"The left isn’t afraid of people in the hills because they can be safely ignored. Scattered bands of men hiding in the hills with no plan aren’t an existential threat, and the lack of resources and infrastructure will mean many will starve or freeze to death before striking any meaningful blows."
Jesse James is usually pretty insightful but he has the wrong perspective on this one; his city-boy is shining through brightly. I sent this article to some like-minded folks this morning and pointed out what I thought were some shortcomings. I'll list a couple but won't clutter up the thread too much, hopefully.
Lack of resources? Where does he think stuff comes from anyway? Milk, eggs, meat and produce from a carton?
Lack of infrastructure? We don't need no stinkin' infrastructure. City folks need it to get their stuff brought to them, whether it's elektrikity, fuel, food or whatever can be thought of. It doesn't spring from the city or even suburbia. Elektrikity is awfully handy and I'm going to miss it if/when we lose it, but we're in a lot better shape out here to deal with this loss than the townies.
Suburbia may well be a critical nexus but it all depends on whether suburbanites can harden up, organize and switch from being overwhelmed by marauders to some form of offensive capability. My observations don't agree with James' in the sense that - generally speaking because there ARE significant exceptions - surbubanites have become too soft and the critical initial decisions/reactions will be delayed by the distaff element who are concerned with maintaining the nest they've built. But other than distribution warehouses out on the edges, what resources does suburbia have which will sustain the necessary flow of logistics? Warehouses will be commandeered or ransacked in short order; people know there's stuff in there and there'll be some intense battles procuring and securing them.
Out in the country, if his scenario is correct, then we will have to deal early with refugees. This is a constant factor in all the prepper porn which could well become a reality. That's not all bad because it potentially supplies a source of general need, and that's more people to increase the vigilance and resilience which will be required.
Ultimately, though, we'll have to deal with raids which are intended to capture food and supplies, along with wimmins and other entertainments. This is when communications, intelligence, alliances and training will carry the day, I believe. The complicating factor is that the raids could come from what we would consider the bad guys and the good guys. I haven't gotten my mind completely wrapped around that one yet. But initially it involves trade, resupply and rest, protection for partisan families in return for protection and intelligence, etc. But a lot of this one could be out of our hands with the wrong people in partisan leadership.
Admittedly I have to think about this some more.
