(Scott Greer via Revolver)—Kamala Harris knows black men aren’t thrilled with her campaign. Polls show that a lower percentage of this demographic wants to vote for Harris than past Democrats. Kamala sent out Barack Obama to chastise the “brothers” for not being motivated to vote for a woman. Other surrogates and liberal outlets lament Trump’s relative popularity among black men.
This has prompted a shift in the campaign. No longer is Kamala pretending to be a centrist, moving beyond identity politics. Now she’s trying to be like Al Sharpton and promise black voters that she will dole out exclusive benefits to them—so long as they vote for her.
When Kamala began her campaign, she tried to portray herself as a middle-of-the-road politician. She believed in strong borders (ignore her open border record). She was for boosting American energy (ignore her past support for radical environmentalism). And, most importantly, she was moving beyond “woke” (ignore her past support for reparations and eliminating Columbus Day).
Her acceptance speech at the DNC emphasized her moderate pitch, appealing more to the middle class than to identity politics.
The media fell for this act, gushing over how Kamala, who would “make history” with her various identities, eschewed identity politics. NPR fawningly noted last month how Kamala doesn’t talk about her identity and focuses on the broader middle class. Politico praised her in August for sidestepping the issue and pledging to be “for all Americans.” MSNBC declared her avoiding race and gender the smart political move.
But that’s no longer Kamala’s strategy, as the “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men” indicates. This policy is identity politics on steroids. Here are the five points of the plan:
- Providing 1 million loans that are fully forgivable to Black entrepreneurs and others to start a business.
- Championing education, training, and mentorship programs that help Black men get good-paying jobs in high-demand industries and lead their communities, including pathways to become teachers.
- Supporting a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and other digital assets so Black men who invest in and own these assets are protected.
- Launching a National Health Equity Initiative focused on Black Men that addresses sickle cell disease, diabetes, mental health, prostate cancer, and other health challenges that disproportionately impact them.
- Legalizing recreational marijuana and creating opportunities for Black Americans to succeed in this new industry
Along with this plan, she’s entertaining reparations once again, telling popular black radio host Lenard Larry McKelvey, aka “Charlamagne tha God,” that she will look into it as president.
She’s also trotting out the Central Park Five—five black men who went to jail for the assault and rape of a white woman—to show how dangerous Trump is for blacks. The Five, whose innocence is dubious, claim in a new ad that Trump wanted them executed simply for the color of their skin.
It is very funny what she thinks will win over black men. The plan is to give them generous loans, support their crypto investments, and legalize weed. It’s not even attempting to offer them any higher ideal for their vote. It’s simply appealing to a caricature and hoping it works. It envisions that black men simply want more goodies from the government and legal weed. It’s an understandable yet brazen pitch. Kamala might as well propose free menthol cigarettes while she’s at it. (Appropriately, the Biden administration continues to delay a menthol cigarette ban to avoid alienating black voters.)
Will this be enough to excite black voters for Kamala? Probably not.
The real issue for Harris is her personality. People don’t like her. She’s inauthentic; she flip-flops all the time, and she’s extremely awkward in the public eye. She doesn’t have what it takes to excite black voters. They’ve already had a black president. A second one isn’t that inspiring anymore. Kamala muddies her identity by also insisting she’s Indian. Obama didn’t go out there and talk about his white identity. He was just black, and that’s what black voters would prefer. Kamala’s multiracial identity further cements her chameleon reputation. She’ll change who she is depending on the audience. Many blacks don’t like this.
Her campaign itself has also centered itself around college-educated white women. We had the “brat” theme, then the childless cat lady debate, and then the Taylor Swift endorsement, complete with press releases entirely in Swift lyrics. The focus on this demographic has paid dividends for the Harris campaign, as polls indicate she’s set to win a record number of college-educated whites. However, this pitch leaves other voters feeling left out. Black dudes seem to not be thrilled with the high-caste Brat.
This strategy may still be enough to win Kamala the election. It would be an important change in politics if Democrats win the college-educated white vote by double digits while Republicans finally get double-digit black support. It’s a smart trade-off for Team Blue. But I doubt the results will be that good for them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be melting down over the lack of black enthusiasm. Democrats need high black turnout to win elections. Running up the score in suburban blue enclaves won’t win them battleground states with significantly black cities.
Whatever happens, Kamala’s black men plan should dispel delusions that she’s some kind of moderate. She may have no principles besides her own advancement, but whenever she’s forced to make decisions, she comes down on the far left. Look at her career as a district attorney and attorney general. Look at her Senate record and 2020 campaign. Just look at what she’s done as vice president. She’s a conniving leftist who will accelerate the Great Replacement and make America look more like California.
The true sensible moderate in this election is Donald Trump. Only a fool would fall for Kamala’s ever-shifting pitch.
Scott Greer hosts the Highly Respected Podcast.
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.
