This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest.
Today, to bring any new blog readers up to speed, I’m presenting a special re-post of a background piece on the American Redoubt movement, by Alex Barron. It was originally published at the Charles Carroll Society web site in 2013, under the title: “The American Redoubt, Who the Players Are”.
I should also mention that Alex Barron has announced his candidacy for an Idaho State Senate seat. I believe that he deserves your vote.
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The American Redoubt, Who the Players Are
The American Redoubt concept was created and popularized by the prolific writer James Rawles of Survival Blog dot com. Initially, Rawles advised people for preparedness reasons to migrate out of large cities, away from either coast to low population density areas. James Rawles packaged these ideas in what he called his Precepts of Rawlesian philosophy with his list of the most preferable States to migrate too. This is a very important piece for those studying the Redoubt movement. It spells out in very articulate terms what the issues are from a preparedness perspective, and forms the basis of the philosophy of the political American Redoubt. Of particular note in our fallen, politically correct culture is Rawles precept that racism ignores reason.
Eventually, James Rawles begin to advise people to move from increasingly militant socialist states for political reasons. If your family has no existing rural roots, James Rawles suggested moving to the “top three or four” states from his most favorable preparedness list, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana for political reasons. He coined the term American Redoubt to explain this concept. The American Redoubt a simple concept, it is called political migration.
In an interview by G. Jeffrey MacDonald published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Rawles was quoted as saying: “It’s time to distance ourselves from the vile corruptness that we see…. [The American Redoubt movement] is analogous to the Puritan exodus (from Europe). They couldn’t fit in and said, ‘We’re going to move to completely virgin territory and start afresh.’ … In effect, we’re becoming pistol-packing Amish.” There are many groups who have done this over the years including the Puritans; Native Americans moving West to escape the European colonization (I guess forced ethnic cleansing, but again I hope you get the point), Americans of African descent escaping the Southern forced racial apartheid system (racial migration?). Many, many groups move because of various reasons including political reasons. The American Redoubt is libertarian leaning Christian and Jewish traditionalist politically migrating from militant progressive secular states that are becoming increasingly hostile to their Christian based western culture.
The basic goal of political migration is to escape areas that are hostile to your culture and build new more benign communities. The political theory goes that if you start with States that are already overwhelmingly conservative libertarian, friendly to Orthodox Christian culture with fairly well maintained budgets and motivate enough like-minded patriots to move there, you could make them even “deeper” red state full of liberty-minded people, essentially redoubts of traditional American culture. All are welcome, no one would be asked to leave, but practicing conservative libertarian Christian and Jews are encouraged to migrate to these Rocky Mountain States. And this approach appears to be bearing fruit.
Sierra Crane-Murdoch reports in an article about Kootenai County, Idaho, “To outside observers, it may have appeared that the county swung along with the nation’s political pendulum. American voters leaned right in 2010, awarding Republicans a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. But in Kootenai County, Idaho, something far more enduring than partisan realignment had tipped the scales.
As English put it, the 2010 election marked “the end of an era” — not only politically, but demographically. Conservative newcomers, primarily from Southern California, had helped quadruple the county population since 1970. Allied with conservative North Idahoans, they systematically transformed the local politics. Pundits predicted that Californians’ migration to places like Kootenai County would have a moderating effect on the politics of the Intermountain West. The newcomers “are finding work in jobs unrelated to the traditional timber, mining and agricultural fields,” observed Timothy Egan, a Western correspondent for The New York Times, in 1993. Egan suggested that these “lifestyle refugees” would cause an “environmentalist tilt in the [Western] electorate.” But he overlooked a key detail: The counties from which these refugees came were the most conservative in California. They were, in fact, the birthplace of modern American conservatism — home to the John Birch Society, early evangelicalism, the 1978 tax revolt that led to property-tax limits in Proposition 13, and two years later, Reagan’s election to the presidency.
In 2014 the political shift continued. In an election cycle where the establishment Republicans savages the conservative libertarian wing of the party, out of eight contested legislative races in northern Idaho, seven ultra-conservative challengers and incumbents (aka Tea Party) won against more moderate Republicans. There are many groups and communities that are moving to the States of the American Redoubt. The overwhelming number of these organizations have no official connection with the American Redoubt movement but their motivations to set down roots in these areas that have low population densities where they can practice their orthodox and traditional Christian faiths are noteworthy.
Anabaptist. The Anabaptist seek areas that are somewhat removed from population centers where they can practice their Christian faith in peace and isolation. Montana has had a continuous Amish presence since 1974. The state’s five communities range from the oldest at Rexford (Lincoln County) in the state’s mountainous northwest corner to Rosebud County in the eastern Plains. Amish first settled in Montana in 1903, though that pioneer community has since ceased to exist. The current group of Montana Amish settlements includes four communities founded in the last fifteen years. The West Kootenai area, lying a few miles from Canada, is home to the oldest Montana Amish settlement. Rexford holds a yearly school auction in late spring. Saint Ignatius, Lake County-The single-congregation St. Ignatius community also features an annual school auction. Small Amish communities are also found in Jefferson, Fergus, and Rosebud Counties.
The Hutterites also have long had colonies spread across central Montana.The Hutterites practice an extreme form of Christian community-based living and are absolute pacifists. The 19OCT2009 issue of the Mennonite Weekly Review reported that there were three Mennonite congregations in Wyoming with a total of 92 members. The two largest congregations were the High Prairie Mennonite Church in Carpenter (founded in 1991; 2010 membership — 52) and the Rawlins Mennonite Church in Rawlins (founded in 2002; 2010 membership — 30). Both congregations are denominationally affiliated with Nationwide Fellowship Churches. The third was a Church of God in Christ, Mennonite congregation, with ten members, in Washakie County. It is of use to point out that there are small numbers of Catholics in the American Redoubt who follow the Anabaptist model who are called Plain Catholics.
Catholic. One of the largest enclaves of traditional Catholics in America is based in Post Falls, Idaho. The Post Falls area has a parish, and K-12 boys only school staffed by the Society of Saint Pius the X. When the Catholic Dominican Teaching Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus of Fanjeaux from France looked for an unspoiled place to start a traditional K-12 school for girls in America they choose Post Falls, Idaho. There is also a parish staffed by the Fraternity of Saint Peter in neighboring Coeur d’Alene. One of the largest communities of Catholics who follow Sedevacantism is based nearby in Saint Michael near Spokane, Washington. When a large and growing order of cloistered (separate) traditional Catholic Carmelite monks searched for a remote area to start America’s first new traditional isolated monastery they choose Cody, Wyoming and named it the New Mount Carmel. The separate traditional Catholic Carmelites Sisters of Carmel of the Holy Trinity have their convent in Spokane, Washington. When a new traditional Catholic college that refuses all subsidies from the federal government looked for a place to start an independent university, they choose Wyoming, and it is called Wyoming Catholic College. It is the only college in America where cell phones are banned, but guns are encouraged.
Protestant. An influential pastor Chuck Baldwin moved his entire extended family to Kalispell, Montana and started Liberty Fellowship. His church is now extremely fast growing. There are many conservative Protestant Churches spread across the American Redoubt, and you can find them here. Also, there are a number very conservative Mormons and Mormon Fundamentalists living in North America, most of them in the Intermountain western states. They often remain hidden from most people because the federal government has persecuted them for their practice of polygamy.
This is not a complete list by far of the various social-ethnic religious groups who have made their home in the States of the American Redoubt. This also does not include the significant amount of conservative yet non-religious people who are politically active in the States of the American Redoubt. Each of these groups for their independent reasons decided to settle on the idea of moving to the conservative-libertarian, low population density Rocky Mountain States.
Back online, the idea of the American Redoubt was gaining popularity. Guerrilla America AKA John Mosby a Special Forces combat veteran who provides combat training courses to patriots and lives in the American Redoubt. He also runs his blog Guerrilla America that focuses on military tactics and support of the American Redoubt political migration concept. John Mosby, Samuel Culper and others grew that first blog into Forward Observer magazine.
John Schmidt an Army Special Forces veteran started Radio Free Redoubt, building a blog and a weekly podcast. John Schmidt continues his podcast but also now broadcast his John Jacob Schmidt show on traditional AM radio out of Spokane on KTW 630 AM. John Schmidt also started the American Redoubt Radio Operators Network (AmRRON) which is a network ham radio enthusiast who leans toward conservative libertarianism and support for the American Redoubt. John Schmidt and AmRRON run an annual disaster training exercise they call T-REX.
My name is Alex Barron. I am Navy veteran who has spent a lot of time overseas working at various Naval aviation and intelligence commands. I wanted to combine the American Redoubt political migration concept with a “hard Catholic identity” twist making it a take on the Catholic Land Movement. I called the blog the Charles Carroll Society in honor of Charles Carroll who was the only Catholic who signed the Declaration of Independence. On the blog, we have reoccurring themes of our own family’s journey from suburbia to the American Redoubt, the politics of why we are moving, homesteading and more self-reliant living. We have reoccurring segments such as Jackboot which documents the ever-increasing police and surveillance state, soft secession which are various ways for people to withdraw from this corrupt and unsustainable system and fight back against soft tyranny, the American Redoubt or Patriot Darknet (AmRD) where we share methods to communicate more anonymously and privately with computers and the Internet.
The Charles Carroll Society has a weekly podcast that I try to put out every Wednesday. I call the podcast and myself the Bard of the American Redoubt. I use the term bard, as a wayward vagabond carousing through clubs, bars and churches both spreading the word that we live in uncertain times in a nation that is increasingly hostile to your faith, so what are you going to do about it?
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Thanks for posting this article; it was new to me. I’m definitely going to look for more of his articles. I’ve considered the redoubt region and in many ways it sounds appealing. I’m presently in New England which even in the far north is fairly heavily settled. Leftist and Progressive politics dominate at this time and I find myself definitely not in tune with a majority of the people around here.
The biggest barrier to me in terms of relocating there (besides having to convince my son to join me), is the lack of any sizable Jewish community. It was somewhat reassuring to me to see that trad Jews were included in this article in terms of those being a good fit for the politics and mores of this region. Interestingly enough, as a conservative traditional Jew, I have way more in common with my Christian counterparts than I do with liberal Reform Jews. Other than some obvious differences in religious beliefs, traditional conservative Jews are well aligned with our observant conservative Christian counterparts. And sadly for me, most of the Jews here in northern New England are leftist liberal sorts so we definitely don’t see eye to eye on many things. I’ve lost count of how many times I was screamed at after the last election for not thinking that the Democrat defeat was a bad thing in the least. The local synagogue in my area is fixated on Black Lives Matter, “social justice”, gay rights issues etc. When I suggested to them that they might want to consider looking at security for the synagogue I was ignored.
Still, contemplating a move to the redoubt region where to my knowledge the few Jews who live in those states are clustered in the cities……. Its a conundrum as in one sense that region sounds like a good fit for me(and my conservative gun packing son) but on the other hand I’d be a real minority there, even more than I already am. Wish there was a way to encourage conservative traditional Jews to leave the areas where they traditionally live and move to the redoubt! Open to ideas and suggestions.
ANI,,, as a Jew in the redoubt ,,come. ,join us.
Shalom
Really? Cool!
ANI,, remember the story of Lot’s wife ,,,and some of my family was in “the camps” the ones that said things won’t be that bad ,and said I have too much to lose by leaving , I got know the ones that survived,, as a child I saw the tattoos on my great aunt ,she was part of the Treblinka breakout ,lived in the forest and fought back ,and lived to tell about it ,,,,
Never again ,,
Shalom
Dear Ani,
Would you consider yourself more of a Karaite? Just curious.
Blessings,
Lily
Hi Lily
Not really although I think they are a fascinating group and I do lean that way in many regards. That they are still in existence, as a minority within a minority is amazing. But yeah, I think a lot of what they say makes sense. Have to admit I struggle with a lot of the Talmud, Mishna, Gemorah etc.
Hi Ani,
It’s my opinion that if the Jewish people would read ONLY the Tanak in it’s simplicity, not with the PaRDeS system. They would see and understand who the Yod Heh, Vav, Heh really is. But the leadership of Talmudic Judaism and all mainstream religions, for that matter, keep their people away from the Word of God, saying that it is too difficult for them to understand, and that they need “learned” Priests, Rabbi’s, pastors, to interpret it for them. People are lazy, too, and want to be told what to believe instead of searching for themselves.
I believe that the Bible itself is the literal Word of God. Everything that we need to know about God, the history, His plan for salvation and His plans for the future, He has placed in it. And as more time goes by, we see that archaeological discoveries validate it’s historical accounts and current events are validating the prophets and we can see the accuracy and proof and truth of it’s Words. It’s very exciting to me.
It frustrates me when people won’t read the bible itself or won’t believe the bible, because God’s Word is simple/clear. He wants all of His people to understand who He is and how much He loves them, and how He wants us to and requires us to approach Him.
I believe in reading only the scriptures for myself and asking the Holy spirit to help me understand, and using scripture to interpret scripture, and historical accounts of the times for the background,like Josephus and other historical accounts and of course understanding literary tools. We read each scripture within the context of the surrounding scriptures, comparing scripture with scripture. Not isolating them and then interpreting from our own mind/ reading between lines looking for hints or secrets. Just letting the words speak for themselves.
I encourage everyone, to get a bible and to pray and ask God to open their eyes while they read it, that He will show them who He is, His love for them, and what He requires of them and that He will show them who the Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh, really is.
My other “issue” with Judaism is that you are not to say God’s name because it is so sacred that is only saying it as “Hashem”, the Name. But that is not what the Bible says.
It says in Joel 2:32:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
What is His Name? Yod Heh Vav Heh, Jehovah,Yahweh, Yehuah.
How can one be saved if you’re not allowed to say the name of the Lord, because it’s so “Holy” ? God himself gives His name for us to call upon. He also says that His name is Yeshuati or Yeshua: My salvation, or Salvation.
Isa 12:2-4
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
ב הִנֵּה אֵל יְשׁוּעָתִי אֶבְטַח, וְלֹא אֶפְחָד: כִּי-עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ יְהוָה, וַיְהִי-לִי לִישׁוּעָה
ג. וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם-מַיִם, בְּשָׂשׂוֹן, מִמַּעַיְנֵי, הַיְשׁוּעָ
ד וַאֲמַרְתֶּם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה קִרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹ, הוֹדִיעוּ בָעַמִּים, עֲלִילֹתָיו; הַזְכִּירוּ, כִּי נִשְׂגָּב שְׁמוֹ
May you have a blessed day, Ani.
Lily
Yes, I think this affects all religions to a great degree where we end up believing that we need “learned”(usually men) to be our “intermediaries”. And of course in Orthodox Judaism, it’s men who get to study much of the Oral Law etc and thus women are told that we don’t understand the particulars and of course require a man to interpret it for us and tell us what to do. But don’t get me started! 😉
lily,,,,I have enjoyed your response ,thank you ,,, I see we could have a good time with TEA and chocolate around the kitchen table ,but I don’t totally agree ,,,
ANI,,,,HAHA NAGILA ,,,SIMCHU NA
SHALOM
Oh, Dear Oldhomesteader and Ani,
You have no idea how much I would LOVE to have tea and chocolate with you two around the kitchen table and to have respectful discussions and compare notes with each other concerning the scriptures. I have had a heart and interest in your people and the Land of Israel ever since I was in high school. I traveled to Israel many times in my early adult life. You and your people would always be welcomed at our table.
Many Brachim to you,
Lily
So, eventually, don’t you think the liberals/socialist will take over America? Where is safe to go? Each city will slowly be absorbed into the Borg…
Sad, but I see it coming…how do we hold out? We all can’t pickup and move to the Redoubt!
peace,
Michael J.
Martin Armstrong is increasingly saying that America will break up into different regions, based mostly on their politics. If he is correct, as he normally is, the Redoubt may very well become a small nation.
As I see it, the downside of this is that it would mean the absolute end of America as a secure nation. How do a dozen small, quarreling mini countries defend themselves from China? Because unless China also breaks up, we will be speaking Mandarin.
Take a look at the Armstrong Economics Blog if you want to read more.
Some day there will be no where left to move to.
The issue here is that I don’t think we either want or need everyone to come here. I’ve been here in the Redoubt six years. In that time we have seen increasing numbers of people, mostly Californians, come here — and their immediate demand is “make it like California”. Big box stores, more regulations, demands for gun control, higher taxes, bad traffic, rising home prices — I could go on, but the point is, if you want to change here to be like where you are from, please stay home.
I think that’s a common problem. In my area it’s people from MA, NY and NJ moving in and trying to change it. The cost of property has escalated as they are able to sell expensive property back where they live plus their income tends to be higher. Sellers here are responding to that by demanding (and often getting) higher prices. As I understand it prices in Idaho have really climbed in the past few years, likely as a direct result of those from CA being willing and able to afford more.
I have been here 8 years and see the same thing. My county is conservative but too sparsely populated to make much difference over the college towns and Kallispellifornia
From observation through the yearsI have noticed:
#1 – It’s in human nature to gather among others of like mind, Language, Culture, Beliefs, Religion, etc.
#2 – # 1 is the reason so called “diversity” is dangerous and not in the best interested of any society.
#3 – #1 is the reason why in any major metropolitan area, and many lesser ones, you will always find the Chinese district, Little Tokyo, Little Siagon, Korean enclaves and others.
#4 – People are always more comfortable with others they agree with, it’s contrary and hard to open yourself up to others views however well intentioned.
#5 – People are always more inclined to gravitate towards what they grew up understanding and being educated on and with.
And that’s primarily the way it has been throughout the ages, from the very beginning. It’s in our DNA you might say. Not to say that great strides cannot be made in the acceptance of others and their view, values, & way’s. But it’s a hard road. And trust in others and their differing views must be as it always has been, It must be earned.
Sorry to break it to you. Rawles was hardly the first person to suggest moving out of big cities to denser areas. This has been an issue for hundreds of years, due to crime, disease, and basic big city issues.
Not to say that great strides cannot be made in the acceptance of others and their view, values, & way’s. But it’s a hard road. And trust in others and their differing views must be as it always has been, It must be earned.
Perhaps, the ‘great stride’ can be made in the TOLERANCE of others and their views/values/ways.
There is no acceptance, just tolerance.
My Christian ‘operating manual’ is in direct contradiction to the Koran/ Talmud etc.
Contradictory buzzwords: Judeo Christian, conservative Republican.
White enclaves are racist, any others are fine.
My family and I love it here in the Redoubt. However, and it is a big “however”, unless the states which comprise the Redoubt can wean themselves off the federal government spigot I predict it will become increasingly difficult to buck the “system” with much success.
For example, I was stunned to learn that my young sons had to purchase fishing licenses (something I didn’t have to do until I was 15) and they are required to provide an SSN in order to be granted a license. I was told by my state representative that Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, [fill in your Redoubt state here] are required to collect that information in order to qualify for federal funds. The same goes for hunting licenses, etc.
Until we can wean our states from the federal pig trough we will never be truly free.
Oh, and a big welcome to any and all orthodox Jews who are interested in the Redoubt!
Lily, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your response to Ani and am in agreement… Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would be sent and He would guide us into truth and call to our remembrance… when Jesus asked Peter who He was and Peter responded with thou art the Christ Jesus said flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but My Father…I believe with all my heart that The LORD through His Holy Spirit will reveal Himself to us… yes, we are to ask for wisdom and understanding as we read and study Scripture… I also find historical accounts from Josephus , Eusebius, Tacitus and others helpful … commentaries from Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, John Gill, C.H. Spurgeon are insightful as well…if we have a heart seeking truth and with a sincere desire to know and experience The LORD He will reveal Himself to us … May God bless you and your family
My WYOMING has a east infection
Idaho is Beautiful!!
WYOMING IS WHAT AMERICA WAS
Idaho is beautiful, but I love the Rams Horn. We must stop trying to bring people into the redoubt, growth will only bring more Liberalism. I think one of the Founding Fathers said, as America becomes more urban the more like Europe it will become, or something to that effect. Saw a window sticker the other day that said “Wyoming is full, I hear Nebraska is nice”. Trekker Out.
For information, there is a chabad center in Jackson, Wyoming. However that area is very liberal. I believe the only mikvah in Wyoming is in Cheyenne, which is reasonably conservative.
As far as studying the faith and asking God to reveal himself to us, and give us understanding of scriptures:
In the bible it says, “The scriptures are hard to understand, we need a just judge.” If we didn’t need learned men to interpret some of them, why are there over 40,000 different christian denominations? Much of what they teach differs as well. Christianity didn’t start splintering until the middle ages. Men started their own churches in protest of doctrines in the church Christ started with the apostles. For example, all mainline christian churches were in agreement until 1930 that contraception was a sin. Protestant churches, under public pressure, changed their teaching even though previously they said it was against God’s law. Protestants don’t have a printed list of God’s laws. The Catechism of the Catholic Church does. You can buy one and look up anything you need to know about living a Godly life.