I don't see how this movement will be stopped. There's too much grift ar stake for the leaders or oligarch class to stop the insanity, media has shown that it will not side with pro-democracy, pro-humanity forces, the DOJ refuses to hold anyone in power accountable for anything, the FBI refuses to designate hate groups as domestic terrorists, Musk is methodically destroying the strongest pro-democracy tool that exists, and the base is growing more detached from reality by the day. The Maga GOP now control the House, and numerous states. Apparently the grandson of a Maga state legislator was the Q shooter. At this point, Fox and the Maga leaders just spotlight a vulnerable group, knowing that one of their viewers will pull a trigger. How do we stop this?
I think we stop it by organizing at the local level. Do you know any rationalist liberals organizing in your area? The end game will visit violence on institutions and progressives many times before this war is won or lost. Make no mistake, we are in a full blown cultural civil war already, and it has already sparked numerous acts of violence, primarily perpetrated by the right but not always.
I would start with a google search for local progressive/socialist activist groups. Both words are pejoratives to right-wing extremists and have been for a century in this country, but that's where we start to counteract the delusions caused by disinformation campaigns that go back to the beginning of this country, and are only growing as technology makes us all more connected.
Be cautious if you search for the socialist groups as many local neo-Nazi activists call themselves some variant of a socialist organization.
What is the objective of the local activism? Facts and rational thinking are insufficient to counter extremism and propaganda. Is the objective to register new voters? With democracy on the line, ongoing environmental calamities, erosion of trust in every institution, and still barely 27% of GenZ voted in the midterms...better than usual, but not nearly enough to change the trajectory of this country. Other than registering new voters or encouraging people to run for local office (Run For Something is a great, under-funded organization helping to train people to run campaigns, Mom's Demand is another, helping to fund gun control candidates), or join environmental groups, I'm not sure what a local group would accomplish.
At the end of of the day, this country is moderate at best, with large extremist pockets on the right and very small progressive pockets on the left. The New Deal era was the closest we've ever come to a democratic socialist concept. I don't believe that the US will ever be a progressive Western European-style democracy. Retaining a semblance of democracy is the best we can do...I hope it's enough to get past 2024.
Perhaps your other followers see a different scenario, but the midterms were clear that Democratic wins in most cases were in the moderate/pragmatic liberal category. We lost the House through NY alone, which lost multiple blue seats to the GOP.
Local activism can be helpful, but only when there's a purpose or structure. As more rights are shunted to the states by SCOTUS, perhaps more local groups will arise to advocate for those rights.
That's certainly the goal, and there's nothing to stop SCOTUS from continuing to eviscerate the rights of women and minorities. Rights will have to be codified at the state level, which will worsen the divide between states. It's an untenable situation, since basic rights will fluctuate depending upon who controls the state legislatures and judiciary.
Statistical rates for education, opportunity, mortality, healthcare, etc are wildly worse in states run by the GOP, but they simply don't care.
We're an increasingly ungovernable nation, but what is the recourse? Massive turnout to flip as many state legislatures blue as possible (highly unlikely, but a path), dividing the country (highly impractical, and would endanger national security), gain a 52-seat majority in the Senate to kill the filibuster for voting rights, abortion rights, wealth tax, SCOTUS reform, DC statehood, etc. (the best option but the 2024 Senate map is grim).
These are all valid questions. Frankly, unless the Democrats get far more aggressive, the minority will continue to screw over the majority. Republicans play dirty and Democrats need to stop pretending there is room for working across the aisles. There isn't when wingnuts like Beobert, Hawley, and MTG are allowed to spout their insanity and keep feeding the cultists what they want to hear. The next two years will determine whether there will be a full blown civil war. It is a good time to look at the map, decide what you stand for, and vote with your feet if you are in a position to do that.
Agreed. Democrats need to create a vision for the country (a strong democracy, greater equality/opportunity, strong unions, non-college paths to success, smart immigration reform), strategy (reforming SCOTUS, wealth/corporate taxes, monopoly enforcement, tech regulation), tactics (proactive aggressive messaging, funding GenZ voting groups, Hispanic outreach starting yesterday, cross-pollination of activists (Jewish, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ)). The unknowns: will the latest Special Counsel indict anyone other than Trump or will elite criminal impunity continue unabated? will the McCarthy House repeal a substantial number of 2024 voters with incompetence and vengeance? will the economy improve? with the GOP in charge, how will RW media address 'crime' and immigration? will the NY Democratic party purge its inept leadership and hand over the reigns to a new generation? will the Ukraine war end or expand?
"Local activism can be helpful, but only when there's a purpose or structure. As more rights are shunted to the states by SCOTUS, perhaps more local groups will arise to advocate for those rights."
I am willing to defend my rights by any means necessary should advocacy be insufficient. That's what I am talking about. Finding like minded liberal rationalists to band together to protect our values and our viewpoints. Voting is important, but it isn't near enough. We need to attend local town meetings and make our positions known, and we need to prep for more attacks and violence. I'm talking self-defense only.
I don't see how this movement will be stopped. There's too much grift ar stake for the leaders or oligarch class to stop the insanity, media has shown that it will not side with pro-democracy, pro-humanity forces, the DOJ refuses to hold anyone in power accountable for anything, the FBI refuses to designate hate groups as domestic terrorists, Musk is methodically destroying the strongest pro-democracy tool that exists, and the base is growing more detached from reality by the day. The Maga GOP now control the House, and numerous states. Apparently the grandson of a Maga state legislator was the Q shooter. At this point, Fox and the Maga leaders just spotlight a vulnerable group, knowing that one of their viewers will pull a trigger. How do we stop this?
I think we stop it by organizing at the local level. Do you know any rationalist liberals organizing in your area? The end game will visit violence on institutions and progressives many times before this war is won or lost. Make no mistake, we are in a full blown cultural civil war already, and it has already sparked numerous acts of violence, primarily perpetrated by the right but not always.
I would start with a google search for local progressive/socialist activist groups. Both words are pejoratives to right-wing extremists and have been for a century in this country, but that's where we start to counteract the delusions caused by disinformation campaigns that go back to the beginning of this country, and are only growing as technology makes us all more connected.
Be cautious if you search for the socialist groups as many local neo-Nazi activists call themselves some variant of a socialist organization.
What is the objective of the local activism? Facts and rational thinking are insufficient to counter extremism and propaganda. Is the objective to register new voters? With democracy on the line, ongoing environmental calamities, erosion of trust in every institution, and still barely 27% of GenZ voted in the midterms...better than usual, but not nearly enough to change the trajectory of this country. Other than registering new voters or encouraging people to run for local office (Run For Something is a great, under-funded organization helping to train people to run campaigns, Mom's Demand is another, helping to fund gun control candidates), or join environmental groups, I'm not sure what a local group would accomplish.
At the end of of the day, this country is moderate at best, with large extremist pockets on the right and very small progressive pockets on the left. The New Deal era was the closest we've ever come to a democratic socialist concept. I don't believe that the US will ever be a progressive Western European-style democracy. Retaining a semblance of democracy is the best we can do...I hope it's enough to get past 2024.
Perhaps your other followers see a different scenario, but the midterms were clear that Democratic wins in most cases were in the moderate/pragmatic liberal category. We lost the House through NY alone, which lost multiple blue seats to the GOP.
Local activism can be helpful, but only when there's a purpose or structure. As more rights are shunted to the states by SCOTUS, perhaps more local groups will arise to advocate for those rights.
There is no difference between the white Christian nationalists and the Taliban / Isis. Women have no rights and are incubators only
https://imgflip.com/i/4dd4kp
I hesitated to “like” this. You’re absolutely correct. We should not negotiate with either. They are vermin.
That's certainly the goal, and there's nothing to stop SCOTUS from continuing to eviscerate the rights of women and minorities. Rights will have to be codified at the state level, which will worsen the divide between states. It's an untenable situation, since basic rights will fluctuate depending upon who controls the state legislatures and judiciary.
Statistical rates for education, opportunity, mortality, healthcare, etc are wildly worse in states run by the GOP, but they simply don't care.
We're an increasingly ungovernable nation, but what is the recourse? Massive turnout to flip as many state legislatures blue as possible (highly unlikely, but a path), dividing the country (highly impractical, and would endanger national security), gain a 52-seat majority in the Senate to kill the filibuster for voting rights, abortion rights, wealth tax, SCOTUS reform, DC statehood, etc. (the best option but the 2024 Senate map is grim).
These are all valid questions. Frankly, unless the Democrats get far more aggressive, the minority will continue to screw over the majority. Republicans play dirty and Democrats need to stop pretending there is room for working across the aisles. There isn't when wingnuts like Beobert, Hawley, and MTG are allowed to spout their insanity and keep feeding the cultists what they want to hear. The next two years will determine whether there will be a full blown civil war. It is a good time to look at the map, decide what you stand for, and vote with your feet if you are in a position to do that.
Agreed. Democrats need to create a vision for the country (a strong democracy, greater equality/opportunity, strong unions, non-college paths to success, smart immigration reform), strategy (reforming SCOTUS, wealth/corporate taxes, monopoly enforcement, tech regulation), tactics (proactive aggressive messaging, funding GenZ voting groups, Hispanic outreach starting yesterday, cross-pollination of activists (Jewish, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ)). The unknowns: will the latest Special Counsel indict anyone other than Trump or will elite criminal impunity continue unabated? will the McCarthy House repeal a substantial number of 2024 voters with incompetence and vengeance? will the economy improve? with the GOP in charge, how will RW media address 'crime' and immigration? will the NY Democratic party purge its inept leadership and hand over the reigns to a new generation? will the Ukraine war end or expand?
"Local activism can be helpful, but only when there's a purpose or structure. As more rights are shunted to the states by SCOTUS, perhaps more local groups will arise to advocate for those rights."
I am willing to defend my rights by any means necessary should advocacy be insufficient. That's what I am talking about. Finding like minded liberal rationalists to band together to protect our values and our viewpoints. Voting is important, but it isn't near enough. We need to attend local town meetings and make our positions known, and we need to prep for more attacks and violence. I'm talking self-defense only.
Long clicking in the app opens the image.
It works! I’m not very tech savvy. Thank you. The image speaks for itself. And they are one and the same.
I don’t think my link will open. But you get my point