Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
So you gotta let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
-- The Clash (1981)
I wrote about this topic before; it was for this magazine or Freedom's Phoenix. And it seems like a good time to visit this topic again as things have gotten worse. Claire Wolfe started this with her great book, 101 Things to do 'Til the Revolution (updated several times under new titles as tyranny eliminated some avenues of worthwhile activism) in which she posed the observation, "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."
This has always broached a perennial question: Is our awkwardness over? Is it time to shoot the bastards? I believe the answer now is a definite, "maybe." But the observation itself was not so much a question as a statement of the inevitability of the necessity to kill the bastards. Peaceful means to insist on being left alone were clearly and deliberately ignored. When not ignored, they were brutally responded to with great enthusiasm and public attention. Often later do we learn that agitators promoting or instigating violence among us were in fact government employed provocateurs infiltrated to not just spy upon us, but to get us to do violence against the state. So obviously the state wants some overt violence against it. Why would they want that?
There was little left to do than try to define the problem, recruit like-minded individuals yearning to be free, and set out on a course to make it clear to those who won't leave you alone that the price for it will be everything. Unfortunately, the number sstill seem too few to succeed in civil war. Though we do trouble the masters, I suspect, because our message is clear and consistent, and growing louder(as it was in the middle 1800's). "Why does anyone need to be ruled?" You can see why this might make the masters nervous. They might have to plow their own fields in life rather than steal the fruits of others' labor.
The problem?
Government is the problem. Throughout history there have always been producers eking a living off of the world. There have always been others who figured out they could make a living off of people either by convincing them to share the fruits of their labor through trade, fraud or force, or convincing others to join them in convincing others through trade,fraud or force.Only trade is the least costly and--to free minded people--morally acceptable and even desirable, as free trade is giving something of value to another in exchange for getting something of value in re- turn,by a mutual, non-coercive agreement.
Depriving others of their labor through theft of fraud, trespass or force is unacceptable to free-minded individuals. This has been demonstrated in primates---that they become enraged when cheated. So they understand a fair deal.
Primate species usuallyâ€"but not always--organize into collectives, troops, or tribes with a dominant ruler. Usually the biggest and strongest rules. Unfortunately, it has proven a successful survival strategy for certain humans for uncounted millennium, and has been refined into ruling oligarchies who have organized other humans into ruthless collectives called government to directly serve them in this plunder. We have evolved to be very, very clever. During that time, the cleverest rule became the strongest rule. And they tried to pass their rule onto their offspring by creating a rule book for ruling.
In no small part this is because the benefits to this sort of ruling and thieving behavior outweigh the risks to the instigators---indeed, things are so well organized that the risks to the rulers are now small while their vassals (often armed and well- practiced) risk a bit more, but nowhere near the risks imposed on those who would disobey or far worse, oppose those who demand their labor.
The obvious solutionis that the risks in theft MUST rise to outweigh the profits of the theft. Or the people who just want to be left alone won't be.
But that is a description of revolution. The question put forth is "should I stay or should I go?"
Historically, looking back after a conflict, the smart move has ALWAYS been to those who have fled before the conflic started. Those that fled had a better chance of surviving than those that stayed. Those that remained until it got so bad they fled with little but themselves fared worse, but still were more likely to survive if their escape was successful than those who remained and fought, or like most in that area just wanted to be left alone. That is likely to remain true, but it is a lot harder to presently flee with anything but yourself (i.e., your wealth) and it will get harder to flee as time goes on.
So if I go?
Where? When? How? With whom?
No matter where you go in the world there is government. The ruling class even has mechanisms to violently insert government into areas where no unapproved limited government exists. Any economic niche identified is quickly filled with government monitoring, demanding, seizing and terrorizing the populace that falls under their reach.
So make no mistake you are fleeing one government for another.
Is that new group of organized criminals better than your present organized gang? Will they grow worse over time? Will the new thugs protect you from the old thugs?
Will your present government let you go?
As an unasked designated U.S. Citizen, your government now lays claim to all you possess and all you earn, no matter where on the planet you reside. To renounce your citizenship you must visit a U.S. embassy at least twice. Once to total your debt to them and make sure you are not wanted by them. And the other to pay them off if you wish to leave the embassy in other than rendered chains with your permit slip to leave their plantation for good.
Rather than renouncing their U.S. Citizenship, most departing Americans simply become "unpatriated" Americans or acquire dual or multiple citizenships (illegal in the U.S. once you are over 18 years of age), presumably to hope one criminal gang will offer protection from the other. Of course such organized crime protection comes with a price, and usually more of a pay us and we leave you alone rather than pay us and we protect you from others. It is not uncommon to pay multiple government gangs to make them go away.
Unpatriated Americans are subject to recall, and warrants may be issued to compel their repatriation that will be carried out by that gang who rules over you for the gang that runs The United
States of America (Inc.). But often you are out of sight and out of mind---and unpatriated Americans are reasonably left alone.
But that wonderful band of criminals known as the U.S. government continues to make friends at the drop of a bomb around the globe, turning your U.S. Citizenship into an overnight ass fucking. Nothing like waking up to an enraged populous looking to spill some American blood.
Since the U.S. Government gang itself is protected, you will have to substitute for the mob's actions.
And the love of Americans on foreign soil extends mostly only as far as their money does. Investing in bars and servants only buys you so much love. A lot of Americans get pension and social security checks sent to them in these foreign lands. So not only does the U.S. criminal gang know where you live and bank, but they can stop the flow of money instantly as well---even drain your accounts instantly without your knowledge in the same way they do so here in the land of the free.
Or that gang makes that U.S. Government taxpayer slave backed money worthless---which is what they are doing now, by printing as much as they need.
If you decide to run or stay, your wealth must not be tied to the dollar at least not for long and not in significant percentages. I wouldn't want it tied to the other gang's currency, either. So plan accordingly.
So if I stay?
How do I survive? Where? With whom?
Pretty much this is true no matter where you go in the world. But for most people in the United States, the question becomes do I stay put in my city, or do I flee to a rural area? If you flee, when do you go? Everyone should have at minimum a couple of weeks of nonperishable food and water (rotated) set aside for everyone in the household for emergencies. Natural and man-made emergencies happen more often than you would think. Smart people, free people, should have three to four months' worth of food, water and supplies set aside (toiletries, medical) for everyone, stored under beds and in closets or attics and basements. As the Mormons tell their young adults---if you get unexpectedly laid off or fired, it is a lot less stressful knowing where your food will come from for the next four months, allowing your savings to go towards rent and gasoline while looking for other employment. If you plan on fleeing to a rural area, four months' worth of supplies covers whatever you will need and leaves plenty to barter on your way out.
But beyond that if you are staying, you must plan to have a stockpile of a couple of years on hand. And resources (a well, seeds, fruit trees, gardens, food animals(?), food storage basement, food preservation, compost pile to renew gardens....) on hand to stretch your supplies. Where is water coming from if municipalities shut down? Where is heating and cooling coming from along with lights if electricity and natural gas disappear? How will you get around if gasoline either goes to exorbitant prices or disappears altogether? How will you repair vehicles and your home if such supplies are nonexistent? How will you protect what is yours?
Cities are where resources will be directed, but it is also where the tyrants will pillage first until there is little left to steal and any opposition has been crushed. Then they will send their armies forth to seize the outlying areas. Hoardersâ€"that is those who planned ahead--within the city will be targeted followed by those outside the cities. Slave labor and overseers on the newly formed government-run plantations will take over to produce food for the angry starving cities.
Pretty much the rural areas will experience the joys of being reunited with their rulers as soon as the cities are quelled. So you can either wait for them to come for you, or help fight them in the cities. This is equally true of those who flee the country---they will come for you and are you going to wait for them, or figure out how to fight them where they are at present?
So do I stay or do I go?
I would go if you can afford to do it. Stock up somewhere ostensibly outside of the U.S. Government's reach. Plant some vegetation that will sustain you. Hope your government doesn't come after you or your stuff, and hope the new government steals less.
Alternatively, move to a rural area and set up house there. Hope you can get there by road with obtainable gasoline when the time comes, and the property is intact and welcoming.
Try moving to the outer edges of the city now and drive into work or work nearby. When it hits the fan, you likely won't be contained at first. You won't have as far to go or as many impediments when fleeing. You may even have a few days’ warning to flee.
Or you can stay. Most will. Best of luck. I am haunted by the saying "If we don't hang together, we shall surely hang apart." You've a fight on your hands.
Make no mistake, the fight will come to you no matter where you reside. It will simply either take time for your enemy to gather its forces (its resources are already conveniently gathered) and secure its position, or you will find you are immediately on the front lines. Either way, your turn will come.
