(Mises)—It will not have escaped many people’s attention that one of the main strategies in America’s “reckoning on race and Southern identity” involves depicting the Confederate battle flag as a symbol of racial oppression. Against this, Patrick J. Buchanan argued that:
What the flag symbolizes for the millions who revere, cherish, or love it, however, is the heroism of those who fought and died under it….
Vilification of that battle flag and the Confederacy is part of the cultural revolution in America that flowered half a century ago. Among its goals was the demoralization of the American people by demonizing their past and poisoning their belief in their own history.
This cultural revolution—in which historical events are wielded as weapons in a contemporary culture war—has been described as a form of cultural Marxism. But progressives sneer at the very label, denying that there is an ongoing culture war. They argue that the destruction of Confederate monuments, desecration of Confederate graves, and banning of the Confederate battle flag are motivated purely by a belief in racial equality and a desire to promote what they often describe as “accurate, nuanced, and complete” history. They insist that there is no political or ideological agenda behind their interpretation of history. The New York Times published an opinion piece describing the notion of cultural Marxism as “the phantasmagoria of the alt-right” brewed in “global sewers of hatred,” insisting that it is all a figment of a “delirious” and “paranoid” right-wing imagination.
Responding to such claims, Allan Mendenhall explains the origins of cultural Marxism. He “shows not only that cultural Marxism is a nameable, describable phenomenon, but also that it proliferates beyond the academy.” He adds that:
In the 1930s and 1940s, the Frankfurt School popularized the type of work usually labeled as “cultural Marxism”.…
Dissatisfied with economic determinism and the illusory coherence of historical materialism—and jaded by the failures of socialist and communist governments—these thinkers retooled Marxist tactics and premises in their own ways without entirely repudiating Marxist designs or ambitions.
The British journalist Janet Daley also identifies the central role played by Marxist ideology and tactics in the culture wars, arguing that although European socialism failed, “the dream itself did not disappear, it took another shape. It was in the business of transforming itself from an economic revolution into a cultural one even before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the implosion of communist governments.” Daley also explains how the cultural revolution unfolded, as socialists modified the methods of revolution from economic to cultural. The left realized that,
…instead of revolutionary takeover by an armed mob seizing the levers of government, there would have to be a gradual usurpation making use of the existing institutions which the Left rightly understood to be the true sources of power in society.
Herbert Marcuse’s “long march through the institutions” was well underway before the fall of the Soviet empire but its technique of activist infiltration has since taken off in ways that are truly breathtaking.
The South through a Neo-Marxist Lens
The takeover by cultural Marxists of many academic fields, including history, has indeed been nothing short of breathtaking. The South is depicted through a neo-Marxist lens as a defender of slavery (the wrong side of history) with the North viewed as some sort of abolitionist messiah (the right side of history). Within this framework, it is deemed to be self-evident that Confederate generals are oppressors, symbols of “white supremacy.” The implication is that Buchanan’s reference to “the millions who revere, cherish, or love” the Confederate battle flag, for the “heroism of those who fought and died,” is simply cover for promoting racism. This interpretation is now deeply entrenched, not because people are persuaded by the reasons given for it, but precisely because no reasons need be given for it. Sufficient explanation is deemed to be embedded within the theoretical framework of cultural Marxism itself—that those who reject the mythology are on the wrong side of the culture war, and are presumptively as “racist” as those they are trying to defend.
In the federal court decision which gave permission for the Reconciliation Memorial to be removed from the Arlington National Cemetery, the judge observed, almost parenthetically, that the Memorial does not seem to offer any reconciliation because it depicts slavery:
He noted that the statue depicts, among other things, a “slave running after his ‘massa’ as he walks down the road. What is reconciling about that?” asked Alston, an African American who was appointed to the bench in 2019 by then-President Donald Trump.
The same judge also depicts defenders of the Memorial as desirous of safeguarding “the virtues, romanticism and history of the Old South,” without giving reasons why he framed the case in that way. It appears that the effort to conserve historic monuments, deemed to be important by a majority of people in the South, is treated by courts as nothing more than cover for the romanticism of a bygone oppressive era.
In addition to vilification of the battle flag, the Confederate Generals are casually described as symbolic of racism. A typical example appears in this commentary:
Nothing symbolizes better the continued inferior social status of African Americans in the United States than a statue of a wise-looking Jefferson Davis or a thoughtfully posed Robert E. Lee in a public square of an American city.
No reasons are ever given as to why a statue of Jefferson Davis or Robert E. Lee symbolizes the inferiority of African Americans—these assertions are simply treated as so obviously and self-evidently true as not to require substantiation.
Similarly, it is often asserted without any reasons being given that slavery in the American South was uniquely evil. But W.E.B. DuBois—a civil rights activist from Massachusetts who is as safe from being mistaken for trying to defend slavery as it is possible for anyone to be—wrote that, “The slavery of Negroes in the South was not usually a deliberately cruel and oppressive system…. The victims of Southern slavery were often happy; had usually adequate food for their health, and shelter sufficient for a mild climate.”
Moreover, if the demonization of the South described by Buchanan had been a genuine attempt to express principled opposition to slavery and servitude, we would expect to hear similar denunciation of slavery and servitude in the North, and indeed in all other societies where slavery occurred including Africa and the Arab world. But such universal denunciations are rarely, if ever, forthcoming from those whose attention is focused on destroying the historical heritage of the South. On the contrary, we are urged to admire Ulysses Grant for “working alongside” slaves and eventually freeing his own slave rather than selling him. As Thomas Hubert observes, “The phenomenon of the North’s inconsistency in such matters is what I would call pathological hypocrisy, all the more striking in being utterly unrecognized by those who suffer from it.” So much for principled opposition to slavery.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
