Last-minute gift ideas for the liberty-loving individual

What better way to say “Merry Christmas” to a friend or loved one than a gift that not only has physical value but also helps him or her preserve his or her liberty? If you are out of ideas, here are a few:

Knowledge

James Madison once wrote:

“A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”

So how can you give the gift of knowledge? I believe the best and only way to acquire knowledge is to read, read and read some more.

I read voraciously, but I’m selective in my reading. While I follow current events through some daily mainstream publications and by watching the occasional talking “news” reader shows, I don’t depend upon them for knowledge because all they feed you is the propaganda their masters want you to know.

Follow them too closely and you remain stuck in a vortex of conventional wisdom. Follow them too closely and you will forever be bound by normalcy bias — that state of mind that prevents one from considering the possibility of a crisis that is outside his or her normal experience.

But there are plenty of options that will help open a person’s mind.

The Bob Livingston Letter™: Since 1969 I have been sharing through my printed newsletter the health, wealth and liberty information that I have discovered in my extensive research. I work hard to uncover the truths that the elites and power brokers don’t want you to know. And then I compile it all into an eight-page newsletter each month. Give a subscription to BLL and you’ve given a gift that keeps on giving long after the holidays have passed. Each issue includes breaking health discoveries your conventional medicine doctor will never tell you about, money-making and money-saving investment tips your broker would never share with you, and privacy and asset protection strategies the government hopes you never learn. I have a special offer available at The Bob Livingston Letter website.

History books

• “James Madison and the Making of America” by Kevin R. C. Gutzman
• “The Founding Fathers Guide to the Constitution” by Brion McClanahan
• “Freedom Betrayed: Herbert Hoover’s Secret History of the Second World War and Its Aftermath,” edited by George H. Nash.
• “Liberty: The God That Failed,” by Christopher A. Ferrara
• “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” and the follow-up “The Secret History of American Empire: The Truth About Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and How to Change the World, both by John Perkins
• “The Real Lincoln,” by Thomas J. DiLorenzo
• “The Civil War,” by Bruce Catton
• “The Political Crisis of the 1850s, by Michael F. Holt
• Tragedy and Hope,” by Carroll Quigley

Money books

• “The Creature From Jekyll Island” by G. Edward Griffin
• “End the Fed,” by Ron Paul
• “History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II,” by Murray N. Rothbard

Health books

I have a special offer for you on a book written by my colleague and friend Michael Cutler, M.D. It’s title is “Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures.” In it, Dr. Cutler reveals natural secrets for avoiding  heart attack and reversing heart disease, the biggest heart treatment deceptions and ripoffs in America today, the sobering facts about traditional  heart treatments that establishment medicine will never tell you.

Dr. Cutler came  up through the belly of the beast. But when seeking treatment for his own health problem he learned that tradition allopathic medicine was not geared toward real cures but toward treating or masking symptoms. That’s why he wrote this book. Click on this link to get your own copy of “Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures” and learn about the cures establishment medicine doesn’t want you to know about.

• “The Vitamin D Cure” by James E. Dowd, M.D., and Diane Stafford
• “The UV Advantage” by Michael F. Holick, M.D., Ph.D.
• “The Arginine Solution” by Robert Fried, Ph.D., and Woodson C. Merrell, M.D.
• “A Cancer Answer” and “Eat to Beat Disease,” by Catherine J. Frompovich

Silver/gold

Real money, real wealth and long-term value are silver and gold. There are three basic reasons to purchase these precious metals: as an investment, as a hedge against inflation or for reasons of survival and barter should the entire economic system collapse.

When buying as an investment, you are betting that the price will rise above the price at which it was bought. Since it doesn’t pay dividends, like many stocks do, that is the only way you will see a return on your investment. And silver and gold can’t be inflated away like your dollars can be and are.

With silver and gold in a long-term bear market, you must consider whether you are investing short term or long term and whether the price trend will be up or down.

Although their prices have dipped, we happen to believe the long-term trend is up. That’s because the market hates uncertainty and Donald Trump’s election has created uncertainty, which creates volatility in the market. Uncertainty is good for gold.

If you are buying for survival purposes, then you, as do we, expect the worst and believe that inflation and collapse are inevitable.

There will never be a better time than now to buy silver and gold. Silver is currently selling for a spot price of just over $17. That’s less than it takes to mine it and mint it, and I think it’s the best investment deal out there. I think it’s at rock bottom.

Plus, silver has many industrial uses: in photography, technology, medical, defense and electronics. Because of this, there is only about one-sixth the amount of above-ground silver available for use than in 1900. Were silver prices not being manipulated down through the use of “paper” silver, it would easily be several hundred to several thousand dollars per ounce.

Parents and grandparents should buy a silver coin or two and give them as gifts to their children or grandchildren. While you’re at it, give them a lesson on sound money so they’ll better appreciate the gift.

Gold is now under $1,200 an ounce, and at that price is also a tremendous value.

I recommend buying from a local silver and gold coin dealer. Make sure it is established, has a good Better Business Bureau reputation, and, more importantly, acts as if it values your business. And don’t be afraid to shop around for the best price. While the price will be based on the current spot price, some dealers have larger markups than others.

Firearms/ammunition

Firearms are necessary for self-defense and home defense and to protect against totalitarian government. They’re great for putting meat on the table. And they’re just plain fun to shoot.

The firearm you buy will be determined by your perceived need or want. If buying for a family member or friend, be sure you know what kind of shooting he does and what weapons he already owns. Ask him or her what gun he or she has been salivating over.

If you are a first-time buyer and buying for yourself, take some time to test fire various weapons before making your decision.

Just like choosing the car you drive, choosing the weapon you own is a matter of personal preference. You don’t have to buy the Lexus, and you don’t have to buy new. Pick something that not only fits you but fits your budget, but don’t go cheap for the sake of cheap.

Most shooting ranges have weapons you can rent, and many gun stores have weapons available to test shoot. Make sure it’s comfortable, fits your size and will do what you need it to do. Ask questions. A good gun seller will spend all the time you need helping you to find the right weapon. Here’s some advice on choosing the right handgun from our friends at USCCA.

Advice for the novice buyer: If you’re buying ammo for friends or relatives — and they can never have too much — make sure you know what caliber weapons they own.

The best prices on ammunition can usually be found online at places like Cheaperthandirt.com, Midwayusa.com, Bulkammo.com and others. It can also be purchased at Wal-Mart and most sporting goods stores that sell weapons and hunting gear.

Firearms training/tactical training

It is impossible to be over-trained with a weapon. There are classes available that benefit everyone from the novice to the competition shooter. Classes can cover everything from firearms safety to how to deal with combat situations.

Once you become proficient at handling the weapon and then hitting a stationary target at various distances, advanced classes that will help you in tactical or active shooter situations are perfectly appropriate. Plus, they give you more time on the range where you are engaged in various levels of physical activity (great for your physical health) and meeting other gun lovers (great for your mental health).

The NRA is the obvious choice for safety classes. But most local ranges have regular classes, and gun dealers can direct you to them.

I’m not sure about other areas, but many county sheriffs in the south offer gun classes. Check with your local sheriff’s office.

Heirloom seeds

Growing your own fruits and vegetables is liberating. And should the supply chain break down for an extended period, having something of a green thumb may be necessary for your long-term survival.

Gardens need not be elaborate, and they don’t have to take up much room. We have several articles to help you get started including “Backyard gardening in small spaces,” “Gardening hints and tips,” and “Growing a backyard organic garden is good for your health.”

Heirloom seeds are superior to hybrid and genetically modified in several ways. But the most important reason, at least in a survival situation, is because the plants grown from heirloom seeds will produce seeds that can be harvested for the next season. This is not the case with most hybrids and all GMOs.

Besides, heirloom plants produce better tasting and more nutritional fruit and vegetables. As underwoodgardens.com writes:

As hybrid and genetically modified seeds take over the marketplace and our gardens, we may enjoy a few benefits such as a new color or improved, short-run disease resistance, supposedly improvements on the original plant. But to “improve” a plant in one way usually requires the subtraction of an original characteristic. Generally hybridized versions sacrifice fragrance in flowers, flavor in vegetables, and potency in herbs. What do you think happens to the nutritional qualities when they are developed to be shipped over 1200 miles to market? Why does the most basic back yard tomato beat the pants off of the fancy supermarket ones in looks and taste?

Storage food

Freeze-dried foods and military style Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) are convenient types of foods to have on hand for emergencies. These are available from outdoor supply stores, survivalist stores, and via the Internet. There are various types of MREs that can be purchased in kits with quantities to feed families for up to a year.

Warehouse stores like Costco sell freeze-dried emergency food kits in plastic buckets with as many as 700 servings for about $190. That would be enough to feed a family for four for 10 days.

When buying these pre-packaged meal kits, be sure you compare the packages for a list of meals and ingredients included before making your purchase. Some tend to scrimp on their offerings and provide just enough to survive but not enough for a hearty, filling meal.

Merry Christmas! And feel free to give your own last-minute gift suggestions in the comments below.

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