times. Not coincidentally, a strong military is the best prescription for peace.

On the border issue, Daughtry recognizes that the Biden Administration is firmly committed to swamping our country with illegal aliens. Why? Because the U.S. Census count doesn’t focus on U.S. citizenship, only the number of residents per county and state.

Hence, Democrats can gain a 20-seat advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives by continuing to flood our nation. This ploy is precisely why Biden and company have brought lawsuits against border states seeking to protect themselves.

The drugs, the crime — the murders — and the bursting budgets of towns and states trying to cope with the onslaught of illegals should never have happened in the first place. Daughtry knows what needs to be done, and done immediately.

Reversing Biden’s Reckless Agenda

Daughtry will go to work on restoring our nation, dismantling Joe Biden’s reckless agenda for America. She understands that Biden’s policies towards China in particular, and the bribes he has taken, have been nothing less than devastating for hard-working Americans and for our national security.

Most notably, she is firmly opposed to the Chinese Communist Party and their representatives who are seeking to buy farmland throughout North Carolina as well as every other place in the United States.

Biden’s out-of-control spending has particularly hurt North Carolinians. Farmers have taken the brunt of the punishment. The unending inflation that we’ve faced for 38 months also has dealt a crushing blow to North Carolina small business owners and families in general. One of Daughtry’s first agenda items will be to help steer our country back towards fiscal sanity, which in turn will have a direct impact on the cost of groceries and gasoline.

Americans First

Like President Trump, Daughtry understands the importance of putting Americans first and of safeguarding or voting procedures, elections, and indeed what it means to be an American citizen. Of note, she has no misconceptions about the differences between men and women and will work to stop the malarkey that the Left imposes on us every day, with their “56” types of genders.

Daughtry is a soft-spoken woman and in her quiet way, gets things done. If Donald Trump had an army of Kelly Daughtrys, the country would be on firm footing in relatively short order. She knows what hard-working Americans want and need, and is exactly the type of politician that North Carolina must send to Washington D.C.

It is not an exaggeration to say that in Wake, Harnett, Johnson, and Wayne counties in North Carolina, as well as the entire state and entire country, the 2024 election will be the most important in our lifetimes. This has been said about other elections at other times, but considering the damage that the Democrats have wrought on America, the time is now to reclaim our great nation and, with the likes of Kelly Daughtry, we can.

– – – – –

 

 

 

Continue Reading

News

America is in decline because voters asked for it

Published

on

American voters have placed in office many people whose allegiance is to woke ideology instead of the public good. In many cases, these elected officials support policies that clearly are harmful to their constituents and to the nation.

Why would anyone knowingly vote for politicians who embrace policies that cause great harm? New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg is a case in point. DA Bragg doesn’t like to prosecute felons. Instead, bad actors are released immediately without bail. Bragg is not an accident. New Yorkers elected him.

President Joe Biden has allowed millions of unvetted immigrants to enter the country causing untold disruption in our cities and the threat of terrorism. Instead of deporting people who violate federal law by coming into the US illegally, we give them free rent, free food, free cell phones, free credit cards, free medical care, free child care. The same president has destroyed our energy independence, caused runaway inflation, and undermined our military readiness. Despite these misdeeds, millions of voters claim he is doing a good job and want him to run again in 2024.

Biden is using the legal system against his Republican adversary, Donald Trump, to deny him the right of due process, to confiscate his wealth, and to impose a lengthy jail sentence. “The law is being used to punish people you don’t like politically,” said Sean Hannity. Yet millions of voters continue to support Joe Biden.

These outrageous situations can be chalked up to an unconscious electorate. They voted for all these problems. The people of New York City are fed up with mounting crime. Yet they voted for Alvin Bragg, who is contributing to the crime problem by refusing to put offenders behind bars.

I am not describing a stupid electorate. Many of the voters who elect unfit politicians are highly educated. Mark Levin explains this phenomenon in American Marxism. He addresses the question that has stumped me for years: Why is it that so many intelligent, well-educated, affluent people in urban centers like New York and San Francisco have been seduced by the Left? Levin’s answer: “They are lured by the false hopes and promises of urban transformation and the criticisms of the existing society.”

When it comes to politics, many of our citizens have a myopic, under-informed viewpoint. They see themselves as compassionate people who want to help the disadvantaged. If they are white, they have been told that the white patriarchy oppresses blacks and other minorities. As a result, they may feel guilty about their own success. When it comes to immigration, they want to open our doors to anyone who wants to enter the country. Why? Because people in other parts of the world are suffering and liberals believe that we have a moral duty to help them.

What they are missing is that leftist policies have consequences. Bringing in millions of Stone Age people from the Middle East, for example, makes the US vulnerable to the disruption and violence that are tearing Europe apart.

An excellent analogy can be found in the game of chess. Amateur players look at the chessboard and only perceive the board as it exists right in front of them. They neither understand nor take responsibility for the consequences of their moves. Experienced chess players can see the board three to four moves ahead. They are aware that whatever move they make will entail consequences.

We have millions of American voters who resemble amateur chess players. They are completely oblivious to the consequences of their political choices. That is why California has turned from a garden in to a hellhole. The liberals who run the legislature in Sacramento are falling all over each other in the rush to provide free healthcare, free education, and welfare payments to illegal immigrants. But what about the consequences? Who will pay for all the freebies? What will happen to civil order and public safety when the government is no longer able to maintain the rule of law? No one wants to take responsibility for the unpleasant consequences of the leftist agenda.

Voting is no longer looked upon as a responsibility. “Elections are not held just for social participation,” said economist Thomas Sowell. “They’re not held just to vet our emotions. They’re held to elect people who will hold our lives and the lives of our loved ones in their hands, as well as the fate of the entire nation. To go out as if we’re voting for homecoming queen is madness!”

Sowell has suggested that for people who refuse to take the time to study the issues and candidates, “their most patriotic act would be to stay home on election day, rather than vote on the basis of their whims or their emotions, which is really playing Russian roulette with the history of the country.”

More than anything, we need informed voters who can opt for responsible candidates.

Ed Brodow is a conservative political commentator and author of two No. 1 Amazon Best Sellers, AMERICA ON ITS KNEES: The Cost of Replacing Trump with Biden, and THE WAR ON WHITES: How Hating White People Became the New National Sport.

Continue Reading

 

Our Newsletter

Become a Politicrossing insider: Sign up for our free email newsletter, and we'll make sure to keep you in the loop.

Sites We Like

Our Newsletter

Become a PolitiCrossing insider: Sign up for our free email newsletter, and we'll make sure to keep you in the loop.

Trending