What will we do?

[LAS14]

If Trump wins. Hubby is reading a really depressing book, The Oppermans, by Lion Feuchtwanger. It was written in 1933 and re-released with a new intro in 2001. It takes place in Germany. Of course the author didn't actually know what was going to happen, but he was prescient. He describes the changes in society and the main point of the book seems to be that the population, particularly the Jewish population, didn't know how to combat them.

If Trump wins, and the worst predictions happen, what will we do?

[Elessar Zappa]

1. Keep on keeping on as best we can, I guess.

I don’t have a good answer for you. If it got real bad (like mass arrests and executions) then returning the violence may be in order. But I don’t think it will get that bad, I think it will be awful with things like abortion rights going away, more persecution of minorities, etc but I don’t believe we’ll go full on Nazi.

[wnylib]

22. Trump came close enough to full on Nazi with his

border detention camps, children in cages, and taking children from their parents.

If he went that far then, how much farther would he go next time?

[peppertree]

52. We can only hope the Pentagon detains him if he tries it

As Gen. Milley proved, they were the only real impediment to Cheeto's dictatorial desires the last time.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

2. Put him in prison, hopefully.

If it's for January 6th, great! He wouldn't be sworn in until 1/20. And he should serve out his sentence before "faking" an oath to the Constitution.

[hlthe2b]

3. Most Americans, no matter how threatened they may feel have no choice but to stay & try to survive...

So, I guess we are all (or mostly all) in for the fight ahead--except for the very wealthy or those with dual citizenship.

It is quite easy to give into the fear and paranoia (the latter which is arguably not out of place), but I personally would rather "go out" fighting back-- however possible--even at my own detriment.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. Probably about as much as people did last time he was president.

[Think. Again.]

7. I suspect his bitterness after the last 4 years...

...would make him much, much more vindictive a second time around.

[bdamomma]

21. He

will wreak havoc, chaos, hate and division on many Americans. We are the only ones to save ourselves. GOTV.
Our way of life will be at risk.

[Think. Again.]

24. Yes!

[dwayneb]

41. It's been at risk for decades

The Fascist Right has been working tirelessly since Nixon to destroy our democracy. They want ultimate absolute power and they will do anything to obtain it.

[sarisataka]

9. Nailed it

[liberalmediaaddict]

5. Same thing we did in 2016

Cry, scream, panic. Dread every day we get closer to inauguration day.

Then spend 4 long, horrific years counting down the days until the next election.

And those 4 years are going to feel like 40.

[Silent3]

11. It's that next election thing that becomes problematic

It’s a real possibility Trump will swiftly and decisively eliminate all checks and balances on his power, to the point future elections are meaningless charades.

[dwayneb]

39. Ding Ding Ding

you hit the nail on the head. Trump will do everything in his power (and if the SCOTUS grants him immunity it will be nearly limitless) to destroy our system of elections with his minions at the State level.

What will we do then?

[B.See]

16. There won't BE a next election. n/t

[Crunchy Frog]

60. There will be an election. But it may be little different than russia's recent election.

It will have a predetermined outcome with no mechanisms in place to meaningfully challenge it.

[wnylib]

25. What next election? Trump already says that he will be a dictator.

[bdamomma]

45. Past history

Dictators don't have a good ending.

[wnylib]

47. Dictators can hold onto power a long time and

do a lot of damage before they meet their end.

[bdamomma]

48. We

need to exert our only power and that is to VOTE. This is not only for us, but for many generations to come. And no thuggish criminal should stop us.

[True Dough]

30. We can still hope

he just drops while in office. Drops. Dead.

[dwayneb]

43. Maybe but

He has paved the way for the next dictator, because he has revealed the essential weaknesses of American democracy, and he has found people willing and able to exploit them. If he goes away there is always another ready to take his place, and potentially even worse.

[True Dough]

44. Sure, the problem extends beyond Trump

but I'll still get great satisfaction knowing that he's gone.

[Tree Lady]

38. Most of us on this site are older

and it won't be good for our health.

[liberalmediaaddict]

46. Totally agree

I feel fortunate to have survived his first term alive. But the stress of those 4 years definitely negatively impacted my mental and physical health. Especially his 2020 pandemic response and January 6th insurrection.

Even having Trump as the Republican presidential nominee once again is a nightmare come true. Everytime I see a poll or hear a reporter say he has a good chance of winning my blood pressure skyrockets. Honestly I've started to mentally, emotionally and financially prepare for any possible outcome this November. Just like I did in 2016 and 2020.

[onecaliberal]

54. It WONT be 4 years, and anyone believing this fantasy is so far off base, I don't know where to begin.

[CanonRay]

56. There won't another election in our lifetime

Trump wants a dictatorship and a dynasty.

[Hope22]

6. He is telling us what he will do on day one.

We must prepare for that. The directive he issues his maga monsters will not be pretty.

[Think. Again.]

8. I agree.

[Think. Again.]

10. Perhaps we should all read "Project 2025" soon...

...so we'll have a better idea of what to prepare for.

[Hope22]

14. I'm almost afraid to but will take your advice.

Without reading it I would guess prepare with a full gas tanks, food for a minimum of a month, and some type of self defense plan if they decide to go door to door. I’m not a fan of firearms but I imagine they will be necessary. It all sounds crazy to me. I imagine news will go dark on his day one as the talking heads will be on a jet to somewhere else if they are smart. I’ve worried about things like this before but TSP is a madman with many followers itching to create a blood bath. It could get very out of control.

[Think. Again.]

15. I personally do believe he, and a lot of others....

...will think they can get away with a lot of crap, so I believe it's wise to be ready for anything.

But I also know that we must all remain calm and strong. Panic and over-reactions could actually escalate things that we could get through better if we stay in control.

[Hope22]

23. I agree.

We did a pretty good job isolating during Covid so we are hoping to hang low unless needed. We are the only Dems in our neighborhood so if he calls the magats to clean out the libs we will need to be prepared. We have a long drive so a month ago I posted no trespassing, private drive, monitored by cameras all on one post. That is the best I can do.

[Think. Again.]

26. I am also in a somewhat precarious position if his minions act on his violent orders.

And I think about this every day.

[Hope22]

31. Stay safe!

We can prepare for the worst and celebrate that it was unneeded. Hugs and love to you. We will talk again!😊. 💗🙏🏼

[wnylib]

32. Same here. I live in a very red county in a blue state.

The people in my neighborhood are all solid MAGAs.

I can't afford to leave the country, but I might need to move within my state. I will be watching developments leading up to election day and hope that I will have a Plan B ready by then.

[Hope22]

49. It's so hard to feel we have to think this way but it's a real consideration.

For a while we were thinking Canada but my Canadian friend tells me that Q in pick up trucks drive around with the Maple leaf flag flying from the bed. That is exactly what the morons here do. She is angry that they have stolen her flag. This is how it started here with the intimidation. They stole the US flag here and then proceeded to use it as a weapon on J6! I have been warning her for years but she put our problem down to stupid Americans, nothing that Canadian’s would do! I think your idea of an in state move to a bluer area is something to ponder.

I saw this article that may give clue to TSF’s line of thinking.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-plan-for-executions-if-trump-wins_n_663b97a7e4b0bcaefbf76812

[wnylib]

29. At what point would it get bad enough to do more than

keep calm and quiet?

I've read many accounts of Germans who hoped the same thing in 1933. The loss of freedoms came in increments. Each time, people who disagreed with Nazis or who feared them said, "It's not so bad. Just be calm and we'll get through this." They adapted themselves to each legal change and each edict.

But some who were not willing to adapt and were able to leave went to other countries, only to face Nazi conquests in their new locations because nobody took a stand before it became impossible to do it.

Is there a red line that we will not tolerate being crossed? What would it be? And what would our taking a stand look like?

[Think. Again.]

34. I don't have any idea to be honest...

...everything that has happened and is happening in this country since trump came down that escalator is beyond my understanding. It's insane.

If trump gets back in the Whitehouse, all bets are off and I think we would be facing a wide range of crazy, unexpected, and horrific situations that would have to be responded to one step at a time.

And yes, I am scared.

[wnylib]

36. Judging from what German history tells us, and what the 2025 Project tells us,

it looks like an immediate, strong resistance will be necessary. Otherwise the 2025 Project will become entrenched and impossible to stop later.

I don't want violence, definitely not a civil war, which would be devastating not only for Americans, but for many people around the world. But so would a Trump dictatorship.

Massive events of passive resistance, like nationwide strikes or refusals to comply with new edicts from the dictator? That
would require huge numbers of people working together and I'm not sure it could be done.

One thing that I am certain of is that communications will be monitored or cut off completely. Democracy supporters will need to plan ahead for ways to stay in touch and keep each other informed in order to coordinate ways to cope or to resist.

[Think. Again.]

37. I think a massive general strike is a great idea...

...it would be disruptive enough to hopefully throw their plans into chaos and would give us all the opportunity to keep our heads down and not be in the line of any kind of fire.

[dwayneb]

42. Not beyond my understanding

I saw this coming way back in the early 80's. What baffles me is that Progressives kept telling themselves the fantasy that "it can't happen here" over and over again.

[wnylib]

59. I saw it coming, too, as far back as Reagan/Bush.

Did not know how long it would take or exactly how it would manifest, but could see the general direction that the RW was heading.

[bdamomma]

27. I am not

We have the power, we must fight back. And not give up.

[Celerity]

20. this!

[FelineOverlord]

12. The French Resistance

I greatly admire them.

That is all I will say.

[Celerity]

28. vivre libre ou mourir

[Silent3]

13. I think a Trump win would be more likely to lead to a new civil war than a Trump loss.

How likely? I'm not sure. But more likely than the fantasy of angry MAGAts rioting over a Biden win.

The way I see it happening is, per the 2025 Project, Trump starts vigorously dismantling all checks and balances against his power. That gets so ugly that a few more liberal states decide they aren't going to go along with it – probably more by simply refusing to go along with the worst of it, rather than, say, outright announcing succession.

Then what? If the federal government takes military action to force the issue, all hell breaks loose.

Now, if that doesn't happen, the whole country, red states and blue, simply sinks together into a long, dark fascist era which will be hard to recover from anytime soon. It won't likely be something that can be fixed merely by the 2028 election, which the 2025 Project will turn into a performative farce, just like a Putin "election".

[myohmy2]

17. start...

...looking and dressing like a magat and wait until the trump shit blows over...

...I'm lucky, I'm half way there...if you seen me you'd think I was a die-hard magat instead of the die-hard Socialist I am...

...looks can be deceiving, keep your powder dry and fake it...

...

[B.See]

18. We don't have to wonder. History is REPLETE with lessons

on what happens when a society falls to fascism and dictatorship. With the consequences sometimes world wide.

The question isn't so much what will Trump MAGA and their neo-Nazis and white supremacists do? (They've already told us)

But what will Putin and his authoritarian allies do? (they're sort of showing us as well)

What will become of the remaining democracies? NATO. The EU.

And finally, what happens when a significant number of your radical fundamentalist religious followers believe your coming heralds not a great NEW day, not the audacity of HOPE,

but the END of times?? and in fact are looking forward to it.

[BlueKota]

35. This. The people who think it won't be so bad, must

not have taken college history classes. I took two on Europe in WWII. One called the Clash of Modern Hells -Nazi Germany verses Communist USSR. I learned more about man's capacity to be inhumane to their fellow humans than I ever wanted to know. It's not paranoia because it's all actually happened before in one way or another, and it can happen again.

[Patton French]

19. It won't be the end of the world

And he won’t be around forever.

[BlueKota]

33. I wonder if other countries will offer assylum to us?

to Democrats, women, and minorities, if tfg gets re-elected and he makes good on his threats? I hope they will, or the smart people on our side have a plan B, if it gets too bad. Plan A is Biden wins.

If a dictatorship ends up coming to total fruition, I won't be sticking around for it. I have my own plan C, if it comes to that.

Just watching documentaries of what happened in full on dictatorships almost broke me. Learning of how the one child per family law in China caused some families to throw live infant daughters in wells to drown so they could try again for a boy, seeing what happened in Aushcwitz, reading about how Stalin starved whole regions of people to death, and then had them buried in mass graves. No thanks! My mind won't survive it.

[wnylib]

40. I've learned about the same historical examples.

So, sad to say, history tells us not to look to other nations to take in refugees. Not even our closest allies. They might take in exiles from government (ambassadors, liberal exiles from Congress, etc.), but not average citizens. They might also take in leading scientists, physicians, artists in various fields, but no one else.

Canada would close its southern border with the US, including its western border with Alaska for both self-defense and to avoid being overwhelmed with immigrants and refugees.

If Trump didn't close the Mexican border, Mexico would.

Other countries are too small to absorb us and not militarily strong enough to stand up to the US military under Trump.

[Johnny2X2X]

50. Wrong question

The question we all need to ask is, "what can I do to make sure he doesn't win?" Donate, volunteer, spread the message. The fate of our Democracy is on the line.

[maxsolomon]

51. Resist.

America is a herd of cats. You can't herd cats.

[MineralMan]

53. It's impossible to guess what others will do.

What will YOU do? That's the only answer you have, really. Everything else is a guess.

[Torchlight]

55. If Trump wins, and the worst predictions happen, what should we do?

I think we all have to get together on that page first before flipping 100 pages or so ahead; I hear there's some fine foreshadowing on pp. 24-27.

[Kaleva]

57. Same thing I'll be doing if Biden wins

Preparing for catastrophic climate change

[Frasier Balzov]

58. What action would have been justified in Hitler's case?

And when? (In real time, not in hindsight.)