Is the Silver Academy Catastrophizing? Why is this Article mentioning Rationing Food, Supplies & Fuel?
In today's world, the ongoing wars in Ukraine, Russia, and the Middle East have severely strained global resources and economies. As nations grapple with mounting military expenditures and disrupted supply chains, a widespread debt crisis emerges. Governments, desperate to control inflation and maintain social stability, implement strict price controls on essential goods and services.
However, these measures backfire, leading to decreased productivity as businesses struggle with artificially low prices. Shortages become rampant, forcing authorities to introduce rationing systems for food, fuel, and other necessities. The global economy teeters on the brink of collapse as countries struggle to balance wartime demands with dwindling resources and a populace facing increasingly dire circumstances.
Civilians line up for their food ration in the southern part of Florence in Italy, during World War II. Photograph taken circa 6 August 1944 by George Frederick Kaye.
Giovanni De Carlo was a skilled carpenter in Milan, Italy during the 1930s.
He had built a modest but comfortable life for himself and his family, running a small workshop that specialized in crafting fine furniture. His days followed a familiar rhythm - waking early to open his shop, working with his apprentices, and returning home in the evening to his wife and two children.
Giovanni took pride in his craftsmanship and had developed a loyal clientele over the years.
As Mussolini's Fascist regime tightened its grip on Italy in the lead-up to World War II, Giovanni's life began to change dramatically.
The government's aggressive military buildup and autarkic economic policies started to impact everyday citizens. Raw materials like wood became scarce as resources were diverted to the war effort. Giovanni found it increasingly difficult to source the quality timber he needed for his furniture.
He was forced to use inferior materials, which affected the quality of his work and his reputation.
The regime's economic policies led to rapid inflation. The value of the lira plummeted, and Giovanni watched helplessly as his savings lost their worth. What once would have bought a week's groceries now barely covered a loaf of bread.
He had to raise his prices constantly, but his customers' purchasing power was equally diminished. Many of his regular clients could no longer afford his services, and orders dwindled.
Giovanni's daily routine was disrupted by frequent rallies and parades organized by the Fascist Party.
He was expected to attend these events, closing his shop and losing valuable work hours. Failure to participate could lead to suspicion and potential repercussions. The constant propaganda and atmosphere of surveillance created a tense environment that affected his concentration and creativity.
As Italy entered the war in 1940, conditions worsened rapidly. Rationing was introduced, and Giovanni struggled to feed his family.
The government requisitioned his tools and machinery for the war effort, leaving him with outdated equipment. Air raid sirens became a regular part of life, disrupting sleep and work. Giovanni spent many nights in makeshift shelters, worrying about the safety of his family and the future of his business.
The war also brought personal tragedy. Giovanni's eldest son was conscripted into the army, leaving a gap in the family and the workshop. Letters from the front were infrequent and heavily censored, adding to the family's anxiety.
Meanwhile, Giovanni's younger child fell ill, and the scarcity of medicines made treatment difficult and expensive.
By 1943, when Italy surrendered to the Allies, Giovanni's once-thriving business was in ruins.
His workshop had been damaged in an air raid, and he lacked the resources to rebuild. The economy was in shambles, and luxury items like fine furniture were the last thing on people's minds. Giovanni found himself doing odd jobs and repair work just to make ends meet.
The war had transformed Giovanni from a respected artisan to a struggling survivor. His skills, honed over decades, seemed irrelevant in a world torn apart by conflict.
The stable, predictable life he had known was gone, replaced by uncertainty and hardship. As he looked at his worn tools and empty workshop, Giovanni wondered if he would ever be able to return to the craft he loved, or if, like so many others, he would have to reinvent himself in the post-war world.
Giovanni's story reflects the experiences of many ordinary citizens whose lives were upended by the ambitions of ruling elites and the devastation of war. The economic instability, resource scarcity, and personal losses he endured were common experiences across Europe during this tumultuous period.
The American worker has been caught in a vicious cycle of economic hardship, largely due to the government's fiscal and monetary policies. Decades of unending wars, from Vietnam to Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Ukraine, have led to astronomical military spending.
This has been financed through a combination of debt accumulation and monetary expansion, resulting in a devaluation of the dollar and erosion of purchasing power.
According to the Watson Institute at Brown University's Costs of War Project, the U.S. has spent over $8 trillion on post-9/11 wars alone.
This massive expenditure has been facilitated by the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing programs and expansion of the money supply, which have injected trillions of dollars into the economy.
The consequences for average Americans have been severe. Inflation has outpaced wage growth, making essentials like housing, healthcare, and education increasingly unaffordable. The middle class has been hollowed out, with many workers struggling to maintain their standard of living.
Ben Norton's research highlights that since the 1990s, the U.S. has been involved in numerous military interventions, further straining the nation's resources. This perpetual state of war has diverted funds from domestic priorities, leaving workers to bear the brunt of economic instability and declining social services.
Consumer Credit Card Debt vs. Personal Savings.
Notice what happens when they begin to separate.
Consumer debt is 28% more than the peak of 2008, while personal savings is 8% less.
On Sunday I will reveal a plan where Silver restores hope to the villagers. It will be titled “the Silver Sunday Sermon”