“The Power of One is the Power of None”

“The Power of One is the Power of None”

(I borrowed the phrase for my title; the author is unknown)

There is no end to the number of written works and lyrics attesting to the survival power of “one,” (the individual) to do any number of feats. And, that’s true until you get down to extended survival wherein circumstances require the assistance of other humans.

The “prepping” community is all about preparing for and existing under conditions of self-sufficiency.  While “community” plays a significant role in the teaching and sharing of self-sufficiency techniques, the crux of self-sufficiency is the attitude of going it alone.  That is all well and good for you and/or your family when things are running smoothly.  What happens when you must reach out to other humans for help?  When the proverbial you know what hits the fan (SHTF,) how are you going to give and get information and/or assistance?  Who will you trust? And, what if that trust is misplaced?

You might think yourself to be well-prepared and ask, “What could go wrong?” Answer: a medical emergency beyond your abilities and equipment; running out of provisions; overwhelmed by a natural disaster; and violence from those who would take your life and stockpiled provisions. I suggest that it is the latter circumstance of which we are the least prepared to survive. And no, a husband and wife cannot prevail in defending the homestead 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A combat seasoned U.S. Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, who is the foreman of a small ranch here in the Redoubt, advised me that he could adequately defend the ranch 24/7 with three squads of eight gun-fighters each. Accordingly, there are not many of us who can field an adequate team to protect our homes & property.  What good is all the self-sufficiency planning going to come to in a melt-down of societal order?  What we need is “community-sufficiency” in all circumstances.

A three-step program to developing “community” in terms of trusted networks is essential to survival of: low-intensity violence from social devolution; a natural disaster; or an EMP attack. The program’s steps include: actively engaging like-minded people and gaining their trust; developing a radio communications network utilizing HAM radio and the Channel 3 Project of the American Redoubt Radio Operator’s Network; and adding to or expanding upon the survival tool of firearm proficiency, firearm self-defense and group tactical operations.  Overcoming the inherent psychological component of human killing avoidance is a topic for another day.

The time for preparation is now!  There is always the possibility of a natural disaster.  The proliferation of nuclear weapons by third-rate nations increases the possibility of open warfare, if nothing more than the detonation of an EMP bomb.  American society is Balkanizing along value lines and there is an increasing probability of significant low-level political violence.  It is likely that American citizens may well be forced to make their way in an altered world without the immediate assistance of our customary first responders.

The crystal ball is certainly not clear, but current & former members of the Intelligence Community are projecting that things are looking dim for the future.  Citizens who adequately prepare themselves both mentally and physically have the best opportunity to survive whether it is a short-time natural disaster, a medium-term civil unrest, or an EMP attack that plunges us back to the Middle Ages for the long-term.