Ralph Borsodi's Advice
For Surviving Economic Disaster
(Part 8)

Dateline: 16 April 2017

This is one of Borsodi's "globe" coins. These, along with paper "constants" were part of an inflation-proof currency he started in the 1970's in Exeter, New Hampshire.


This essay is part of a series about Ralph Borsodi and his book, Inflation is Coming And What to Do About ItClick Here to go to the beginning of this series.

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After explaining the importance of land to survive an economic disaster (see Part 7 of this series), Ralph Borsodi presents three more areas of preparation...



Borsodi gives the idea of creating an emergency scrip a couple of pages of explanation in this book, but I don't really understand it.  

However, it is interesting to note that in the 1970s, near the end of his life, Ralph Borsodi actually developed a stable medium of exchange known as the "constant."  This experiment in local currency was an ambitious effort that met with a surprising degree of success (in my opinion) but came to an end when Borsodi died in 1977 at 91 years of age. CLICK HERE if you would like to read an article about Borsodi's debt-free, inflation proof currency.






That bit of advice is somewhat cryptic. Did Borsodi think that the coming hyperinflation would wipe out the industrial age and bring us back to an agrarian-based mercantile economy? Yes, I think so. Let's move on...




Okay. But really, how do "we" prepare leaders for this coming crisis? I'm sure that we don't do it with the public educational system as it now exists. And I'm sure Ralph Borsodi would agree with that 100%. But this suggestion is kind of abstract and beside the point. 

In this next excerpt, Borsodi gets back to reality...



That right there is a sobering commentary. Borsodi foresaw utter economic collapse, bordering on dystopia. His hope was that he might wake a few people up. His last sentence is epic, and it may be prophetic. It deserves to be repeated...


These individual homesteads and enterprises, these groups and communities, may then become islands of security, demonstration centers, and eventually the leaven which will permeate the whole of suffering society with the knowledge of how to lift itself from the chaos into which it's faith in centralization has plunged it.


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In the next installment of this series I will continue on through this book and provide excerpts of advice from Ralph Borsodi about "what a family should do NOW with it's savings and bank deposits." 


To go to Part 9 of this series.

5 comments:

  1. It does seem that, even if you "own" some land and/or a house, even if the mortgage is paid off, the powers that be can take it from you by raising taxes so high that you cannot pay. In that sense, I wonder if us serfs can ever really own real property.

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    1. chipmunk,

      I think you're right that we can never really own real property. But if there is not mortgage, we have a much better chance of keeping the taxes paid. Local government will continue to extract more and more from property taxes. But because property taxation is local, the politicians are more responsible and responsive to the local people. They will hold the line better than state and federal politicians. That's the way it looks to me.
      Beyond that, there are strategies for keeping property taxes low. Small acreage and a humble home help. Thanks for the comment.

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  2. it is true that centralized organizations will look to take resource to keep their 'structure' and power in place. in some sense this is good, because it keeps us from 'setting our hearts' on our land. our hearts must be centered on the Lord, and us relying on Him rather than our own puny arm for the future. that said, we can (and must) keep working for our own future under His blessing.

    This essay is great - it is moving into ideas for each personal 'solution'. i have 3 (soon to be 4) of my children in college now and struggling with that great challenge of money and time. they have avoided debt and paid their way so far, and are learning skills and to manage money with their time. we talk a lot about investing their sweat and time into small parts of land they can develop, or making friends/family in the community they choose to go to school (1000 miles from our home). i'd much rather help purchase 1-2 acres where they can garden and develop the land as a way to help them (if or when they ask). better yet, there are many senior citizens they can meet and serve with yard work for the opportunity to garden at their place. the garden is a small but important way for them to continue raising their food to offset inflation.

    i've had each of them over the years help me 'guerrilla garden' around the county here and it has been fun as well as educational. it makes gardening even more of an adventure for them, and encouraged us to try different things. we have found that potatoes are a great subject to try - and in the wild most of the public has no idea what they are. beans are more recognizable and seem to have been enjoyed by others more. not a problem, we see it as community service ;-)

    in the end, the kids are doing something constructive and developing skills. and it teaches all of us our dependence on the Lord and the joy in growing. even if we don't get to eat the fruit of our labors, it is time well spent.

    any other ideas out there? thanks for a great series of essays!

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  3. Monday April 17: Kevin Swanson has a good one today that is relevant to the discussion.

    https://www.generations.org/programs/643

    RonC

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  4. Very sobering indeed. One day when we were harnessing the horses to drive I looked at my husband and said, "We have to get really good at this because one day we'll be teaching others how to do it." Wow.

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