As we approach 2024, I wanted to take a moment out to thank everyone who reads my articles week after week. Many may say that I am negative- personally I would just say I am honest and calling it as I see it.
I don’t believe that I have ever seen a more precarious setup for a year than I see right now for 2024. I am expecting the wars to widen, our deficits to explode higher and our currency to lose a lot of its remaining value. Actually, VALUE is a funny word. Our currency is a unit of debt and therefore has no VALUE but perceived value. As the rest of the world moves away from US dollar dominance the impact on our economy cannot be overstated.
Things that are rising:
- Poverty
- Homelessness
- Corporate, Municipal, Personal, State and Federal government debt
- Layoffs, store and bank closings
- Stress on family budgets due to inflation
- Use of Food Distribution Centers as many are not keeping up with rising prices.
- Tensions around the world.
- Crime, violence, and drug use
Things that are falling:
- Real wages versus inflation
- Spending on non-essential items
- Income tax revenue
- Jobs that can support a family.
- Confidence in our leaders
- Expectations for the future
- The attributes, traits and morality that made the USA great.
These are just a few things that make it apparent to me that we are headed in the wrong direction and our “leaders” appear to be hell-bent on staying on the path that their masters have laid out for them.
With all of that said I believe that we have a moral obligation to point out where the multitudes are being led astray- on purpose- so that they can’t figure out just how bad we are being abused by those in power.
The level of deceit seems to be rising exponentially as our problems seem to be mounting in the same manner.
In 2023 some things came to light.
#1 The green energy scam has been exposed. Many projects have been cancelled because of rising costs and no guarantees of future returns. All of the previous new forms of energy provided more energy than the technologies they replaced. Wind and solar are not only intermittent but produce FAR less energy based upon the energy needed to produce it than coal, natural gas, oil and nuclear. As a matter of fact, it isn’t even close. (See research by Goering and Rosenzweig)
#2 The banks are in big trouble because of rising interest rates, lack of new loans, lack of business deals and people withdrawing their deposits for higher yields. This is currently being hidden in plain sight by the Bank Term Funding Program. Banks have closed a record number of branches in 2023 and laid off over 60,000 workers. That doesn’t sound too bullish for the near future.
#3 The BRICS, by adding 6 new members and having another 40 countries interested (16 have already applied) has become a real threat to the US dollar in settling trades. This could easily be the biggest story of 2024- Stay Tuned. Russia leads this year, and they are obviously a major voice in moving away from dollars. That will happen when you have $300 Billion in reserves basically stolen.
#4 There is nothing much we can do to change the direction of our country. However, there is a lot we can do to prepare to survive and hopefully thrive in the new paradigm that is setting up. A few things that I believe are important:
- Get out of debt as best you can.
- Have cash on hand along with extra provisions. Food, water, barterable goods and a way to protect them.
- Hold ASSETS like gold, silver, etc. that are not subject to someone else’s promise to pay OR inability to pay.
- Set up a group of people that have different skills so we can all work together.
I am sure there is a lot more, but you get the point- don’t count on the government or anyone else to help. Take PERSONAL responsibility for yourself and your family. Remember this- people were laughing at Noah all the way up to the day it started raining.
I hope everyone has a healthy and happy 2024 and as always …
Be Prepared!
Any opinions are those of Mike Savage and not necessarily of those of RJFS or Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. The information in this report does not purport to be a complete description of securities, markets or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. No information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct.
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