The chaos that we are witnessing in our streets is the direct consequence of the incredibly bad decisions that our leaders have been making for decades. Traditional morality has been banished from our public schools, gang members and drug dealers are constantly pouring across our wide open borders, and in many of our largest cities hardened criminals are let back out into the streets time and time again.
As a result, property crime is out of control, violent crime has risen to very frightening levels, we are in the midst of the worst drug crisis in the history of our country, and sexual predators are seemingly everywhere. I wish that I could call what we are experiencing a “crime wave”, but I can’t because a “crime wave” is just temporary. Sadly, what we are enduring appears to be due to a permanent shift in our culture, and I believe that conditions are only going to get worse during the years ahead.
Los Angeles County recently reinstated their zero bail policy, and local residents are fearing the worst.
If you can believe it, even rapper 50 Cent is horrified. In an ominous Instagram post, he boldly declared that Los Angeles “is finished”…
Rapper Curtis Jackson, also known as 50 Cent, addressed Los Angeles’ crime crisis last week in response to the recent reinstatement of the zero bail policy.
Jackson shared a FOX 11 Los Angeles segment about the zero bail policy on Instagram Reels Thursday. The policy, which was adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to reduce crowding in prisons, drops bail to as low as $0 for suspects accused of misdemeanors and non-violent felonies.
“LA is finished watch how bad it gets out there.SMH [shaking my head]” the “Candy Shop” rapper wrote on Instagram.
Sadly, 50 Cent is right on target.
Crime in the L.A. area is already wildly out of control, and now this zero bail policy is going to make it even worse.
In addition, we are being told that police in Los Angeles County will no longer “detain people for crimes such as theft, shoplifting, drug use, vandalism, battery, and a whole host of other non-serious, nonviolent crimes”…
Los Angeles County Deputy DA John McKinney can be heard in the shared report noting that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will no longer “detain people for crimes such as theft, shoplifting, drug use, vandalism, battery, and a whole host of other non-serious, nonviolent crimes that affect the quality of life for people here in Los Angeles.”
Seriously? So let me get this straight. They are no longer going to detain criminals if they steal things, use illegal drugs, smash windows or beat people up?
I suppose that is one way to get the crime rate to go down. But will letting criminals run wild in the streets really improve things?
Of course not. Just ask the citizens of Chicago.
Years of “soft on crime” policies have only empowered the criminals.
At this point, things are so bad that gangs of thieves drive around the city in broad daylight looking for potential targets to rob. When they find a promising target, they jump out of their vehicles with their guns drawn…
Democrat run Chicago had another weekend of rampant crime. This weekend, armed crews terrorized the city perpetrating dozens of robberies.
A report from the City Police Department shows that robbery at a five-year high in the city, up 14%.
Police believe at least three different crews are involved in this weekend’s rampage, but no arrests have been made.
Similar to prior sprees, these robberies involved three to five armed and masked men who jumped out of vehicles to rob victims on the streets.
Putting violent criminals back into the streets again and again simply does not work.
When will the politicians that are running our major cities finally understand this?
One recent study found that zero bail policies cause crime rates to go up dramatically…
A recent study published by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office found that zero bail policies have “horrific” effects on public safety.
“I mean, we have more people being shot at, stabbed, assaulted, robbed, beaten. These are real victims – and the numbers are staggering under zero bail,” Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig told Fox News Digital.
The study found that suspects released without bail reoffended 70% more often than those who posted bail, and were rearrested on 163% more charges. Suspects released without bail were also accused of three times as many violent crimes.
If you live in Los Angeles or in another major city that has a zero bail policy, I would recommend getting out of there while you still can.
Of course most of our biggest cities are unsafe at this point. According to one recent survey, a whopping 33 percent of all Seattle residents are considering moving out of the city, and “public safety” is one of the primary reasons…
About 33% of Seattle residents surveyed said they were seriously considering moving out of the city. Sixty-seven percent said they were not. The poll of 500 residents was conducted by phone from June 12-16, with a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
Among the residents who say they are considering leaving, 37% blamed rising housing costs, and 34% cited public safety as their primary reason for moving.
A lot of people think that all of this violence is just temporary and that conditions will “return to normal” eventually.
But that just isn’t going to happen.
The number of mass shootings just keeps going up every year, and during the first half of this year we were already on pace for another brand new record…
As the July 4th weekend approaches mass shootings in the U.S. have reached a record high for the mid-year point—there have been more than 330 mass shootings so far this year, according to data collected by the Gun Violence Archive.
Unfortunately, the second half of 2023 is off to a really bad start, because we had 16 more mass shootings during the Fourth of July weekend…
From the nation’s capital to Fort Worth, Texas, from Florin, California, in the west to the Bronx, New York, in the east, the Fourth of July long weekend in the US was overshadowed by 16 mass shootings in which 15 people were killed and nearly 100 injured.
This is our country now.
The fabric of our society really is unraveling all around us, and we are moving into times when there will be great civil unrest from coast to coast.
I know that this article has been quite heavy, and so let me try to leave you with something to smile about.
In Atlanta, a man recently tried to rob a nail salon, but everybody ignored him…
I have to admit, I found that footage to be quite funny. But there is nothing funny about the violence that is happening in our streets day after day. Decades of incredibly foolish decisions have brought us to where we are today, and our cities are only going to get even more violent from this point forward.
Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.
Article cross-posted from End of the American Dream.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.