Thursday, August 4, 2016

If you read nothing else all day...

The Myth of the National Three Percent Organization


by Kit Perez

A lot of people claim to be part of the Three Percent. A lot of people claim to know what the Three Percent stands for…but do they? There are quite a few myths out there about who we are and what we believe, and sadly, even some of the folks who claim to be in the Three Percent believe those myths. Truth is important; we’ll be dispelling one of the biggest myths today, and we’ll do it by going back to the source of the III% founder himself. Why is it important? Because of this: “there are apparently many people who have adopted the moniker of Three Percenter, for whatever reason, but who wouldn’t recognize these principles if they came up and bit them in the ass.”

Let’s get started.
The Three Percent is a National Organization: False.

All over social media, you can find groups claiming to be III%. They post the symbols, use the lingo (or try to), and talk about things like unity and their “national affiliation.” Some of these groups pattern themselves after the military, and wear self-assigned rank (usually an O-3 or above; no one wants to be the butterbar, apparently). They call themselves every variation of Three Percent you can think of, and many of them claim national legitimacy.

The following statement needs to be very clear:

There is no national Three Percent organization, and there was never intended to be one. In fact, the idea of a national Three Percent organization goes directly against what the III% was designed to be. The III% is a local concept, meaning that its entire purpose was to foster cooperation and small groups locally for the purpose of active resistance, defiance, and preparation. Your neighbors, your church, your family and friends. Mike Vanderboegh, the founder of the III%,wrote the following:

"I deliberately formulated the Three Percent idea as a movement, an idea, a philosophy and a discipline BUT NOT AN ORGANIZATION. Attempts at large regional, state or national organizations, anything beyond local formations, are subject to infiltration, dysfunction, discredit and collapse. Anyone who tells you different is selling something."

There is a huge push, especially by groups on Facebook and other social media, to bring in as many people as possible. They want unity, they want a huge crowd of people. Some militia groups attach III% to their names, and call each other Colonel and Captain and Major and even General. They claim to be networking and ‘working intel,’ but all of this effort goes in direct opposition to what the entire point of the III% concept is–and ruins its potential and efficiency. The strength of the III% concept is its small-group, locally-focused resistance model.

By insisting on a pyramid, top-down, crowd leadership structure, folks claiming to be part of a III% national organization miss some very basic points that Mike outlined above. There’s a reason why the III% was designed NOT to be a national organization. Let’s take a closer look at why.
Infiltration

The bigger the group, the more vulnerable it is. There are many who may feel as though they need the comfort of a large group. Part of that comes from a need to share responsibility. People claim to want to fight, or resist, or claim to be ready to do “violent things,” but they want to make sure they have a crowd behind them. This is why you see so many people say things such as “How much longer are we going to stand for X?” What they’re actually saying is, “I want to go and do something but I don’t want to do it by myself, I want to follow someone else who is going to do it.” This is incredibly exploitable because all someone needs to do is hone in on that need. Those are the folks who can be manipulated, who can be talked into taking actions that are immoral—and also against the III% catechism and values. The sheer math of group dynamics means that the more people you have, the more chance you have of being compromised. It’s that simple.

This is one of the many reasons that the III% was set up as a local concept. Your group is not your four states’ worth of guys who get together every few weeks or months, put on some face paint, and run around in the woods with you. Your group is your family, your close friends who understand what’s going on and would show up at 3 am no questions asked if you needed it. A group of five people, who have known each other for years and know each other’s secrets and weaknesses and strengths, is a lot harder to infiltrate than a Facebook group of 250+ people who have never met but call each other “brother,” or even a real-life unit of 50 people who get together to shoot their rifles or go to rallies. Infiltration is happening all the time, all over the movement–and nowhere more obviously than in these huge groups who insist on needing a following.

If you are strong enough in your beliefs, you don’t need a crowd to stand for them with you. A III% member following the catechism, following the principles and values, will probably not be part of a large group because they understand that the III% was not ever designed to BE a large group, but a network of local groups and local resistance. As Mike wrote:

"The Three Percent idea, being an idea, is internalized and finds expression in action when required without any top-down organization issuing orders."

Dysfunction

If there’s anything in the patriot movement, it’s dysfunction. Groups run by ego-driven individuals who insist on total obedience from their “troops,” people running around calling themselves “General” and complaining that someone took action without “proper protocol,” people spreading gossip and rumors while calling it “intel.” The level of drama in many patriot groups right now calling themselves III% is staggering. They use words like “opsec” as a catch-all phrase, throw around terms like “deploy,” and try very hard to copy the military in many of their endeavors, completely missing the point that the III% was never intended to be an organization at all, let alone one structured after the military.

Discredit

When a group chooses to deviate from a small group mentality, instead choosing to chase after numbers, they run the risk of their members eventually discrediting them and what they stand for. As has been written elsewhere, by bringing someone into your group and allowing them to be a part of your activities, you are saying that you identify with their belief system, and you are willing to let their actions help define your group culture. Unless every single member that you bring in shares your group culture and values, they will end up discrediting you. By default, this means you need to keep your groups small; this ensures that your group has a shared cultural value (much like John Mosby’s concept of tribalism) that will be enhanced and carried on by its members instead of morphed and changed or even discredited. If you say, “No, we aren’t defined by our members and they don’t all speak for us,” then why are they in your group? Just for the numbers? Would you allow a member of ISIS in your group? How about a neo-Nazi? Why not? Because they do not share your values.

In any large, top-down organization (which you seem determined to have out of whatever motive that can only be guessed at — failure to understand the nature of your enemy in a 4th Generation Warfare world; lack of imagination as to the probable negatives of such a move; misplaced enthusiasm at spreading an idea you apparently have failed to properly grasp; or, the simplest explanation, plain ego), personnel, my friend, is policy.

What does this mean to you? It means that your members are who YOU are, as a group. The loudmouth in your group who consistently says inflammatory things and derides others for not being ready to “rise up and fight” reflects on you and your group. The guy who insists on being a security risk because he’s “not doing anything illegal” reflects on you as a group. Whoever you take in must share your values. It’s not about being an echo chamber; you don’t all need to be Mormons or atheists or Presbyterians or Christians or home schoolers or whatever else. You do, however, need to be very clear on what your group goals are, and what you as a group believe or want to accomplish. Regardless of whatever else you believe, you MUST share the values and the catechism of the III% itself.

Collapse

The natural end result of large groups with infiltration, dysfunction, ego and problems, who operate outside the established framework of what the III% was designed to be and to do, is a collapse. This is why groups fail, over and over. Someone will rise to prominence as head of a group, will call themselves by some self-appointed rank and issue “orders,” and eventually the problems happen. Members ‘go rogue’ and do things to embarrass the greater group, seek more power or publicity, turn on their fellow members or leadership. Leaders themselves let the power go to their head, and find themselves acting like they are kings and tyrants themselves. Their groups implode, or split, and the various members form more groups, where they incorporate the same top-down model, the same poor vetting practices, the same refusal to study and understand the original concept of the III% and what it stands for. What happens to these new groups? The same things, over and over.

The Three Percent is a Local Concept


After 1500 words or so explaining what the III% is not, it’s time to explain what it is. We’re all familiar with the story of the colonists and their stand against the British. But while many who claim the title of III% know that story, they forget—or simply don’t know—that it is only a part of what the III% purpose is. The person best equipped to explain what the III% means is the person who designed the concept, who founded the very movement we claim to be a part of. In short, “Any stupid ass can call himself a Three Percenter, the proof is in the practice of principle.” It’s that simple. It’s not enough to claim the title. You must also live the life–a life of training, of self-discipline and discernment. A life spent forging relationships and networks that are close, solid, and trustworthy.

We have our enemy’s promises that they will negate any possibility of our using the standard methods of politics against them. They have won the “majority vote” decision. Fine. But if we are to avoid conflict, we must convince them of how little this actually buys them in the way of power. We do that by building up the armed citizenry, one three-man buddy team, one six-man fire team and one squad at a time. Don’t advertise. Friends and neighbors will do nicely. And remember, you’re doing this in case the deterrence doesn’t work. This is as real as it gets, folks. Act like it.

The III% has values and principles. Those who claim to be part of the Three Percent either must follow those values and principles, or they are not a Three Percenter. Those who commit actions that go against the catechism are not Three Percenters. Those who seek violence while claiming to be part of the Three Percent are not part of us. Those who set aside the small group, locally-focused concept of the III% in favor of vast bands of people only marginally held together by false ranks and fantasy are not Three Percenters. As Mike wrote:

These four principles — moral strength, physical readiness, no first use of force and no targeting of innocents — are the hallmarks of the Three Percent ideal. Anyone who cannot accept them as a self-imposed discipline in the fight to restore the Founders’ Republic should find something else to do and cease calling themselves a “Three Percenter.”

Anyone can wear the patch or claim the name. What matters, as always, are their actions.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I attended the State Republican convention here in Texas back in May as a voting delegate. I could have worn my sidearm for all to see on my hip, but instead kept it concealed in my carry vest not wanting to flaunt it or make folks nervous. Believe me when I say that there were some individuals riding the Dart Lite Rail line with me that made me glad I had that pistol.

But what I did wear for all to see was my little 2" X 3" Nyberg Flag of the III% over my front, right pocket. Nobody mentioned it or even asked about it, which at first gave me mixed emotions. They asked about the black "Molan Labe" patch on the other side. But later I realized that from a distance, my Nyberg flag looks just like a standard American flag. So my being a 3% patriot ended up being what I really wanted. A quiet, low key acknowledgment that only the real observant individual would see and recognize. Small group.

FSHB said...

Truth. The other truth is that those of us publicly and openly stating our allegiance to the III principles on social media will be the first targets of the regime after we are discredited as domestic terrorists through false flag and infiltration. It nearly happened at Bundy ranch with Jerad and Amanda Miller. Fortunately Oathkeepers rejected their association out of hand. If Oathkeepers had not been on scene, the people who find security in numbers may well have accepted the Millers and it would have been a grade A mess.

Aaron said...

A good reminder.

Thanks for sharing that from Kit.


skybill said...

Hi Mat, Mike and "Kit!!,"
Thanks for the run down and well said!!!! Seems like ever since Mike came up with the "III%" concept, it didn't take a rocket scientist to understand its' simplicity, yet the problem was as we have seen, people and "Groups' "Shanghing" the concept, convoluting the meaning and presenting it as something now "Totally Different!!!" Case in point....."Sammy Squirrel!!!" How many people sent him 25 cents and 2 boxtops to "Pay their dues!!" Although his "Empire" "Collapsed," he did enough damage even that the "Truth" be known his "Lies" are still"Believed by many!! Slowly though, the Roaches scurry when confronted with the "light of Truth!!"...'Trouble is though the Roaches have scurried from the light, they still leave their "Excrement" all over the floor as a "reminder" to us that they were there and unfortunately it is up to us to clean it up!!
Again, as I have posted many times....Mike came up with the "concept" and first offered the "III% Audentes, Fortuna, Juvat" patch before Sammy or any body else opened their yapper!! I still have the "Patch" and the envelope it came in delivered to me by an agent of the Federal Govt......"The USPS!!"
"The Envelope....Please!!"
Audentes, Fortuna, Juvat,
III%,
skybill-out

Anonymous said...

Just because the author, and presumably you forgot about, were too busy to attend, or more likely, did not even KNOW about the current year's National Meeting, DOES NOT MEAN that it never happened. It was held in Springfield, at the city auditorium, as always, and Mike and this other guy, and myself were the main speakers.
First, we had the usual meetings about Fast and Furious, WhichCalibers AreThe Best, How to Camo your AR-15, Are Plastic Ammo Cases Any Good ?, Does The NRA Represent Me ?, and Are Five Magazines Enough ?.
Then, we had a catered supper consisting of chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, a biscuit, and green Jello. Thanks for Junie's catering once again for cooking up the feast.
Then, Mike's friend, I guess, spoke on the important subject of Will The Police Be On Our Side When The SHTF ?
Then I gave a speech on What If Your AO Is Just Miles And Miles Of Mud ? Sorry my speech was so short, but as I said, I forgot my notes.
Then Mke gave a very rousing speech about the government or something. Frankly, most of it was way over my head, but everyone said it was very good, and he got a standing ovating and several rounds of applause.
If you missed it, the next one will be on the same weekend in April next year, at the same place. Wives are welcome.

MrGarabaldi said...

I remember a joke in the 90's when the militia movement was in full swing, the running joke was "you want to know who the *FLEA was in your militia organization..? the person who's dues are paid up." Yeah i know it is corny but there was truth in that joke. Very good post and a reminder about "getting too big" and the pitfalls are.

*Federal Law Enforcement Agent...Usually the ATF.

Anonymous said...

I suppose you could make it a really exclusive group. Call it the 3 Sigma(since the molen labe crowd digs greek letters).

And in an era with more and more technical warfare, I suppose that would be the ones who really made the difference.

How many can design killer robots not operated by the government, or meshed communication devices, 3D printers, design covert production lines, or other technological terrors? ;)

But of course, there's always a divide, your Tacticool Fools who like to gear up, shoot steroids, spout all sorts of militant quasi jesusy bullshit, and rant and rave about how they're going to save murica from its evil commie liberal self. All they need is another 3 pounds of attachments to hang off their AR platform rifle that's got nine picatiny rails already loaded with crap.

On the other end, you've got the people who are invisible, who crack open the treasure troves of embarrassing emails, shady dealings, and other fun stuff, and dump that into the open. Of course, the Tacticool Fools will scream that these people, trying to undermine the people enslaving them, are traitors to Murica, and that if they find them pinko commie hackers, they're gonna behead them ISIS style. Right after they do another spike of steroids and amphetamines. :D

As they say, it takes all kinds. If you've got a war in the streets, you'll always need a certain amount of canon fodder. Someone for the goons dressed up in their full ninja turtle battle garb to chase after. Probably because they see an attachment on that nutters AR platform that they really wanna steal. lol!

Meanwhile, the autonomous landmines are crawling into position, and some other nerd engineer is out there figuring out how to build a better version before the first ones were battle tested. Spy vs Spy turns into Geek vs Geek.

Unknown said...

Right on.

Sean said...

I have actually searched here in Texas for group to be part of,(not tactically able, I could work at various support activities), and I have run in to mixed fruit salad of weirdos, illiterates, pompous wannabe Napoleons, felons trying to hide behind a group of non-felons, idiots who could not lead a johnny detail, and in general, people that watch too much reality TV, and think that being drama queens is what it's all about. The last bunch I got acquainted with imploded and self destructed a week after I went to a welcome dinner with them. I have never seen so many people in my life struggling for something so hard, and yet not having a clue as to what they wanted. That last bunch had III percent on everything they had, T-shirts, guns, vehicles, etc, and had never heard of the names Mike Vandeboegh, or David Codrea. They had no discernable mission statement, no declaration of III percent doctrine (they didn't know what that was, either) and they were split up into two groups. Snipers, and intelligence. The "Security Officer" spent most of her time out on the front lawn in a screaming row with some one on the phone who wanted to join, but that she wouldn't "vette". Needless to say, I declined further contact. My own background is US Infantry, many years, with a lot of exposure and missions with elite units in the Army. I wasn't anything special, just a joe, But G*d save me from what these groups embody. I wanted to be a part of a small group, and be support for material, and maybe intel, but what I found was worse than being admitted to a nuthouse. Oh, one last thing, the last group I had contact with, contacted each other over......Facebook, claiming that they had security there and wouldn't let anyone on "their" page without permission. Facepalm.

Anonymous said...

First rule of III% is to not talk about III%.

Anonymous said...

Local, local and local. Everyone tooling up for the great running gun battle in the fields and dales needs to spend some time studying Northern Ireland. The pitched battles didn't end well. The guerrilla stuff worked. Thank you Mike for the 3 catechism. One of the best things I ever read here or anywhere.

Anonymous said...

Some try to destroy the IDEA of the III% by "incorporating" it, by that I mean absorb by hostile takeover. What is being done now, and has been being done, is the attempt to destroy the III% idea the same way the Tea Party movement was eliminated.
Absorb it to the "national level" which is the same thing as saying absorb it into the "Collective".

I proudly carry that III% banner, in my heart, in my mind and on my sleeve too, though never even thought of a patch. The on the sleeve factor is there like emotions are there and politics are there - as in shouted from the mountain tops!

To me, the III% is a group of unique individuals, respecting and protecting the Liberty of another, by protecting and defending Liberty itself. If the III% is not that, then I am not a part of it, akin to it or adherent to it either. The instant the hierarchy of power comes into it, well, if it ain't the Constitution doing it with the consent of the Declaration, then, well, guess what? It ain't the II% idea that I came to know and apply. National organization? Yeah, right, uh huh, sure.

As with the founders, the point is decentralization of political power, not the accrual of it nationally centered, organized and handed down as orders from above. Sheesh.

Donnie Dean said...

There is so many errors in the SPLC documentary.

And similar to Arlen Spector's bullshit Subcommittee On Terrorism hearings, they try to connect dots that cannot be connected in an attempt to brand us all equally in public perception.

I am the National President of Constitutional Security Force and III% BOG, and my group is specifically named and filed with the SPLC with a huge SPLC discussion as a Domestic Terrorist Organization, formerly lead by the infamous Chief Mark Kessler and perverted during the Mutiny of Chris Hill aka General BloodAgent at the Bundy Ranch in Bunkerville, Nevada.

It's too easy to distort the truth and public perception of Real Patriots and Real Heroes like Jason Patrick by presenting the images and actions of radical, extreme and "Romantic" Men like Mark and Chris.

While men like Jason, and Tom here, lead a fight for Liberty with Honor, Integrity, Humility, Empathy, Goodwill, Charity and Duty, others simply are seeking the opportunity of fame and fortune, and to be known as Generals because they think it is "Cool" to be Militia, rather than an "UNFORTUNATE DUTY".

But I will not smother my liberty torch, simply because the Government has chosen war against me, simply because I exist.

No Sir, I shall fight even harder for Liberty, Justice, Prosperity and Freedom for all Americans.

If I don't, if YOU don't...

Knowing too well the Writing is on the wall, and is absolutely blatant about it...

Then, who will?

Our Children and Grandchildren yet to be born, tomorrow will either Live Free, or Suffer under Tyranny from how we carry ourselves and what we do today.

It's not difficult to find a video on YouTube these days of some nuts dressed in Camo and full battle rattle outside the CNN Building in downtown Atlanta protesting every single government action they can pervert.

Or declaring wars against governments and ISIS while playing Rambo in the woods.

But where are the General BloodAgent's when "Our" citizens literally die of thirst in Flint, Michigan?

Where are they when 1000s of our Citizens are displaced and left in Ruins from Natural Disasters.

Where are they when so many are starving on our streets, even in the alleys between our homes.

The flags we fly and the patches we bear on our sleeves MUST be seen by people as symbols of Safety, Hope, Goodwill and Charity.

We cannot win this fight for Freedom if "Our" citizens fear us, do not trust us, and run to them before us.

We must ALL work diligently, as hard as we can, as fast as we can to recapture the faith, trust and love Citizens once adorned us with as Symbols of the American Way of Life.

As I rebuild the III% Constitutional Security Force and III% BOG with this message, and this purpose I hope you all can join me.

Pick up the torch of Real America, Real Liberty, Real Prosperity, Real Justice, Real Posterity, Real Freedom and Real Traditional American Values.

https://youtu.be/4-w1l7tDbgc

Donnie Dean said...

There is so many errors in the SPLC documentary.

And similar to Arlen Spector's bullshit Subcommittee On Terrorism hearings, they try to connect dots that cannot be connected in an attempt to brand us all equally in public perception.

I am the National President of Constitutional Security Force and III% BOG, and my group is specifically named and filed with the SPLC with a huge SPLC discussion as a Domestic Terrorist Organization, formerly lead by the infamous Chief Mark Kessler and perverted during the Mutiny of Chris Hill aka General BloodAgent at the Bundy Ranch in Bunkerville, Nevada.

It's too easy to distort the truth and public perception of Real Patriots and Real Heroes like Jason Patrick by presenting the images and actions of radical, extreme and "Romantic" Men like Mark and Chris.

While men like Jason, and Tom here, lead a fight for Liberty with Honor, Integrity, Humility, Empathy, Goodwill, Charity and Duty, others simply are seeking the opportunity of fame and fortune, and to be known as Generals because they think it is "Cool" to be Militia, rather than an "UNFORTUNATE DUTY".

But I will not smother my liberty torch, simply because the Government has chosen war against me, simply because I exist.

No Sir, I shall fight even harder for Liberty, Justice, Prosperity and Freedom for all Americans.

If I don't, if YOU don't...

Knowing too well the Writing is on the wall, and is absolutely blatant about it...

Then, who will?

Our Children and Grandchildren yet to be born, tomorrow will either Live Free, or Suffer under Tyranny from how we carry ourselves and what we do today.

It's not difficult to find a video on YouTube these days of some nuts dressed in Camo and full battle rattle outside the CNN Building in downtown Atlanta protesting every single government action they can pervert.

Or declaring wars against governments and ISIS while playing Rambo in the woods.

But where are the General BloodAgent's when "Our" citizens literally die of thirst in Flint, Michigan?

Where are they when 1000s of our Citizens are displaced and left in Ruins from Natural Disasters.

Where are they when so many are starving on our streets, even in the alleys between our homes.

The flags we fly and the patches we bear on our sleeves MUST be seen by people as symbols of Safety, Hope, Goodwill and Charity.

We cannot win this fight for Freedom if "Our" citizens fear us, do not trust us, and run to them before us.

We must ALL work diligently, as hard as we can, as fast as we can to recapture the faith, trust and love Citizens once adorned us with as Symbols of the American Way of Life.

As I rebuild the III% Constitutional Security Force and III% BOG with this message, and this purpose I hope you all can join me.

Pick up the torch of Real America, Real Liberty, Real Prosperity, Real Justice, Real Posterity, Real Freedom and Real Traditional American Values.

https://youtu.be/4-w1l7tDbgc

Anonymous said...

I prefer to be the GRAY MAN who nobody ever notices. Not a member of some wacko III group led by a "General" who is most likely surrounded by Federales. I believe in what Mike came up with so I can quietly do whatever needs to be done without raising a ruckus and drawing attention to myself and my friends. I do have a lot of useful information I can share but not sure how to get that info out safely and with a limited "splash". Long ago served in the Army Security Agency (ASA) now known as INSCOM and was privy to a lot of good info. Won't find me driving around in a jacked-up pick up truck with an Easy Rider Rifle Rack in the back window but rather in a vehicle that would never get a second look. Just my view on things.