Are Governments Running Out of Candy?
Submitted by Jeff Thomas via InternationalMan.com,
By now, many readers will have seen the popular American YouTube video by Mark Dice in which he stands on a city sidewalk and offers passers-by a free gift. They may choose between a 10-ounce silver bar or a large Hershey’s candy bar.
Each taker chooses the candy - most of them with no deliberation. The only taker who seems to hesitate at all soon decides on the candy, as “I don’t have any way to do anything with the silver.” (Behind them is a coin shop. Mister Dice offers to take the silver bar inside if she wishes, but she’s uninterested and takes the candy.)
A 10-ounce silver bar is presently valued at about $140, the Hershey’s bar at about $2.
Mister Dice doesn’t comment in the video as to what lesson might be learned from this, but an obvious one would be that Americans (or at least those who reside in his home town of San Diego, California) are prone to prefer instant gratification over something of substantially greater, but delayed value.
If this is his intent, he’s succeeded well in his light-hearted, but instructive video.
Since the 1950’s, much of the world has perceived Americans as being on “Easy Street,” and in recent decades, the U.S. government has fuelled American complacency through a consciousness of easy money and entitlement.
And so, Americans are often perceived by those outside the U.S. as being somewhat insulated, spoiled, naïve, and short-sighted. But, if this is true, Americans certainly aren’t alone. Much the same exists in Europe, Canada, and quite a few other countries that have, over recent decades, followed the American socio-economic model.
Trouble is, all that easy money and entitlement exists only as long as a source for the “freebies” exists. Unfortunately, the idea that freebies are free is inaccurate. Freebies of any description must be paid for by someone.
In business, freebies are sometimes provided as “loss-leaders” to attract more business. They therefore become a line item on the monthly balance sheet, a cost-of-doing-business expense. The business hopes to make the loss back through sales generated by the loss-leader.
But, when governments hand out freebies, no sales will be generated, so the loss will not be recovered. When governments hand out freebies, the cost is paid with tax revenues. And when taxes have been raised to the point that further increases would be difficult without inciting rebellion, governments generally rely on borrowing.
But, of course, borrowing, too, eventually reaches the point that it has become so great that it cannot be repaid. What then?
Invariably, economic collapse is the outcome. But, why should this be so? Well, when the tipping point is reached (as in jurisdictions like the EU and U.S., where more than 50% of the public are net recipients and the other 50% must pay for both themselves and the other 50%), there’s no turning back. Those who have been receiving the candy have been told that they’re entitled to it and now they believe it. They will not tolerate the suggestion that the freebies must end, even though no further tax can be reasonably levied; no further funds can be borrowed. Therefore, in every case, the result is systemic collapse, not a gradual tapering off.
For thousands of years, governments have sought to appease people with freebies. In ancient Rome, a dole of grain and free entertainment (bread and circuses) helped to usher in the decline of the empire. Like all great empires, it collapsed under a weight of debt and mismanagement.
Much of the world is presently at this tipping point. Governments continue to promise benefits that they know will soon come to an end. If history repeats, they will continue repeating this promise right up until the day when the candy stops being dished out.
They will then say that no one could have seen this coming.
Amongst the public who will be the victims, there will be three general groups.
First will be the Takers, those who have been the recipients who depended upon the freebies the most. They will be the hardest hit, as not only will they lose the freebies, they will have neither the skills nor the imagination to become self-reliant overnight.
The second group will be the Payers, those whose tax dollars paid for the freebies. They will be hard hit, as the system in which they live and operate has broken down, although they will fare better than the Takers. They will have the skills and imagination to rebuild their lives (having previously been productive enough to pay for themselves and others.)
Third will be the Preparers, those who envisioned the inevitability of the collapse of the system. They most certainly will have the skills and imagination to rebuild their lives, but, additionally, they’ll have the means with which to rebuild quickly. They will be the very few who chose the silver bar over the candy and had the wisdom to store the silver in a jurisdiction where it was not likely to be appropriated by a dying empire.
Much of the world is now running out of candy. The latest version of Bread and Circuses is reaching its inevitable end.
Replaying the video, we observe Mister Dice offering chocolate or silver. Each Taker looks at him incredulously, then makes the obvious choice, the candy. Each of them gives him a smile. Each is pleased to walk away with the chocolate, but, likely as not, each will have consumed the bar before the day is out and the benefit of the freebie will be short-lived.
After giving out eight bars, Mister Dice is all out of chocolate and he presumably goes home. He has no candy, but he does have 10 ounces of silver. Perhaps he owns other silver bars as well, stored in a safer jurisdiction.
Each of us has the opportunity to make a choice as to whether we wish to be Takers, Payers, or Preparers. The choice we make may define our future.
(15 votes)
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I'll take the silver, thank u
Here's another Dice video where he tries to sell a 1 oz Gold Eagle for the face value - $50 - and he doesn't get any takers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk5aRIz17fk
I select "Observer". More popcorn, please.
I must have missed the part where enough people start to realize that this is the LAST party and the taking accelerates exponentially. That's pretty much where we are right now. Linear projections don't work once people realize the gig is up.
It may still be far away but it's closer than many realize.
"Merikus ? Merikus is First Citizen of the Empire !"
"Bread and Circuses"
Wrong.
The "Takers" will be just fine.
The Gubmint can put as many digital 1's and 0's on those EBT cards as it wants.
Result: Theft from the "Payers" (in the form of inflation), but how many "Payers" even notice it?
In fairness, it is easier to verify authenticity of a silver coin than gold on the street. You can more easily pass off a fake gold coin in a brief encounter than silver. Undoubtedly some of the people who are hesitant are probably thinking it's fake more than not understanding it's value, however, I'll bet most of them don't understand the value.
But, seriously, if he said $5, I wouldn't hesitate.
I know the sound of a gold eagle well enough that I'd happily risk $50 on one if they'd just let me drop it a few inches above the concrete first.
But safe to say, very few people have that skill anymore. Hell, there was only one teller at my bank that know that pre-'64 coins were silver and worth more, and they laid her off a year ago.
But dropping a gold coin can damage it. Silver you can literally just feel it, and then put it on something cold/warm and tell if it's all silver (because the heat will move faster than anything else of the same weight).
Although he has a video that he will give the people a 1 oz Canadian maple gold coin if they can tell him the spot price of gold within $300
We can always eat the dead, son.
- Progressive Prepper
Hopefully a smart move, cause you know what comes after the candy, don't you?
Nice Star Trek reference ZH.
I think our future is going to be more Star Wars than Star Trek. We already have The Emperor identified.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiiD8KeAFew
Bow Wow Wow version has better eye candy
Someone else will take the gold.
I posted this on the MonTell thread.
Sneaky fuckers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpkm6iSd--c
Hunh! Interesting.
Then a cop tickets him for soliciting w/o a license.
The fine?
$140.00.
$140 = worthless joobux. Net 'fine' value = ZERO (cause we're not talking 'fine' silver here)
or in the case he paid the fine with two bars of chocolate and the cop thot he was making out like a thief.
yes, idiocracy is here
The population has gone Full Ovine
"Americans are often perceived by those outside the U.S. as being somewhat insulated, spoiled, naïve, and short-sighted"
That statement says much. I would translate into some reality....."Americans are often perceived by those outside the U.S. as being ill-educated, brainwashed, addle-pated warmongering, meddling fools. Short sighted? Give me a break. Instant gratification addicts. But I think that lack of any critical thinking skills from the bottom up that has the hubris icing on the captured cake of power,,, breeding a society of truly UGLY Americans addicted to killing foods and Walmart.
The bread and circuses were not even properly planned. Nation that has eliminated prospects for their people by selling their power to $$$$$. Dumbed down the education and rewritten, edited history to suit the current propaganda machine.
Who else holds up the Bushes and Clintons as legit candidates? (And objects to duly elected govs like Assad?) Who else declares that corporations are "people" and as such are free to buy elections and not even tell shareholders of it.
Good luck folks. You are way beyond naive and short-sighted.
Sorry but this type of article ups my electrons. Nonsense as usual from International Man. Just really simple crap that is like the CNN of doom porn.
Author has little to say except "click the link and pay me for more crap"
And YES people will click and subscribe and pay for more kindy-garten analysis of current events. Author is a complete example of what he complains about....so?
" a jurisdiction where it was not likely to be appropriated by a dying empire" All the empires are dying and all will appropriate everything they can get their hands on. There is nowhere to run and hide. Prepare for the worst where you are. You will need skills, supplies, and friends. Running away from friends to somewhere unknown will not help.
I gotta tell ya, if it had been a Snickers...............
Freebies? Where is Mark Gatekeeper Dice on the juden?
Freebies like what jews get? To protect their false flag staging areas?
http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/203059/jewish-groups-get-94-of-hom...
Rember, the jew squatters in israel are under constant attacks from the people they have invaded, looted, raped and murdered!
http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-much-america-really-spends-on-i...
Of course the filthy jews came up with the idea of scapegoat...er duck, or chicken or goy or....whatever.
jews, the money printing, false flag attacking, gentile sex slaving self chosen master race.
https://www.radioislam.org/photos/jews/jew_photos.htm
A while back, my sister asked me if I knew where one of her silver rings was when she was young.
She knows I collect silver and gold and she tought I had taken it... a stupid fucking silver ring...
She kept on nagging and nagging so I went to my safe and I took a 5 ounce libertad 2010 coin, which is pretty collectable and gave it to her. I told her it was 99% pure silver.
She threw it to the ground! Convinced that ring was worth way more!
What does a ring weight?? 3 to 4 gramms?? And most probably it was made from clay silver!
To many people don't know what silver and gold are. I just needs to shine and sparkle. And if it doesn't shine and sparkle, it's can't be real.
I wonder... how money people have thrown gold and silver coins... of high value... in the garbage bin when they found it in their parents home when they passed by...
My wifes father willed her all the coins (specifically coins) that were in his house. Her mother was considered a "crazy hoarder" by my wife's brothers.
We found socks full of change under furniture, plastic Tum's bottles full in the backs of closets, a small bag of quarters under the bathroom sink -- all over the house.
It took me a couple of weeks to search it all for silver. When it was done there was almost $1400 worth of regular coins, and two quart mason jars full of silver dimes and quarters.
They are in my safe.
Yeah, yeah, nice story. Now give her back the ring.
As long as they can steal candy from the people, they won't run out.
Just for the record, where's the safe juristiction for the silver bar?
In your hands. Only really safe jurisdiction unless you sleep walk and lose stuff.
If you cannot find a safe place to hide your PM's just ask the .gov to keep it safe for you.
Oh yes all the Teachers need a raise, Cause they are doing a fine job.
No cure for that much stupid Forest.
I'll take the delicious Hersey chocolate bar. While I'm eating it 10 seconds later a nuke might drop on me and then I'll have had the last laugh.
I remember watching the film 'Dumb & Dumber' and laughing at some of the ridiculous situations the characters got themselves into......after reading this and seeing other similar things every day, I now wonder why I even thought that they were ridiculous!
As we head towards WW3, most people will probably not even notice until it hits them in the face (probably when their mobile stops working) and then it will be time to unleash the disclosure that will potentially rock the entire planet......
http://beforeitsnews.com/conspiracy-theories/2016/01/top-secret-alien-ph...
Well, we are talking about California. Enough said.
Keep your treasures safe in heaven. Assume that if material wealth can be confiscated by people who outgun you, it will be. That includes your silver dollars.
Don't assume either that the Empire will go out with a whimper. Nothing worth eating will grow in a nuclear winter on cobalt-salted ground. Your gold and silver coins won't buy much then.
We're all riding this tiger. Only God's mercy will get you off it alive. Anybody who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you crap you don't need.
Each of us has the opportunity to make a choice as to whether we wish to be Takers, Payers, or Preparers. The choice we make may define our future.
Preppers!!! Seems to be no genuine interest other than stockpiling and bomb shelters. I tried to whip up a little interest but nobody wants to discuss this option. see www.fontebispo.com a little town in Portugal, far from any first strike zone and so many advantages.
When preppers get serious I think they will kick themsleves for the wasted opportunities like this, buying Silver and the Golden Visa being offered in certain countries.
PH
I'd take the silver. Americans are fucking fat, stupid and proud of it. Can't wait for the culling.