Do We Really Need a III Emperor?

George Patton

Do we really need a III Emperor?  Are there folks in the III world that act like they want to be your leader?

We travel around a lot.  We run into a lot of folks who are self described III percenters, as well as a lot of folks who really are III percenters, but have no idea what a III percenter is!

As we develop the conversation, the amazing thing is that the vast majority of them have no idea who Mike Vanderboegh or Sam Kerodin are! We in the blog world probably consider that heresy!  We’re all quick to assign folks to various camps, belief systems, or so-called leaders. Big mistake.

Folks tend to gravitate to the first thing they find that aligns with what they believe in.  I know when I started looking around the web, I was amazed to find the large number of sites out there.  Over time, you start “hanging out” with the sites that talk about things you find interesting.

There is no harm in hanging out with kindred spirits, but the risk comes in relying on a single source of information.  At best, that just means you aren’t getting the other side of the news.  At worst, it means you are being lead down a path that the author/editor wants you to follow.

People can despise Kerodin without embracing Vanderboegh, and vice versa! 

People can hate them both and still be IIIs! 

Really! 

People can be our allies without knowing what a III is.

Questioning either one of them doesn’t mean that you are embracing and supporting the other.  No man is perfect and to expect not to be questioned or called on the carpet for something you said or did is disingenuous.

The better question would be why you would want to follow one specific web page anyway.  We understand that it is good for morale to realize that there are lots of folks in our country that believe like we do.  But, other than emailing them or commenting on their blogs, how do we possibly expect them to come to our area, help us grow crops, harvest animals, guard our perimeter, heal our wounds, etc?

Heck, how skeptical would you be if someone or a group of someones you’d never met or only met casually at a Patcon or get together, actually showed up in your area with an offer to help?

There are lots of web pages out there with information that is applicable to the III community.  Some of them mention the III community in their blogs and others are merely subject matter experts on things that are valuable to the III community.

You don’t have to be a Mormon to read and embrace their concepts of self reliance and prepping.  Some of the best field medicine web pages are by folks who wouldn’t know a III from a IV!  Do you have to be a III to understand repairing vehicles or guns, or how to grow crops?

I’ve worked with groups that we’d all call “preppers”.  Some of the groups are pacifists and wouldn’t shoot a gun to save their lives.  Some people’s faith makes them ambivalent on the use of weapons.  Some are very militant and plan to go into harm’s way at the first sign of real trouble.  And some are a combination of the above.

Are they all IIIs?  I would suggest yes.  Washington had all sorts of logisticians and camp followers in support of his Army.  Were they not part of the III percent that we claim to be emulating?

We need folks from the entire spectrum if we expect to survive the projected troubles.  I don’t need folks to love my cause, I just need them to not hate my cause.

While it’s still “peace time” we need to be gathering knowledge and developing relationships with local folks with knowledge.  The smartest guy in the world with knowledge that you need is worthless to you if they are clear across the country.

Anyone in the III community that is trying to convince you otherwise has a different goal in mind.

9 thoughts on “Do We Really Need a III Emperor?”

  3. “While it’s still “peace time” we need to be gathering knowledge and developing relationships with local folks with knowledge. The smartest guy in the world with knowledge that you need is worthless to you if they are clear across the country.”

    That’s why so many people say on so many different blogs/sites to build tribe,get connected with local people who have needed skills/knowledge.
    You have to start local,you have to have a group of like minded individuals in your immediate area.
    That is the first thing all of us should take care of.
    We all need mechanics,welders,carpenters,gardeners who know how to grow the crops that do best in your area, who have grown crops on a large enough scale to feed themselves,and who know how to save and store seeds.
    Then there’s nurses,EMT types,a DR. would be nice to have in your tribe/group,as would an electrician,and an electronics person,a comms person,hunters,fishermen,chefs and cooks with real world experience,people who know how to can fruits and veggies,people who know how to butcher game and livestock,as well as make cheese from the milk you got from your cow-or goat,or sheep,or water buffalo.
    There’s way too much focus on the bullets part of beans,bullets and band aids.
    Too much focus on “tacticool” skills.
    Too many supposed “snipers” who have never fired a rifle at more than the 100yds their local range maxes out at.
    Too many who claim to have survival “skills” when their skills rely on electronics and gadgets.
    Too few who can navigate using map and compass-they think their $1,000.00 GPS is still going to work,no matter where they are.
    And far too few who get off the couch,or out of the computer chair long enough to participate in a regular PT regimen.-they leave hand prints made out of Cheetos dust on the floor once a month when they attempt to do push-ups.
    Far too many who can’t do even basic exercises.
    Far too many who rely on gear,and believe that they’ll survive because they have all the latest tacticool gear-and they have 150# of useless shit in their “bug out bag” that they couldn’t hump to the end of their driveway.

    There are plenty of legit trainers out there,offering courses in a wide variety needed skills.
    If people refuse to go get training in the skills that they do not have,then there’s nothing the trainers can do for them.
    Any skill that you have not mastered,or at least become competent in requires training from someone who has mastered the skill.
    You can not learn new skills from blogs,or books,or websites,or youtube-you have to get training,in meatspace-you have to leave your home,and go take the courses.
    If your whole group can not afford to go-elect one or two people to go get the training,who can then come back and train you.
    That process works-the U.S. military has used the same technique with SF guys training fighters,who then train more fighters,who then train even more fighters.
    That method works with almost every skill.
    Use it.
    Get training.
    Do PT.
    Train together with your group or tribe.
    That is what we all need to do.

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  4. “We need folks from the entire spectrum if we expect to survive the projected troubles. I don’t need folks to love my cause, I just need them to not hate my cause.

    While it’s still “peace time” we need to be gathering knowledge and developing relationships with local folks with knowledge. The smartest guy in the world with knowledge that you need is worthless to you if they are clear across the country.

    Anyone in the III community that is trying to convince you otherwise has a different goal in mind.”

    So very true!

    Bob
    III

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  5. This is the single most important thing I’ve read, regarding the 3%, in a very long time. It should be required text. Thank you.

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    • Thanks. An idea that I think most of us share, but sometimes are scared to put into words because we are afraid of offending those of us who believe that being a III means being some sort of super commando. Defiance was a great movie, but the book was better. I think it shows how stuff will probably be.

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      • I don’t believe I am alone in appreciating what you are doing here. And those who believe they are, or need to be, super commandos… will hopefully and not painfully realize we need super farmers, mechanics, cabinet makers and wood workers, welders… it won’t be as much about running and gunning as some think. It will be more about being humble, building and protecting community. Although of course, as we build and protect… some of those who stand against us (those who helped put us in this time and place) will need and get… a bullet.

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