Readiness and Survival Guide: 2012 Edition!

As a public service, I present to you now a most excellent preparedness manual, authored and edited by members of our group. I hope you find this exceedingly helpful in the critical time known as 2012.

The Anti-Communism KTM Presents:

READINESS AND SURVIVAL GUIDE:

2012 Edition

written and edited by (in alphabetical order):

Sara Julian, Stephen Rathburn, and Tom Wise (editor)

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PREPARING TO PREPARE

Mission Statement

There are two ways to approach readiness, prepping, or whatever you want to call it: (1) try to prepare for total chaos, anarchy, and/or fascism, or (2) try to prepare for a society which still will have some law and order. This “readiness” list focuses mainly on the latter scenario, that is, on the idea that America will not turn into a “Mad Max” post-apocalyptic wasteland. Why this focus? Basically, the alternative (Mad Max) is just too difficult for most people to process. If we want people to prepare, we must first be able to reassure that everything’s going to be OK. Since I believe that our future will have a happy ending, I am more than willing and capable to make this declaration. Why should I believe this? First, I believe in God. The Bible tells us that a weak people get a cruel leader. Therefore, if we strengthen ourselves, we have hope for a more cautious President and military force. Second, I believe in the Constitution. There is no better form of government than that of the United States, and the framework provided is unbeatable. I say this not from bravado but from much individual and group study. Third, I believe that America is special. This land, the very ground we stand upon, inspires many to be free but also, and more importantly, to be good. In the end, I believe the American spirit will not allow our citizens to destroy each other. In sum, America will survive, and the people in it shall be happy and free. However, we may have a time of trial for which we must prepare.

How far ahead should one prepare?

This simple question is the single most common cause for most people failing to prepare at all. Why? Due to the fact there can be no universal response, the question causes confusion, distrust, and, finally, surrender to the normalcy bias that says, “The heck with it! I’ll wing it!” In other words, the question “How far ahead should one prepare?” is both mind-boggling and paralyzing. To avoid this disastrous mindset for one and all, I shall actually provide you with a concrete answer!

First, it depends on your attitude:

(1) If you pooh-pooh any future crisis, you should prep enough only to get you through a very bad blizzard, that is, about two weeks ahead. Everyone should do this anyway, and the cash required is quite minimal.

(2) If you have moderate concern (for example, you understand that the national debt is sinking us), you should prepare about 3 months ahead.

(3) If you believe the end is near, prepare for about one year ahead.

Why this focus on attitude? Very simply, if you don’t believe in it, you won’t do it. Therefore, those with less belief should prepare minimally and, if their belief should grow as they prep, they can move to the next level. If not, at least they’re ready for a winter blackout.

How far ahead you prepare also depends on how long you plan on staying in one place:

(1) If you can’t or won’t leave your home for any reason whatsoever, you should be prepared as far ahead as your attitude allows.

(2) If you have a better place in mind (a friend with land, for example), you should prepare (a) up to a month’s worth of household supplies for your current location, (b) about two weeks worth of traveling supplies (in case you get waylaid), and (c) as many portable setup supplies (sleeping bags, non-GMO seeds, etc) as you can carry to your eventual destination.

Finally, how much should you spend?

(1) If you’re entirely broke most of the time, you can still buy inexpensive food and water items here and there for storage, and have true emergency supplies and tools.

(2) If money is not an issue, you should spend just beyond where you feel foolish. Don’t try to work too far beyond your attitude, that is, past your belief system. You’ll crash and burn.

How Do I Prepare for Every Situation?

You can’t. There, now you know. Take a breath and understand that you’re only preparing as far ahead as you can visualize your own success. Don’t plan for a nuclear war if you don’t foresee yourself surviving it, either physically or mentally. Instead, think about yourself in a circumstance where you’re successful. What are you doing? What are you eating? Where are you living? The key is to take that visualization and gather all the goods and supplies for it. So, if you can visualize yourself surviving a nuclear war, you likely see yourself in a bunker. Therefore, purchase a bunker. If you can’t afford it, do the best you can.

The other issue here is believability. Do you really believe there will be a nuclear Armageddon, or are you just fantasizing scared? Dig deep. What are you really worried about? What do you think is the most likely adverse event to force survival?

Let me give you my personal view. I think the “general strike” is the worst of all possible worlds. Its success means that the law is not enforcing personal property rights or the safety of the public in general. It means that communists and anarchists are working together to stop the flow of food and energy. It means a civil war is imminent, for there will be few people merciful towards the blockade of life-sustaining goods. It means jealousy when you turn on your generator or enjoy a hot meal. It means possible military insurrection or coup. This to me is the most helpless (but not hopeless) of situations. Full scale apocalypse at least affords some freedom from such evil fascism.

Things to Address

First, you must make provision for at least some food and water, and an immediate way to keep warm.

Second, there is the question of survival beyond a week or two, to avoid scraping in the pantry for a stray can of beans. Make purchases appropriate to your belief system and bank account. Take into account existing replenishing resources, such as a garden or a water well with manual pump.

Third, there is mobility, that is, how do I get out of town and what does that mean? Where am I going? Why am I going there? Who’s coming with me? What am I taking with me? How much room do I have? Can I feasibly get there?

These, I think, are or should be everyone’s main concerns.

About The List

This list is divided into sections, each having several elements which I think are essential. The sections are in order of some import, but may be re-ordered with very little or no loss of flow.

Not covered here are long-term food storage techniques. The list assumes an emergency situation of three months or less, followed by a cessation of crisis which results in local economy, including bartering. For preparedness of a longer or more severe nature, consider the Mormon approach (for example, www.foodstoragemadeeasy.net).

These choices were devised through various group meetings over the last two years, including the latest series with the Anti-Communism KTM, which brings you this list as a public service. Other consulted resources for information have been online survival blogs, websites devoted to prepping, various survival books and manuals, Mr. Ryan Croft, and my own personal experiences with products.

No doubt many will argue the merits or deficiencies of this list. By all means, argue. Meanwhile, prepare!

THE LIST

FOOD

I wanted to present the three or four best foods for (1) nutrition, (2) portability, and (3) shelf life. Also on this list are various ancillary products. You will naturally use these items very soon after you buy them, then replenish to have stock at all times.

Peanut Butter. Unless you’re allergic, this is concentrated energy. Plenty of protein, fat, and nutrients. Make sandwiches or eat right out of the jar. Light, portable, takes heat or cold well. Can be used as bait to catch small wild game, even critters if you’re so inclined. Shelf life usually 2 years but can be up to 4 years if careful. Recommended Storage Amount: 20 jars. Cost = $60 at $3.00/jar.

Soup. Meal in a can. Lots of variety: chicken, beef, vegetable, beans, lentils. Better than beef stews and hash, which are more expensive and don’t taste as good. With vegetables, gives you a bit more nutrition than just meat or broth. Portable in small quantities (say, 10 cans). The can serves as its own pot and bowl, and has various re-uses. Shelf life good. Recommended Storage Amount: 50 cans, mixed variety (Progresso, Campbell’s Chunky, Healthy Choice all good). Cost = $100 at $2.00/can.

Pasta. Dry pasta has great shelf life and is very light for portability. Provides carbs and is filling. Minimal fuss if you have water for cooking. Recommended Storage Amount: 50 boxes, mixed variety shapes. Cost: $50 at $1.00/box (look for sales, but avoid cheapest generic brand as usually they are mealier after cooking).

Canned Meat. I recommend canned chicken, tuna and salmon for best quality and nutrition (good selection at Wal-Mart). For your bug-out bag, how about some beef or turkey jerky?

Tomato Sauce. Not a basic food, but works well over pasta and meats. Tomatoes good source of vitamins and minerals. Shelf life OK. Portability a bit rough, especially after opening. Recommended Storage Amount: 40 cans, mixed varieties. Cost: $40 at $1.00 can.

Seeds. Non-GMO seeds for planting a crisis garden. Naturally, it takes time to grow food, so this is forward-thinking. Light, portable, great shelf life. Can be used as a barter currency. Easily hidden. Recommended Storage Amount: at least 1 kit with about 23 seed packets. Cost: $50 at Costco online.

Vitamins, Etc. In a world without variety, perhaps without even much to eat, vitamins and other supplements can keep the body properly supplied with essentials. Light, portable. Needs to be kept from sunlight and heat. Here is a recommended short list: (1) multi-vitamin without iron - try to find one that packs in several odd minerals, like molybdenum, (2) B-vitamin complex, (3) Vitamin C with bioflavonoid, (4) Salmon Oil (heart, joints), (5) Garlic Pills (blood, lungs, sinuses). Recommended Storage Amount: 1 year supply. Cost: about $200 (worth every penny). If it helps, I’ve used Swanson Vitamins for years (check them online).

Coffee. If you drink it, manna. If you don’t, essential barter. For everyone, it’s caffeine energy. Good shelf life and portability. Recommended Storage Amount: 3 cans. Cost: about $50.

Milk. Go to Sam’s Club and buy a box of their powdered milk. It tastes good, lasts a long time, is light to carry, and you need only add clean water. Cost: $20.

Food Bars. High-calorie, long shelf-life bars which meet military rationing standards are portable and dense. I’ve chosen Mainstay brand. Cost: $70 for ten 9-serving (400 calories each) bars.

Gum. Staves off hunger, adds saliva. Also use for putting up maps and sealing leaks. Sugarless (I like Trident White).

Fishing Equipment. This can be as simple as fishing line, some hooks, a bobber, and a few lures. A net helps. You don’t even necessarily need a fishing pole (use a broomstick if you have to). In a real survival situation, whether on the coast or inland, you are more likely to find fish than wild game, which will be hunted out quickly. If you’re trying to avoid detection, fishing is quieter than gun hunting.

Plastic – fork, spoon, plate, bowl. While everyone has metal utensils and real crockery, it might not always be convenient to clean, so disposable is a good alternate. Light and washable, in any event. Next time you go in for a burger at the local fast food joint, get yourself some plastic cutlery (and some packets of condiments and seasonings). Plastic bowls and plates are very inexpensive at the Dollar Store.

Seasoning. Boredom can be a real issue in a survival situation. Salt and pepper normally goes without saying. Of the herbs, I prefer basil as an all-around. Garlic powder is great too. These are very inexpensive at the Dollar Store. Condiments are a must, and I recommend mustard for its shelf life and versatility, especially in the plastic bottle. Nothing wrong with soy sauce, hot sauce, or any other number of vinegar-based products (including vinegar) which expire much later than cream bases (mayo, dressing).

Metal – pot, pan, spatula. This is a recommendation for a “bug-out box.” If you’re hitting the road, don’t forget one of each, as you will essentially be camping. The pot will be good for boiling water, as well as for cooking. Spatula is vital.

Notes on Food. (1) Fruits and vegetables are skimpy on this list. For home prep, consider freeze-dried products, which have tremendous shelf life and portability (though bulky). Costco has various configurations. For mobility, I recommend dried fruits, although these tend to be expensive with a shorter shelf life. Canned fruits and vegetables are good if you intend to remain home-bound (but obviously take up much space in the trunk of a car). Canned greens are packed with nutrients. Beets are an overlooked goodie. (2) You may have noticed “rice and beans” missing. This combo is meant to provide a complete protein, but I think soup or peanut butter do as good a job. Rice and beans are no more portable than anything else, need to be cooked (or, without heat source, soaked until soft), and shelf life is not indefinite. I personally have some rice and beans but I’m not stocking up on it in a big way. (3) Wheat is an item for the very dedicated. Bags of flour don’t have the decades-long shelf life of wheat, but will work in short term situations. In any event, you’ll still need yeast and other ingredients to make bread. (4) If you like your eggs, consider powdered. I recommend Honeyville in cans, Ova Easy in pouches.

WATER

Jugs. In an emergency situation, it’s good to have bottled water around, not only for drinking but also for cooking, washing, and more. Watch the expiration date. Not very portable. Do not store jugs on concrete floors – the cement will actually leach through the plastic and into the water! Distilled water has its uses, so you might want to have a few gallons of it as well. Recommended Storage Amount: 20 gallons for each person. Cost: $15 each person.

Filter. You want to have a portable, proven, very low micron (0.2) water filter. I recommend the Monolithic (monolithic.com). Go there now and order one or two. Cost: $30 each, or you can buy the bucket system for $50.

Bleach. Even at 0.2 micron filtration, you can’t filter everything out. Certain very bad microbes can still squirt through. Boiling the water is a perfect solution. However, if no heat source is available, you can use Clorox bleach (recommended is 8 drops per gallon, twice that for cloudy water). See this webpage: http://www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/purify.htm or http://safewater.supportportal.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=23015 or

http://www.newjerusalem.com/PureWater.htm if you don’t trust the government.

Notes on Water. (1) Emergency water packets available at Amazon. Keep these “sippies” in your bug-out bag and vehicle (withstands harsh environment). (2) Some folks use a rainwater barrel. If you do, avoid wood (possible poisons) and instead get “blue” polypropylene (http://www.rainbarrelsandmore.com). Store with enough bleach (or alternate pathogen and algae killer) to keep it fresh.

SHELTER

Car or RV. One of the good things about our society is that we’ve built structures. Imagining that you flee to the countryside, your car is not only your transportation but also temporary home until you can find friends. As long as it’s not extremely frigid or blistering outside, a car makes good shelter from the elements and animals. With a minimum of gasoline, it can be heated or cooled, and the battery recharged every day. Generally speaking, there is a bed (back seat), radio, pantry and closet (trunk). The larger the vehicle, the hardier the survival. An RV is the ultimate because an entire family can manage to survive for some time in relative comfort.

Tent. Even if you have a car or RV, it’s good to have a worthy tent for the worst sheltering dilemmas. A pop up dome is just fine, but so is your standard army-issue. In a pinch, a tarp can supply shelter but this is extreme short-term.

Last resorts. Caves (see “Maps”) are semi-ideal temporary abodes. Avoid areas where strangers congregate, and don’t trap yourself.

COMMUNICATION

Ham Radio. If there is law and order, you’ll have to procure a license. In any case, you’ll need an antenna. This can be quite burdensome, but if you think that a situation may arise without cell phones, it might be worth your while to have one (even if you never use it). They even make ham radio for the car. No brand or type recommendation per se, as I’m no expert.

CB. These have become passé, but that doesn’t mean in a crisis they won’t make a comeback. You can have one installed in your vehicle, or buy a portable (looks like a walkie talkie). Cost: $100-150. On eBay, you can get one for less than half this price.

Shortwave. Yet another broadcast avenue to investigate, using RTTY.

Marine VHF. For the coastal survivor, send-and-receive.

Morse code. It can’t hurt to become familiar with it.

Semaphore. Better than smoke signals but not as cool as lantern flashes.

Radio Receiver. Besides the car radio, it will be a good to have either a battery-powered or solar-powered model, just to keep up with any news while on foot. A small transistor AM/FM type sells at Wal-Mart for $5 (I love mine). Inclusion of NOAA weather station a big plus.

Batteries. If you’re going to use portable equipment, you’ll need battery power. Avoid oddball and rare varieties.

Wristwatch. We don’t often think it, but time is an essential in life. A wristwatch can be used for monitoring progress and timing, synchronization between members or against enemies, arranging calendars, and so forth. Wind-up type means vigilance but independence.

TRANSPORTATION

Car or RV. See “Shelter.” Some have recommended using only a diesel car from a certain era. Others have proposed conversion to natural gas or propane. It’s a semi-moot point. Furthermore, a non-traditional fuel system in a chaotic world likely means the absence of a trained mechanic, and therefore demands the ability to fix it yourself.

Bicycle. If no protection from elements, animals, or humans is necessary, and you have the requisite leg strength and stamina, this is the non-gasoline way to go. Hybrid mountain/road bike gives best versatility.

Motorcycle. For speed and great gas mileage, you can’t beat it. Takes some skill and there is always the danger of the spill. Dirt-bike can be even more advantageous in certain situations.

Horse. Overlooked resource, but requires management (food, shelter, etc) until ready for action, and some skill when the time arrives.

HEAT & COOKING

Volcano Stove. Compact design works with small amounts of wood and charcoal for an efficient and clean (sometimes even hidden) heating and cooking facility. Generally comes with a propane attachment. As of December 2011, the Volcano II was going for $125 on Amazon.

BBQ. A supply of charcoal and a standard grill makes for some good cooking without electricity or other supplied energy. Propane is even better, if it can be stored.

Camp Stove. The typical two-burner scout stove of flat design is supremely portable and works with a small bottle of propane, good for several cooking sessions. Swedish camp stoves are excellent, but Coleman is just dandy.

Wood. For fireplaces and hearths, always hardwoods, never evergreens, seasoned for 6-12 months or more. Keep tinder on hand (dryer lint works).

ELECTRIC

Generator. If you’re absolutely not going to move out during a crisis, you’d better have some backup power. Remember, installation is extra, can be expensive, and a permit is many times required by law. There are several options: (1) Gasoline Generator. This is the standard, but it requires fuel storage, carburetor cleaning, proper metering, and is noisy (not subtle); (2) Propane Generator. There are some good ones out there, and you can get one to run the whole house for about $1000. Quieter and more efficient than gasoline; (3) Solar Generator. Possibly the most expensive of the lot to set up, it requires more planning, but the upside is that the sun is free; (4) Battery Bank. Not generally known in this country, the battery bank is popular elsewhere. It is essentially several car batteries connected in some series, producing the required volts and amps to run your household or some portion of it. An alternator or dynamo recharges. Setup can be a bit complicated, but it’s an inexpensive way to go, as those in third world countries can attest.

Inverter. From a car battery, an inverter takes the DC power and converts it into AC. You won’t run your entire house, but you can utilize small appliances and electronic equipment. Your vehicle of choice will need to run periodically to charge the battery powering the inverter, so you’ll require gasoline at some point.

RV. At the risk of being repetitive, I recommend the RV as a source of unending electricity. RV’s use a two-battery system, one left idle to charge the one supplying the electricity. As long as there’s gasoline, and as long as the batteries don’t cave, you’re golden. Even then, many RV’s can be modified for a solar panel as well. Naturally, the RV has many more uses (shelter, transportation, heat, light), so it really is in many ways the ultimate survival station.

LIGHT

Candles. The old standby. Fat ones are easy to pack, don’t break, and seem to burn forever.

LED. All LED flashlights, including, penlights, are superior to the old D-battery kind. An LED camping lantern (as low as $10) outshines the elder fluorescent. A rechargeable type will last a long time before needing plug-in.

Glow Sticks. Light and portable, you can even cut one and use it for night-fishing bait.

Matches and Lighters. Necessary for the candles, but also for starting fires, signaling, and bartering.

CLOTHING

Work Boots. For hiking, moving items, stomping through dirty areas, protection while chopping wood or doing other chores.

Galoshes. Rubber protection for your shoes, through snow, ice, water puddles, dew, etc.

Down Coat. We should all have one anyway, with hood for wind, snow, and ice.

Gloves. Work gloves are the most versatile. Leather palm with cuff.

Hats. A couple of baseball caps against the sun, at least.

Scarf. When it’s cold, you’ll thank me.

Long Underwear. How warm are you now! Wool, polyester, or cocona.

Blankets. You need at least two of the sturdy type (whether or not you’re hitting the road). In addition, the “space blanket” is a very tiny bit of room which provides emergency warmth for about $1.00.

SLEEP

Air Mattress. If you have the means to inflate, it’s a good alternative to sleeping on bare dirt. Very helpful when staying with friends, especially the new kind.

Sleeping Bag. There should be one for every person.

Pillow. The backpacking type compresses to nothing and it’s almost like home.

HYGIENE

Teeth. Toothbrush (toothpaste optional!), floss.

Hair. Shampoo (doubles as soap), comb and brush.

Toilet Paper. Recommended Amount for Home: 100 extra rolls. If splitting the scene, don’t forget to grab a few rolls.

Smells. Deodorant, Ozium.

Shaving. Disposable razors, or you could opt for a straight razor.

Towel and Washcloth. Now you’re dry.

Feminine. The ladies know what they need.

Miscellaneous. Vaseline, alcohol (rubbing), nail clippers.

MEDICAL

Prescription Drugs. If you must take special medications, don’t forget them. Try to always have on hand a 3-month supply of each, just in case.

Rubbing Alcohol. Critical.

Activated Charcoal. This is part of an essential medical pack, having so many uses. Some have complained that loose activated charcoal is too messy, so there’s pill form also (Swanson Vitamins online). No side effects. To understand better how activated charcoal heals and soothes, get the Dinsley or Cooney book here: www.charcoalremedies.com/books.

A free scribd document for using activated charcoal is here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/57365862/Activated-Charcoal-Use.

Colloidal Silver. Touted as the best antiseptic ever, there are nevertheless side effects to account. Product purity comparisons here:

http://www.silver-colloids.com/Reports/reports.html.

I don’t personally have a brand recommendation, so do your homework.

Bob Beck’s manuscript free on archive.org here:

http://ia700303.us.archive.org/13/items/TakeBackYourPower-BobBecksuppressedMedicalDiscoveries/TakeBackYourPowerhigherQuality.pdf.

One of the best books on personal manufacture of colloidal silver is by John Hill, here:

http://www.amazon.com/Colloidal-Silver-Medical-Toxicology-Manufacture/dp/1884979084.

Cayenne Peppers. The value of hot peppers in herbal medicine is well known. Check out this website (among many): http://ushotstuff.com/medical.htm, or consult any book on herbal medicine. You can then decide if you want to grind your own or buy from a vitamin or health outlet (or from Amazon).

Antibiotics. Even with the herbals and the above natural medicines, it wouldn’t hurt to have a Z-Pak on hand.

Kaopectate. Sometimes it’s necessary.

First Aid Kit. Bandages, tape, butterfly-type wound closure strips, an assortment of band-aids, Neosporin-type ointment, anti-fungal, Q-tips, tongue depressors (variety of uses), Caladryl (bug bites and poison ivy), hydrocortisone ointment, a wilderness first-aid book, ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl, thermometer, tweezers, emergency dental care, and whatever else you may need without the kit becoming excessively large and heavy.

INFORMATION

The following are good to have whether in peacetime or in extreme social or economic unrest. The website archive.org has many free pdf files – download and read later on a laptop computer. Keep this library in one place for easy move-out.

Maps. If communications are down, you won’t have Google Maps, and possibly not even GPS, in the car. Therefore, get a road map of the area. For Western North Carolina, terrain maps showing caves could be helpful.

Medical Book. You’ll want a layman’s guide to symptoms. Where There Is No Doctor and Where There Is No Dentist are classics. Also, consider Merck Manual.

Gardening Book. Agriculture is necessary for the organization of society. Seeds without know-how is shooting blind.

Survival Book. There are so many guides out there, it would be difficult to give a recommendation. I’ve had Angier’s book for years, but it’s somewhat outdated. To get a free overview, try the local library.

Fix-it Book. I recommend “How to Fix Everything” from Reader’s Digest.

Bible. Bedrock of our society. For law and order, we seek to Torah. For human nature, we need read but a few words. For faith, it is endless. Remember God always for humility, mercy, and justice.

Constitution. Know your rights. Retain the finest form of government ever devised. Understand what the American spirit is all about. A pocket Constitution works just fine, but keep a pdf also.

Herbal Book. Alternative medicine. A must.

ENTERTAINMENT

Cards. Standard 52-card decks. Also, RPG (Magic) or strategy (Pokemon). These will provide endless hours of enjoyment in a small space.

Dice. Craps, yahtzee, and more.

Intelligence. Chess, checkers, travel Scrabble, other travel kits. Keeps your wits sharp and your mind thinking ahead.

Ball. If you like baseball, pack the bat, ball and glove. Apply appropriately for football, soccer, or basketball. A handball can provide hours of small-space fun.

DVD. A battery-powered DVD player can be a great boon. Laptop computer even better. A portable hard drive can hold many movies.

Music. In this era of iPods, it’s hard to imagine not having a source of musical entertainment. Think viscerally also: (1) harmonica is small and the hobo’s choice, (2) acoustic guitar if you can find room, (3) tambourine for the gypsy, etc.

Games Book. Hoyle’s Book of Rules for cards and dice. A compendium of board games might also be fun.

Liquor. You don’t have to be a drinker to pack a bottle of whiskey or vodka. It serves as an icebreaker between strangers, emergency antiseptic, emergency fuel, and a type of barter.

Tobacco or Non-Tobacco. Cigarettes and such for the smoker. Barter for the non-smoker. E-cigarettes are a good choice for a non-toxic after-dinner relaxant.

Candy. Hard candy is sweet, durable and makes good barter.

CASH

Gold. Portable banking. If you can’t afford it, think of your wedding ring, chains or other jewelry as barter items. No amount can be recommended but analysts believe 10% of your total investments should be in precious metals. Since you’re prepping, make that real metal, not paper gold.

Silver. Same as gold but more convenient for buying necessities, such as groceries and fuel. Small bits keeps you low profile. Scrap silver quarters and dollars are just fine, but “rounds” are perhaps even cheaper. Don’t forget that your silverware and silver jewelry count towards the total. There is 40% silver content to post-1964 Kennedy half-dollars and Eisenhower dollars.

Paper Money. I personally don’t believe the dollar can be excluded from the world currency exchange, even after a collapse. A dollar indicates the value of work you’ve already provided. I think there will be a concession to that work ethic. Further, if we come to a deflationary period wherein the dollar prevails and circulation recedes, paper money will increase in value (can you believe it?). Therefore, it will be a good idea to have some paper money in your possession. Considering bank runs and closings during such panics, having at least a few hundred dollars on hand is good defense (but those who have the means can stash up to one month’s expenses). Supposing you decide to keep $500 available, mix the denominations this way: 1x $100, 2x $50, 5x $20, 10x $10, 16x $5, 20x $1 – this gives you some portability and versatility.

Barter. Everything is barter material, but items you can break into small quantities, and which are light and durable, work best. Coffee, bullets and seeds are good examples for this type of value exchange.

DEFENSE

Rifle. The argument rages when it comes to firearms. For hunting, the rifle is superior. I’m not an expert on brands or types, but a semi-automatic rifle with spacious clip affords good protection as well as food gathering. I like the .22 caliber – it kills as well as any other, and is ubiquitous and inexpensive. Concerning ammo, the hollow-point bullets are more expensive but do more damage; but the non-hollow-point are cheaper, and therefore excellent for stock, practice and barter – buy both. Don’t purchase Chinese-made bullets, if possible (many stories now circulating concerning shoddy production). Take at least one basic shooting class, and practice your at-home gun route. For the record, the argument against the shotgun is its scattered nature, and the argument against the handgun is its relative inaccuracy at long range (but, by all means, get as many weapons as makes you secure). As Mr. Croft might say, “The purpose of a handgun is to get you to a rifle.”

Hunting Knife. Versatile instrument, very portable and durable. Use for close-range defense, gutting game, assorted building projects where applicable. No specific recommendation on brands, but don’t buy cheap at the expense of quality.

Bow/Arrow. Silent hunting, useful also for defense and even fishing to some extent.

Martial Arts. The ultimate portability. Even knowing one or two moves (whether offensive or defensive) is an advantage. If you have access to a heavy bag, practice jabs and power punches (be careful with wrists if a beginner, and wear gloves). If you like, try a home-study program (www.gracieacademy.com offers jiu-jitsu programs for men [Combatives], for the ladies [Women Empowered], and for kids, [Bullyproof]). Flexibility is important, so conduct a daily full body stretching regimen (takes about 20 minutes). For stamina, try low-impact aerobics. Even if you don’t like fighting, fitness is an integral part of survival. I hate to put it this way but – get in shape.

Papers, Please. Make duplicates of all important documents, such as deeds, contracts, insurance plans, licenses, phone lists, credit cards, diplomas, even photos. Paper copies to safe deposit box (or home safe), digital copies to several flash (jump) drives. Back up your important computer files to flash or exterior hard drive (in a collapse, you can’t depend on “the cloud” or Carbonite).

TOOLS

This is not a comprehensive list of tools. There are just too many possibilities, and it depends on what you want to accomplish. This is, I think, your basic survival kit. For construction of dwellings (say, a cabin), more planning will be necessary.

Screwdrivers. A multi-screwdriver is essential. The bare minimum is flathead+ Phillips, but you may find hex head and square head bits handy.

Socket Set. Standard (SAE)+ metric. Small ¼” drive set not bad, but 3/8” is easier.

Adjustable Wrenches. A large and a medium-size.

Allen (hex) wrenches. Such bolts are everywhere. Get a small set of common sizes.

Folding Shovel. Compact device to move rocks and dirt, snow and ice, plant seeds.

Safety Goggles. Eyes safe = a good day.

Duct Tape. Invented by men with no carpentry skills – I’m not really kidding here. Duct tape can double for nails and screws in less-than-extreme cases. Fix chairs, hoses, windows – everything – in a jiffy. Bind enemies.

Hand Drill. How are you going to make holes? A very sturdy awl could substitute.

String and Rope. Twine is nice for binding, packing, measuring. Rope for towing, pulling, and more. Avoid polypropylene rope.

Mini-Sledgehammer. Break things. Tamp down quickly. Good weapon.

Can Opener. Basic necessity.

Swiss Knife. Bring it for the scissors, the file, the blades, the little saw, and more.

Fly Swatter. You’ll regret not having one.

Insect Repellant. There are too many black flies, hornets, yellow jackets, mosquitoes with diseases, and other pests in our area to not have at least a can.

Saw. Sure, we’d like to bring the chainsaw, but a folding wood saw or pocket “chain” saw (Amazon) is probably going to be the best compromise between portability, space, and usefulness. Many products constantly come to market, so check before buying.

Scissors. Cutting and dividing. An extra weapon.

Razor Knife. Opening boxes, slicing duct tape. An extra weapon.

Tape Measure. The difference between a shelter and a pile of rubble is about two inches. Measure twice, cut once. I wouldn’t count on the laser when the battery runs low, so make it a Stanley.

Car Tools. AAA will likely not come to your rescue during an apocalypse. If you’re traveling by vehicle, you’ll therefore need to plan for overheating, flat tires, and dead batteries. Have (1) coolant, (2) spare tire, (3) jack, (4) fix-a-flat (or mini-compressor), (5) jumper cables, (6) extra fan belt, (7) extra radiator hoses. For electrical issues, carry extra fuses and an extra headlight. Finally, flares are versatile for signaling, lighting fires, providing short-term light, and even self-defense.

CHILDREN

In general, the needs of a child are the same as an adult. However, don’t forget special foods, medicines, clothing. Entertainment covered already.

PET

I think a reminder to bring necessary pet items (such as foods, drugs, leash, collar, bowl, bin, blanket, vet records, etc.) is sufficient.

CLOSING ARGUMENT

An ancient Chinese proverb, so simple and self-evident, yet ignored by too many:

Today’s preparation determines tomorrows achievement.

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Copyright Notice: c 2011 Tom Wise. You may distribute this document in any manner you see fit, but you may not remove the names of the authors. Thanks for being capitalist!

Lesson 14: The Communist Manifesto, Chapter 3

I hold weekly anti-communist meetings for interested parties here in Hendersonville, NC.

Synopsis of Week 14, Part 5

I will be completing The Communist Manifesto this week, but I'll be delivering it into smaller bites over the next several days.

Chapter 3: Socialist and Communist Literature

1. Marx develops a critique for various forms of past socialism. He divides these into three main categories: Reactionary Socialism, Conservative or Bourgeois Socialism, and Critical-Utopian Socialism and Communism.

2. Reactionary Socialism is divided into Feudal, Petty-Bourgeois, and German (“True”).

3. Reactionary Socialism

Marx begins with his own struggles (see past Synopses for his history to this point), claiming that in France and England, due to political intrigue and other dynamics, “a literary battle alone remained possible.” Marx derides the bourgeoisie as blind to their coming fate: “through total incapacity to comprehend the march of modern history.” The key is not so much that the bourgeoisie “creates a proletariat as that it creates a revolutionary proletariat.”

It is quite interesting that Marx never mentions the American Constitution, a document which gives great consideration to the revolutionary proletariat insofar as it recognizes “we the people” as having various inalienable natural rights, and even providing a method by which the Constitution may peaceably be amended, even overturned (should such time come). By failing to acknowledge this marvelous invention, Marx lives in a static world of medieval middle-European mindset. It might be argued that Marx was only a product of his environment, but this argument is irrelevant against the fact that he had opportunity to choose famous and utile republicanism rather than mob rule and regression. Since we know he was no ignoramus, Marx was a deliberate radical.

Marx continues his diatribe by calling for the infiltration and perversion of religion, specifically vulnerable Christianity (“Nothing is easier than to give Christian asceticism a Socialist tinge”).

4. Petty-Bourgeois Socialism

This section rehashes the medieval argument, slipping between labeling various factions as Victim or Oppressor. The merchant is, according to Marx, exploitative but also exploited as time marches on. Much is made of alliances between this petty bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

Marx believes this type of Socialism “laid bare the hypocritical apologies of economists.” Even so, Marx provides no real evidence, only generalities which may apply just as much, if not more so, to communist productive methods. If we view our modern Federal Reserve as a Keynesian (communist) money machine, it is socialist, not capitalist, economics which must be blamed for engendering the booms and busts of the 20^th and 21^st century. True capitalism is limited by actual (strong) currency, but communist-funded (Keynesian) capitalism is the foundation for unfettered economic disaster. In truth, the current global economic crisis is the logical destination for communist high finance. Without credit procured by compassion and egalitarianism, the economies of nations would progress more slowly but more realistically. But this was overturned by invoking the “right” of the proletariat to his own home and to middle-class credit. Once this floodgate was opened, those with no means were permitted to purchase resources and build things with imaginary money. No one can blame human beings for having such desires, but their fulfillment for the working class came mainly via threat of lawsuit, even of violence (that is, at the point of the sword). Thus, it is communism which has brought the world to the brink. Furthermore, like Marx, today’s communist blames capitalism for the excess, omitting almost entirely the behemoth and interventionist central government as responsible.

Marx claims the evidence “incontrovertible” that technology, invention, and accumulation of wealth causes overproduction and therefore crises. Nothing is further from the truth. Overproduction is due to loose credit, not strong currency. When credit is widely available, consumers may purchase more than they can afford, yea, more than they can actually use. This gluttony, while not against Torah principles, is nevertheless harmful. For when credit is extended to buy, buy, buy, factories naturally expand their capacity, and labor is increased for the term. When the credit mysteriously disappears (a consequence of arbitrary central governance decisions), factories are forced to trim down or close. The booms and busts have therefore little to do with greedy bourgeoisie, but are almost exclusively the fault of “big government” interventionism.

Marx speaks plainly about “the crying inequalities in the distribution of wealth.” The language used is itself rife with poetic nonsense, as if guilt makes a decent ruler of economics. Marx follows with the usual litany of sorrows which capitalism supposedly has caused.

In the end, Marx rejects this type of Socialism as an anachronism and regressive, and says it, “ended in a miserable fit of the blues.”

5. German or “True” Socialism

In an effort to support various immoral positions, Marx begins by boring us with an equalization between French radicalism and German philosophy. One of the great “successes” for German philosophy was that, according to Marx, “The German literati reversed this process with the profane French literature.” Mainly, Marx mocks the “too intellectual” German who brought French radicalism (read: mob violence) to a more cultural plateau: “The French Socialist and Communist literature was thus completely emasculated.” Marx intones that the German philosophers had in fact transmuted virile radicalism to effeminate philosophy, “representing, not true requirements, but the requirements of Truth; not the interests of the proletariat, but the interests of Human Nature, of Man in general.”

Marx shifts gears to inform that the cognitive dissonance of the Germans then changed to be “against representative government, against bourgeois competition, bourgeois freedom of the press, bourgeois legislation, bourgeois liberty and equality, and of preaching to the masses.” Some details of then-contemporary German radicalism follow, with much flowery but negative pontification: “The robe of speculative cobwebs, embroidered with flowers of rhetoric, steeped in the dew of sickly sentiment, this transcendental robe in which the German Socialists wrapped their sorry ‘eternal truths’, all skin and bone, served to wonderfully increase the sale of their goods amongst such a public.”

Finally, Marx makes the distinction between German Socialism (nationalistic, that is, Nazi) and Marxism: “It went to the extreme length of directly opposing the ‘brutally destructive’ tendency of Communism, and of proclaiming its supreme and impartial contempt of all class struggles. With very few exceptions, all the so-called Socialist and Communist publications that now (1847) circulate in Germany belong to the domain of this foul and enervating literature.”

6. Conservative or Bourgeois Socialism

What is as old or older than communism? Why, the rich bleeding heart liberal (note that Marx calls them “Conservatives” to reflect their unchanging nature) who may be found, as Marx says, “redressing social grievances in order to secure the continued existence of bourgeois society.” Imagine Roseanne Barr advocating guillotines for those rich who cannot be “reeducated” and you get the idea. Marx tells us this sector is comprised of “economists, philanthropists, humanitarians, improvers of the condition of the working class, organisers of charity, members of societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals (helloooo!), temperance fanatics (prohibitionists), hole-and-corner reformers of every imaginable kind.” In effect, Marx is offering his thanks to all these for making life easier for the persecuted communist. These are in reality the enemy of the true patriot.

Marx rightly notes that Conservative Socialists “want all the advantages of modern social conditions without the struggles and dangers necessarily resulting therefrom. They desire the existing state of society, minus its revolutionary and disintegrating elements. They wish for a bourgeoisie without a proletariat.” Marx describes several maladies of the middle-class and the rich. First, that civilized living requires no exploitation of other humans. This is a dangerous mindset, for it is close to communistic. It eventually ends in a guilt complex that propels these soft-hearted to “atone” by supporting radical views and causes. Sometimes this is known as “white guilt.” Second, that “soft socialism” may be acquired at no cost. This is a consequence of accepting progressivism, that is, slow immersion into communism. It ends when merry-go-round Ponzi schemes crash.

Marx also identifies a second type of Conservative Socialist, whose goal is not so much social as economic engineering. These are called by Marx “reformers,” who only seek to improve the lot of the working class without smashing the system. Falling into this category may be any person at all, from the entrepreneur to the systems analyst to the do-gooder; and therefore this catch-all net, while an interesting diversion, is much too general to be of any use. For his part, Marx notes one branch of this tribe to include those who “lessen the cost, and simplify the administrative work, of bourgeois government.” This supplies the reason that “limited government capitalists” fall under the Marxist’s wrath. It is not austerity to which the communist objects (they are, after all, advocates of non-technological society) but the continuation of a system which demands austerity after excess. The Marxist is therefore also a prohibitionist, seeking to prohibit the alcohol of prosperity in order to avoid the inevitable credit crunch hangover.

The goal of Marxism is to vanquish the Bourgeois Socialist, to make it only “a mere figure of speech,” for the idea that the bourgeois may exist “for the benefit of the working class” is an insult to the Marxist. As such, there is much pride tied up in communist revolution. To be fair, it’s not difficult to understand how one downtrodden might turn up his nose against the rich man’s handout; in some manner, this is noble that the poor man should strive to his best level by his own efforts. But this is as far as we can travel with Marx, for he is not espousing finding one’s niche in capitalistic society. Rather, he seizes upon great common grievance, the central mast for communism, in order to foment, overturn, and control.

7. Critical-Utopian Socialism and Communism

Marx immediately makes an interesting point, one which works against him, that the first proletariat uprisings failed in large part “owing to the then undeveloped state of the proletariat, as well as to the absence of the economic conditions for its emancipation, conditions that had yet to be produced, and could be produced by the impending bourgeois epoch alone.” A thunderbolt! Marx admits that the proletariat may only emancipate himself on the back of capitalist success, for there is no release from poverty by any organization of poverty! Someone must invent the inventions, roust the resources, organize the factory, and deliver the goods – but Marx’s contention is that such things occur for no purpose other than to deliver the poor into communal prosperity! This is Hegel’s historical materialism, pressing that such turnabout of events is inevitable (whether by natural or supernatural means).

According to Marx, human nature which seeks to build is therefore “ordained” to be undone by its own ambition. If this seems like familiar territory, understand that Marx has perverted the Bible. Whenever in the scriptures man becomes too arrogant, God intervenes with appropriate comeuppance (Garden of Eden, Tower of Babel, conquest of Israel by various empires, destruction of the Temples). Nevertheless, the sin of man is not his capitalistic nature. As we’ve previously examined, Torah, the only Law of God, enshrines private property under “Thou Shalt Not Steal” and “Thou Shalt Not Covet.” The sin is instead the inability to refrain from conceiving and carrying out assault upon another man’s private property. When Paul in the New Testament asserts that a Christian should obey all authority, this is a plea based on the recognition of police power necessary to protect private property. That police power is at times abused is ultimately not to be blamed on Judaism (see On the Jewish Question) or the capitalist system.

Clearly, the communist does not wish to merely put an end to abuse of police power but also to uproot religion, prohibit entrepreneurial activity, control all means of production, and enslave every person for the “common good.”

Following, Marx acknowledges the “crudest forms” of communism, that is, “universal asceticism and social leveling.” He doesn’t blame early revolutionaries for their failure to achieve communist goals, for they had no historical basis by which to compare results. Nor is Marx necessarily aggrieved that the first radicals went to “search after a new social science, after new social laws.” This reformism was at least a mandatory failure for future communists to avoid. Marx does, however, criticize their appeal to the ruling class for assistance to transition from capitalism to communism, even while noting their idealism, that they wanted “to improve the condition of every member of society, even that of the most favoured.” In any case, Marx sees them as foolish dreamers: “they wish to attain their ends by peaceful means, necessarily doomed to failure, and by the force of example, to pave the way for the new social Gospel,” though “they are full of the most valuable materials for the enlightenment of the working class.”

Among the “fine” elements Marx discovered in those ancient manuscripts were “the abolition of the distinction between town and country, of the family, of the carrying on of industries for the account of private individuals, and of the wage system, the proclamation of social harmony, the conversion of the function of the state into a more superintendence of production.” Marx rightly points out that these proto-communists failed in their earnest endeavors because they were “Utopian,” specifically, proponents of sub-culture communism within capitalism. This Marx detests, for “they are compelled to appeal to the feelings and purses of the bourgeois,” continuing in their fantasy of “the miraculous effects of their social science,” proselytizing “the new Gospel” while still opposing working-class politics, and this basically to avoid the great societal conflict which Marx beckons.

Lesson 14: The Communist Manifesto, Chapter 2: Part 4

I hold weekly anti-communist meetings for interested parties here in Hendersonville, NC.

Synopsis of Week 14, Part 4

I will be completing The Communist Manifesto this week, but I'll be delivering it into smaller bites over the next several days.

Chapter 2: Proletarians and Communists (fourth installment)

This is structured as Marx's quote followed by my remarks.

(a) “The charges against Communism made from a religious, a philosophical and, generally, from an ideological standpoint, are not deserving of serious examination.” Marx is right. There’s absolutely no reason to seriously consider the accusations against an ideology that plainly states its goal and mission as replacing present societal and economic framework with an entirely new vision. Just because their unabashed aims include the confiscation and negation of private property, the reigning in and abolition of religion, the freezing of familial bonds, and the segregation of human nature (and human beings), these are not causes for concern or examination. That the history of experimentation with Marxism has resulted in tens of millions of deaths, and much more misery, is not cause to judge against it. Move along; nothing to see here.

(b) “Does it require deep intuition to comprehend that man’s ideas, views, and conception, in one word, man’s consciousness, changes with every change in the conditions of his material existence, in his social relations and in his social life?” Marx plays games. Those who don’t agree must be pseudo-intellectuals (the extermination of which is vital in Leninism). Those who agree are by Marx’s own definition sheep and shallow thinkers.

Furthermore, Marx is not even correct in his assertion that man’s consciousness must change in time or tune with changes in material living conditions or even social relations. For a man who is based in true righteousness is not deeply moved by upward or downward mobility. Naturally, when these changes are steep, adjustments must be accorded, even some shock permitted. Yet, when adapted, the grounded man does not alter his consciousness (if we define that as psyche, or motivated thinking). Only those who are loose, inexperienced, or arrogant will find themselves in such dire straits. But this suits Marx, for he seeks those with unresolved grievances, not those with a ready solution in God.

(c) “What else does the history of ideas prove, than that intellectual production changes its character in proportion as material production is changed? The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class.” Changing the subject, Marx nevertheless tries to link consciousness with intellectual production, and therefore material production. Inventions and copyrights are naturally intertwined with production and economic activity. But not all ideas are business ideas, and therefore Marx’s argument falls flat. It might be argued that even pure culture (for example, poetry) is defeated by the capitalistic urge to “earn a living” - but in a free society there is no compulsion for any artist to surrender his integrity; such compromises are made to satisfy customer bases. These are called niches.

If, on the other hand, the argument is that such poets ought not be fettered by thoughts of commerce, it is self-defeating; for the poet without motivation, either for or against survivalist society, has no basis for his art. Even the love sonnet is bound to the notion that some competitor has been defeated. Let us go deeper: even the spiritual is grounded in the notion of pain and pleasure, fortune and not, much of which is rooted in the dispiritedness of poverty or the effervescence of plenty.

Marx’s one and only goal is to gain control of the means of production, and this by the theorem of divide and conquer. He is in this respect even more single-minded than the capitalist towards converting the intellectual product into the material product. Thus, by his crass materialism, Marx himself cannot be considered a patron of the arts, for he is against not only bourgeois society but also “useless” philosophy. For their survival and welfare, all artists and thinkers should therefore beware and avoid any of Marx’s doctrine.

(d) “When people speak of the ideas that revolutionise society, they do but express that fact that within the old society the elements of a new one have been created, and that the dissolution of the old ideas keeps even pace with the dissolution of the old conditions of existence.” Marx excuses himself for retaining those portions of capitalist thought, deed, and arrangement which suit his purposes. This hypocrisy is played out every day by those Marxists who pledge wildly to revolution yet still imbibe in whichever product or service they happen to need to survive. It is no different in the nations which are observed to be communist, for the tyrants who rule there live as kings while their proletariat are malnourished, unheated, and mistreated.

It is also a false assurance from Marx to capitalists that communism won’t be that bad.

(e) “When the ancient world was in its last throes, the ancient religions were overcome by Christianity. When Christian ideas succumbed in the 18th century to rationalist ideas, feudal society fought its death battle with the then revolutionary bourgeoisie. The ideas of religious liberty and freedom of conscience merely gave expression to the sway of free competition within the domain of knowledge.” Wishful thinking. Marx anticipates some overwhelming victory of rationalism over religion. As we know, the contest still rages. More so, the Islamic nations are now poised to overcome both Christianity and communism. Thus, the communist’s alliance with Islamic factions. Too, due to the staying power of religion (and here, specifically Christianity), Marxism has forced its way into the church via infiltration, rotting it from the inside where it could not win by exterior siege.

(f) “‘Undoubtedly,’ it will be said, ‘religious, moral, philosophical, and juridical ideas have been modified in the course of historical development. But religion, morality, philosophy, political science, and law, constantly survived this change. There are, besides, eternal truths, such as Freedom, Justice, etc., that are common to all states of society. But Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past historical experience.’ What does this accusation reduce itself to? The history of all past society has consisted in the development of class antagonisms, antagonisms that assumed different forms at different epochs.” In other words, if you oppose communism, you are actually standing in the way of progress and, more convincingly to his acolytes, human dignity. As a stalwart, you are therefore a danger. Thus, Marxism’s justification for gulags and executions – they serve the greater good.

Regarding his hypothetical quotation, Marx narrates a common enough fear, which is the loss of personal sovereignty (not to mention private property). That he views the human body as not an individual but only a fleshly mass to be directed is obvious, which indicates his master racist affinity for enslaving both his enemies and comrades. That he adjures the human soul to be fettered by “bourgeois” thoughts such as “Freedom” and “Justice” should be enough to cause even the least intelligent among us to run away swiftly. Unfortunately, men are motivated more by pocketbook than principle, and therefore Marxism appeals to those least capable and most downcast.

(g) “But whatever form they may have taken, one fact is common to all past ages, viz., the exploitation of one part of society by the other. No wonder, then, that the social consciousness of past ages, despite all the multiplicity and variety it displays, moves within certain common forms, or general ideas, which cannot completely vanish except with the total disappearance of class antagonisms.” Marx is quite clear. While he makes a passing attempt at sympathizing with the individualist who mourns the loss of his personal sovereignty (liberty), he nonetheless returns briskly to the criticism that, after all, all such thoughts are born of social and economic class. This rhetoric is again aimed at the weak, the downtrodden, the poor. It is nearly a messianic message of salvation, except that it is an escape from low station rather than sin. In fact, it is entrance into sin (coveting, stealing, and eventually murder).

(h) “The Communist revolution is the most radical rupture with traditional property relations; no wonder that its development involved the most radical rupture with traditional ideas.” While it is true that nearly all activities are in capitalist society measured by some value (for example, “Time is money”), there is no settled science that a change to communism must be accompanied by a change in traditional ideas or values. It is only Marxist theory, in fact, philosophy; for it is postulation that the class distinctions remain if the vestiges of the former economic and societal structure remain. It is also weak logic. It presupposes that such traces are dangerous, a reactionary argument to head off at the pass any human nature which would form a rebellion against Marxism, that is, a counter-revolution. To this end, Marx is stating strategy.

(i) “But let us have done with the bourgeois objections to Communism.” Sure and begorrah.

(j) “We have seen above, that the first step in the revolution by the working class is to raise the proletariat to the position of ruling class to win the battle of democracy.” A mere reversal of roles, the hypocrisy and irony justified by the cause of “democracy,” which itself is a misnomer for the elitism which communism must exert. For in this scenario the rich are not become equal with the proletariat but assume an inferior and subordinate position!

But the mainspring of the watch is chosen. Despite what Marx previously pontificated, the political system will be a crucial mechanism for communist insurrection and domination.

(k) “The proletariat will use its political supremacy to wrest, by degree, all capital from the bourgeoisie, to centralise all instruments of production in the hands of the State, i.e., of the proletariat organised as the ruling class; and to increase the total productive forces as rapidly as possible.” The beginning seeds of progressivism are imparted (control will be taken “by degree”). This actually follows Hegel’s historical materialism but without God (or like being) in the equation. It is a nudged (human), not natural, evolution.

The necessity to “increase the total productive forces as rapidly as possible” is just good business. If one wishes to win the revolution, mouths must be fed, bodies kept warm. Marx is only describing the efficient accommodation of his working-class army. In this regard, he is still of capitalist mind (entrepreneurial) though seeking to keep it communal and labor-minded. His dilemma is apparent; for how does he motivate to work those he freed from the bonds of work!?

(l) Of course, in the beginning, this cannot be effected except by means of despotic inroads on the rights of property, and on the conditions of bourgeois production; by means of measures, therefore, which appear economically insufficient and untenable, but which, in the course of the movement, outstrip themselves, necessitate further inroads upon the old social order, and are unavoidable as a means of entirely revolutionising the mode of production.” Ripe with open truths, the first gleam of tyranny is sprayed. No secret is made that the workforce freed will continue to work, and at the same machinery from which they fled out into the streets to oppose. It is “unavoidable,” says Marx, that communism, having no ideas or framework of its own, must parasitically encroach into the capitalist host for its sustenance and survival. Lots of hemming and hawing in this paragraph, attempting to sidestep these harsh realities.

(m) These measures will, of course, be different in different countries. When constructing an entirely new methodology to enslave nations, it’s best to allow breathing room in the neck.

Nevertheless, in most advanced countries, the following will be pretty generally applicable:

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. No private property. No land or homes in the hands of individuals. But to whom is rent paid? And with what income?

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. Bingo! The current (2011) American income tax is communist. If you pay the maximum rate, you’ve been labeled Oppressor. If you pay nothing, congratulations on being a Victim.

3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance. Remove the motivation for accumulation and estate. This is nefarious, even satanic.

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. A given. Those who wish to leave the country relinquish their possessions. Those who are “enemies of the state” lose their property also. Oddly, it almost makes the case that those who do not rebel get to keep private property.

5. Centralisation of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly. The Federal Reserve is a communist tool of Keynesianism. The American banking system as it stands now is comprised of communist elements in the centralization of credit (Fed Funds rate) although community banks and retail loans are still presently permitted.

6. Centralisation of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State. The attack upon the automobile is an intrinsic element to communist control. Beyond the environmental aspect, the automobile provides people with mobility, allowing them to escape communist regions with speed and possessions. Central transportation controls that flow.

The Internet, the cell phone, and other great communications devices make it very difficult for communism to fully control the population. Of course, there are communist elements everywhere, and the Internet and telephone industry are no exception. Thus, we hear regular reports of central control and censorship, as through Google.

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan. First, parasitically utilize those entities built by useful members of society. Second, seize all land and turn it agricultural, debasing human technology to whichever level Marxism sees fit. Third, deny not only private property but also individual decisions concerning crops and other day-to-day activities, micro-managing inventiveness and effectiveness until productivity must be coerced by the lash. But first... the consensus (“common plan”)!

8. Equal liability of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture. This equates to slavery and slave nations, with taskmasters who naturally must have some greater inducement to crush rebellion; otherwise, they shall be pure sadists.

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country. You will live where they say. You will work where they say.

Growing food will take up most everyone’s time, and only the most commonly-digestible and easily-grown produce will be permitted. Otherwise, personal choice makes it more difficult to equitably distribute cropland. Welcome to the “potato fields.”

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, &c, &c. Public schools are revealed to be indoctrination camps. Note that child labor will still occur under communism, only not “in its present form.” Children will learn only those subjects necessary to be productive. You will learn what they say. You will be what they say you will be.

The question arises, however, who is elite enough to decide which education is proper? Will the success or failure of the new society rest on the decisions of a few? We need look no further than the Russian and Chinese Revolutions to see that, yes, indeed, this was the case. And how did that turn out? Mass starvation, suicides, murders. Only when these nations turned even a little to capitalist notions did their economies improve.

(n) “When, in the course of development, class distinctions have disappeared, and all production has been concentrated in the hands of a vast association of the whole nation, the public power will lose its political character. Political power, properly so called, is merely the organised power of one class for oppressing another. If the proletariat during its contest with the bourgeoisie is compelled, by the force of circumstances, to organise itself as a class, if, by means of a revolution, it makes itself the ruling class, and, as such, sweeps away by force the old conditions of production, then it will, along with these conditions, have swept away the conditions for the existence of class antagonisms and of classes generally, and will thereby have abolished its own supremacy as a class.” The cruelty and irony of a proletarian central government, one which oversees its communal chattel, and meanwhile demolishes every girder of capitalism, is justified by (1) the perceived cruelty of bourgeois society (passive-aggressive blame games), (2) the necessity of some transitional government (hypocritical escapism), and (3) the promise that the “dictatorship of the proletariat” will somehow automatically and naturally dissipate when the last of capitalist society is made to disappear. This last excuse is a long-standing gambit of the Left – assessing some intolerable measure as merely temporary, yet it remains well after its expiration or demise should come.

(o) “In place of the old bourgeois society, with its classes and class antagonisms, we shall have an association, in which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all.” We’re all equal. There are no losers. It takes a village to raise a child. Insufferable slogans, mass life-destruction.

In any event, this is neither evolutionary nor progressive, but is regressive back to the stage of the aborigine. Furthermore, the purpose is not to adopt quaint or even life-affirming ethical and social culture, but only to dominate by adopting small-group fascism. Within the scattered peasant population so ordered by Marxism is little chance to break free from groupthink, and enforcement of such standards comes by brainwashing, fear, and elimination – apparently, necessary components of egalitarianism.