Fortunately, we now have history to teach us. We know that the stock market has just taken a bigger hit than the one that caused the Depression. Another recession is all but inevitable. So now is the time to prepare. It's high time to start asking ourselves some hard questions.

Do you know what the root problem is that got us to this point?

Do you know what some of the possible scenarios are for the path we are now on?

Do you know what the three smartest and safest investments are right now?

Do you know how to safeguard your own property?

Do you know what kinds of things to have stockpiled for a 2~4 week emergency?

Do you know what steps to take to be prepared spiritually, mentally, and physically?

Can you generate your own power if/when the grid goes down?

Does your family know that you have them covered?

What things are important to you in your world?

There is a lot of information out there, both on the net and elsewhere, that focuses on various aspects of these questions, but to my knowledge, only one or two places that address them all in a quick, concise, overview, written in such a way that you can quickly grasp the concepts and put them into practice.

And although it's easy to point fingers and blame other people, politicians, and ‘the system' on all the bad things happening, it's more constructive to simply know what happened, and then to focus on what kinds of things we can do to help be part of the solution. It all starts with us, in our own homes. It starts when we get things straight on a personal level, and then move outward, first to our immediate world, and then to our interactions with society as a whole.

Similarly, another part of this whole equation is our basic survival. We can't impact our world in a positive way unless we can survive the rough times. And we won't survive the rough times without becoming refugees ourselves, unless we take steps to prepare by asking ourselves the hard questions above, and then doing something about them. And that all starts by admitting that we have a problem, and recognizing that for the time being, it will only get worse. Therein lies the first, and biggest question that we have to start with.

Do you recognize that we are in a bad spot as a nation right now, and that things will only continue to get worse until the market corrects itself or we reach a breaking point (lots of worst-case-scenarios are possible)?

And the second biggest question, what are you willing to do to be prepared?

When things get bad, you have to be prepared. Focusing on the above list will give you a foundation to work from, and help you stay focused. And believe me, there is a lot of stuff out there that would love to distract you. But you have to focus in. You have to prepare. You have to get ready. You owe it to yourself and your family.