Thought experiment: how a dissident could survive being barred from all major corporations

submitted by Ponderer from self.debatealtright

"It's a private company, they can do what they want."

This phrase has been used to justify a wave of censorship across social media platforms. But what if it wasn't just censorship?

In a nightmare scenario, it's been proposed that "private companies" could collude to terminate your employment, deny you access to medical services, even shut off your power. On a smaller scale, some of this is already in the works with vaccine mandates. What can a dissident do to avoid this?

This thread provides a preliminary analysis of the situation and offers some potential solutions. Note that this could also work for a generic collapse scenario, and several of the suggestions may be better-suited for that. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

Employment - in case an employer terminates you for wrongthink (or not being vaccinated)

  • Independent contractor - learning a trade or other hard skill can set you free to earn profits as you see fit, without having to work for a larger company.

  • Start your own business - provide a good or service to others in your community or over the web; what are some options for this that could be done independently?

Housing - in case a landlord evicts you

  • Own your own land free and clear; this can either be where you live fulltime, or a small plot of land you own as a backup

  • Have a friend or family member who owns their own land and will let you stay at their place indefinitely

  • Consider van living if necessary

  • Ideally, you should already live somewhere where systematic denial of service is not likely to be an issue; see /s/ConservativeExodus for suggestions

Banking - in case major banks close your accounts

  • Local credit unions

  • Cash

  • Cryptocurrency

  • Barter system or gift economy with others in your community

  • Precious metals

  • Relative self-sufficiency

Food - in case grocery stores deny service to you

  • Stockpile several months worth of inexpensive, long-lasted, nutritionally-complete food for a rainy day. Rice and beans are classic examples - any others?

  • Get in touch with local farmer's markets, and independently-run grocery stores that may have more lax rules or be more connected with your local food supply chain

  • Start a garden to supplement your diet

  • Learn basic fishing, hunting, and foraging

I have more thoughts on this, including about water, electricity, and waste disposal, but I want to hear everyone's opinions before continuing. Hope what I have so far helps.

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[–]Nombre27 7 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

Regarding rice and beans, make sure to stockpile spices, seasonings, etc.

[–]yetanotherone_sigh 7 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

Also

Cooking oil (coconut oil has a lot of longevity; regular cooking oil can go rancid and should be regularly rotated).

Fuel to cook your food if you plan to go off grid. It takes a lot of heat for a long time to cook dry beans.

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Yes you need cooking oil but seedoils in general are fucking terrible. So for everyone not just preppers, stay away from canola, vegetable oil, grapeseed oil, soybean oil, etc. etc.

Coconut oil is great. EVOO from a very reputable supplier that cold pressed. Ghee. Grass fed beef fat. I like to always have a few briskets frozen at a time and I know that's a lot of back up tallow if I need it.

Seedoils are the number one 'food' driving obesity.

[–]Blackbrownfreestuff 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

Is avocado oil good? What about olive oil?

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Avocado oil is high heat stable but suffers from a lot of adulteration. In other words most manufacturers aren't giving you real avocado oil.

Stay away from light olive oil. It's hexane processed. EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), cold pressed from a good source is tolerable but I would never fry with it. Low or medium heat dishes are good.

I mostly use coconut, ghee, and animal fats.

[–]JasonCarswellVoluntaryist 7 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

Great post.

Perhaps cross-post it in /s/DIY, /s/OffGrid, /s/Preppers, and /s/Solutions.

[–]Ponderer[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Good call, I made a more practical version of this and put it on /s/Preppers and /s/Solutions!

https://saidit.net/s/Preppers/comments/8d4y/biden_is_announcing_new_covid_restrictions_this/

https://saidit.net/s/Solutions/comments/8d50/biden_is_announcing_new_covid_restrictions_this/

[–]JasonCarswellVoluntaryist 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks!

Updooted both.

[–][deleted] 6 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

As for the food - Jams and jellies and other preserved foods are a solid route to go. Also, using herbs and other plants to make teas, wines, cordials, and other beverages is a good way to get certain vitamins and anti-oxidants, and they can usually get stockpiled with a good shelf-life before they become too potent.

I also think most people should have their own chickens. I don't understand why more people don't. They are easy to replace, they don't really need to be fed often if they are free-range, they build relationships with other farm animals for safety, like cows, cats, dogs, and pigs. Basically a free supply of eggs, and if you don't like to eat eggs, you probably know someone who does. In a SHTF situation, a chicken or a dozen eggs could easily be traded for other useful items. I also like ducks for the same reasons, but you need a lake or pond to really do ducks proper.

[–]casparvoneverecBig tiddy respecter 4 insightful - 5 fun4 insightful - 4 fun5 insightful - 5 fun -  (1 child)

Convert to judaism and get a circumcision. Become a crypto-goy. Gnaw Jewry out from within.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

This is the real outside-of-the-box thinking right here! /s

Seriously though, this is a dangerous option, not for the faint of heart.

[–]Zapped 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

Put together a small collection of physical books and manuals on basic living techniques and identification guides. Be aware of any neighbors or friends who you can barter with and exchange help and knowledge.

[–]Ponderer[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Great suggestion. Hard-copy books are incredibly important now, as well as building community with knowledgeable people.

[–]insanemetal187 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (20 children)

The one that I've been considering is getting a camper. You aren't tied to a single location like you are with land so if the area or state starts going crazy, move. All of your resources are also not really tied to any system. The reason for a camper over an RV is this way if your daily use vehicle needs work you don't have to worry about your house being in the shop for multiple days. Also it's generally much cheaper upfront. I saw I can get one for well under $10k off Craigslist in my area and I dunno of any livable land near me for equally as little, never mind one with a house on it.

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (10 children)

I've been looking for a camper for 2 years and it seems like the moment I started looking the prices went through the roof. The industry is also shady as fuck. Low quality. Cheap parts. Lazy assembly. No longevity to warranties. Chemical off-gassing from many of the building materials. Not to mention seems like everyone who owns an RV bought it on debt and got underwater immediately on their loan. I'm not very impressed with the industry.

[–]insanemetal187 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

I'm used to shitty apartments and I mostly just want something that would leak. I also would find it kinda fun to work on it and learn how to maintain a dwelling before taking on an entire house. I will keep an eye out when I start shopping for one. I'm honestly not expecting much for my budget.

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Are you looking for a trailer or 5th wheel? Full time living or just camping?

[–]insanemetal187 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Living but I specifically want to be able to use my vehicle without having to tow my "house" everywhere.

Basically I want to be able to live somewhere and move when I feel like it. Even if it's within the same state. I live in what seems to be the worst spot of New England and living 30 mins in any direction seems like it would have better options but can't move a house.

[–]Ponderer[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (6 children)

Chemical off-gassing from many of the building materials.

This would concern me the most. Maybe it's possible to buy something that's mostly metal or made somewhere with better production quality? Or even to build one?

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

I'd think the best option would be a used one that's already off gassed or maybe even a school bus rig you build yourself. There are some really nice quality durable horse trailers that are built well and keep resale value. Cimarron is one. They make living quarters trailers that last a long time. paging /u/insanemetal187

[–]insanemetal187 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

I've thought about converting a bus literally since high school 20 years ago now. My concerns were, it seems expensive and I want to be able to move freely without always bringing my house with me. I can drive a truck or SUV through some small town and not have issues. Driving a bus will have all the limitations that come with long vehicles which I usually dislike having to figure out. Not the easiest to park or take tight turns with. And again, if anything breaks down needing to be brought to the shop, your house is in the shop.

I want the separation between home and transportation. This doesn't have to be everyone's concern though. I envy the van life guys over my current situation even though I have the separation I desire.

[–]Ponderer[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

It depends on how small you want to go. Heck, maybe we could get creative here.

If you're okay with van living, but you want a living space that's not permanently attached to your vehicle, how about a teardrop trailer?

Very inexpensive. There's plans online so you could probably build one yourself with your own materials. Depending on the size, maybe you could even fit one in the back of a pick-up, which would mean that length or parking would not be an issue. Would that work?

[–]insanemetal187 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

lol I'm not an outdoor type. I want a camper for the kitchen, bathroom, bed space and just need something close to a desk, table and bench would work.

While I'm cheap, I'm looking for something that could work anywhere. I'd like to be able to just move on a moment's notice. I'm impulsive and being locked into being in one spot has me going nuts. I miss my college years of taking a 5 hour road trip for White Castle because we watched the movie. I want to be able to just move when bored, without having to pack and find a new apartment. If I own my own shit and keep my cost of living low I can just pick up a shitty job where ever I go if needed. I think if I cut back on rent I probably have enough bitcoin to last for a few years at current prices. If it runs it might be enough to be fully retired.

[–]Ponderer[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I can relate to that feeling. Good luck my man.

[–]JasonCarswellVoluntaryist 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Maybe get a RV/bus and hang a motorcycle and/or mountain e-bike off the back - and get baskets, saddle bags, and/or a bike-trailer.

[–]Ponderer[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (8 children)

This is a really interesting idea that I'm thinking about too.

Costs of buying land are skyrocketing, but renting is far from ideal - it's a constant drain on your wallet, and the landlord might threaten you with eviction.

Having a camper means you actually own the place that you live, and it's a lot cheaper than the cost of a house. As you said, there's also the possibility of moving it around as needed. If you wanted to you could even buy a plot of land and park the camper on it.

If you don't own your own land though, are there good places to park a camper long-term?

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 5 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 3 fun -  (5 children)

If you don't own your own land though, are there good places to park a camper long-term?

I've been looking into this for a couple of years. The problem is that housing prices have been so bad for the last few years that trailer prices are also up and some states are cracking down on boondocking (living in trailers). Every state is also very different on rules around trailers. In my area I can't even live in an RV even if I own the land! I have to put a septic system down. The only other for me is buying a lot at an RV resort and those can be the same price as apartments or more! The only way to do it affordably is if you know someone else with land and you pay them to park on their land and the authorities and neighbors don't really mind. Some people are also building partial structure that are like half house half RV parking. Those can be cheaper than building a new home and still be legal. Most people you see just living in trailers are breaking multiple laws.

[–]JasonCarswellVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

So sad that just living is becoming illegal.

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

It's all about cornering people into 30 year mortgages on overpriced homes or rent slavery that traps you into a cycle where you can't afford to save enough money to own property. They can't allow cheap alternatives to gain popularity. Next step is they're going to find ways to make rural living impossible (cutting internet off, making rain water harvesting illegal, etc)

[–]JasonCarswellVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

Harsh truth.

[–]Ponderer[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

This resource may help for parking on public land: https://old.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/wiki/index

I'd definitely recommend this book for buying a tiny plot of land to own: https://b-ok.cc/book/5758985/d610e8

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks. I will look into those.

[–]insanemetal187 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

If you don't own your own land though, are there good places to park a camper long-term?

No idea, hopefully I get to figure this out soon. Another thing I was considering, just buying straight up land with a field wouldn't be terrible expensive. The value in land comes from it's scarcity but the structures on it scale the price up quickly. I've seen plots in New England when I was looking for under $10k and we have notoriously high real estate prices. I'm wondering if a piece an hour outside of like Sioux Falls, SD would be dirt cheap and basically just build a parking lot. Use all the money saved to get internet and electricity connected. Build a trailer park for one in the middle of no where.

[–]Ponderer[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

This resource may help for parking on public land: https://old.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/wiki/index

I'd definitely recommend this for buying a tiny plot of land to own: https://b-ok.cc/book/5758985/d610e8

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Rice and beans are classic examples - any others?

Pasta has the most longevity. Personally I stock rice though because it's super cheap and I use it in my regular cooking. I like my prepping to be a part of my regular cooking rotation so I don't have to throw food away.

Never underestimate the humble rolled oat. Get some bulk brownsugar and bulk rolled oats and you are set for bfast for YEARS.

Personally though I think the ultimate survival food is frozen meat and having either an off grid solar system or a backup solar system that can run a deep freezer. Meat is always the first thing that goes when there's instability. You need strength and nutritionally dense food in a collapse and meat (especially organ meat) is the king in those departments. You should also live near an area where you can hunt wild game to supplement your stored meat and fill up the fridge when your reserves go bad.

Also don't forget a vacuum sealer. Vacuum sealers turn a 4-6 month frozen meat item into a 14-18 month frozen meat item with better nutrient and flavor retention. They really are magical. Meat also has good potential trading value.

One more simple tip: you should always keep potatoes and onion in the kitchen don't eat them when the shit hits the fan. They can be stored, allowed to sprout, and then planted at the right time if there's a long term food shortage.

I'm also a big fan of fermented foods. They keep a long time without power and are incredibly versatile and rich in nutrients. (Cabbage and other cruciferious veggies also lower estrogen in the male body). If anyone is interested in learning how to make apple cider, wine and vinegar let me know and I can make a post!

*doesn't hurt to learn how to make a solar oven either. Free emergency cooking source!

[–]Ponderer[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Excellent comment! I'd definitely be interested in hearing about some recipes.

I also borrowed a few of your food ideas and made another post here, more of an immediate and practical version of this one: https://saidit.net/s/debatealtright/comments/8d4z/biden_is_announcing_new_covid_restrictions_this/

[–]Blackbrownfreestuff 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (10 children)

What kinds of businesses are good to start? I won't last much longer at jewcorp.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (7 children)

Buy a Bobcat and get some extensions for it. You can drive posts with one of those extensions. Hire a couple young folk and build fences. People are always looking for some fences to be built, I'm telling ya

[–]Blackbrownfreestuff 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Thats a decent idea. I'm a little old and physically worn out, so I would need those young folks. Any other ideas?

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

This idea is actually my fathers, and he has tons of similar ideas. They mostly involve purchasing equipment like bobcats. He used to sweep streets as a kid, and bobcats have a street sweeper attachment. He says that is his retirement plan.

[–]Blackbrownfreestuff 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Are you talking about the auger attachment? https://www.bobcat.com/attachments/auger/features

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

This is what I was meaning, yeah. There are lots of attachments that can do multiple things, its not a bad idea. An older gentlemen could take a bobcat and a list of his attachments to a worksite and probably find work.

[–]Blackbrownfreestuff 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I really like the idea.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I'll ask him for more ideas, he's full of 'em. Another one that he really likes is to build gypsy wagons and chuck wagons using aluminum frames. https://www.woolywagons.com/ This is basically his idea. We made our first one using an old ten by five trailer (one of those small ones without tall walls or a roof) and used aluminum to make a frame, then we took the bottom of a boat and made it the roof, and it is now sitting out by our duck pond. It wasn't that difficult, and people have tried to purchase it from us asking for a price that is waaaay more than the thing cost to make.

Of course, this is less labor than making fences, but more know-how would be required.

[–]Airbus320 1 insightful - 3 fun1 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

But don't hire Mexicans!

[–]Ponderer[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

The easiest online business to start might be a t-shirt shop, where you outsource the actual manufacturing of the shirts and just put your own designs on them.

So basically you're just selling the design (which in some cases might not even be yours, maybe it's in the public domain). You have another company print it on the shirts, then list those on the site for a mark-up.

Not saying it's particularly glamorous or contributing something amazing to the world, but it's easy to start and could make you some side income if you have cool designs.

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[deleted]

    [–]Ponderer[S] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

    Thanks! I made a more practical version of this and uploaded it here: https://saidit.net/s/Preppers/comments/8d4y/biden_is_announcing_new_covid_restrictions_this/