My generation, Gen X, grew up understanding the threats and evils of communism. I knew that a “Gulag” was a Soviet-Era prison camp. These were euphemistically known as “labor camps” by those who set them up and ran them. One of the running jokes of comedians used to tell was that whatever “would earn you a trip to Siberia”. Siberia was the location of many, but certainly not all, Gulag prisons or prison camps.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was a decorated Soviet Military Officer who fought for his Motherland in WWII. That, however, was not enough to keep him from being accused of crimes against the State. Like millions upon millions of other citizens of the Soviet Union, his guilt was assumed upon his arrest. Solzhenitsyn’s subsequent interrogation and coerced confession were merely an exercise by Soviet State Security to fulfill an administrative obligation.

In his book, “The Gulag Archipelago”, Solzhenitsyn details not only his experience with the inhuman brutality of the Soviet Gulag system, but the stories of hundreds of others as well. Aleksandr’s documentation and the publication of his book could be described as miraculous as not only were those imprisoned in the Gulags threatened to never speak about their experience, the Soviet State maintained a stranglehold on both the written and spoken word.   

History holds the warnings for our present and future troubles

The Gulag Archipelago

When “The Gulag Archipelago” was first published in the west in 1973, the people of Europe and the United States were astonished. Not just by the accusations of brutality, but by the extreme detail and references offered by the author. Volume 1 of the Gulag Archipelago is approximately 700 pages with all of the footnotes, references, and the index. Over 2 million copies of the book were sold in the west and as these words go to print. Volume 1 is listed as the #2 book In the “Russian Literature” category on Amazon.

Those of my parents’ age, if they had not read it, were certainly aware of “The Gulag Archipelago”. Aleksandr Solzhenistyn received a Nobel Prize for the book in 1970. As for myself, when the GA was at the height of its popularity. I was in primary school and not in a position to consume such a text. It was not until I received the advice of a good friend that I purchased Volume 1 and began to read it. Reading this book has been a time consuming task as I find myself pausing to highlight a section or make notes on the margins every five minutes or so.  

My History Teacher was Right

I feel certain that every High School History teacher in the last century has uttered the phrase “Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I know I heard that phrase for the first time from one of my teachers. As I began to read GA Volume 1, I realized that note-taking in the margins was not going to suffice. So I grabbed a spiral bound notebook to collect my thoughts as I read.

This book reads like 1984, but it is not fiction. As a matter of fact, Orwell’s warnings against the horrific dangers of Totalitarianism, primarily represented by the USSR, came decades before the detailed exposure of the Gulag system and the acknowledgment that both Lenin and Stalin were responsible for the deaths of at least 20 million of their own citizens. Lenin created the Gulag Archipelago and Stalin filled it to overflowing.

What was striking to me as I read was how often the word “social” was used in the official Soviet State Security language. Remember, the USSR stood for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Under Article 58 of the Criminal Code, a person could be charged with being a “Socially Dangerous Element”. That charge and the inevitable conviction earned you an 8 year term in the Gulag.

Social Prophylaxis

Another term used by State Security was “social prophylaxis”; meaning, A situation where society is paralyzed into inaction — akin to a phenomenon which renders the society “indifferent” to its surroundings. Through mass arrests and inevitable convictions, friends, neighbors, relatives, etc. were charged with any number of crimes against the state or the party (one in the same) thus terrifying those who remained into subservient silence. 

It should be noted that of the millions upon millions of arrests and convictions from 1918 to 1958, the “truth” of the charge had nothing to do with the accused’s incarceration. Once an arrest was made, even based upon an anonymous accusation, guilt was assumed. Interrogations were not used to “seek truth” but to complete the process and get the necessary and, but for a miniscule number of cases, inevitable confession. Millions were coerced into confessing to crimes for which they were completely innocent. “The State does not make mistakes. You were arrested because you are guilty. Sign the paper.”

Political Correctness is Cultural Marxism

Cultural Marxism

Several years ago, a friend of mine, who was once a College Professor but got out, told me, “Political Correctness is Cultural Marxism.” You see, understanding that they could not openly and honestly endorse censorship. The American Left began a campaign of shaming people into not using words or phrases that they deemed offensive or impolite. Political Correctness, which got old and transformed into “Wokeness” is censorship disguised as politeness or caring for people’s feelings.

Where the Soviet State Security could simply arrest you, force a confession, and send you off to a Gulag for saying or writing literally anything that varied from the Party-approved narrative, today the Left will “Cancel” you. While Cancel Culture disguises itself with the thin veil of “compassion”, “caring”, or “tolerance”. The result is that the accused is socially arrested and convicted based upon the charge, not on truth. Any person who strays from the State-approved Narrative is sent to a Digital Gulag. The accused loses their right to free speech, they are subjected to shame and ridicule, and often they will lose their ability to make a living. 

Remember, just like Soviet State Security and the Gulag system, the charge is what is important, not the actual truth. Those charged with violating the Woke or PC Criminal Code are assumed guilty based upon the accusation. Afterall, as with the Soviet Union where the State or the Party were the victim. Those making the PC accusation are the “victims” and victims must be believed. 

Keep in mind, what was the primary goal of social prophylaxis? Answer: total control over not just the actions of the people, but their words and even their thoughts. The goal of Cultural Marxism is the same; control over words and thoughts which results in the control of actions. 

Central Bank Digital Currency is NOT the same as Bitcoin

The Digital Gulag

The problem with the Soviet Gulag system, at least to those who managed it, was not that it was “unfair” or “inhumane”. No, the problem was one of physical logistics. The accused had to be physically arrested, they had to be housed for interrogation and both psychologically and physically tortured. They had to be transported to the “labor camp” and housed there. Of course, physical logistics did not stop tens of millions of citizens from being arbitrarily imprisoned and millions of them from being executed outright, worked to death or starved to death.

hanks to the advent of the internet and what I will call “Cyberworld”, the totalitarian regimes of the 21st Century have been given the ultimate tool for total control of the masses. The Chinese Communist Party has already created the Digital Gulag system with their imposed “Social Credit Score”.  The citizen’s money is no longer physical, it is digital. Every conversation, email, and purchase and action taken by the citizen can be scrutinized and compared to the given CCP state narrative. Those who step out of line are punished, not in a physical labor camp (though those still exist and are needed for other Communist endeavors) but in a Digital Gulag.

With the test bed already established in China, the World Economic Forum and their willing sycophants in governments worldwide have begun to push for a one world digital currency called the Central Bank Digital Currency. Under the disguise of saving the world from “climate change” and “social injustice”, the WEF and its partners are using the excuse of inflation and economic disaster (which they created through corruption and maleficence) to convince the masses to accept their scheme.

A Monitored Currency

This CBDC will be programmable and monitored, not by the end user, but by the Central Bank. People who were elected by no one will get to decide your “Social Credit Score”. Punishment for failing to adhere to the State-approved Narrative, whatever it happens to be, will no longer require physical arrest and a forced confession. There will be no trial by jury or due process. No, instead you will be punished instantly by the Digital Gulag. Violate the PC/ Woke Criminal Code? Instant conviction and restriction of your CBDC. Attempt to buy “too much” of something? The Central Bank calls that “hoarding” and hoarding cannot be allowed because it is not fair to others. Your CBDC account will not allow you to buy “too much”. 

Attempt to purchase perfectly legal items with your CBDC? The Central Bank / State (one in the same) will not allow you to buy items that they have deemed to be dangerous or “unhealthy”. Remember, the enlightened state doesn’t think you should eat red meat, drive SUVs or purchase firearms. 

Oh, you want to protest your government? Sorry, your digital currency has been shut off until you repent. Speak out on social media against the illegal overreach of your government? You should have known better, no digital money for you. Canadians speaking out against an out of control government were branded as “terrorists” by that same criminal government.

It’s NOT Bitcoin

“But, digital currency is like Bitcoin and people are making a lot of money in Bitcoin.” Bitcoin is decentralized and not under the control of the state, which is why they hate it. “But I use ApplePay and GooglePay, it is just so convenient.” ApplePay and GooglePay are tied to your bank account which you currently have some control over. You can decide on your own to stop using those systems and pay cash if you would rather. CBDC is centralized and will be involuntary.  

You won’t accept the CBDC you say? You will not have a choice. It will be forced upon you. You will either convert the cash in your bank to CBDC or you will lose it. Your money will no longer be your property, your digital currency will be given to you as a privilege. If your Social Credit Score drops because of your actions, or words, that privilege will be rescinded. Of course it would be in the interest of “saving the planet” or “social justice”. Or, they will brand you as a terrorist for demanding inalienable rights and, you guessed it, no more money for you.

This is not a dystopian nightmare or some sort of conspiracy, the Digital Gulag is being constructed as we speak. China is finished. The people there have been perfectly enslaved by their totalitarian regime. Europe is on the brink. The only hope for the United States is for enough people to strongly convince enough congressmen and senators to shut down the WEF and the Central Bank. Say what you will and do what you wish, but do not say you were not warned. History is about to repeat itself, not in one nation, but worldwide.

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Professor Paul Markel

Founder & CEO at Student of the Gun

Paul G. Markel has worn many hats during his lifetime. He has been a U.S. Marine, Police Officer, Professional Bodyguard, and Small Arms and Tactics Instructor. Mr. Markel has been writing professionally for law enforcement and firearms periodicals for nearly twenty years with hundreds and hundreds of articles in print. Paul is a regular guest on nationally syndicated radio talk shows and subject matter expert in firearms training and use of force. Mr. Markel has been teaching safe and effective firearms handling to students young and old for decades and has worked actively with the 4-H Shooting Sports program. Paul holds numerous instructor certifications in multiple disciplines and a Bachelor’s degree in conflict resolution; nonetheless, he is and will remain a dedicated Student of the Gun.

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