Yesterday, the White House announced the deployment of 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans, a city currently experiencing its lowest crime rates in decades. The official justification is to “support federal law enforcement partners” and crack down on crime.
But the data tells a different story.
Homicides in New Orleans are on pace to be the lowest in years, and nearly every category of violent crime is trending downward. So why send in the troops?
To find the answer, we must look not to modern politics, but to the rugged Andes mountains of the 15th century. Five hundred years ago, the Inca Empire perfected a system of state control that eerily mirrors the events unfolding today.
It was called the mitma, and it was the largest forced population transfer in the history of the Americas.
The Emperor’s Eyes and Ears
The Inca Empire, or Tawantinsuyu (“the four parts together”), was a marvel of engineering and administration. In under a century, it grew to encompass 2 million square kilometers and ruled over a population of millions. But the ethnic Inca were a tiny minority, outnumbered 100 to 1 by the peoples they had conquered.
To maintain control, the Inca emperors, particularly the great Pachacuti, devised the mitma system. The concept was simple but brutal: after conquering a new territory, they would forcibly relocate entire communities. Loyal populations were moved into rebellious areas, and rebellious populations were moved to loyal, consolidated regions.
On the surface, the justification was benevolent. The Incas claimed they were bringing order, civilization, and superior agricultural techniques to new territories.
But the true purpose was control.
By breaking up ethnic groups, moving them hundreds of kilometers from their ancestral homes, and surrounding them with loyalists, the Incas effectively atomized any potential resistance. The scale of this operation is staggering. Modern scholars estimate that between one-quarter and one-third of the entire population of the Inca Empire was forcibly relocated. That’s a number that rivals the population transfers of modern authoritarian states. D’Altroy estimates that as many as 3 million individuals were moved.
Control Through Fear
The mitma system was not just about moving people; it was about creating a permanent state of surveillance and fear. The relocated populations, known as mitmaqkuna, were utterly dependent on the Inca state for their survival. They were given land, but they were also watched.
Inca law was merciless. If a mitmaq tried to return to their homeland, they were tortured. A second attempt meant execution. They were forced to wear distinctive clothing and even undergo physical modifications, such as the extraction of teeth, to distinguish them from the local population. Not wearing one’s traditional costume was a crime punishable by torture or death.
The mitmaqkuna became the eyes and ears of the emperor, a network of informants and loyalists embedded throughout the empire. Their presence ensured that tribute was paid, Inca ideology was adopted, and rebellions were crushed before they could even begin.
This system of control, disguised as security, was the bedrock of the Inca state. It was a brilliant and ruthless solution to the problem of ruling a vast, diverse, and potentially hostile empire.
The Lesson from the Andes
So what does a 500-year-old system of population control have to do with National Guard troops in New Orleans?
Everything.
When a government sends military force into a community that does not need it, it is never about safety. It is about control. It is about demonstrating the power of the central authority and reminding the local population who is in charge.
The deployment of troops to a city with declining crime rates, especially a city with a different political leaning than the central government, is a classic move from the authoritarian playbook. It creates a climate of fear, normalizes the presence of the military in civilian life, and sends a clear message that local autonomy is secondary to federal power.
The Inca Empire eventually collapsed, and one of the primary reasons was the deep resentment created by the mitma system. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived, they found a population ready to turn on their Inca overlords. The very system designed to ensure control ultimately sowed the seeds of the empire’s destruction.
We are not the Inca Empire, and history does not repeat itself exactly. But the patterns are undeniable.
When leaders justify the use of force with claims of “order” and “security” that are not supported by facts, we must be vigilant. We must ask ourselves: who is this really for? Is it for our safety, or is it for their control?
What You Can Do
History teaches us that when institutions fail, self-reliance is the only true security. The events of today are a stark reminder that we cannot depend on the government to protect our freedoms or our families. We must be prepared to do it ourselves.
Here are five things you can do right now to build your own self-reliance:
1. Secure Your Food Supply. The most basic form of independence is the ability to feed yourself. The 4ft Farm Blueprint is a revolutionary system that teaches you how to grow your own food in a tiny space, with minimal effort. It’s the first step to true freedom.
2. Stay Informed. Don’t rely on the mainstream media. Seek out independent sources of information that challenge the official narrative. Our friends at Survival Stronghold provide daily updates on the real threats to our country.
3. Build Your Skills. In a crisis, practical skills are more valuable than gold. Learn how to purify water, administer first aid, and defend your home. The Self-Reliance Report is an excellent resource for learning these essential skills.
4. Take Control of Your Health. A healthy body is your most important asset. Don’t trust the pharmaceutical industry to keep you well. Explore natural and holistic health solutions. Seven Holistics offers a wealth of information on how to achieve true wellness.
5. Connect with Like-Minded People. You are not alone. There are millions of Americans who see what is happening and are preparing for the future. Homesteader Depot is a community of self-reliant individuals who are sharing their knowledge and supporting each other.
The time for complacency is over. The time for action is now.
