Read Online William W. Johnstone by Phoenix Rising - Free Book Online Page A

entrepreneurial people to build businesses, which provided jobs?
    Finishing his bowl of chili, Jake went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door, then took out a block of cheese and carved off a thick slice. He grabbed a handful of crackers and another can of root beer, then returned to the living room to watch George Gregoire.

    Hello, America.
    I wish I weren’t doing this show today. I wish I did not have to say to you, what I am going to say.
    But I told you when I started this program that I would always question with boldness and I will always tell you the truth.
    Well, I’m going to tell you the truth now, and it is something that I never wanted to say, even though it is exactly what I have been suggesting for three months now—ever since Ohmshidi took office.
    I believe, in all sincerity, that this nation is now on a path to utter destruction. We are on a luge course, sliding downhill at ninety miles per hour, with no brakes, and with no barriers to hold us back.
    My advice to you is to dig in, and hold on. While there is still food available, and while money still has some value, though its value decreases each day, start stocking up. Buy packaged foods and canned foods, foods that have a long shelf life. Make a survival bunker in your basement; fill it with food, blankets, water, clothing, and yes, guns and ammunition.
    We are going down. Prepare for a very rough landing.
    Tuesday, March 20
    When Jake went into his office the next morning, he saw a lot of smiles on the faces of the lower grades. Although no checks had yet been issued, they were already spending their money.
    â€œI’m going to get a new Mustang,” one specialist was saying.
    â€œMustang, hell! I’m going to get new Caddy,” a sergeant replied.
    â€œNot me. I’m investing my money,” a sergeant first class said.
    â€œWhat makes you think you will be able to buy a Cadillac with one hundred thousand dollars?” Sergeant Major Clay Matthews asked. “Or for that matter, even a Mustang?”
    â€œCadillacs don’t cost no hundred thousand dollars,” the sergeant said.
    â€œAnd for sure, Mustangs don’t cost that much,” the specialist put in. “I’m gettin’ me a red convertible with white leather seats.”
    â€œYeah,” the sergeant said. “You know what? That don’t sound half bad. Maybe I’ll get a Mustang my own self, and save the difference in the money between that and a Caddy. Only I want mine to be white, with black leather seats.”
    â€œYou’re both crazy spendin’ money like that. You ought to be like me, and invest it,” the sergeant first class insisted.
    â€œNo,” Clay Matthews said. “The truth is they have a better idea than you do. They are right about spending it as soon as they get it, because the way things are going, if you invest your money now, within six months it will be worth about half. If it takes that long.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about? I don’t plan to speculate. I’ll probably buy mutual funds. They will spread it out, and be very conservative.”
    â€œJenkins, if you double your money in six months—say you run it up to two hundred thousand, or a quarter of a million, it won’t make any difference,” Clay said. “Two hundred fifty thousand dollars, six months from now, will be worth what fifty thousand is now. And fifty thousand now is worth what five thousand dollars was three months ago. My advice is to spend it as soon as you get it.”
    â€œYeah,” the other two said. “Come with us, we’ll all three buy new cars.”
    â€œWhen is the last time you priced a new car?” Clay asked.
    â€œI don’t know. I’ve never had enough money to buy a new car before.”
    â€œYou don’t have enough money now, either. I have looked; the cheapest new car on the market today is one hundred twenty-five thousand