Why cooperation, not isolation will be needed in a ‘post collapse’ world

Grant J. Kidney — I’ve noticed a big trend in libertarian/social collapse circles that when the grid shuts down, everyone and their grandmother will be migrating to a cottage in the woods, screw all the rest. But would this really be the most beneficial of post collapse contingency efforts?

The truth is that if the human species is going to progress and forge a world similar to what is seen in the Star Trek franchise or in other examples of optimistic, future based fiction, then we’re really all going to have to work together whenever it is that the grocery stores shut down and riots spur out on the streets.

I find it interesting to notate how libertarians will speak of government so small that one wouldn’t even know it is there. But when it comes to talk of a total collapse of human industrial civilization, libertarians are the first to recommend stockpiling ammo and buying small plots of land so as to shield one’s self from a world without government. Boy, those libertarians sure do say the darndest things!

Occupy ‘tent cities’ are just the beginning of forming an alternative social system.

I completely sympathize with the notion of wanting to protect one’s self and one’s family for when the government announces that it is completely broke and will hence be forced into permanent retirement. But look at efforts already forged by groups like Occupy Wall Street. Without the aid of government or corporate interests, Occupy has almost managed to form an alternative social system completely independent from the grid. Tent cities. Free food. Free medical attention at Occupy related events. In other words, it is totally possible to form functioning, alternative models of civilization free of the ‘top down’ command and control grid presently installed over all of our lives.

When the poop finally hits the fan-blades, isolation would actually work counter-current to one’s own individual survival or that of their family’s. Think about it. If after the collapse you alone were to move out into the woods- and suddenly became ill- where would you find the appropriate medical attention to heal your ailment? You wouldn’t. You would either be forced to find someone who does have the medicine you’re looking for and trade shotguns or beans with in order to get that medicine, or you would simply perish. Now does this sound like a quality life to you?

Consider the alternative. Say after the collapse you and scores of other displaced individuals join together to form a collective. Among you there may be doctors. Educators. Skilled laborers. By banding together with a community in the post collapse world, one will have ensured survival by the mere fact that one will be surrounded by folks who may be able to tend to critical needs whenever they may arise.

The human story is one of cooperation and collaboration- whether this be of a direct or an indirect nature. Nothing of significance had ever been built by a single individual aloe. It had always taken more than one mind to produce grandeur. Just look at a modern city skyline for instance. It took the work and the collaboration of many thousands of people to build all the beautiful towers sprawled across a horizon.

Selfishness in a post collapse world can only translate to utter defeat for the whole of the human species. Its important remain optimistic about what is essentially the forthcoming defeat of the modern financial world. I am actually quite convinced that we will see many collapse communities birthed into existence in the days just ahead as the world economy grinds to a crashing halt.

Yes it is highly important to be individually prepared for whatever may lie ahead financially, but don’t plan on everyone going their separate ways and f**king up what has been a long train of emergent human culture. Remember, our thoughts create our realities. Think positive and a there will no doubt emerge a positive, cooperative solution for when governments across the board shut their doors for good.

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