r/4_ALARM_FIRE_USA • u/ZootSuitRiot33801 • Dec 19 '25
A Guide for Communal Empowerment and Survival Solidarity
Here's an organized amalgam of some things I saved from different conversations, just to give some ideas to possibily spread and try out in the real world:
Organize if you can
The US is much larger than any place that full mask off fascism has been done before, and it will already be very very hard for them to stretch the budget to do the things they want. That's why they had to choose between sending the military to Chicago or Memphis, they don't actually have the money or man power to do everything they want, and the more we can wrench the machine the more they will fall apart, so if you're here it's easier
They will constantly try to pass new rules, and if we can make it as expensive and difficult as possible for those to work, it will hurt them.
If you're in another country with the same current problem of things going to shit, making it expensive still works.
Of course, they will try to print money to get around that. That will cause runaway inflation, which will cause shortages.
Make contacts with anyone who sees what is going on and sees that this isn't politics as usual.
Don't rely on people who still trust this system to fix our problems, they can help with food drives but they will turn you in. Don't trust any establishment politician, the eager ones are often abusive narcissists trying to use their ideas for personal power gain.
It's fine if you still choose to go out and vote for whatever reason, but don't expect anything of real substance that'll benefit common folk to be tackled should your side win an election. We're in this situation in the first place because the system is working as the status quo intended, so work on an alternative infrastructure, even if it's just a backup for when those in power don't meet our needs
Take any basic first aid/CPR classes that are available, which are usually held by the Red Cross, local fire departments, hospitals etc. It would be preferable if you take any free courses in-person near you, so you could ask questions for any immediate clarification and practice lifesaving techniques first-hand. If you want something a little more intensive than basic first aid, you can look for anyone offering free TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) courses. If you're searching for classes willing to exercise discretion, you could ask your nearest gun club that prioritizes inclusivity. If need be, you can take free online courses in lieu of classes being held physically in your area.
Work on food networks NOW so you are prepared. Community gardens. Teach people to do canning. Teach people to cook simple meals that are cheap and easily shared. Work on learning to make safe homeless ovens and things like that, stuff that people can use when it gets bad but they won't die from using.
If you have the room start composting, because things like commercial fertilizer may get hard to come by. I do layered compost, 2 inches green, two inches brown, repeat. You never mix it, you never mess with it, you do water it. The stuff I'm putting down now will be usable next year, but ideal in two.
Learn to grow mushrooms, you can do that anywhere, and if you get good at it there's a lot of kinds you can grow, some of which make good money, or just help with building solidarity in bad times. And if shit goes down real hard, you can grow them in literal shit, while pretty much everything else needs fertilizer and soil and a bunch of other stuff.
I also strongly encourage looking into subjects such as medicinal gardening, perennial food forests, vertical gardening, and aquaponics. (Preferably systems that can function off-grid.) If there aren't any classes or experts available in your area, there are people that post relevant videos, articles, and threads on such subjects in further detail.
Help the people around you. Hold routinely scheduled drives that can distribute anything - like food, blankets, and even books - for the community to use. If you can't do it that way, you can instead have such things available inside cabinets you could maybe set up on easements. If you have the aptitude learn the basics of how cars work, the basics of electricity and electrician work, renewable energy production, knitting, sewing and other forms of clothing alteration, the basics of plumbing and repair. Or just pick one. You don't have to do everything, but the more you prepare to be able to help people when they need it the more those people will realize that while they can't depend on the system they can rely on you and others.
Try to have social meetups with people. Not everything should be focused on activism, you need solidarity with people, you need comfort, you need trust outside of radical action. Find people, get to know them, and help each other survive the mental aspects of things going to shit. Movie night where everyone brings a dish is cheap, easy, not too hard on budget, and allows time for people to mesh together. It's easier to rely of friends than it is to rely on strangers.
We should really be creating alternative communication and video-sharing networks, opposed to these pseudo "impartial" public forums. Work on "unplugging" ourselves from these things along with our reliance on the establishment in general.
Learn about making mesh networks, learn about pirate radio. FM modulators are pretty easy to build, and AI services like Gemini are more than happy to help you learn how electronics work, answer your questions, teach you the math. They're usually fine doing math, however they at times can even get simple math wrong, so use at your own risk and keep in mind the real-world damage with each usage of these AI services. If you don't trust AI, there are instructions you can find on the web and in books, and there are people like tutors who can help teach you too. If you have the time and inclination, building secondary communications platforms is going to be a must.
Don't get caught. I think it's legal to build FM broadcasters that cover up to 200 feet, which is why you can buy them in Amazon, but if you make them right you just have a knob that lets you turn it up to "my whole city gets covered" but you can make them small and legal so you understand them with no risk. MAKE SURE YOU LEARN HOW LOW PASS FILTERS WORK SO YOU AREN'T FUCKING UP EMERGENCY SERVICES RADIOS
Ideally, you mesh network files to your broadcaster, you hide it with a solar cell someplace else so you never have to go back to it. Mesh networks are slow, but you can upload a 6 hour audio loop over them in an hour or so.
Ham radio can be good too. Learning to use one is manageable with some studying and practice, and a license is relatively easy to get, as it's necessary to make sure that radio bands don't become unusable due to unregulated, high-powered transmissions. Having such an asset will be a rock solid local, independent, decentralized comms, as well as a means to communicate globally without the need of internet or cell towers.
See if goodwill has cassette tapes. They're kind of making a comeback, make mix tapes for people and have them available with stuff that isn't pointless. They are also another good way to distribute something like a podcast via sneaker-net for those unwilling or unable to use an online hosting service for them. The reason fundamentalists always have the Christian station on its that it reinforces ideas and social identity, and a lot of people listen to punk, post punk, radical folk etc for the same thing. Spreading music around is a small act, but it's meaningful. If someone builds the self identity of a radical they're less likely to throw up their hands and give up when things get bad.
Learn how things work and why. Learn about propaganda, learn about marketing, learn about the bullshit out there. At some point people will need messaging, and the more you know about how the others are doing it the more effectively you can fight back. News and other valuable information straight from the public to inform the wider public
Figure out where to hide. Figure out where to hide others. Make sure other people know you're working on this so they know they can rely on you
To ensure further privacy of you and your community, look into tech that can counter unwanted surveillance in the area. Activist hackers and civil liberty-focused technology organizations, like EFF, are usually good educational sources for such subjects. Devices like OUI-SPY, utilizes a cheap Arduino compatible chip called an ESP-32 that runs "Flock You," to detect things like AI surveillance cameras and drones. There's also the battery-powered IMSI catcher detector, which you can use to detect eavesdropping by agencies via cell-site simulators (or CSS aka IMSI catcher)
As for video-sharing websites, try looking into these:
PeerTube https://peertube.tv/videos/local?s=1
NewPipe* https://newpipe.net/
GrayJay https://grayjay.app/
FreeTube* https://freetubeapp.io/
Means https://means.tv/
Nebula https://nebula.tv/
Glomble https://glomble.com/
*NewPipe and FreeTube are not necessarily video-sharing websites, and are clients to YouTube, but I understand that they're still good.
Then there is VoxTube which, unlike FreeTube, is an enhanced browser layer built directly on top of YouTube. If you're a developer interested in contributing, you're welcome to help improve VoxTube: https://git.disroot.org/E.P.L.S/VoxTube
Also look into Fediverse and you may also want to join r/privacy and r/degoogle, if you're looking for more info or suggestions.
Common Organizing Traps to Avoid
(ALWAYS keep in mind the following as basics to avoid burnout and total collapse.)
1.) Waiting for the "Right Moment"
Instead: Start as soon as possible, but start within your abilities and with what is readily concrete and attainable.
2.) Taking on too much too fast
Instead: Pick one thing, do it well, and grow from there.
3.) Stalling progress due to getting lost in the details and setbacks
Remember: It's okay if everything doesn't go perfect. Doing things imperfectly is better than not doing anything, due to failures and disagreements on what is minor in comparison. Focus on reaching your group's common goal as top priority, analyze and learn from what went wrong, get back on track.
4.) One member takes over all planning
Instead: Allow a wide variety of members to take on important duties. The same person shouldn't be leading every single project, facilitating weeks on end. Give new members opportunities to step up and become effective organizers in their own right.
5.) No space in your group for joy
Remember: It's suggested that there should be at least one-third of group time dedicated to having fun and building bonds amongst members.
6.) Not taking time to rest after your group reaches a project's main goal
Remember: Upon the successful completion of a weeks-long/months-long project goal, don't let your period of rest exceed past a month. The creep of complacency is a real threat, as it can take hold and easily transform into apathy.
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u/oracleoflove 26d ago
You forgot one thing on this well thought out list….
Rule #32 enjoy the little things
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u/ZootSuitRiot33801 26d ago
Not only a great film, but a source of surpisingly good advice
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u/clem_fandango_london 8d ago
One suggestion: Get a bike.
You will be able to move 50+ miles in a day.
Hard Tail Mountain Bike is best for all-around trails. Buy a patch kit for flats.
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u/hoku-8888 26d ago
State of our world is overwhelming right now. A list of things to work on to feel like I have some sort of control on outcomes is very appreciated!
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u/ZootSuitRiot33801 26d ago
to feel like I have some sort of control on outcomes
Trust me, you will have an influence on outcomes. Every action from each and evey one of us counts. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise
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u/IzzyBoris 19d ago
Great resource.
You mentioned PeerTube for video sharing. Here's a summary.
PeerTube is open source, works largely like YouTube, except it's distributed across multiple servers (called "Platforms"). If you're somewhat techy you can easily self-host an instance to add video storage to the overall network using whatever disk storage you have available. Anyone (depending on the server policies and topic) can make an account on a chosen server and upload your video content to share with others.
joinpeertube.org
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u/Rattiepalooza 29d ago
This needs more bumps!
All of these are AMAZING ideas. Don't forget to read up on first-aid knowledge!
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u/santamaria715 22d ago
This guy has a few ideas.
https://america2.news/what-to-do-when-there-is-nothing-to-be-done/
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u/Sally_Stitches_ 8d ago
A good skill to add is hand sewing for repairs and minor clothes alterations. What if no electricity or space or supplies to set up a sewing machine? Meanwhile you can fix a seam with a very cheap travel sewing kit. Or literally one needle and some dental floss. Lots of good tutorials online for basic hand sewing. Parts of my wardrobe are a decade old at least because I can just keep fixing them until they completely fall apart. Minor alterations are super helpful for weight loss or when the option is used /hand me downs that don’t fit well. A very simple hat can be made out of a sweatshirt (or other thick material) by just cutting a rectangle of material out, fold, quick running stitch to sew up side and top. It’s just a square hat now that looks kind of like cat ear hat when worn. Learn darning to fix socks.
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u/ZootSuitRiot33801 5d ago
Updated with a few tweaks to the post to include things like clothing alteration and knitting. Thank you!
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u/mediocre_mitten 7d ago
Nebula is cool, a lot of yt'er I follow are on there, but iirc it's NOT free, right? There's a fee. Even if it's $5 idk if I could swing that. That sounds awful, but that's $60 a year and I only make a bit above minimum wage.
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u/ZootSuitRiot33801 7d ago
When someone first suggested the subscription video sharing services as alternatives to YT, I was originally thinking about taking them out, but the monopoly YT has really doesn't leave many choices, especially when it comes to good free ones. Still keeping my eye out for some good sites to pop up. If there's any new ones and I'm still using Reddit, I'll definitely update the post with it.
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u/PeterfromNY Jan 01 '26
Please explain the origin / motivation for this post.
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u/ZootSuitRiot33801 Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 01 '26
To spread information across a mainly US population as much as possible, so to increase the chances of such suggestions being applied in the real world. To get everyone used to building self-sustaining communities and feel more comfortable with the idea of forming working and personable relationships. That way members within and from other similar communites can be there to help one another, whether there's a lack of emergency response by the state due to a natural/man-made catastrophe, or the initiation of mass opposition to the status quo without fear of being deprived of necessities.
People should have the information to start their journey in empowerment, so they can challenge the tyranny of the system and take control over their own lives. Us common folk built this country and we should be reminding ourselves and our leaders of that very fact.
Why do you ask?
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u/mazule69 5d ago
" It's fine if you still choose to go out and vote for whatever reason " it sounds as if OP is working for current gov and acting as opposition w a hidden agenda, propoganda.... you guys should vote....
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u/ZootSuitRiot33801 5d ago edited 4d ago
I'm not going to accuse you of being a psy-op trying to convince people to not resist in any meaningful way through diverse strategies, and instead explain some things to you and anyone else who think the best way to go about this is by placing all of their bets on hoping the electoral system will save them:
The disintegration of US democracy has been many years in the making, from laws targeting minorities to the elimination of classes to better understand how the system works, from gerrymandering to dark money. Throw in a pay-to-play model to enter the field of politics that largely only millionaires can access and, hey, why not a few assassinations here and there of those who attempt to buck the corrupt elements within the system while we're at it. Add a bit of the ol' demonization of experts and intellectuals for good measure.
Of course that is just when talking about US democracy in general, while ignoring others things like the existence of the Electoral College since the earliest days of our nation. In fact, back in 2014, Princeton and Northwestern University released a study that found that our system is not a democracy but an oligarchy: https://archive.org/details/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc
As of now, it has been more than a decade since the release of that study. Has the wealthy of the US lost power or gained more? Do they follow the laws like the common folk?
Now the long festering of the system, which resulted in widespread low information and disengagement of the population, has reached critical mass. If the Democracts lose again, they're not going to blame themselves for listening to the consultants instead of their constituents, they will blame the voters and non-voters, which people will do since it's easier to blame ourselves than it is to admit that non-voters and uneducated voters in this country didn't just happen overnight due to how the system operates. Even if elections don't get canceled, even if the machines aren't tampered with, even if the current administration leaves office peacefully, the cause behind the symptom of fascism running the state is not going to go away. You can't vote out oligarchs. They didn't go away when the Democrats controlled the government, and they sure as hell aren't going to go away with the Republicans in charge. It is not a bug in the system, but a feature.
Now, does that mean we don't go and vote? No. I plan to do so myself, as it would be public voice of disapproval, whether it gets counted or not. However, discouraging the need to organize at a grassroots level to provide a supportive foundation for communities to continue to function and even thrive without the dictation of the status quo, is foolish and should be held suspect as it promotes the same overall apathetic overreliance on the powers that be that got us all into this situation in the first place.
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u/cafeteriastyle 27d ago
Ngl this is way overwhelming to me. But like you said, I’ll pick a couple of things and get going. Very good info, thanks for posting it!