"The disturbing reality of America's future"

 

That's the headline to an article by Mike Shelby, perhaps better known for his extensive coverage of developments in this country at the "Forward Observer" Web site.  Here's an excerpt.  Read it in the light of our discussion about Antifa earlier this morning.

The unsettling reality is that America in the not-too-distant future is going to have a lot in common with partial-collapse societies of Eastern Europe and Latin America where gangs have more power and influence than the government; where politicians pass the laws but gangs enforce the rules.

This is the Gray Zone America you should be preparing for — not quite collapsed, but not quite standing.

. . .

Social intimidation and political violence are valuable tools that don’t have to be directly connected to a political party. In many low intensity conflicts, political parties wield their own militant wings but attempt to maintain some plausible deniability.

Sinn Fein and the IRA. The Baath Party and Naqshabandi (Iraq). The Sadrist Party and Jaysh al-Mahdi (also Iraq). ISCI and the Badr Corps (also Iraq).

The 2016 and 2020 election seasons gave us a small taste of political street gangs. Because this "local muscle” is powerful, we’re probably going to see a lot more of it.

At the extreme end of the spectrum ... collusion between the political and criminal classes means that you can never be safe as a dissident. Political parties can use violence freely by ordering it and then protecting those who carry it out.

I have three general takeaways:

First, herein lies my problem with the Bugout Bag Industrial Complex:

Your bugout bags, fire starters, and lensatic compasses don’t solve this problem. There is no paracord bracelet on earth, nor stack of freeze dried food that can turn back the tide of government-gang collusion.

Playing defense, bugging in, and praying to God that no one bothers you is a losing strategy.

Second, I cannot possibly stress strongly enough the importance of controlling your own local politics.

The “power politics” of the Cultural Revolution is no longer a Chicago or Seattle problem. Political decay is creeping into suburban and rural areas.

The armies of enraged parents attending meetings, building networks, taking over school boards, and winning local political seats are doing the heaviest lifting.

The political, social, and economic power you build at the local level prevents the other guy from doing this to you.

Third, there is no defensive strategy that wins.

You have to build political, social, and economic power. You have to win seats at the local level. You have to agitate, community organize, and build a local social movement. And you have to either find wealthy donors or run businesses that employ your tribe and turn a profit so you can fund these initiatives.

There's more at the link.  Highly recommended reading.

I can't stress too strongly that Mr. Shelby is describing conditions that already exist in America.

• Politicians in Chicago openly court criminal gangs to bring out the vote for them, and provide political "cover" for them in return.
• Antifa extremists effectively control large parts of cities such as Seattle, WA (remember "CHAZ"/"CHOP"?) and Portland, OR (where police until recently allowed them to get away with almost any crime).
• Individuals seeking to defend themselves against crime and/or politically motivated violence are likely to be targeted and victimized by left-wing prosecutors and police forces.  I've discussed this extensively in the past.

Those points demonstrate clearly what Mr. Shelby calls "Gray Zone America".  It already exists.  We're living in it.

Mr. Shelby refers to a documentary titled "Arkan's Legacy" about a criminal/nationalist gang in Serbia, seeing many of its features as similar to what he's finding in this country.

Having watched it, I'm forced to agree with him.  Too many progressive-left-dominated American cities do resemble what the documentary portrays.  It's a chilling prospect . . . but a prophetic one for most of us.  I therefore second his recommendation that you watch it for yourself.  It's very similar to what I saw and experienced "on the ground" in many Third World nations, and it's what's already among us in parts of America today.

It's going to spread, too.  To cite just one example, the Biden administration is admitting up to 30,000 "refugees" every month from Haiti and a few other nations to this country.  Haiti is a lawless nightmare, dominated by ruthless gangs that slaughter their opponents.  What makes you think at least some of those "refugees" won't bring that "culture" with them?  And what makes you think it won't spread to our cities as they settle there?

I'm not saying that all of America will end up like that - far from it!  In the area where I live, there are more than enough level-headed people to "take care of business" if necessary, and ensure that we don't descend to that level.  There are still many areas like that.  However, the same can't be said for other parts of this benighted nation.  If you live in one of them, move out as soon as you can, and come to "free America" where you can contribute to the safety, security and well-being of people who are still in their right minds.

Peter