“I will accept the rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” – Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
The Editors’ Quote of the Day:
[Redacted – off topic]
1) Re Robert Heinlein, Most people think of the survivalist movement being founded by Mel Tappan circa 1979 but Heinlein
was urging people to become survivalists back in 1945 and explaining how to do so. To see his article Google
“How to be a survivor” and “Robert Heinlein”.
2) Heinlein was concerned about how to survive an atomic attack on US cities. He noted that the first
task was to not be where the bombs struck. He suggested moving to an obscure country like Honduras.
For those staying in the USA, he suggested being at least 50 miles from any likely target — large city,
railroad junction, major military bases, large hydroelectric dam, etc.
3) Heinlein notes that if you choose to live in a city, your survival planning needs to be “a good bit more detailed, alert,
and shifty”. He recommends
a) Having a bugout location –cheap abandoned farm,small village, etc — within a tank of gasoline drive from your primary home.
(Plus keep a cache of gasoline)
b) In a location that allows living off the land –garden, hunting, fishing
c) With a survival kit in the car
Heinlein notes that such an approach is risky and that living in the country is much safer.
4) Next, Heinlein notes that you need to
a) Get your body into top physical shape — not just physical fitness but vaccines and lots of spare glasses if you need them
b) Acquire the many tools and materials you will be unable to make in the new stone age ( “a pickax …will be worth considerably
more than two college degrees or a diamond bracelet.”)
c) Acquire the knowledge and many pioneer skills you will need –how to hunt, fish, farm, butcher animals, store food, construct
shelter, cut down trees, dig a well, etc.
d) Store at your refuge a large library of books providing the large store of knowledge you will not be able to learn or remember;
including medical reference books
e) Stockpile at your refuge salt, food, materials , weapons and ammo. Heinlein strongly notes the importance of Opsec
esp re food hoards. “To have canned goods –and to have it known by anyone outside your own household — is to invite
assassination.”
f) He notes the need for a rifle but says it should be fired only when necessary since cartridges will be irreplaceable. Only two
valid targets — a deer or a man. The man when hiding is not enough.