To some, this would be acceptable. These people would claim that violence is to be avoided at all costs, save for their parents ceasing to pay for college. I propose that personal liberty is too dear a privilege to be forsaken just to avoid some violence. Moreover, I propose that violence is, in fact, the only foil for an American Empire.

But we are in no position to resist. The state of the average american is appalling. Even those who are not too fat to fight lack the motivation. It is with a heavy heart that I conclude that with no extraneous stimulus, the American populace would aquiesce with barely more than an indifferent shudder, a shrug, and a grope for the remote. We cannot rely on this brand of person to take action against tyranny (or at all?) until it is far too late.

And, further, even if we had the physical capabilities and the mindset to resist, we are woefully unprepared. There are only two viable ways to remedy this situation, and ultimately only one good way. The first, less appealing way, would be to coordinate, uniting under a man (or woman) of the people who would lead us to popular victory. This sounds romantic, but it is risibly unfeasible. Firstly, it is entirely unimplementable, as American civilians would be all but impossible to unify without serious (i.e., debilitating) compromise, and a military movement requires absolute unity to fully succeed. Secondly, there is very little to distinguish this populist army from a non-populist army once the battle is over; can we possibly trust one person, or even one small group of persons with the task of reinstituting a fallen system?

The sad truth is that representative government must naturally grow from a discontent but responsible population. The American Republic has outgrown its humble origins. When it at last fails us, we should not look to reinstate it or to revise it, but rather to regroup ourselves into many smaller entities, each held in check by the diffuse might of the others combined. Since we can eschew the goal of eventual unity, we are left with a much more appealing option for violent resistance against the imperialists.

We are all familiar with the concept of gangs. Usually we associate them with the unpleasant notion of organized crime, but in many cities they are self-governing enclaves, unmolested and untaxed states operating within the union, but generally without its interference. Sadly, our nation's gangs are in disrepair. Most are so intimately embroiled with the drug trade that they are enfeebled by their own wares; lacking both prestige and potency, they rely on adolescents to swell their always-dwindling ranks.

We cannot continue to allow our gangs to suffer so. In the coming collapse, our gangs could be our local security forces. We most likely will not be able to rely on our police forces to be much protection for two reasons. The first is a practical matter: without proper funding, a police force collapses. A gang is a self-supporting army, capable of making its own money. The second is a strategic concern: the police force's weaponry and capabilities are well known to the public. Anyone can obtain this information, so we must assume our enemies would be intelligent enough to do so. Of course, whatever can be integrated from the police forces into the local gang forces should be, but it would be folly to rely on police armaments alone.

No, we must support our nation's gangs if we are to survive. You can do much to aid in this. Among the many problems facing our gangs is a distinct shortage of truly capable individuals. If you have valuable skills (and now is no time for modesty), join your local gang. If possible, share your knowledge with your associates, so that they too may share it in turn. It is especially important for white people to take the initiative to join gangs too. At present, it is too difficult to categorize gangs as a minority phenomenon--racial integration is crucial if gangs are to be widely accepted as the blessing that they are. If you have no valuable skills and instead opted to have children, then donate them and continue to procreate. Every army needs cannon fodder.

If there is no formidable gang in your area, then start one of your own. This is quite easy to do if you wish to do it. You should quit your job, as running a gang is likely to be far more lucrative. The ideal way to start is to join another gang and siphon off some colleagues (making sure to leave the territory of your former gang with great haste!), but if that is not a possibility then you need only to go to your local ghetto or strip mall and casually recruit. Focus on the profitability and personal security afforded by membership in a gang; leave the revolutionary rhetoric for when it's needed (it will be sooner than you think).

Once you have your gang, focus on profitability, and transform as much of your profits as possible (without hampering growth) into raw weaponry. The wars of the future will be fought with small arms, and right now we are inadequately equipped. Remember that violence is the aim. We will need to force the enemy's hand and demand violent resolution if we are to have any chance at victory.

Even if you are too pathetic to actively participate in the forces of liberty, you can still make a difference. Remember that our current government is not the enemy, and while it is crumbling into a state of impotence, it is not there yet. Let us use this resource to our utmost advantage. Pressure your local and federal officials to ease up on monitoring and subduing gangs. Even unfettered by legal wrangling a gang can be a very difficult type of organization to run; we must do everything in our power to disentangle our nation's gangs from the wiry hooks of what is ironically called "organized" law enforcement. If you are even too timid to do that, you can still help by introducing your friends and family (if you have them) to the untapped potential utility of the gangs.