So, fucking do something about it.
- Not too much can be done, since a ton of the country sat with their thumbs up their asses instead of voting. Republicans control all three branches of government now.
  In two years, after permanent damage has been done to the government, the climate, and the economy, we may have another shot at at least slowing things down via Congress IF people actually vote for sane people.
  And in four, potentially a new presidency and Congress. But that could be dicy, since there's going to be little stopping corrupt officials from screwing with democratic safeguards now that the government is teeming with freaks and degenerates under its skin.
  Aside from lawsuits from Democrats, I think the federal government is going to be in complete freefall for the next two years, bare minimum. Thanks fascists and nonvoters. You really fucked the entire world this time. Fucking malicious idiots.
  
  Because over half of this country has been convinced that acting against their own interests is in their own interests as long as they "win" some fantasy game. "We showed them!"
  
  They can vocally and actively criticize the DNC leadership for being controlled opposition. Bernie is doing it, why isn’t everyone else?
  
  Because everyone else knows that criticism isn’t action. I think it’s safe to assume that no mountain was ever moved because someone criticized it enough.
  
  In two years there might not be elections.
  Is your plan to just lay down and die?
  
  So what’s your plan?
  
  People need to prepare for the violence that is coming. Really worried this could get really ugly. Lets hope not.
  
  Agitate liberals until they realize they can't wait until the next election to act. I can't do shit by myself, but if all the liberals who are sitting around waiting for elections realized they have to act now we'd have a chance.
  
  But to reiterate,
  So what’s your plan?
  You say "they have to act now" but what actions need to be taken?
  Are you saying mass protest? Armed rebellion? What are you suggesting?
  
  I think work stoppages and militant mass strike action would be more effective. The right cares about their bottom line. Hurt their business interests and they'll crumble.
  The AFL-CIO should be aligning their contract dates for May 1st 2028. They should be organizing solidarity strikes and boycotts. They should recognize the NLRB is effectively dead in the water and begin planning for being made illegal. They should be arming their workers and encouraging armed picketing.
  If Democrats weren't worthless, they'd use their close connections with the AFL-CIO to help organize. But they won't, because that would hurt their business interests too.
  So we have to do it ourselves.
  
  You say the democrats are “worthless” when they were the ones that got out and voted. The far left is notorious for sitting their smug, entitled asses at home- protesting for single-issue bullshit while everyone else busts their ass to stand in the way of a dictator-
  They you have the fucking nerve to come here land lay blame at the feet of others?
  That’s some Olympic-level mental gymnastics.
  
  So, what's Democrats' plan for when Trump decides we aren't allowed to vote anymore?
  
  How the fuck would I know what the plan is? Do you think there are meetings? No, unlike you, I don’t presume to know what others are thinking or planning. I came to understand and accept that I don’t get to think for others a long time ago when I decided it was time to grow up if I wanted to have mature discussions with adults.
  I also learned to see a straw man in the process of being built. This helps to avoid having to deal with the obnoxious bullshit that is guaranteed to happen if it’s allowed to be completed.
  TLDR:
  Stop asking ridiculous questions that are impossible for anyone to answer so they you can follow up with some ridiculous ‘gotcha’. That shit is only impressive to people that aren’t worth impressing.
  
  So you just have blind faith in the party despite the fact that they keep losing.
  Unlike you, I think we need to start making plans for ourselves. What are you going to do if they don't have a plan?
  
  So… your plan to fix the problem that we were put in because ninety million people didn’t vote, and over three million people chose to vote third part is to….
  Agitate people?
  You agitated the shit out of everyone on the right AND left all the way through November. How’s that work for you?
  Everyone had their chance to act. That was back in November- with all the people that were trying to save democracy by voting. Those people who sat hope with their thumbs up their asses can enjoy the fruit of their smug entitlement.
  “Agitating people”
  …..ROFL. Have fun storming that castle.
  
  What are you doing then?
  
  Personally I've been: connecting to local mutual aid networks and engaging loved ones in community efforts, offering what time, energy and resources I can to these causes; preparing myself and others for disaster by stocking up on staples and anything you need every day or is otherwise important such as water and important medicine; encouraging better decision making and critical thinking by providing tools, resources, and support that allows others to decide what is right for them I.e. give examples of steps they can take to help others and end the cyclical perpetuation of harm and brainstorm ways that they can get their needs met more effectively and ethically.
  This is not everything I do but it's what feels most accessible to the largest number of people to me so it's what I said. This is just my perspective but for what it's worth I'm much, much happier the more I do to really live in my values, I feel my actions and beliefs are more consistent than before and I get so much positive feedback that is validating and encouraging. I am privileged in many ways and I recognize that, I have suffered and struggled but I still have a lot to be grateful for and I am trying to use that to maximize benefit for those without as much privilege who need it most while I still have access to some resources and the energy and connections to utilize them, while also doing internal and external work with professional support folks and in my personal life to stop perpetuating harm and instead making positive change in ways I have control over like how I communicate and what I give my time to.
  Eta: I know I'm not who you asked but I responded as if you were asking because you feel frustrated and scared like I do and want to know what others are doing to help the situation. I hope you weren't just asking as a gotcha.
  Another example of something I am working on that might be accessible to folks here is a cloud folder full of evidence of negative policy trends and other happenings, resources for preparing, etc. That I then share with family and others.
  Edit again: I also acknowledge some or even all of this isnt possible or easy for everyone, and if you need more specific support please feel free to reach out via message, we can connect on a more secure platform if you prefer or the conversation warrants it. I do have knowledge on some topics related to disability and neurodivergence and some resources around that, as well as other topics, some that I don't necessarily want to list in a comment. I am not any kind of expert but do try to meet people where they are at and seek solutions to real problems. This offer is for anyone reading this comment who seeks in good faith to help things get better, and that can happen one step at a time. Together we create something that is greater than the sum of its parts.
  Edit: one more thing. If someone would like to contribute any kind of writing or speaking on or support and/or labor towards the data privacy of a specific illness prevention focused mutual aid group based in a city in the US via the establishment of a self hosted communication server or other software guidance or just any advice or support in any way would be greatly appreciated by a lot of marginalized folks I know. There could be some form of a trade, possibly a skill share or help meeting some other need you have in the form of support, labor, resources, etc.
  
  A lone voice of reason. Everyone wants to be lazy in November then expect the people who have no power to do something for them in March.
  Talk about passing the buck.
  
  The Democrats need to give voters a reason to go out and vote. The choose the lesser evil reason and keep the status quo isn't enough.
  
  That's just bullshit, all repeating this does is enable people to not vote by blaming the democrats. Inactions have consequences and anyone who stayed home instead of vote is as much to blame for the current situation.
  
  IDK. When Hitler was on the ballot, I feel the lesser of two evils was a sufficient reason to vote for the social democrats.
  
  This is the laziest fucking bullshit excuse every time. Crying up a storm when a fucking literal fascist is on the ticket with an understanding that the guardrails are basically fucking gone and going "Yea, but they didn't give me a reason to go"
  Guess what buttercup? You want "action now!" I was trying to drum up action when all that was needed was standing in line for maybe a couple hours and putting your vote in and half these leftists going "We gotta do something!" couldn't be faffed to show up at that line in the sand.
  And before "But Biden" or "But Harris", my beating the drum to vote is for your local shit every day where you have FAR MORE control than the DNC but statistics show you probably weren't even aware when these were.
  So no... I'm not rallying to y'alls cries because you've proven you'll be fair weather allies at best and probably stay home expecting someone else to save your asses. And when the fire gets tough, those that I know who stayed home can't expect me to lift a finger to help them either because I'll be busy helping those that at least could do the bare fucking minimum to try to course correct instead of just acting smug.
  Our society is about to get what it deserves. I feel bad for the 1/3 that did show up and tried. The rest can go to hell for all I care.
  
  Whether the democrats did or not- the conservatives DEFINITELY gave you a reason to. There was NO excuse to not vote AGAISN’T what they promised would come. So, those that chose not to- have no excuse that carries anywhere near enough value it would take to buy them out of taking responsibility for where we are now.
  The democrats may have run a bad campaign, there’s little to argue there. But a bad campaign is NO excuse to allow conservatives to take over our democracy. They told us exactly what they would do. We all knew they would do this.
  You didn’t have to vote FOR democrats, but you absolutely should have voted AGAINST the end of democracy.
- Got any suggestions?
  
  I do, some less savory ones but the "correct" ones are to unite and help, via a grassroots movement to mobilize the population. Show solidarity, and help groups organize to defend democracy.
  
  Find some of your local republican law makers and “encourage” them to disown their party or quit. I’ll let you choose your methods, but “protesting” would be a weak choice. When you hit them at home, they start to get worried this shit might come back on them.
  
  Hard to believe the famous quote by Malcolm X for civil rights is now relevant for democracy; you know which one.
  
  The one from 1964? I know it well.
  
  Not a yank, just someone who will be affected by American fascists.
  
  No one wants fascism except the ruling class
  
  A large number of Americans far removed from the ruling class want fascism. They want it because they've been propaganda-brainwashed, and their feelings are hurt if you call it fascism, but they mos def want it.
  
  They don’t want anything except to hurt liberals. Literally nothing matters to trump supporters/the American right other than hurting the people they don’t like. I am American, and live in a red state. The Republican Party gives 0 shits about anything expect for lining their pockets. Their supporters don’t care as long as what they do hurts women/children/gays/black people/immigrants/trans/anyone that isn’t a straight white man.
  
  This is truth.
  This is why I could never again live in the South, or South adjacent.
  
  Brainwashed, yes. Want actual fascism? No.
  
  They see it all, what's happening and where it's headed, and they cheer. It's moot whether they cheer because they want fascism or because their fascist brainwashers have told them to cheer. They want fascism whether they admit it, even whether they know it, or not.
  
  Ever notice how when democrats are in power you never catch republicans being like “well what are we supposed to do?” They do absolutely everything in their power to continue to push their agendas. The Democrats and other liberals should stop being big useless babies and actually DO WHAT THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO IDK
  
  Democrats are loving it right now.
  
  We all have suggestions, but we get banned for saying them. So, instead of trying to get people banned, maybe suggest your own solutions.
  
  Maybe we need to start moving to instances where we won't be banned for saying that stuff.
  Isn't the fediverse supposed to be resistant to censorship?
  
  Theoretically yes, but the mods can still be corrupt. For example, we could go to your, ML, and be censored for talking about China in any way but positive. Even if it is pointing out the very very real event that happened at Tiananmen Square. Or, that China is not in the slightest bit communist.
  Perhaps they will yell at me about genocide in order to get me not to vote so that Trump will win and they will be successful in overthrowing the west?
  So, yes…. We ALL need to find an instance with no mods. There may be some rough talk, but at least we would be free.
  
  That's called 4chan. You want 4chan.
  
  We can have an open place to talk here too. The problem is who controls what is allowed, and what are their motivations? What we need is an instance that doesn’t allow signups, or community creation. Anyone can participate, but if can’t be defederalized because of bad users, like ML, hexbear, etc.
  With no moderation (except spam), a small group of mods cannot control the message.
  
  And I'm saying that would just be a 4chan clone and that's bad for a list of reasons I shouldn't even need to rehash
  
  Can't have the kind of free speech you're hoping for, on a public forum, without also welcoming Nazis and child molesters and long rants about Lizard-people.
  
  So, religious people. Hmm.
  
  Are there religious-themed lizard-people enthusiasts? Silly question. Of course there are religious-themed lizard-people enthusiasts, though I am blissfully unaware of them (a fine state to be).
  But I was thinking of my favorite wingnut conspiracy theorist and godfather of QAnon, David Icke, who thinks (or thought? certainly I hope he's dead by now) lizard-people rule the earth. For Icke, it's political, though, more than religious.
  There are no limits to human stupidity. (But that's what the reptiles want me to say, and I must follow their orders.)
  
  I can’t wait for those damn dirty Apes to take over. I hear they have great healthcare.
  
  You're welcome to run your own, if you're willing to handle the FBI or equivalent agency knocking on your door when one of your users makes a threat.
  
  I have listed some general descriptions of things that I am doing that I have seen to make a positive impact on others, my community and myself that I feel could be accessible to others in another comment elsewhere on this post. I also am making a mostly open offer of support to anyone trying to make a difference in the form of resources, time, energy, listening, etc when I am able to offer it, with the conditions lined out in the post (be acting in good faith mostly)
  https://lemmy.world/comment/15420106
  
  We're in this mess because First Past The Post (FPTP) voting inherently results in a two-party system, which in turn creates polarization and extremism.
  To create lasting, meaningful change we need to move away from FPTP to Rank Choice (my preference) or Proportional Representation. Thankfully, the voting process is determined at the local level (state, county, or city depending on your location) which means the goons taking over the federal government will have a much more difficult time resisting this change.
  We need people in local governments pushing for this change. Once we're off FPTP a lot of other changes are going to be easier to make.
  
  Did you just get out of a time machine from 2015? The constitution is broken and our government has been captured by bad actors. Shuffling around the deck chairs of voting systems isn't going to un-crash the Titanic...
  Edit: (as a more constructive comment) You're talking about reform that would take years and years of voting, organizing and political positioning. We don't have the time. Stop doing that and start pushing for a blanket recall of every GOP official in the 39 states that allow them.
  At any level; state senator or local mayor. Throw in any Dem that cooperates with Trump's orders as well. It won't stop the fed but at least it's cutting state level support.
  
  How does that help anything?
  
  As an example, republican legislators can target state institutions that resist Trump's executive orders. Things like cutting state funding for not complying with his DEI nonsense as a double whammy, or ordering state police to support ICE.
  They also know it's open season for regressive laws right now, look at bills targeting LGBT and abortion rights. These will face almost no opposition all the way up to the SCOTUS as federal civil rights protections are dismantled.
  And don't forget that your state and local governments oversee elections. The false elector plots in 2020 were enabled by these people.
  
  Now this is an interesting idea that I would like to learn more about. Any recommended sources or efforts to get this done underway that you are aware of and willing to share?
  
  Unfortunately no organized national movement that I know of. I only hear about individual pushes on specific people
  
  See my comment elsewhere in this thread for my response to a similar question asked in a different way.
  https://lemmy.world/comment/15420106
- It's all theatrics.

115 comments