I received the following from a retired flag officer who REALLY puts this issue in perspective. I was painfully aware of of Truman's and Obama's contributions but somehow missed Biden's.
It would behoove you to read this...
-- CR
***
"And Now to U.S. Executive Order 13603…
If it could happen there, it can happen here.
Canada is a different country from the U.S., and it operates under different laws.
However, it is wise to consider what is happening under the Emergencies Act.
In the U.S, we have the Defense Production Act of 1950. The act was initially enacted in response to the Korean War and the Cold War to ensure Americans had supplies and equipment during war times.
However, since it was enacted, it has been reauthorized more than 50 times.
According to the Congressional Research Service:
'The Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (DPA), provides the President a broad set of authorities to ensure that domestic industry can meet national defense requirements. In the DPA, Congress has found that ‘the security of the United States is dependent on the ability of the domestic industrial base to supply materials and services for the national defense and to prepare for and respond to military conflicts, natural or man-caused disasters, or acts of terrorism within the United States.’ Through the DPA, the President can, among other activities, prioritize government contracts for goods and services over competing customers, and offer incentives within the domestic market to enhance the production and supply of critical materials and technologies when necessary for national defense.'
The DPA has been utilized for natural disasters, such as hurricane relief and the COVID-19 pandemic by President Trump.
Presidents tend to make Executive Orders under the Defense Production Act to address national emergency procedures and delegate authority in these extraordinary circumstances.
On March 16, 2012, President Obama issued Executive Order 13603, which focused on National Defense Resources Preparedness, under the Defense Production Act of 1950.
The Executive Order updated previous orders to include specifics about who is responsible for allocating which materials.
According to Jim Powell, “More than previous national security executive orders, Obama’s 13603 seems to describe a potentially totalitarian regime obsessed with control over everything.”
Executive Order 13603 essentially gives the federal government power to seize control of everything, including:
All commodities and products that are capable of being ingested by either human beings or animals.
All forms of energy.
All forms of civil transportation.
All usable water from all sources.
Health resources – drugs, biological products, medical devices, materials, facilities, health supplies, services, and equipment.
Can you still sleep easy knowing the U.S. government can seize and control food and water?
It’s a terrifying thought.
On October 21, 2021, President Biden issued the Executive Order on the Designation to Exercise Authority over the National Defense Stockpile.
President Biden’s press release states, “In Executive Order 14017 of February 24, 2021 (America’s Supply Chains), I directed a comprehensive review of America’s supply chains to ensure that they are resilient in the face of a range of risks. One critical component of safeguarding supply chain resilience and industrial base health is ensuring that both the Federal Government and the private sector maintain adequate quantities of supplies, equipment, or raw materials on hand to create a buffer against potential shortages and import dependencies.”
Recent Events That Show It’s Possible
If you assume we won’t deal with anything as extreme as Canadians recently faced, consider the following examples.
JPMorgan freezes donations to Republicans who contested the 2020 election – “The country's largest lender was among many corporations that paused political giving following the deadly January 6 Capitol riots when supporters of former president Donald Trump tried to stop Congress from certifying the election.”
GiveSendGo hacking – As a result of Canada’s Emergencies Act, GoFundMe stopped allowing people to donate money to the Freedom Convoy through their funding platform. So people started contributing to the Freedom Convoy using a different funding platform – GiveSendGo. It raised more than $10 million. However, GiveSendGo was hacked, and all of those who donated (many of whom were Americans) had their personal information posted publicly, which threatened their livelihoods.
Preparedness Steps to Take Today
It is wise to recognize that what is happening in Canada could one day affect us. And that with a swipe of a pen, Executive Order 13603 could be enacted.
Here are some ways to prepare should you/we face “out-of-the-ordinary expansive governmental powers.”
Cash – Do not depend wholly on banks or other financial institutions. If the situation in Canada has taught us anything, it is that the government can go after our financial resources. Keep cash on hand.
Food – Executive order 13603 designates the ability to seize control of food resources. This includes taking control of meat packaging plants, farms, etc. Prepare for this possibility and keep plenty of long-term emergency food on hand.
Fuel and Transportation – Keep fuel in your gas tank and have a backup form of transportation. In addition, have paper maps on hand and know back-roads in your area.
Energy – Governments in America have already enacted rolling blackouts (such as Texas and California). Since we already know they have the power to do so, invest in solar power tools."
