The establishment of proper leadership and a chain of command system within a confined community will become a vital priority for any group that wishes to survive. The assembly of such a compendium would require great charisma, knowledge, and prowess. One must first and foremost realize that they are indeed NOT running the show. You are only as strong as the people who follow you. If the people no longer believe that you are qualified for the job, then it is your duty to step down, and pass the responsibility to another person, or be forcibly removed. I must also mention that it is the responsibility of the people within the community to not be unhesitant about forcibly removing a poor leader, or one who does not have the group’s best interests at heart.
It goes without saying, that in the case of total zombification of the nation, the government may very well go out the window. Some military installations and bunkers will remain (which I hope they do, otherwise we have the terrible scenario of nuclear stockpiles going unattended, open to any person out there), as will a sort of shadow government including the President who will most definetly survive in the President’s Emergency Operations Center (giant ass nuclear bunker). I also hope that, but do not count on, the nation’s nuclear power plants and waste storage facilites being secured. (Nuclear materials, particularly waste, decays at an astonishing rate, and without proper maintainence, will overheat, explode, and irradiate large areas. However, to get back on topic, it may be a possibility that the survivors of Z-Day would have to reform a system of government.
It should also be said that any a leader must take into account all the people and their rights. Yes, in a post apocalyptic hell hole, people have rights. Possibly even more so, because they are no longer hesitant to blow a hole in your ass. It is important to remember what people feel entitled to, and what they are and are not willing to part with. I would also put forth that as many decisions as possible should be democratic one’s, be it electing a leader, or choosing the next place to hole up. This is something that has been proven (particularly in American society) as the most agreeable with the widest range of people. This is not to say however, that you should take a vote on everything; far from it. Doing so will cause rifts to form, slow down efficiency, and quite possibly get people killed. In such a constantly hostile environment, it would be prudent for a leader to also be a military leader (military leader meaning one who leads the group in battle). It would help solidify his/her power, and One must find the happy equalibrium in between, and that is something you will have to find on your own, it can’t be explained.
Largely because of the reasons stated above, and just because it is a good thing to have in daily life in these ever trying times, I suggest that one’s bug out bag, contain a pocket constitution/bill of rights. This may seem dense at first, but if you are put into any kind of leadership position, or subject of one, it is beneficial to try and hold to these ideals. Use them as a starting basis for any kind of government you attempt to reconstruct out of the ashes. Amendments can be made, as the group sees fit, but starting from a familiar ground point, one that holds to what the people have known and come to love (whether they know it or not) has a rallying power that shouldn’t be underestimated.
One more point I’d like to touch on is an establishment of a rudimentary ranking system within the group. If the leader of the group does not facilitate this, it will happen on its own, and not necessarily with the best of results. Again, in this context, treating it as a military situation would help. Assigning every person a rank and general tasking within the group assures that everybody knows their place, and knows that they are an appreciated and valued member of the group. All quarters however, shall be equal, or one shall see the spread of low morale and unwanted dissent among the lower ranks. This holds true in small groups as opposed to larger, actual militaries, because of the close interpersonal ties that will become severed, and the general rebelliousness of being under the thumb of a select few, rather than a larger number of accepted officers.
To go along with this, the issuing of medals and awards for service to the community would be beneficial in keeping spirits, respect, and discipline up. The simple fact that as your community ages the older of the clan shall be replaced by the younger, means that those who originally beared witness to your work may no longer be around to tell the tale. This means that there will be no record of what has been done, and little reason to hold respect for those that come before. The youth, in all their irrational glamour, will not likely stand to bear witness to an old man’s tale, but have no choice to take the facts that are presented by a standardized medal. The proof of accomplishment will help quell generational gaps, and set standards to which the next generation is expected to meet and exceed.
All of this fails, though, without proper discipline throughout the group. A leader must be able to enforce the rules, but do it fairly, so that the other members of the group will still stay behind you. All members should be able to stand their ground in moments of intense stress. The leader should be the shining example of how to do what needs to be done. He/She doesn’t need to be an expert in all fields, but should have a working knowledge of how to do all things that are essential to the groups survival; letting the true adepts manage most of the actual tasking.
That’s all for now,
BanditJack
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