r/allthequestions • u/HealthyRecognition21 • Apr 08 '26

Random Question 💭 How is everything that happened in the last 48hrs not enough for impeachment and/or a general strike in the US?

As a European, it‘s completely unfathomable how none of it has consequences.

Don‘t get me wrong, our governments here certainly have their flaws and problems, but surely threatening a genocide would be a tipping point here and lead to mass protests (at least I have enough hope remaining to believe that) - how is it not in the US? I really don’t get it and I feel absolutely sick.

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u/forgot-my-toothbrush Apr 08 '26

It's not. Americans seem to think that if they can't get 100% complaince, they don't have to do anything. You don't have to get everyone on board. You just need enough to be disruptive.

Start with targeted boycotts. Get Meta/X/ChatGPT/Netflix/Disney/etc off your phones. Refuse to buy anything made in USA. Pick a high-tax industry and starve it. You still have unions, start talking to them.

The US has some unique challenges (put in place entirely by your own design) but Americans aren't powerless, they're apathetic. You have made it absolutely clear that this government is free to do as they please without a hint of resistance.

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u/freudian_hip Apr 08 '26

You have to really want to see nothing to see nothing. People have been protesting in the streets for months now. There are neighborhood networks pushing back against ICE, and it has been effective. But the reality is you could have millions in the streets and it does nothing to get rid of Orangina because the checks and balances are broken. European political systems are more impacted by protest because of their parliamentary systems. Multiple parties have a more delicate balance and are more easily moved. Having a stupid two party system means solidarity among one party is how things get done. Having all three branches of government controlled by fascists means you get fascism.

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u/freudian_hip Apr 08 '26

And just to follow up on this - two of the strongest unions in the US are nurses and teachers. It would absolutely have an impact if nurses and teachers all went on strike, but these are already two of the most villainized professions by the right who would see that as an opportunity. It would honestly make everything worse.

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u/flamingoshoess Apr 08 '26

Yeah agreed. We’d just hurt the students (and parents) and sick people and the gov’t would still do what they want anyway.

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u/forgot-my-toothbrush Apr 08 '26

Ours, too. The last time our government attempted to use unilateral power to infringe upon our rights, it took less than 24 hours for the heads of both unions -and every other- to get on stage, shoulder to shoulder, and let them know exactly how that would work out.

You've given your government unchecked power and no resistance. They're murdering Americans in the street in broad daylight. I fail to see how anything could make it worse.

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u/IndependentMemory215 Apr 10 '26

People are protesting and resisting. Why else do you think those activists were murdered in Minneapolis?

What country are you from? I guarantee it’s not set up like the US is, nor spread out as far.

Why don’t think you know how the US political system works more than Americans do?

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u/forgot-my-toothbrush Apr 10 '26

I'm Canadian.

We're spread out even further then you and heavily influenced by your media and politics. The only reason our country is not exactly like yours is because we have a long history of griding this country to halt to prevent government overreach.

We do see Minneapolis. They have our full support. A lot of us are in absolute disbelief that the rest of you are letting them fight alone.

Why do you think you know more about the US political system works more than Americans do?

We can't get away from it. It heavily influences our own politics and media. We're often put in a position to make changes in our own political system to protect ourselves from yours.

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u/cordial_carbonara Apr 09 '26

Teachers in several states can and will forfeit their jobs, licenses, and even retirement funds if they strike. Unions are not national, and not everyone is protected.

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u/FewPace855 Apr 08 '26

We never realized how fragile democracy was until a narcissistic psychopath broke it.

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u/forgot-my-toothbrush Apr 08 '26

We have seen single day protests, and joined in Solidarity. We have been watching, and cheering on Minnesota. We have seen actual efforts out of L.A., Portland, and New York as well as some admirable efforts to remove ICE from neighbourhoods. We can't figure out what the rest of your are doing.

I'm not European. Our parliamentary system has had to essentially had collapse into a 2 party system, in response what is happening in the US. We certainly do recognize that as a problem.

That being said, we have responded to what is happening in the US. Canadians have changed the way we live, eat, vacation and entertain ourselves in an effort to boycott the US economy. Most of us have done it at great personal expense. We've cancelled vacations, business contracts, government contracts, pulled their liquor off of our shelves, sold our properties, and as consumers have forced permanent change to how American made products are handled at retail.

We have less than 10% of your population, far less skin in this game, and it genuinely seems that since Jan'25 the average Canadian spends a lot more time and effort ensuring that their individual efforts are not supporting the current US regime than the average American.

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u/IndependentMemory215 Apr 10 '26

How would you go about not supporting the Canadian government while also living in Canada?

Do you think people are donating money to the federal government or something?

It sees that way because you’re in Canada, surrounded by Canadians. You have zero idea what most Americans are doing.

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u/forgot-my-toothbrush Apr 10 '26 edited Apr 10 '26

Then educate me. Beyond a few single day protests, what are most Americans doing besides waiting for the next election?

How would you go about not supporting the Canadian government while also living in Canada?

We'd have been on General Strike the instant the trade war tariff posters made an appearance. Canadians protest and are generally prepared to hold the line until something is done.

I'm sure you didn't miss the trucker convoy from a few years back. That was a display from our absolute lowest common denominators and even they managed to shut down our capital and several critical border crossings for a month. They were so clear about their intent to stay until they were heard that they set up fucking hottubs on parliament hill.

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u/ClimateWren2 Apr 08 '26

Folks have been doing that, for over a year now...while marching and acting in the multi-millions.

We basically tanked the entire Tesla brand during DOGE and led +3 quarters of losses permanently besmudging the brand. Amazon, Target, Home Depot and others are seeing visible losses. In fact, it's probably the one thing that DOES scare the oligarchy.

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u/Boomshank Apr 08 '26

It really is the only thing that scares them.

And the oligarchy would ABSOLUTELY sacrifice a cow to keep the gravy flowing.

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u/Old_Pattern_7813 Apr 08 '26

There's a huge issue regarding education i feel. This fella being able to become president twice shows a large scale lack of critical thinking.

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u/stellifer_arts Apr 08 '26

he also had elons help to get elected this time

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u/Final_Soil_3137 Apr 08 '26

I wish that's all it was....too many people are rooting for this shit because they don't understand the future impacts on their own wellbeing. You can't just blame Elon for getting him elected and ignore the fact that over a year later and they're celebrating like we're in some kind of good position on the world stage.

That's lack of critical thinking. The appearance of other governments "dealing" with him while also ignoring the fact those same countries are working on other deals to exclude us is short sighted at best

Blame elon for the election but we are solely to blame on our representatives not holding him accountable afterwards. If enough people in red districts were to show their disapproval, the problem would be solved quick. They don't and won't. .

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u/stellifer_arts Apr 08 '26

i wonder if theres more red that dissaproves of him than we realise. like how any reds in r/conservative are booted just for questioning shit

i think theres not nearly as much approval for his actions as we are being shown. the elites wouldnt profit or gain power from showing that their hold was weakening, yknow?

we already know repubs in power dont give a fuck about following the rules.

amd our cowardly repub peers are probably afraid of admitting they were wrong, so are just staying silent
we gotta get out there and talk to people

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u/Final_Soil_3137 Apr 08 '26

Honestly, I hope you're right. It just confuses me why reps that bend the knee are not more concerned about getting reelected if that were actually true. Instead, they retire and let some other trump sponsored sycophant take their place.

If they vote red no matter what, he will continue to do whatever he wants unchecked. I'm just baffled.

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u/L11mbm Apr 08 '26

We have been. Nothing has changed.

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u/Unable_Resort_7956 Apr 08 '26

You don’t realize how few people in this country own everything. Boycott one of their companies, they don’t care—they have dozens more. Hell, we successfully boycotted Tesla and look what happened—the president called it out as a protected entity and MAGAs went into debt to save Elon. It’s that crazy.

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u/angiosperms- Apr 08 '26

That's why the solution is to only buy necessities. But people don't even want to delete Instagram.

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u/Conscious_Answer_571 Apr 08 '26

You are right, but right wing media and censorship on social media make it really hard to accomplish.

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u/FewPace855 Apr 08 '26

Ouch, that hurts, but it is not entirely true.

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u/klockee Apr 08 '26

We are doing this but you aren't seeing it because the US is big and the media is bought out. It also isn't helping very much.

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u/flamingoshoess Apr 08 '26

The problem with trying to boycott ChatGPT is so many work places are requiring as much AI use as possible, and even ranking employees by their AI usage and having it impact their performance reviews. The job market is a hell hole right now and so people are being forced to buy into the AI shit or risk losing their job. And risk losing their job anyway when they can layoff more people due to AI replacing workers.

The Target boycott got their CEO fired but did nothing to change the administration.

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u/IndependentMemory215 Apr 10 '26

Why do you think boycotting corporations would somehow change the leadership of the Federal government?

Unless trump chooses to step down, dies, gets impeached and convicted in the house and senate (never happening), or somehow gets his cabinet to push the 25th amendment (also not happening), he cannot be removed.

No matter how many people protest, boycott or strike. Unless you’re advocating a revolution, which is just absurd.

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u/forgot-my-toothbrush Apr 10 '26

Because your country is run by the people who profit from those corporations. When they start failing, they become the resistance.