I’m reposting a comment I made to open up a broader discussion now that it looks like Burgerland is about to go full McCarthy again…
So what are we supposed to do? If elections are useless and lead to state violence, and organizing leads to state violence, and doing nothing just means the Fascists win by default… I hear the doom-and-gloom but we need solutions. How did the Bosheviks survive? Heck, how did left organizers survive the McCarthy era?
I don’t want to die on their terms.
I also don’t want to regret my life when I look back on what I could have done.
IDK… I feel like we’re in a sort of “checkmate” situation. Fascists have figured it all out and there doesn’t appear to be a path forward for the left that doesn’t end in tragedy. OTOH the kinds of fascist death squad actions that are “expected” for impoverished “third world” countries will yield a very different reaction in the core of Capitalism. Instability in burgerland affects the whole world and the entire non-China global economy can crumble if people went on strike en-masse.
If I recall, CPUSA’s core party leadership that were anonymous (the known ones went to trial and prison) went underground during the Mccarthy period. They would couch surf house to house among party members or fellow travelers, issue orders via snail mail or courier, etc. To prevent the party from being completely decapitated.
This underground period coincided with the rise of the ultra-left in the United states to fill the void left by the Party alongside the schisming that occured during the sino-soviet split.
Nominally in the contemporary age, a requisite would be going completely offline and disconnected from any sort of internet. Analog or mechanical technology can make up for the transition from high tech when applicable. Learning a bit of basic spycraft knowledge can assist as well. In the silliest terms, try doing what Dana carvey does in the movie 'The Master of Disguise but a bit less bombastic. Learn to walk different, talk different, look different. Learn how to go camping and sustain yourself for at least 1 week in a rural-ish location that you never go to. Also learn how to disguise your tent so it looks natural from above and on eye level, same with your vehicle.
Also have water and some dried food in your car. That’s general life advice though.
You should always have - if possible of course - at least weeks of rice and beans, a water filter (they cost like 30$ for thousands of gallons of good filtering), knowledge of the nearest source of water, cash available on hand. If you can, also, some solar energy and a battery with it. And if in the US (I’m not) I guess a gun. And testing all that beforehand and being familiar with their use is important too (except perhaps the water filter - they’re simple to use and last much less longer in storage if used even once, due to the residual water).
While I despise traditional preppers - mostly for their individualism, the best prepping is community - we’re entering a planetary cool zone IMO and the basic minimum above is always a good idea if you can afford it. During shit like Katrina or even that recent power outage in Spain, the above is useful. And these events will become more and more common. It’s also usually part of the governmental recommendations even in imperial countries, it’s just rarely communicated on.
Don’t store water in plastic in your car, even food grade translucent HDPE will still allow microorganisms to grow because of the light. Maybe a widemouth glass carboy coated in white food grade silicone?