These survivalists who manage to spend nothing on food and water aren't "hyper efficient", just isolated.
If you're growing your own food and recycle everything and don't even use state electricity to the point where you're nommin on chicken and fish fed with your own hydroponics you didn't need a single penny for then yeah, you are hyper-efficient as fuck
Most people contribute to the nation. These people waste their time privately sourcing things that are usually mass produced, because they think flouride's controlling our minds and shit.
Hahaha being self-sufficient is never a waste of time, especially since I've heard such horrid things about how the USA is a horrendously obese nation because fresh produce is unavailable for distribution. Saves money, is good practice to get into, allows you to eat fresh produce, this is basic common sense. I don't understand how anyone could be opposed to gardening and local agriculture o_O
I'm really missing something here because it's a fun thing to do and it's good for you, it is an ancient saying that the best tasting food is the one made by your hand. Look at this further; why cook, when meals are ready made and usually mass produced? Because it is cheaper, the quality is higher and the skill you practice makes you worthwhile and have fun
Oftentimes they rape the commons to do so, like the militia that occupied the wildlife refuge office over poaching. Or using our roads which they don't deign to help pay for.
wait wat
raping the commons is an often occurrence by these peeps? Pretty sure you got em mixed with big cattle ranchers and farmers
Only thing I could find in reference was this, in which two farmers illegally shot a herd of deer on public land and then set it on fire to cover it up. They got caught and sentenced for arson then the Bundys showed up to protest even when the Hammonds said they didn't want their help. The Bundys were not occupying a refuge to secure some sort of poaching rights, they were
doing it as part of their agenda to get federal land managed by states. These aren't self-sufficient survivalists, they're cattle ranchers lol
Hippie communes emphasized sustainability, right-wing "survivalists" are self-centered hoarders and anarchists.
Check the wikipedia article on survialists because we're really talking with different glasses on
In the wikipedia article it briefly mentions how the term survivalism has been incorrectly used to signify unrelated right-wing reactionary paramilitary activities, hence why you see it as a split between hippie communes and '"right-wing" "survivalists"' whilst I see it as a split between people who are useless and people who have practical skills and emergency supplies. Very basic skills like first-aid, rope work, gardening, outdoorsmanship, cooking and the pinnacle of all - firemaking, they're of massive value everywhere, anytime; great for holidays, journeys and rough times. I don't even mean disasters, I mean even just down times where food and energy prices are high lmao
As for hippy communes they only tended to emphasize smoking weed, eco villages emphasized sustainability (and maximized efficiency!). I like Eco-villages but they're in the middle of bumfuck nowhere and they cost loads of money to live in. The only things I can say about survivalism, politics and sustainability are these:
They tend to overlap between people who are individualistic and concerned with authoritarian society, given the USA's unusual FREEDOM culture I can see the overlap politics-wise since the US left is a lot more trusting of government than the US-right.
But hear me out, the values they espouse, they're common virtues across the world. Self-sufficiency, reliance, connection with nature, resilience and preparation - or to put it in more obvious terms, you're not going to hate on someone who wants to do gardening, learn first aid or preserve/prepare food
Put it another way, I live in London, a city of glass, steel, concrete and pretty stones. Electricity, free healthcare, internet and extensive transport infrastructure underpin everything I do, and it would be entirely possible for me to live my entire life to my death without ever once having dirtied my hands or left the city. I am not biased, I have no connections to survivalists, I never even knew they existed - yet still, in this urban paradise where all is provided, I developed a yearning for all these virtues. Storing food and buying in bulk made perfect sense to me, was healthier and saved money. Growing my own food and spices made perfect sense to me, was healthier, saved money and gardening is incredibly fun work. Going outdoors into the wilds, obvious enough pleasure to be surrounded by nature and to actually for once see the stars. I have no especial fondness for the woods however, as unlike the survivalists I lack any ability to navigate woods without the sun or a compass, and the UK has no sun, thus I prefer the ocean, but I'm running off the point. Self-sufficiency should be something all people should have, and since circumstances do not allow for it, it should be something all people are prepared for. It should seem obvious that being entirely dependent upon modern supply chains is retarded - multinational corporations are fickle, often prone to not caring about their consumers. Current events shake prices tremendously, and disasters do have a habit of striking. Heed my words, especially since the nation of Britain faces food price increases due to a weaker sterling!
[Yet I'm cheerful, for my rice, oat and tea has always been in the largest supply and largest store available to me
]
Look at it this another way - I was absolutely startled when one of my friends showed me how certain Americans were responding to a hurricane's aftermath. They weren't, they were completely shocked and didn't know what to do, their only recourse being to beg the US government for help or they would all die. One of the big problems with how good modern life is is it is a crutch, and if it gets taken away you need to know how to walk with just your legs. Once you can walk on your legs you can visit all over the world with competency
Like I really think when I say survivalist you're hearing scary black-and-white reports voiced over with ominous music on CNN about arsonist militias lurking out in the hills whilst
I think of really cheerful people like these lotThe lifestyle is fucking awesome for youI'm so confused why people think having useless individuals dependent on fragile institutions is a good thing, this is how you get so many dead for no reason O_o