Basie: Jim, didn’t I teach you anything?
Jim: Yes! You taught me that people will do anything for a potato.

— Empire of the Sun

It’s easy to have principles when your belly is full.  Anyone can choose to believe in liberty and be contrary to those who want to control others when their children don’t cry themselves to sleep every night.  It’s amazing how quickly things like freedom and justice get jettisoned when people are hungry or afraid.  Live through enough suffering for long enough, and you may find yourself selling the things we fight for now at fire sale prices.

That’s why it’s so important to build up the walls that protect us now, when times are relatively easy.   In 1928, Germany and the United States were free societies.  By 1934, both had socialized their economy, adopted gun control, and were giving massive amounts of power to oligarchical juntas.  Let the collapse be quick and painful, and people will line up to sign away their rights in exchange for a bag of food and a warm place to lay their kids down.  Preparing for those times now will help us to fight holding actions while the rest of the herd panics.