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ham sandwich nation

friday, january 25th, 2013

for the second time in 8 years, America has truly, and this time perhaps irrevocably, f•cked-up.

Collectively – and I say that because I didn't vote for the muslim, half-breed, marxist, liar, socialist, traitor, racist, lowlife, piece-of-shit – "we" voted for a ineligible and documented criminal to be US President again, in 2012. Back in late 2007/early 2008, I did the requisite research on Barry H. ∅sambo (RACIST-IL) – he is not a Black Man in any sense of the phrase; he's half-breed trash – and knew exactly "who and what" he was, before the 2008 General Election. The subhuman, mentally-ill liberal-demokkkRAT drones, who voted for him on Nov 6th 2012, now have what they voted for. And we all deserve it.

There are few other living things – except the Trogolydyte-From-Hell muslim filth – which I loathe, despise and hate, than the divisive and polarizing lowlife, Barry H. ∅sambo

(muslim-IL) and the Lenninists, Marxists and communists he's brought into the US Government, to destroy America, in a final four years. The groundwork was laid in the first four years; now, it'll be completed by 2016, or sooner. America will be a welfare basket case by the time we get the treasonous scumbag out of office. You're either a "victim" or a "victimizer", but if you're a Straight White Male, you're always the "victimizer. The "victim class", according to the liberal-leftist-demokkkRATs and their allies in the corrupt left-wing media, grows exponentially, every day. The "political classes" are cleaved-out and well-identified into contrasting voting blocs. Then, the social division begins, in earnest.

America's doing real well: only 330,000 jobless claims last month. Great job, Barry H. ∅sambo (COMMIE-IL)!

Those who believe that they are still "enslaved by the Whites", had 'wet fantasies" on both Sunday and Monday, when Barry H. ∅sambo (DIRTBAG-IL) took The Oath of Office, twice. It made my skin crawl to see what America's become. If you're hispanic, black, female, a homo male/female, etc etc etc, you're a "victim". But if you're a Straight White Male – in any income or occupational "class" – you're simply the "devil". His pick a fight, draw a contrast and pit one group against another, strategy, will only intensify and further fragment this Nation and People.

Don't get me wrong; I love ham and pork products, of all persuasions. Eat dogshit, muslim filth! Except for "Rocky Mountain Oysters". Google it. But you can load-up a basic ham sandwich with all kinds of "condiments", and suddenly it's no longer a ham sandwich. It's often disturbing to watch what some people put on a ham sandwich, given the opportunity. And America, collectively speaking again, has truly larded-up their "national ham sandwich", with all kinds of crap. Want some extra-hot horseradish on that?

Welcome to the "new normal", for 4 more years.

A Day In The Life

Friday was the prelude to a bitter cold wave of arctic air coming into the area; 26°F/-3°F Wind Chill when I got-up at 7am, turned-up the heat, made French-Roast, Turkish-Grind Coffee (from whole, freshly-ground Dunkin' Donuts® beans) with my Chemex® Drip System, fresh-squeezed OJ and Breakfast. I scanned the weather and news sites, checked my "to-do list" for today, and left for Dad's at 9:15am. I spent 2hrs visiting with him, and got back just after FedEx had delivered my order of 4 frozen tubs of D'ARTAGNAN Duck Fat. Great to cook with!

On the morning's ride, I noticed that gas prices at-the-pump had dropped 18¢ since last Friday (1/18): Unleaded Regular (87 oct) is now down to $3.41/gal, Unleaded Premium (89oct) is now at $3.51/gal, Premium (93 oct) is at $3.71/gal, with Diesel Fuel/Kerosene staying at a ridiculous $4.09/gal, at most stations, in the York (PA) area.

Alan stopped by to pick-up his newly-refurbished computer at 11:45am, and we spent nearly 2hrs talking about past, present & future business opportunities stuff. I got around to a quick Meatloaf w/Mashed Potatoes & Succotash Vegs, for lunch at 1:30pm. Being a bright, sunny day, I went for a

brisk walk, even in the cold wind. I ran into several neighbors and other folks walking their dogs, as I usually do on walks around the area, and their pups love to play with me. Maybe I should get a dog? Nah; not in a condo. I was back by 4pm, worked on some paperwork, Sunday's shopping list and next week's schedule, and then listened to the Mark Levin Show from 6-9pm, and since it was Friday night and I'd be sleeping-in on Saturday, listened to several missed Michael Berry Podcasts (KTRH Houston), until 11:45, and called it a day.

Okay, so 6:30am isn't exactly "sleeping-in" on Saturday, but it was time to get-up and start the day. After turning-up the Condo's heat to 77°F, from 68°F, I made coffee, had some Del Monte® Red Grapefruit Sections, and Ham, Home Fries & Eggs. 30°F now, forecast to 50°F until Monday, when the "arctic express" barrels through and temps drop into the single-digits. Brrrrr. I drove down to the GC&N Complex to do some target shooting, with my Kimber® 1911 Stainless "Custom TLE™ II" (Tactical Law Enforcement) .45cal ACP, with a Premium 8-Round Wilson Combat Magazine and a few boxes of 230gr Hollow-Points. I was home by 1pm, made a Bacon Cheddar-Cheeseburger w/ Fries for lunch, and stayed-in for the rest of the day,

watching some CATV, doing "Condo chores" and listening to various podcasts from last week, in the background. I decided to go to bed early, since I have to get-up and go food shopping at 7am, visit Dad and do some work on the basement stores. I shut it all down at 8:30pm.

Up at 5:30am on Sunday, it was a "balmy" 43°F outside. I made OJ, coffee and skipped breakfast; no appetite this morning. After scanning the weather and news sites, I went thru my list of needed stuff, got ready, backed-out and warmed-up the Jeep, walked over to the Condo Community Mailbox, got the week's mail, and left for Weis Market at 7:30. I don't care what the temp was, it was a damned cold 43 with a 35-45mph wind, but starting to warm-up. As I was walking into the store, I glanced at and mentally-pared-down the list to only what was needed, and cut-out some "frills"; no Gelato. I was thru and home in 45mins, unpacked, checked the Win-7 Back-Up progress, and shut down to go over to Dad's. We spent 2hrs visiting, talked to Becky in SF, and I was home by 12noon. After Scrambled Eggs, French Toast & Sausage for lunch, I did paperwork in prep for a visit to my CPA for upcoming 2012 taxes, and noticed that temps were dropping rapidly, and snow was forecast for tomorrow. Jeep put away for the night. I found the Radio America site, which has some shows I enjoy, plus podcasts. Yes, I caved and watched the last 3-5mins of the NFC/SF v Atlanta (28-24) and the AFC/New England v Baltimore (13-28) Playoff Games. Temps had dropped into the upper-20s. By 8pm, I'd tuned into Gun Talk, and lasted until 10:30pm.

Monday morning was just "very" cold: 17°F/-3°F Wind Chill as the Canadian arctic cold front began to enter into the PA area. I was up at 7:15am, cranked-up the heat, made coffee, had some Del Monte® Red Grapefruit Sections and Poached Eggs with Grits & Butter for breakfast. The weather sites forecast cold and snow for the week ahead; in the 50s next week, but a high of 33°F for today. The news sites were full of 0scumbag Inauguration crap and MLK Holidaybullshit; both are

sickening, lowlife POS. Truly a sad day for America. I managed to ignore it all, and worked on changing bed linens, washing loads of laundry and my usual "Monday Condo chores". I spent the entire day, in between chores, reading Mark Levin's "Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America". I'm still reading his "Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto", and haven't yet started "Men in Black: How the Supreme Court Is Destroying America". They are not light reading, but are necessary and essential, if you want to understand America's History of Freedom & Liberty. By 10:30pm, my eyes were rolling around in my head and begging for some sleep. I acquiesced.

6am Tuesday morning was even colder at 14°F/-5°F Wind Chill, so after turning-up the heat, I made coffee, OJ and Steel-Cut Oatmeal w/ Sliced Bananna, and scanned the weather sites. Temps would get even worse tonite and tomorrow. -45 below in the Midwest! Yikes. I gathered-up my shirts for the cleaners, planned to p/u my old Office HP Computer w/ Win-7 Pro from Spartan Computer, stop at Giant Foods' Supermarket, and make a trip to the GC&N Complex to check the water pipes' heat lamps. All that done by 11am, I drove over to Dad's to visit and help him with a couple of things. Back home by 12:30pm, I had a large bowl of Split Pea Soup, since I was still filled-up from the oatmeal at breakfast. Temps were already dropping into the lower-teens and headed into single-digits, for the night. I garaged the Jeep, as usual, and buttoned-up the Condo for the day and night. After 3hrs of the Mark Levin Show from 6-9pm, I searched frantically for "FrackNation", supposed on AXS-TV, at 9pm EST, but it wasn't available anywhere, even from my local CommieCast/xfinity TV. Dammit. By 10pm, I'd had enough and headed up to bed. Temps had

dropped to 9°F/-17°F Wind Chill; my electric blanket would be kicked-up a few notches tonite.

The 10°F/-2°F Wind Chill was downright cold for Wednesday, at 6am, and wouldn't get much better all day. It's Winter! The Condo warmed-up quickly, so after coffee and Del Monte® Mandarin Oranges, I made Poached Eggs w/ Canadian Bacon. My long-time commercial realtor called and is arranging a meeting with the auctioneer we used on December 17th, 2011, to liquidate the closed GC&N's buildings' contents/plant inventory/machinery/tools etc, and I need to start finding certain business files and compile a lot of information for next Thursday's 9am breakfast meeting. I worked on that project for the next 3hrs, but decided that I wouldn't take any actual files along for the meeting; I'd make a list of what was needed by the auctioneer, realtor and attorneys, and make copies for them, for later delivery. I broke for lunch, and kept working my way thru file boxes of files, until 6pm. I had 65-70% of the documents located, and would finish-up in the coming days. Temps had already dropped to 13°F/5°F Wind Chill, from a day's high of 18°F/1°F Wind Chill. I listened to the Mark Levin Show from 6-9pm, while sifting thru files and documents, and after nodding-off a couple of times, called it a day at 10pm.

It was snowing lightly (~1") when I got-up at 6:15am on Thursday, 10°F/-3°F Wind Chill, made coffee and OJ, scanned the weather & news sites. -86°F Wind Chill in New Hampshire!

Yikes! With 12-14 accidents already reported (TraffFax) on the Southern York County roads, I decided to stay-in for the morning, and let the snowy/icy roads melt-off (maybe), before trying to go the 15 miles south to the GC&N Complex. I had some Sunny-Side-Up Eggs, Sausage & Hash Browns for breakfast, and noticed that another 1-3" is forecast for tomorrow afternoon/evening. It would only get into the low-to-mid-20s for the next 4-5 days. I don't mind the snow; it's the ice and ultra-bitter cold I don't like. Flurries were still coming down at 9am.

I continued with finding certain business files which I might need for use/reference after next Thursday's meeting, and after talking to my realtor by phone, was assured he had copies of copies, for the auctioneer for the meeting, if needed. By 8:30am, it was snowing again, as squalls moved thru the York-Harrisburg area. I'd received a UPS email notice that I had 2 of 3 deliveries arriving today, and each required a signature, so I postponed the 10am GC&N meeting w/ Alan, until tomorrow. I made several steamed, Steamed Cabbage Rolls for lunch, listened to CATV weather and news, and waited for UPS. He finally arrived just after 2pm, brought 2 of 3 packages, and I signed for them. The sun was out and the driveways and streets began self-clearing-off. After unpacking, I worked on some computer paperwork/budgets, watched the commie idiot Feinstein bitch's "Assault Weapons Ban" be intro'd in the corrupt US Senate: details.

We had a high of 23°F/13°F Wind Chill, for the day. Another 1-3" of snow and bitter temps, is forecast for tomorrow afternoon, so I planned to get my morning meeting and errands done, get home and off the roads. I have no problem with my deliberate, careful driving on snow; it's the other so-called "drivers" that scare the crap out of me. Tomorrow starts a new week here in the "Journal", and with the next week or two's temps bouncing around like a squirrel in zero gravity, it'll be some interesting weather days. Not much on the schedule, except for Thursday's auction meeting. That'll change quickly; always does.

You Own It, demokkkRATs!

ongratulations to the asswipe demokkkRATs, irrelevant "Free Shit!" minorities and stupid young people on the Truly-Shitty Economy you've created and inherited. You now own it 100%, and you can't blame Bush, anymore. Bathhouse Barry ∅bummer did it all by himself. You voted for it, dumbassed idiots. Time to suffer with the rest of us, as your actions have dire consequences for the entire country. Nice going, empty-headed, low-information voter morons.

The next terrorist attack, you own it.

Can't get a job after graduation, you own it.

Sky-rocketing energy prices due to ∅bummer's corrupt EPA shutting down the energy producing states, you own it.

A nuclear Iran, you own it.

Bowing to Russia, you own it.

Another severe recession, you own it.

A volatile border with Mexico, you own it.

Trouble getting good health care, you own it.

Higher health insurance costs and health care costs, you own it.

∅bummer voter

No budget, you own it.

Our allies mistrust us, you own it.

Another trillion-plus of debt, you own it.

More Benghazi Massacre situations, you own it.

No one willing to join the military, you own it.

Trouble getting a loan to buy a home, you own it.

More dependency on food stamps, you own it.

Trouble finding good employment, you own it.

Several part time jobs instead of one good job, you own it.

A One-World Government, you own it.

The UN governing the United States, instead of us governing ourselves, you own it.

A Senate that will not bring any legislation to the table, even if it is "Dead On Arrival", you own it.

China controlling our world trade, trampling all over us, you own it.

Loss of our freedoms as we have known them in the past, you own it.

A dictatorship, instead of a democracy that follows the Constitution, you own it.

Less take home pay and higher living costs, you own it.

Driving a car that looks like a child's toy, you own it.

Unending islamic shitfilth wars in the Middle East and Africa, you own it.

More government corruption and lies, you own it.

More toleration of extreme, fanatical and subhuman islamo-nazi fascist filth, you own it.

Terrorist attacks called "workplace violence incidents", you own it.

Your "revenge" instead of love of country, you own it.

President George W Bush is out of it now, and there is not another good man for you to villify and lie about.

Shit-for-brains, ∅bummer-asshole is a liar, traitor, racist, muslim, coward, bathhouse fag and doper, can't take responsibility for the damage he's inflicted upon America. It's 100% his fault. Prove me wrong, anyone!

In a way, I am relieved that another good man will not be blamed when it becomes impossible to clean-up this mess that YOU voted for. Yes, moronic ∅bummer-asshole idiots: YOU!

Your TSHTF Survival

Are you truly ready for when, not if, TSHTF (The Shit Hits The Fan). And a lot of my "Journal" Readers have emailed and called me to discuss what preparations they should take for that "coming awful event". Believe me, "it" IS coming. Based upon what's happening around the world and here in the US, I have a terrible, terrible *gut feeling* that TSWHTF (The Shit Will Hit The Fan), sometime in late-2012 or in early-2013. Don't ask why; I just do.

First, Israel is preparing for war, after being attacked for years on many fronts, and not fighting back as she should have. This war will truly have "Biblical implications" around the world. The Middle East is rapidly-collapsing under the subhuman, murderous muslim/islamic riots (muslim Brotherhood) and rule ("arab Spring"), with world crude oil prices projected to hit $200+/bbl, or even higher into the $300-$400 range,

Europe is on the verge of insolvency and collapse, no thanks in great part to Germany, teetering-and-tottering Asia and South America will quickly-follow, then comes the downfall of Canada, and The USA won't be far behind, in late 2012 and into 2013. Watch this video; be sure you're sitting-down, and don't have any food or liquid in your mouth upon which to choke.

Just Google "survival" and see what comes-up. Damned-near everything you ever wanted to know how to prepare for this for-sure-coming "hellish holocaust", some of it in easy-to-download *.PDF format. Tens-of-thousands of websites are devoted to the topic of "survival". Do the same with "You Tube", and watch the thousands of videos. This is *NOT The Phony Y2K Crappola*; this is for real. I said numerous times that Y2K was a waste of time and money to prepare for, and that came true. I'm reading that "survival stores" are reporting a huge upswing in sales and preparations, and for good reason.

I'm also one of the very, very few who "predicted a 9-11 type event", 2 years and 8 months before it happened. Read down that "Journal" entry to the "Scary Stuff" section, and it was done by the subhuman, murderous muslim/islamic shit/filth/trash, NOT the US Gov't as some morons and idiots (Alex Jones & Co), have and still It's interesting you mention when an old paradigm dies and a new one takes its place. There are people who are still connected to the old one and can't conceive of life without that old paradigm. I think you saw that in the Great Depression. A lot of people never recovered from it because once that hit it was the end of their lives. claim. Need I say more about those certifiable and murderous, subhuman muslim/islamist wackos who are determined to kill all of us Proud Infidels?

Am I an "conspiracy alarmist" or one of those "crazed survivalists", sequestered in a Montana, Idaho, Utah or Wyoming compound or bunker? Not hardly; I'm simply in mid-State Pennsylvania, an Eagle Scout, Class of November 23rd, 1963 – youngest ever Eagle Scout in American History, at 12 years old – Order Of The Arrow/ Vigil Honor, and our BSA Motto was then, and still is now, "Be Prepared". Need I say any more?

Forget all of the "buy gold and silver" bullshit commercials; buy "brass and lead" for your guns. They're a far, far superior investment, IMO. Ammo is truly a "fungible" item; gold & silver aren't at all. They may be "intrinsic", but they're utterly-useless in a collapsing/collapsed society or world. Do the requisite research, as I've done. 'Nuff said on that subject.

BTW, how are you stocked-up for incandescent light bulbs? Within 4 weeks, manufacturing and using 100w incandescent will become "a crime", thanks to stupid-assed, liberal moron chimp, shit-for-brains, George W Bush & Co, in 2007. You'll be forced, under penalty-of-law, to use the very expensive,

dangerous and short-lived CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs). Better stock-up NOW on 60w, 75w and 100w incandescents, where and when you can find them, before they become unavailable and illegal!

This government's ***CRIMINALLY NUTS***, in trying to regulate our use of anything and everything! It's fascism, socialism, Leninism and communism, dammit, and it won't stand! Where is that in The US Constitution? The US Government isn't empowered to force us to do or buy anything, and has overstepped its legal authority in The ENUMERATED Commerce Clause. The Commerce Clause is quite specifically an enumerated power listed in the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The Contemporary Commerce Clause debate, When "decided by the SCOTUS in the Summer of 2012", will cause CWIII, if upheld. Stockpile NOW, because TSHTF before/during/after the November General Election!

Gold is NOT the way to go; lead and brass (aka ammo) ARE. Mark my words!

TSHTF this or next year, and members of the corrupt, criminal US Congress are helping racist, commie, lowlife scumbag Barry "Fuck America!" Obama (SAMBO-IL), by either collaborating with him or cowering before him, on his You are going to see, in metro areas, the absolute worst in humanity, as the people that are most dependent upon a collectivist system, whether they're these Occupy Well Street people, or people who are loaded up with debt, they are totally unprepared for an economic reality where their paradigm does not function. As a result they're going to go through the absolute most disgusting inhumanity that I think any American has ever seen as they go through this anger phase – and it's going to result in riots, and starvation and bloodshed. It has to happen. You don't have people's life savings disappear and people become desperate, and not have that happen. coming "Race War" plan.

We are *at war with Iran*; no doubt about it. Get used to it. And shit-for-brains, racist, commie, lowlife scumbag Barry "F•ck America!" Obama (TRAITOR-IL) has politely "asked" for our formerly Top Secret RQ-170 Sentinel Drone "to be returned". What a dumbf•ck Obama is! He should be charged, tried and imprisoned for *treason*, IMO.

I've been saying, for the past 2-3 years, that no one should buy any gold or silver; it's worthless crap if TSHTF (The Shit Hits The Fan). Instead, buy guns and ammo; they're a far, far better investment, IMO. Any questions?

Uh-oh, it's beginning to happen in Europe. Better get ready for it to come over here, soon, as The Fed f•cks America, once again. Time to abolish The Fed and its corrupt, criminal influence on America's economy!

Here's a very useful List of Barter Items, for when TSHTF. Get and stockpile those and more, if you know what's good for you and your family! Think I'm kidding? Better read this and think VERY carefully about it.

With the FBI already considering many US Citizens as "sovereign citizen extremists", are you ready for "Rex 84" & The FEMA Camps? A new bill has been introduced in the US House of Representatives called the National Emergency Centers Act or HR 645. This bill if passed into law will direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish

national emergency centers otherwise known as FEMA Camp Facilities on military installations. Some more detail on "Rex 84", right here, written by, very disappointingly, USMC Lt Col Oliver North.

"Economic chaos" ahead? You betcha. Are you and your family ready for it? It IS coming, at out current rate of out-of-control government spending.

Before TSHTF, here are 20 Lessons From The Streets of Cairo. Worth reading, if you plan to survive.

And before TSHTF, here are Innumerable Lessons From The Collapse of Bosnia, in 1992. Also worth reading, if you plan to survive.

Do you live near a "terrorism hot-spot"? Check the map. Here's DHS' recently-issued "White Paper (*.PDF)" on it, from 1970-2008, published by the University of Maryland.

Do you know what an "EMP Attack" is? Now you do. *When* it happens, not *if*, we're all f•cked, unless we're prepared to live in the early-1800s. That's why I write this stuff.

Are you ready for Obama's (TRAITOR-IL) "October Surprise"?

What about access to land and fresh water? Right here's an article to address those concerns.

Are you worried and prepared for the coming paradigm shift? How's your preparation work coming along?

The end of the dollar is coming; are you prepared for it? Here's a guide to a few canned foods.

Looks like a "race war" is coming, thanks to the hate-filled nigga race-pimps Jackson, Sharpton, Farrakan and New Black Pampers®, and time is growing shorter and shorter before TSHTF.

Don't let the possibility of DHS watching your every move deter you in preparing for TSHTF; do it regardless. Your and your Family's safety & survival always comes first. Beware of what your neighbors will do if you're prepared and they're not.

State and local resistance to the detention provisions contained in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) continues to grow, rapidly-emerging as a nationwide movement against the illegal and unconstitutional Federal Jack-Booted-Thugs' powers.

America is already being turned into a giant prison camp, and 90% of Americans either go along with it or don't see it happening. I do.

When prepping, always plan your survival purchases first on paper; buy them afterward.

Here's another good preparedness/precious metals website, 321 Gold. No, I don't believe in gold & silver, for what's coming. I believe in *lead & brass*/*food & water* for that situation; the other stuff comes much, much later.

Here's a new "warning" about a solar-based EMP event. If it happens, TSHTF.

If Iran attacks America's infrastructure, we've got major problems. Are you prepped and ready for it, when it happens?

Are you on a tight budget, in a apartment of small house? Try these link resources.

What happens to a non-Prepper? Read it at your own edification.

Good, solid Prepping information and related links? Right here.

Canned, excellent quality meats for long-term storage and use? Right here.

Shhhhhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone about your "prepping" activities. Keep it quiet, and read this.

Here are the 5 Warning Signs that America is in decline.

What if you're a "Beginning Prepper"?

Ever wonder what "the new normal" might look like? Read it, in chapters. Prepped yet?

What are the 5 symptoms of SHTF happening?

The US is headed for a "fiscal cliff"? Gosh, all of the articles posted at the link in this section, have been saying that for many months. And the "geniuses" in DC are just figuring that out? Well, slap me silly!

Did you know that when the trucks stop, it's over?

Here's Part 1: Preparing For Disaster. And here's Part 2: Preparing For Disaster. Have you ever thought about what happens to Security During A Breakdown?

Here's "The A-to-Z List" of what you'll need to survive. It's daunting, but you may already have much of it, in-house and not realize it.

There's a new Preparedness Manual, available in *.pdf form, right here. Get it, please.

In case you missed it, here's the "Granddaddy" of Preparedness Manuals.

And here's yet another (condensed) Preparedness List, to compare against the previous two lists, just so you don't miss anything important.

Here are "120 powerful pieces of advice for preppers", to read and take-to-heart.

After Hurricane Sandy, is there any doubt in your mind that you ought to be "prepping" for disasters, before everything is stripped from the stores' shelves? Does this look familiar to you?

If you were in an area heavily-affected by Sandy, you might have seen some looters running rampant. IMO, they should be shot on sight, not arrested. KILL ALL OF THE LOOTERS!

What happens in the first 12 hours, after the US Dollar fails?

Watch The Day the World Ended [Part 1 of 2].

Watch The Day the World Ended [Part 2 of 2].

Is your city a gang-infested hellhole, yet? It will be, all too soon.

Here are an easy 25 DIY Weekend Preparedness Projects, for anyone wanting to be a little more prepared at the end of the day.

How much food storage do you have?

Obama: "Entrepreneurs Don't Build Businesses"

"Last week, President Barack Obama delivered some telling remarks to a fire station full of people in Roanoke, Virginia. I'll save you the trouble of reading the (long and uninspired) speech and provide you with the most interesting part:

     "If you've got a business – you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." – President Barack Obama, July 13th, 2012.

It would be easy to respond with something along the lines of, "Somebody else made that happen? Who? Who magically imagined the product or service, started the business, built it up, and created the jobs? Who was it? The tooth fairy?" And to some extent, President Obama's statement is so ridiculous as to merit that sort of quick, flippant response.

(Here's the video of that loony remark.)

However, he's not entirely wrong. This reminds me of an argument that Massachusetts Senate Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren would probably make. If he's talking about a mid-sized or large business, where an entrepreneur has hired additional employees, then at that point the business's success isn't purely that of its founder.

Employees add value to a business through work and ideas. That's why you hire employees, after all. Steve Jobs didn't invent every last detail of the phones, computers, and tablets to come out of Apple over the last decade. There were engineers working on those products who developed them. So, employees help entrepreneurs to build their business. "Somebody else" did indeed play a part in making that happen.

But what makes the president's remarks so inane is the totality of what he's saying. He's not saying that entrepreneurs and employees work together to build a business. It's not a collaborative effort. It's all thanks to the employees. Usually, I can understand the way the president's mind works on most issues by examining it through a pragmatic, liberal, or progressive framework. This one baffles me.

As I explained, I can see that he has some of a point, but he's still just obviously wrong on the broader point. Sure, the employees help to build the business, but the business itself wouldn't exist without the entrepreneur. So, to say to entrepreneurs and to business owners, "...you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen," is just wrong. It's silly. They did build that by setting the foundation for the business.

Entrepreneurs are almost always the hardest workers in their business. They work a simply insane number of hours to get their idea off the ground. If they succeed (and they face a tremendous risk if they don't), then they'll start to grow and to hire employees to help. Honestly, if I were an entrepreneur and I read those remarks by the president, I would be furious. It's a tremendous insult to the true job-creators in America, entrepreneurs.

In the context of a long, somewhat rambling campaign speech that touched on every issue under the sun, it may seem as though I'm over-exaggerating the importance of a minor thing he said. But President Obama isn't a stupid man, or even one who makes off-the-cuff remarks he doesn't really mean. He's a very smart man, and he meant what he said.

When the most important issues for most Americans are economic growth and job creation, I believe it's essential to know exactly where both candidates stand on the importance of entrepreneurs. Yesterday, we learned that President Obama believes that entrepreneurs don't build businesses. Ultimately, they're irrelevant. Take that for what you will." ©Principles and Policy, July 14, 2012

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