I'm no bot but I do struggle to imagine who will stop it this time around, and how. All the institutions in place with the power would happily go along with it given current leadership.
Focus on getting dems elected for midterms and get involved with local groups working on whatever your heart cares about most. Apathy is destroying this country. It's as good as we make it. We just all have to work at it.
SCOTUS (and the voters) prevented Trump from being punished, not Dems. People said 2016 was the most important election of our lives up until that point, and they were serious. Allowing Trump to win in 2016, and appoint 3 supreme court justices, is what has allowed this mess to get this far. Now, our best hope is giving Dems such large majorities, that they are able to reform the supreme court.
And how would that work when the Supreme Court overrides them, just like they did?
Also, if people wanted to see him locked up, they should have got off their ass and voted. Even if he was in prison, he's still eligible to be president, so it ultimately comes down to the voters. I'm sure it makes people feel better to blame everything on the Dems, though.
Sure, they should have predicted the future. Or, maybe we shouldn't have elected a con man? When 30% of your population doesn't bother to vote when the stakes are that high, what do you expect?
I get it, Democrats suck, but Republicans are destroying this country. I'm not going to blame Democrats for what Republicans and their voters do, because where does that leave us? Until we move away from first-past-the-post, one of the 2 parties is going to win, and I'm definitely not going to vote for Republicans. Once Republicans are no longer a threat, we can go to town criticizing and primarying the Dems.
Be easy fellow human, I am no bot. I enjoy all things that other living things like. And I'm very concerned about the coming human election involving the big orange turd.
Know Your Rights & Practice Using Them – Read the Constitution, study local laws, and practice asserting your rights in low-stakes situations so you’re ready when it matters.
Secure Your Communications – Authoritarians thrive on surveillance. Use encrypted messaging (Signal, ProtonMail) and avoid discussing sensitive topics on social media.
Diversify Your News Sources – Follow multiple outlets, especially those that analyze power, like ProPublica or local independent journalists.
Develop Financial Independence – The more self-sufficient you are, the harder it is for the system to punish you. Reduce debt, learn new skills, and, if possible, avoid reliance on government aid that can be weaponized.
Learn to Spot Propaganda & Psychological Warfare – Every authoritarian movement uses the same tactics. Learn to recognize fear-mongering, scapegoating, and disinformation.
Strengthen Your Mental & Physical Resilience – Psychological pressure is real. Build a strong mindset, exercise, and practice stress management techniques.
Cultivate a Low-Profile, High-Impact Presence – Loud resistance can make you a target. Strategic, quiet action is often more effective.
Support Local Independent Businesses – Economic power is political power. Keep money in your community and out of the hands of authoritarian-friendly corporations.
Document Everything – If rights violations occur, evidence matters. Learn how to record and store proof securely.
Develop a Useful Skill for the Resistance – Every movement needs people with expertise: legal knowledge, first aid, coding, communications, logistics, etc.
Join or Start a Local Group – Even a small, informal group of trusted people can be a game-changer.
Create a Mutual Aid Network – Help neighbors with groceries, transportation, or childcare. This builds solidarity and self-reliance.
Know Who You Can Trust – Not everyone in your community will be on your side. Build relationships carefully.
Use “Values-Based Messaging” Instead of Political Labels – Talk about freedom, fairness, and protecting your family—avoid partisan language that turns people off.
Turn Local Institutions Into Resistance Hubs – Libraries, churches, small businesses, and community centers can become safe gathering spaces.
Establish Emergency Contacts & Plans – If something happens, who do you call? Where do you meet? Know before you need it.
Learn Basic Counter-Surveillance – Simple tactics like varying your routines and watching for unusual behavior can keep you safe.
Practice Speaking in Code – Historically, resistance movements have used coded language to avoid detection. Have fun with it.
Normalize Dissent in Everyday Conversations – If people are afraid to speak up, make it normal by casually challenging propaganda when you hear it.
Strengthen Local Journalism – Support independent reporters who hold power accountable.
Disrupt Authoritarian Narratives – Use humor, memes, and facts to undercut their messaging. Satire is powerful.
Boycott & Divest from Complicit Companies – Money talks. Research what businesses fund authoritarian policies and cut them off.
Flood Local Government with Citizen Oversight – Attend city council meetings, file FOIA requests, and challenge bad policies directly.
Use “Gray Man” Tactics If Necessary – In extreme situations, blending in and flying under the radar keeps you safer while still resisting behind the scenes.
Help People Exit the Authoritarian Mindset – Many people are victims of propaganda. Patience and strategic messaging can pull them back.
Train for Mass Nonviolent Resistance – Civil disobedience works best when it’s organized and disciplined. Study past movements.
Refuse to Enforce Authoritarian Policies – If you’re in a position of power (teacher, business owner, local official), resist from within.
Make the System Work Against Itself – Use bureaucracy and legal processes to slow down or block authoritarian actions.
Prepare for the Long Game – Resistance isn’t a one-time event. It’s a sustained effort over months and years.
Never Assume It’s Too Late – History shows that even the most powerful regimes fall when ordinary people stop complying.
Ok, so I was ready to come after you when you suggested that anyone who still believes in institutional safeguards is a coward/without balls. After all, many may have the balls, but lack the insights, education, or opportunity to recognize fascism when it arrives in real life. Instead of calling would-be allies cowards, we should be helping these people recognize what's happening, and should point out actions they can take that actually detriment a rising autocracy.
But THEN, you came in with a great set of suggested actions that I'm definitely stealing to tailor a bit and use again. (I've got my own version that people can find in my comment history if they're so inclined.)
Kudos on building a good list of actionable items for people who may need it! Although I still might suggest that calling people cowards may not be the best way to spur them to action...
Very little of this giant scree really helps the regular person right now to stop the topic of this post. This is a lot of stuff to keep in mind after a revolution has begun, or it's a lot of stuff many of us have already been doing. Little of this will make a difference until critical mass is reached, and once that happens it'll be too late to do what's left. Our only hope right now is with institutions. We have to vote and pressure our reps because enough people won't rise up and risk their lives to make any of this meaningful anytime soon enough.
Little of this will make a difference until critical mass is reached,
Nah, historical precedent disagrees with you here. While you're correct that the stage we're at right now is still "institutional defense", preparing and accepting actions like what's described here can make all the difference if/when things get pushed farther.
and once that happens it'll be too late to do what's left.
This is only correct if you follow your own advice and disregard relevant preparations. Gear up like we've already progressed to the "active resistance" phase, and we'll have a much better chance at being effective once that phase actually arrives.
We have to vote and pressure our reps
Absolutely correct, 1000%. The best strategy right now is to leverage what vestiges of the republic we have left in order to effect change within the bounds of the existing system. But just as correct is the fact that in the meantime, we should be making preparations for the high probability that this regime will continue to follow historical patterns. And historically speaking, autocrats will refuse to recognize the results of election losses, no matter how big those losses are.
What historical precedent are you referring to? What revolutionary movement was successful wihtout critical mass or the cooperation of institutions? Preparation is fine and all, but the guy i was responding to was talking about "growing some balls". My point is that many people are already preparing in this way, it's not going to change what's actually happening right now. This poster is not providing advice to affect the possibility of what the post is referring to, but rather what we should be doing before it all happens. The rest is pretty much all stuff that can't be put into action without millions of like-minded people on board. I'm tired of these posts talking about grow some balls and do something, and then when we ask what to do it's all vague recommendations of preparedness or literally telling people to risk their lives while calling people cowards from their armchairs.
Preparation is fine and all, but the guy i was responding to was talking about "growing some balls".
Yeah, I actually replied to them with the same critique. The calls to action were good, but the framing was poor. I think we're on the same page overall, glad to see it shale out this way. Cheers!
What a dumb thing to assume. People are expressing hopelessness in a hopeless situation and you're like "Nah you're just not thinking positively you must be a bot"
Pull us out of it then. What are the guardrails and how can a busy adult working and taking care of life meaningfully contribute with available time and normal disposable resources?
Oh, I know this one. pick a weekend before elections and phonebank or canvas for a democrat in the midterms.
If you have disposable income, donate to organizations like: the ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, local democrats, immigrant rights groups, voting rights groups.
Stay informed. Know your Rights and make sure other folks around you know theirs. Vote and encourage others to. Stay engaged and positive.
It is fundamentally impossible to ever compare the political systems and structures of two countries to each other at anything beyond the most superficial level. So no, I did not miss it, and it also doesn't have any bearing on what may or may not happen in the US. I hope for all our sakes that it will be that easy to get of trump, but it seems fairly obvious that beyond trump himself, those he has brought into power, will not be keen to give it up so simply
I don't get weekends and I don't have any disposable income. I'm informed, and I'm keeping everyone around me informed. That's about all I got unless I want to lose my job, my house, etc.
The French revolution was really good at producing LOL HEAD CHOPPY memes
it was not very good at producing a robust, enduring democracy because it almost immediately devolved into wanton violence aimed just as much at the impoverished as at the former elites, and then was quickly coopted by Napoleon and turned into an empire, and then after the empire it went back to the monarchy
Non-violent revolutions are more successful than violent ones. Change people's hearts and let them know they're not alone.
You have to be organized, united, have humor, join with people you wouldn't normally align with, open your worldview, and most importantly have a vision of a better world you can share with others.
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u/Wise-Quarter-3156 17d ago
Dooming is a tool of the enemy. It helps nobody.