General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'There need to be mass protests': Authoritarianism experts say time is running out to stop Trump
https://www.businessinsider.com/authoritarianism-experts-say-time-running-out-americans-to-stop-trump-2020-2Trump has exhibited autocratic impulses since his 2016 campaign and from the moment he entered the White House.
The president has attacked virtually every democratic institution in the US when he's felt its actions were unfavorable to his agenda or public appearance. Meanwhile, he pushed traditional US allies away while openly embracing many of the world's most repressive leaders.
These trends have raised concern among top experts on authoritarianism, fascism, and democracy, but they've often said that the robust political system in the US, with its checks and balances and constitutional norms, has prevented Trump from becoming a full-blown authoritarian and doing whatever he wants.
Since Trump was acquitted in the Senate earlier this month after being impeached in the House over his dealings with Ukraine, there's been a White House purge of impeachment witnesses, and Attorney General William Barr has intervened in the trial of a close associate of the president, Roger Stone. And the experts' tone has changed dramatically.
'Someone has got to push back' . . .
coti
(4,612 posts)handmade34
(22,755 posts)NOW is when we start protesting
Roy Rolling
(6,853 posts)November is too late. The outdoor protest season is fast approaching, the streets beckon.
History has designated the time, we just need an intelligent and not a knee-jerk strategy.
Popular figures to lead the protests cant hurt.
So if youre one of those celebrities and reading this, nows the time to step up.
I may make a few phone calls tomorrow myself.
But it has to be crippling!
I can guarantee they give two shits about a handful of people with signs. Why would they?
MILLIONS all over is what it will take
coti
(4,612 posts)Where was everyone a month ago when Moscow Mitch was talking about having a "trial" without witnesses or evidence?
handmade34
(22,755 posts)I have been calling for action for 4 years... I guess not many people are hearing
triron
(21,914 posts)Danascot
(4,663 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,021 posts)If you have money in stocks, take it out. If this happens all at once, within a pre-determined, pre-advertised week, it WILL get the attention of the moneychangers who are currently supporting the cult or ignoring the cult.
Captain Zero
(6,714 posts)His butchering of the EPA and our environment alone is enough reason to hound him out of office.
alittlelark
(18,886 posts)2naSalit
(86,043 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,430 posts)Who is sponsoring them, MoveOn, Indivisible, Act Blue?
wnylib
(21,146 posts)maybe we need to contact them and suggest it.
Discuss it on twitter and Facebook. Instead of passively waiting for "someone" to get it underway, we can act to get organizations started on it.
We need a theme name for a march, aimed at denouncing the fake trial, the cowardly Senate, getting foreign nations out of our elections, getting the criminals out of Washington, restoring American values, standing for democracy, not authoritarianism.
Grasswire2
(13,564 posts)maybe we need to be lighting the fire under our own side!!
shanti
(21,670 posts)for more mischief. It is ridiculous.
royable
(1,263 posts)How about Monday Feb 17, and as many days thereafter as it takes to squeeze the truth out of him?
Position a bailiff right next to him when he's on the stand, jangling a ring of cell keys, or perhaps a black hooded muscleman executioner with a very sharp axe.
KSNY
(315 posts)If other people receive a subpoena, can they simply promise to comply in 6 weeks?
bdamomma
(63,652 posts)has been groomed for this for many years by Russia.
We are a dire situation. We need to get out there and fill the streets.
ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)And they've been instrumental in the electoral successes we've had. But we've also had one of our 2 main political parties taken over by christofascists and they've been moving at breathtaking speed to try to solidify their electoral gains from 2016. We are in an existential crisis and this next election is do or die.
Nature Man
(869 posts)you have one side working through the system and its institutions while the other side is actively dismantling the system and its institutions.
dustyscamp
(2,221 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,103 posts)diva77
(7,604 posts)www.rallylist.com -- Looks like Feb. 14th has some action scheduled
www.resistancecalendar.org
ffr
(22,644 posts)That would bring the Kremlin's rePuticans to their knees.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,538 posts)He's already threatened to drop out of the debates because they're "rigged" against him. He wants ones run by a for-profit commercial company, not the non-profit League of Women Voters.
If he refuses to give up power willingly, what are the options? It's another area where Fat Donnie is pushing the norms of society. We shouldn't even have to have this conversation.
So far he's won more battles than he's lost. Expect a full-on attack at the judiciary next...
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)been organizing for this? We need millions of people marching on Washington.
wnylib
(21,146 posts)these organizations to tell them we are ready to march.
gopiscrap
(23,673 posts)bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)tishaLA
(14,176 posts)and I nearly came here when it was over to post that we need mass protests here, as well. We have been, as a whole, far too complacent as this democracy is crumbling around us, as children are in cages, as the judicial system gets increasingly worse, as an entire political party has lost its fucking mind.
We are being hollowed out.
tiredtoo
(2,949 posts)Starting to feel the stress.
slumcamper
(1,603 posts)Gandhi taught us that self sacrifice in the effort of nonviolent civil disobedience worked because, eventually, the sacrifices of those committed to overcoming injustice would come to weigh heavily upon the consciences of the oppressor, they would see the error of their ways, and change.
I firmly believe that our country has, in part, lost it's conscience. That is one thing. To the extent that the country has a conscience remaining, we bear it.
So, our opposition has wholly lost its conscience. How else do we explain rabid cheers for a man who disparages the handicapped, women, Gold Star families, veterans and other public figures who have served honorably...and more. They have no conscience. If they had a conscience, we would not be witnessing the insanity that unfolds at Trump rallies; nor would we be witnessing people with the audacity to wear the red tyrant crown or fly his flag.
I am searching for an answer to the dilemma posed by the conscience premise of Gandhian tactics of nonviolence. We seem to be in a much different space, and I'm not sure Gandhi contemplated such a context.
yaesu
(8,020 posts)take time off to protest & most don't know whats going on, they blame "those people" for all their problems, get fed canned corporate news, fascism has done its job well.
58Sunliner
(4,339 posts)It really does not take much imagination to see how national mass protests could work even for those who work.
doc03
(35,148 posts)November.
58Sunliner
(4,339 posts)I don't give a shit how they feel. November is too late.
58Sunliner
(4,339 posts)protests. They are supposed to be our leaders. The silence is deafening. Let's, call, write, tweet, because we need people with national exposure to promote saving our country.
0rganism
(23,855 posts)we won't see anything near the necessary numbers without at least one strong leader. initially, they could be celebrities of any kind, until someone with sufficient charisma arrives.
by far, the people bested suited to the role are Barack and Michelle Obama.