So the mushroom clouds go up and the world changes overnight. Maybe a horrific strain of lethal virus spreads and the world changes in a few weeks. Maybe this, maybe that, but the repercussions are the same – TEOTWAWKI – every person starving, running around like mad men, women and children, paranoid, clueless and desperate.
There are survivors, of course. There are always survivors, and they will fall into two groups of people: the prepared and the lucky. The post apocalyptic world will usher in a new society – a communist society.
Now, before we continue, lets address the fact that by “communism” I could mean one of two things: 1) Soviet-style oppression of the people, supreme government control, controlled media, etc.; or 2) commune living, duuuude. Yeah man, pass the herb! Let’s all like, plant some . . . plants and stuff, maaaaan.
Frankly, I think both styles of communism could follow after Doomsday. The first style could follow if the dominoes fell the right way, and could be just what is needed in the initial aftermath if things are really bad. If people are panicking every which way, and a leader emerges that says, “This is what we need to do, and this is how we need to do it . . . SO DO IT!” this may be exactly what the others are looking for. Some people can’t think rationally unders stressful situations, and if someone emerges that presents solutions and puts food on their plates, whether it’s through organized agriculture or pillaging, people will follow. This type of communism is initiated and sustained by force and fear.
The problem with any such arrangement is that while it may be what’s needed in the beginning, such power can often go to the leader’s head. Some people LIKE to control the masses, but in an ideal situation where such an arrangement is needed in the intial phase of the post-apocalyptic world, a REAL leader would then step down and let the people lead.
The second type of communism is more interesting to me . . . duuuude. People pulling together, because they realize their odds of survival are much better if they work together, protect each other, and support each other. Most of you reading this will be commies (in this sense) after the end of the world as we know it (assuming you survive the initial die-off). How does that make you feel – you commie! lol – 😉
But alas, commune living could be really cool, I mean just read this article entitled “Lost middle-class tribe’s ‘secret’ eco-village.” Seriously, it’s VERY cool. You see, these hippy folks have been living in dirt, log and sod homes virtually unknown to the rest of Wales for the past 5 years. Then they were spotted in an aerial photograph. These people were SO set up for SHTF that it isn’t even funny. Simple living, wood heat, cozy sod homes, and a little solar power. What more do you need WTSHTF? The article has some really cool pics, and details their legal battles as “the man” tried to push housing codes on the people . . . maaaaan.
I would TOTALLY be down with a little remote land in Northern Maine where I could set up such a “secret” little abode where I could disappear from society should that be needed. So . . . who’s wit’ me!? . . . . I said, WHO is wit’ me!? Group land purchase anyone?
– Ranger Man
BTW: Gotta thank Geology Joe for sending an endless supply of links.
Also, on the cheap, remote land idea, you totally gotta check out LandAndFarm.com for real estate listings, sent by Angry Mike.
And, last but not least, I’m an occasional collector of original World War I and World War II posters. If anyone ever finds an original version of this World War II Russian poster, please let me know.
It’s unique and interesting. It translates to “Religion is Poison”. Now, don’t send me any “you’re an atheist pig” e-mails. I like it for its historical value. Notice how the old, evil nun points to the falling apart church while the glorious, elaborate communist government beckons on the other side.
Religion was viewed as a threat to the Soviet era communist government. Don’t believe in God, believe in the State. The government is your salvation.
Yeah – right.
(psssssst! tell someone YOU know to check out SHTFblog – today!)
16 comments
I think a feudal government will come into being.
You mean it will not immediately devolve into a perfect libertarian society where all trade is conducted in pre 64 silver dimes and quarters and everyone carries a .308 battle rifle?
People will likely realize they can’t make it alone in terms of food production or security and in the small groups they form someone will have the know how and stick to it ness to make it work. Odds are it would be mostly food and fuel based. Few Americans would be big on splitting their possessions with others in a semi forced manner. John doesn’t get one of my rifles just because he doesn’t have one but we all work in the fields and gardens and share the chow. As for the long term political evolution I think the Dark Ages or something comparable could be realistic. After a period of time who knows what would happen.
I don’t mind others joining me in my County. Just not a bunch of whining aimless city/suburban sheeple. I’d be willing to give tours to anyone who wants to have a look around and scope out some land. I’ve got the next 3 weeks off. A benefit of working at a high school where they they schedule time for the students to work at harvesting the crops. Although over 90% of the kids don’t do anything but wiggle their thumbs on their video game systems, or some such thing.
The gustapo may be well on its way with the stock market crash being the first step. Never thought I’ld see the american government step into the private sector and take on such a role. What else is coming if the Democrats get in beside the gun bans! Get your Rifles now or at least the basics anyhow!
Most excellent food for thought, Ranger Man. Thanks for helping me screw my head on right in thinking of the possibilities I haven’t yet considered.
I can see the ‘serfdoms’ developing, for sure- just hadn’t thot of them being ‘communes’ or ‘comunist bloc communities’. Very likely scenario, however.
Of course, we can verily expect to lose all our weapons within the next six months if certain persons are elected- perhaps even if the opponent is, due to the way events are shaping up in-country. Mayhap even our bows and arrows will be classified ‘weapons of war’, as will any bladed implement not used in agriculture (re: fuedal Japan, Korea, Okinawa, China during the dynasties). So perhaps, to this way of thinking, it may not be so bad an idea to tuck away a bow, few dozen arrows, some bladed weapons, along with our rifle-ammo/BOB gear?
Sorry to get so long-winded: just thinking out loud.
Thanks for a good meal.
Shy
“The first style could follow if the dominoes fell the right way, and could be just what is needed in the initial aftermath if things are really bad. ”
I’m sure your pal Lenin thought the same thing
The second type of communism is more interesting to me . . . duuuude. People pulling together, because they realize their odds of survival are much better if they work together, protect each other, and support each other.
Far more likely and tolerable.
On problem with the system in the USA is during times of economic collapse millions are displaced from their homes because they cannot afford payments or taxes. Even as the homes sit empty, people are living out in the open and trying to find work – Grapes of Wrath, if you haven’t already read the book.
Ultimately, captialism may not be a workable system. You end up with just a few people controling most of the money (oh, kinda like now come to think of it). Not to mention the vast environmental destruction and depletion of resources caused by the “anything for a dollar” and every man for himself mentality.
If the mass of humanity is going to survive in the world of high tech and super weapons I think we need to become co-operative, base the economy and political systems on co-operation insteal of the current competition mindset. This will require a major change in world view, but big changes like this have happened over the course of human history and is what makes mankind so successful.
Maintaining any kind of civilization at all requires a tremendous amount of energy. In the 20th Century that was oil.
In previous eras — or when oil was short — tyrants have resorted to forced labor for their “projects”.
from wikipedia:
“Another historically significant example of forced labour was that of political prisoners, people from conquered or occupied countries, members of persecuted minorities, and prisoners of war, especially during the 20th century. The best-known example of this are the concentration camp system run by Nazi Germany in Europe during World War II, the Gulag camps run by the Soviet Union, and the forced labour used by the military of the Empire of Japan, especially during the Pacific War (such as the Death Railway). Less well known are the roughly 4,000,000 German POW’s used as “reparations labor” by the Allies for several years after the German surrender. China’s Laogai (“labour reform”) system is a current example.
About 12 million forced laborers, most of whom were Eastern workers and Poles, were employed in the German war economy inside Nazi Germany. More than 2000 German companies profited from slave labor during the Nazi era, including DaimlerChrysler, Deutsche Bank, Siemens, Volkswagen, Hoechst, Dresdner Bank, Krupp, Allianz, BASF, Bayer, BMW, and Degussa.
In Asia … more than 10 million Chinese were mobilized by the Japanese army and enslaved by the Kōa-in for slave labor in Manchukuo and north China. The U.S. Library of Congress estimates that in Java, between 4 and 10 million romusha (Japanese: “manual laborer”), were forced to work by the Japanese military. About 270,000 of these Javanese laborers were sent to other Japanese-held areas in South East Asia. Only 52,000 were repatriated to Java, meaning that there was a death rate of 80%. According to Mitsuyoshi Himeta, at least 2.7 million died during the Sankō Sakusen implemented in Heipei and Shantung by General Yasuji Okamura.”
Think about that when you pull the voting lever in November.
wikipwdia “gulag”:
There were at least 476 separate camp complexes, each comprising hundreds, even thousands of camps. There may have been an estimated 7 million prisoners in these camps at a given time …; possibly some 10% died yearly.
More than 18 million people passed through the Gulag from 1929 to 1953, with a further 6 to 7 million being deported and exiled to remote areas of the USSR. According to the declassified archive data, during 1934-53 Gulag population varied from 510,307 (in 1934) to 1,533,767 (in 1951)….
Most Gulag inmates were not political prisoners, although the political prisoner population was always significant. People could be imprisoned in a Gulag camp for crimes such as unexcused absences from work, petty theft, or anti-government jokes. About half of the political prisoners were sent to Gulag prison camps without trial; per official data, there were more than 2.6 million imprisonment sentences in cases investigated by the secret police, 1921-1953. While the Gulag was radically reduced in size following Stalin’s death in 1953, forced labor camps and political prisoners continued to exist in the Soviet Union right up to the Gorbachev era.”
I’ll go for the duuuuuude commune… Unfortunately there will be the other kind of commie who wants the fruit of your labor, and will take it by force. And Obammy can pry my guns from “my cold, dead hands”…… God how I wish Texas would secede….
Vigilance.
“LICATA: You mentioned common-sense gun legislation. Would you consider the assault weapons ban and registration of guns to fall into that category of common-sense gun control?
SENATOR OBAMA: I think those are two separate issues. I think that when it comes to the assault weapons ban, the answer is yes. I think AK-47s generally are not used for hunting. AK-47s or vest-piercing bullets are generally used to hurt people. And I think that it’s legitimate for us to say military-style weapons that aren’t traditionally used for purposes other than killing people, we’ve got to be careful about.”
as quoted in: “An Exclusive Interview with Senator Barack Obama”, Field & Stream
http://www.fieldandstream.com/article/Hunting/Special-Report-An-Exclusive-Interview-with-Senator-Barack-Obama/1
Vigilance.
“Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.” — Michelle Obama, speech at UCLA
“The truth is, in order to get things like universal health care and a revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more.” — Michelle Obama
Don’t worry…I’m an ordaned minister, and I like the poster, too.
I’ll take the duuuude commune, too. Although there is a caveat…some of my Germanic ancestors, when they first came to this country, tried to live in duuude commune in Missouri…it failed the first year. They broke up the commune into little farms, and were completely successful thereafter.
Well, I have been studying this little problem for a fictional book I’ve been writing and yes…there are already Executive Orders in place that allows the federal government to take over everything in the event of an undefined emergency, even a financial one, under the auspices of FEMA, for a Soviet style control of the United States. The only one that I can see failing is the Postmaster creating a list of where everyone lives….according to them, I have about 10 people who live under my roof that I’ve never met. I wonder where they all sleep? Maybe that’s where my screw drivers keep running off to…
Sign me up for your commie compound RM. Im in! Rape the fields and pillage the women!
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