(Daily Signal)—An Oakland City Council hearing revealed where left-wing views of justice lead, when the council debated a resolution Monday night to call for a cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Deep blue, out-of-touch cities in the San Francisco Bay Area often like to play United Nations, so that’s hardly news. What created a firestorm on social media is what happened after a line calling Hamas a “terrorist” organization was offered to the resolution.
All hell broke loose. For hours, speaker after speaker condemned the label. (The resolution passed, but without the amendments, which were defeated.)
Watch the video for yourself. It speaks volumes about unfiltered left-wing politics.
WATCH: Last night's #Oakland City Council meeting was disturbing. The council chambers were plagued for hours with support for terrorists, #antisemitism, and denial of the October 7th attacks. The Jewish community in the Bay Area stands strong against hate, and we call on our… pic.twitter.com/9cbHcGFMAw
— JCRC Bay Area (@SFJCRC) November 28, 2023
“The notion that this was a massacre of Jews is a fabricated narrative. Many of those killed on Oct. 7, including children, were killed by the IDF,” said one woman, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
Another speaker said that condemning Hamas is the product of “old white supremacists.”
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Gen Z leftists showed up in force.
A young woman wearing a face mask said that “calling Hamas a terrorist organization is ridiculous, racist, and plays into genocidal propaganda that is flooding our media, and we should be doing everything possible to combat.”
Another young woman, also wearing a mask, said: “I support the right of Palestinians to resist occupation, including through Hamas, the armed wing of the unified Palestinian resistance.”
In a smaller sense, the video certainly brought shame to the city of Oakland. I say that as a native of Oakland.
While the Oakland City Council devotes time to worthless virtue-signaling and giving an extended sounding board to pro-Hamas leftists, the city faces acute problems. Crime and homelessness are out of control.
An August report from KTVU-TV found that “violent crime is up 12% since last year at this time, and robberies increased 30% year-over-year.”
KTVU, Oakland’s Fox network affiliate, also reported in August that there had been 11,000 reported burglaries to that point this year, a 44% increase from the same time the previous year. Given the general lack of enforcement and punishment for criminals, I’m guessing that the total number of unreported burglaries pushes the number up much higher.
Violent crime had already spiked considerably since 2020’s summer of riots. In Oakland, the trend continues. While the NFL’s Oakland Raiders left town a few years ago, pirates have now showed up on Oakland’s shorelines. Yes, pirates.
Homeless encampments around the Bay have doubled as miniature pirate coves. Boats and properties in Oakland harbors are frequently raided.
Security in Oakland comes only for those who can afford it. Wealthier neighborhoods are now hiring private security to deal with robberies and break-ins. It’s a true progressive paradise. But for those who pay attention to its troubles at all, Oakland has become a laughingstock. That conclusion brings me no joy.
It’s a basic conservative impulse to love where you come from. Unfortunately, while there are still a handful of things I love about Oakland and the Bay Area, what it has become makes me sad and sick.
I loved my Oakland A’s baseball team, which will also soon be gone. I love my family and friends. I love the pleasant weather and natural beauty. I love the Oakland Zoo. But the ethos of the city and the people who run it are contemptible to me.
Oakland is an example of how even the most pristine pieces of real estate can be ruined by ideology and an inversion of justice. What’s happening there isn’t an isolated incident, though. It’s an indication of what’s to come, given the current ideological trajectory of our institutions.
While many liberals and Democrats have come out against the pro-Hamas speakers at the Oakland City Council meeting, I only ask: “What did you expect?”
The message of the fanatics at the meeting flows perfectly with left-wing notions of social justice.
Individual acts of evil are irrelevant for the “oppressed” fighting “oppressors.” If we are to take their rhetoric about “colonization” and land acknowledgments seriously, it’s hard to see this ethos not leading to violence or at minimum excuses for violence.
Hamas has gladly picked up on this rising ethos, too. Former Hamas terrorist chief Khaled Mashal said on Saudi television recently that wiping out Israel is entirely justified.
“We are the victims of the occupation. Full stop,” he said, according to The Telegraph of London. “Therefore, nobody should blame us for the things we do. On October 7, October 10, October million. Everything we do is justified.”
Hence, you can see how natural the alliance among Hamas, Islamists, and the far left really is.
Is it any wonder young people are suddenly “discovering” Osama bin Laden’s 2002 message to America on TikTok and finding they agree with it?
I’m sure that more than a few Democrats, especially Jewish Democrats, are horrified by this emerging reality. They should be. But their condemnation of the young, woke pro-Hamas fanatics will fall on deaf ears.
The Left created this monster, and now it’s eating them up. Young leftists took their rhetoric about “systemic racism” and the evils of Western civilization seriously and now they look to destroy it, literally.
Old guard Democrats won’t be able to stave off this rebellion for long. What’s happened in Oakland won’t stay in Oakland.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.