The system only works when good faith people participate in it. Trump already evaded court despite committing multiple crimes. This is quite literal how tyranny upends democracy.
Kinda how I see it. You couldn't write this movie, it would be too unbelievable. I just hope the "rest of the west" see the shit show about to unfold and does an urgent course correction.
I hope you're right. From where I am sitting, the USA is cooked. I have no idea how your democracy survives the Trump storm on the horizon. He literally said out loud you won't have to vote again we'll fix it so good. Or words along those lines. He seems invulnerable to moral scrutiny.
I think you are absolutely correct. These are different times. The Heritage Foundation wrote the detailed plan (2025) and they have every intention of seeing it in place. We are in very deep trouble.
Selfishly I really hope it terrifies some sense into the rest of the world. But I don't know what a world with a fallen USA looks like. Dark dark times.
I watch other countries and see many moving right and only a few moving left. I don’t really know what is going to happen to those of us who don’t want to stay here. Husband and I are older and financially able to leave.
Yes true but when they come after you because of who you are it's not a option to support such a movement. Also when you don't fight for right you are already a inmate and not truely a good person who has actual morality and integrity! I would rather be a good person and a inmate
Everything we do to fight fascism will be seen as too extreme, and too early. In reality, history shows that things were usually too late and too moderate.
Fighting fascism being seen as too extreme will be easy to argue with.
Their method of bringing fascism ‘legitimately’ to the US must include changing the Constitution. Otherwise, whatever they do will, by definition, be unconstitutional.
When they go to change the Constitution, we scream BULLSHIT
The problem is they don’t need to change the constitution, they just argue words don’t mean what words mean, or they lie about the history. that’s how we get a 1A that protects the government and big corporations from criticism, a 2A that ensures more dead kids and civilians than tyrants, etc.
As I learned from Karina Longworth, some of the people on the Hollywood black list were those who condemned fascism too early, ie before the US entered the war. Ipso facto communists
And it's a global concern! Here in Brazil the society has changed a lot in the past government.
Even with a center-leftist government we are still facing the same threat!
And the fact that MAGA believed their insurrection was necessary to protect democracy bc they believed Biden stole the election leaves those who chastised their actions while now needing to resist the actual incoming fascism wondering what's the right way forward.
From my research I don't think so. However, I think it is possible if we were to start protesting now like the country of Georgia is doing. Once DTJ is in office and he purges the military it is going to be hard.
Ukraine had a maiden. America has absolutely nothing to do with this. Georgia had a maiden. To think that America has a say in any of this is ridiculous. Ukraine will not accept any interference from trump that doesn’t represent there nation
Being polite won’t cut it anymore. Women have been stripped of bodily autonomy for another 4 years. Allegedly 75 million people voted against their daughters, granddaughters, sisters, Moms, all of us. Cut them out of your lives and focus. It’s going to get worse. We need to take it to the streets.
I often think about the rejection of the Defund movement (by the media and Dems) and how more education and implementation of abolitionist practices would have better prepared us for this moment.
I was talking to some comrades about this last week. I am particularly concerned because I don't think folks understand how CENTRAL criminalization is to fascism. And this country is completely trained to already despise certain kinds of criminalized people. I think we're in a lot of trouble.
We are. And far too many people are failing to recognize it! Some out of ignorance. Some out of choosing to not believing it could be possible. And some out of their desire to speed up “The Rapture”! They see Shitler as God’s “broken vessel” who will see death of Israel and the 2nd coming!
True. But their “faith” says that we all have to go through the coming shit storm to make it happen, they helped to reelect this piece of shit who’s exploiting their faith to destroy America and democracy! Fuckin idiots!
They have the oligarchs, the Supreme Court, House, Senate, president spoiled to wreck as much damage as possible with DOJ, FBI, Military, Nat Intelligence, & CIA.
They will control all major elections going forward.
Our democracy is lost.
If they don't come for you in the first round, they'll come in the second... or the third... or the 59th. Sooner or later you'll be a full throat supporter or their enemy. Possibly even both
I've seen so much sentiment that "if criminals didn't want to work they shouldn't have committed crimes" with zero thought about who defines what a crime is. horrific to see as a Californian
I think some people don’t care but others just don’t understand. A friend said criminals should pay back society and I explained that the prison slaves are usually nonviolent and/or drug offenders. The kinds of people they’re picturing aren’t going to be let out in public
part of my commitment is to get people doing more for others. give to prisoners, support a pride center, fund bail, etc. if a few more people do the work, the readings and the news hit differently--people start seeing power where they didn't before. transformation of smaller spaces is very possible.
Even here in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Once a bastion of "liberal" leadership, now a clear cut example of right wing fascistic overreach.
To me, one of the biggest obstacles is the apathy. Palestine has shone a hard cold light on this, and here in AoNZ - the same thing when it comes to Te Tiriti.
Can you elaborate on this? Like, where do I find these leftist spaces where machismo and misogyny are rampant? I consider myself a leftist and I’m online plenty, but I have yet to come across what you’re describing (though I admit I have not actively sought them out)
If elites are targeted — people like Merrick Garland, Liz Cheney — it may be an opportunity to teach people that one reason to oppose hyper-criminalization is that it is so easily misused by people with authoritarian mindsets whether those are Trump or Democratic DAs.
that's not how this works. I think you know that. IF elites are targeted, it will be seen as "exceptional" and those elites have unlimited resources to fight their criminalization. Plus regular folks can't stand Cheney and few really know who Garland is.
have you read Natalia Ginzburg's ALL OUR YESTERDAYS? It does a beautiful job of showing how people normalize fascism, but also how those who see what's happening are driven out or driven mad.
The people who adapt to fascism have little personal history, no family history of oppression that they know about or care about, and don’t recognize the human drama played out right in front of them that is happening on their doorstep.
Thanos was always the hero. Yall just didn’t realize it. The Bird Flu Infinity stone is coming and boy howdy them RedPill “Alpha Males” and “Pureblood” PickMes gonna birds a feather flock maskless together. Should have some new plague nursery rhymes soon as a positive.
This hits home for me, right now the arts community in Seattle is waffling about a major funder who directly funded white supremacist & eugenics writers & publishers for years. Too many white artists and admins think it's 'not their problem' cause they're not funded by him.
Can you dm me who this is if you don't want to post? Looking at where we're spending our theater money and this has completely passed me by.
I am trying to get people to understand that Discovery Inst. is deeply entrenched.
If you are not a target, your daily life doesn't change, and most people care about their daily lives. Fascists don't need to make everyone a supporter, convincing many to be silent bystanders is enough.
Plenty of people are going to see an upside to being able to denounce their business rival, annoying office colleague or neighbour with a nicer house and family who they resent, too.
This is something I'm fighting some of my family about: every time I explain my sadness that they voted TFG and what it means, they don't get it. I don't think they /want/ fascism, but I think xtian nationalism is fine with them. Niemöller is no help with people at the very end of the poem...
This is part of why I am ADAMANT that we need to DED the idea of "good people." There are only people who DO good things and those who DO bad things. No "good" people or "bad" people.
I think it's important to know that many people DO other people to be hurt on their behalf. We have to reckon w/ that desire because without understanding it, we tilt at windmills looking for other explanations for particular behavior. Xtian nationalism is about domination and control. They know it.
Individually we don’t, so individually we may make us a collective that rejects fascism in our lives. And we can thrive. If we come across someone who seems to be that way inclined, question them rather than label. Try to understand their “why” so they can too
People adapt to fascism because survival feels like the only option. Resisting it? That takes courage, even when you're not the target. History isn't just a warning—it's a reminder that adaptation shouldn't come at the cost of humanity.
The English are shockingly good at doing that. We could hold our government accountable and make them fear their destructive decisions more but unfortunately they're too quick to buy into scapegoating.
"Oh we destroyed the economy? Oh uh... Look over there and immigrant!"
was listening to history of the 20th century podcast, and when he said that many everyday germans who weren’t targeted by the nazis remembered that era as a nice prosperous time, and I had to sit with that one for a while.
SOME people “adapt.” Always those whom the fascists haven’t gotten around to yet. But the leopards are unappeasable— “If there’s anyone whose face we haven’t eaten yet, please be patient. I t will be your turn shortly.”
Yep. Other than the kinds of "ordinary" difficulties associated with the economic destruction, most people's lives are largely unaffected, making it all too easy to "not see" what is happening to others.
Literally what the "First they came for..." tale is warning about, but inaction and willful ignorance allows one to continue living that lie that things will be fine for them.
What became the HUAC was originally created to go Bolsheviks and other socialists and only briefly dabbled in actually caring about Fascism for a handful of years in the mid-30s. After all fascists were not seen as a threat to the power of money.
the thing that people miss about that allegory is that it's actually already too late when they came for the first person. the holocaust was already in process.
There were a *lot* of murders even before the concentration camps got going too. Both political enemies and personal ones. But people just stood by and watched, or joined up to go after their own enemies.
That poem leaves out the fact that the first group the Nazis came for were trans people - who are currently being murdered or otherwise brutalized by some 20 or so states, *right now*
Pardons are great but won’t be enough.
They are going to incarcerate and/or excecute us. They have said so. They are excited about it.
The time to act is now!
Unity is more than important!
We must focus on actionable, forward facing, results oriented plans and ideas!
The time to act! Is Now!!!
The wave of violence is coming ‼️
Forensic Audit‼️
Fuck em‼️‼️‼️
They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty, why are we? Lives are at stake, ours‼️
In our victory we don’t persecute them. They are salivating to persecute us, violently‼️
People not masking in an ongoing pandemic, effectively enforcing eugenics has also reached normalcy to the point that people don't think twice about killing disabled people. Worse than before.
Those who do not resist it when not yet a direct target always risk the moment when their turn in the crosshairs comes and no one is around to stand up with or for them.
Who is willing to fight for someone they do not know?
I think the other side of this is that if you think you are targeted by "fascists", like right-wingers during COVID mandates, you are more likely to push back. It's all in the messaging.
Or it can't be authoritarianism because they're free to speak (but they're saying that everything is fine and anyone saying it isn't must be spreading malicious foreign propaganda).
But I must be speaking truth to power just look at all the power and status I have how could I get that if I wasn't speaking the truth clearly you need to shut up and know your place 😭
I see a lot comments online like “just wait until so and so group gets rounded up. They’ll wish they never voted” or “wait until they can’t afford to buy groceries”. Said by people who are not affected and wishing for others to feel real pain.
I think you're mistaken, they know they'll be affected. It's empathy fatigue. Libs have constantly been told to engage respectfully with pubs while they want to kill us. We're done.
As someone belonging to "the middle ground", could you describe what fascism is? Are we living it now? 5 years ago? 10 years ago? 50? Are we headed to fascism?
There are a lot of people that voted for Trump that believe they will be just fine no matter what he does & whatever laws he enacts won't really apply to them because they're loyalists & "real Americans." They'll watch passively as people get hurt until it's their turn.
How the USA (in general) understands the concept of "country" or "nation" baffles me. How I see things, you are the country. The people are the country. Not saying that you should go fight and die, but remember that whatever you do, you do it for you and for the other human beings
around you. But perhaps solidarity with others that would also fight with and for you could be a good reason to try to do things. No country will do anything for anyone, because the country is you, and others around you. You should do things for you, and for others if need be. (imo at least)
I hear you although I need to keep my job, my freedom and my life for myself, those who know me and even those who don’t know me if I can ever be able to have a chance to hekontorhts.
Just as the leader is nothing without his enablers and thugs, so the regime is nothing without the tacit consent of the uninvolved and the indifferent.
I've spent a fair chunk of my life in post-dictatorship countries, and this has been one of the lessons I've learned from that. And people are nostalgic for the bad old days, because sure they could be brutal but "you knew where you stood".
This is everyone who has been telling me that "it's not that bad"... yeah, for you. Fascism sneaks up when you're directly benefiting from its policies. For marginalized groups it's been felt for decades.
Contrary to what some people say, I think that many people do want/need leadership. In the U.S., the leaders that are anointed are too often elected officials. So we find ourselves where we are now which is with a population that doesn't know what to do to fight fascism.
"Each act, each occasion, is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join with you in resisting somehow." https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/no-time-think
Reading Mayers “They Thought They Were Free”and that’s my main takeaway…the majority of Germans that were not negatively/directly targeted kept their heads down, said nothing, and lived their best lives.
What’s clear to me is that everyday people are the fourth estate checking power #resist
I was just reading about the Dutch push back against car culture when "an unconscionable" number of children died due to car accidents in the 60s. In the US, cars are one of the leading causes of child deaths. Agreed, people adapt to a lot of things that don't have to be
Learning more about the differences between these kind of baseline norms between different nations has been one of the most interesting things about social media for me.
After years in safe streets advocacy, I think a lot about how interstates were basically a Nazi invention that we adopted after the war, destroying our own cities and countless communities (usually of color) to build them.
You can't adapt to fascism; you can only react to it. The only valid reaction is the impulse for violence, because fascists only understand violence and their inhumane perspectives has dehumanized them; put them down like rabid dogs.
The Evans Third Reich trilogy is one of the best histories I’ve ever read - and the part that sticks with me the most is the second part, between 1933 and the war - when they did make the standard of living higher for everyone but their targets, and became very popular.
It was very easy for people - even those who had opposed the regime - to rationalize “well I don’t like some of what they’re doing, but maybe it’s for the greater good.” And then they ended up not just complicit in genocide but with their own cities totally destroyed.
Until they are. The adaptation is greatly eased by the misconception that fascism is orderly & national; it’s arbitrary & local & flows along many channels of grievance, those it proclaims & otherwise.
Several nations in the 20th century fell into fascism because they adapted instead of revolting. It's not a pleasant thought, but a revolution may be our only way to keep our democracy.
This is what I was thinking when I started to hear people say they’re not going to get all worked up about things like they did in the first term. And not to get identitarian, but those people are all straight white males.
I'm someone who said I'm not getting worked up about every appointment and distraction (last time i helped organize rallies for cabinet picks...etc...) I'm regrouping but looking for leadership. In the meantime, mocking dictator trump and king elon!
My fellow white men are by and large beyond saving at this point (obviously a rump minority have and continue to oppose), but it never ceases to amaze me how many white women think the former will protect them from what is being planned for the latter.
Yes. Trump is going to act like a dictator on day one, overturning predecessor policies, pardoning criminals, ignoring supreme court decision, censoring public speech. Anyone who accepts these things are fascist bootlickers who blindly worship their cult leaders
Not all people adapt to fascism, many have taken a stand against it, and many have risked their own personal comfort and safety to combat it. I don’t think people who fight against fascism really give a shit about being despised for doing what they believe in. To them, it’s a moral obligation.
Perhaps, those books werent being honest. I lived fascism for 15 years of my life and don't recall either I or those I know adapting to a thing; on the contrary, we suffered the brant of it.
It's like my 87-year-old dad clamoring for the return of the military regime in Brazil because things were better then. I asked him if he would feel the same way if he disagreed with them and it just did not compute for him.
Hello, my name is Abdul Rahman Quffa, now from inside the bombing, destruction and genocide that we are living in Gaza, I hope my message reaches you and you are well. Stand by me and save my life and the life of my family from death. Please help me 🙏🙏 https://gofund.me/f3c977b8
Its not so much the crowds and rallies; we all know how easily even 90 years ago these are staged. However, there was not a high level of discontent amongst the general population.
It's like Mussolini and “at least he got the trains running on time”. Yes that was important to them.
Similarly one of the big issues in the US Presidential election was the economy and individuals opinions of the economy. They felt badly off, they don't care if Trump is fascist if he changes that.
I honestly don't know what to do. I'm a single dad, if I get picked up, the fuck happens to my son? To the light of my world? Its just so much horror and I feel so out of my depth.
I’m sincerely sorry & I hear your concern. Those genuine fears are part of what motivate people to keep their heads down. I can relate. Are there any family members, friends, you can count on? (A grim but necessary thought for any parent especially single ones.)
I do, thankfully, I'm just trying to really gauge what I'm capable of doing to help. To the OP's point, I don't want to get comfortable with the fascism- but between parenting and working late, I haven't had time for community organizing in years.
Being a loving and attentive parent requires a lot of effort and has its own special ripple effect. I imagine there are ways of creating & supporting community available to you as a parent that make a difference, too.
The politically disengaged that don’t even know what’s going on, and don’t want to, are the majority. More Americans refused their right to vote than voted for any political party.
My grandma always said that adaptability was humanity's greatest skill. As I got older, I realized what a double-edged sword it truly is. They are throwing every data set and algorithm at manipulation right now.
Communists and socialists weren't exactly those with "the least privileges" but those with guns and organising experience and willingness to use that against Nazis.
If you ever wondered, as I did, how the Nazis & other fascist govs got away with their atrocities, & how the next admin will get away with theirs - read this.
It is already happening - see the list of the rich & powerful lining up to bow down.
Also, all politics is local. Ppl not a hair's breadth different from Donald Trump elected a laissez-faire mayor & orchestrate controversies at the expense of homeless & addicts in my blue city/state 2 justify mob/vigilante activity (NextDoor but on Reddit). Know your local pols & resist the mob, ppl
I'd like 2 interject here, if I may. Some of us have been subjected 2 extrajudicial state-sponsored terrorism already 4 decades (c profile). & like MAGAts' favorite punching bags, migrants, we've not had the due process owed us. Nor will we. B/c Reagan put CIA in evry rights org leadership 43 ys ago
Comments
We can sue in courts , and there won't be a place for tyranny.
Most people don't know that federal court takes care of thi . It's not expensive , 4 not $ profit
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/gop-senator-praises-current-fbi-director-christopher-wray/story?id=116341518
Trrrump lives to spread confusion , then pretend he is all of that , to fix a problem he started ..
His mis informed voters are confused w all excitement ,but some will have higher standards
https://web.archive.org/web/20221221103518/https://god.dailydot.com/bartender-kicks-out-tweets/
https://bsky.app/profile/iamragesparkle.bsky.social
Their method of bringing fascism ‘legitimately’ to the US must include changing the Constitution. Otherwise, whatever they do will, by definition, be unconstitutional.
When they go to change the Constitution, we scream BULLSHIT
Good thing they don’t already own the SCOTUS. Otherwise, we’d be in trouble.
Even with a center-leftist government we are still facing the same threat!
https://youtu.be/UnEWiP0bsVE?feature=shared
And the fact that MAGA believed their insurrection was necessary to protect democracy bc they believed Biden stole the election leaves those who chastised their actions while now needing to resist the actual incoming fascism wondering what's the right way forward.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDDAHdSMHeS/?igsh=MXkyZTR6NWpkdWE4aw==
They will control all major elections going forward.
Our democracy is lost.
"After Hitler, Our turn"
Ernst was arrested two months later and executed in '44
There wasn't a massive leftist reaction, almost everyone fell in line
"First they came for the communists..."
If they don't come for you in the first round, they'll come in the second... or the third... or the 59th. Sooner or later you'll be a full throat supporter or their enemy. Possibly even both
Maybe we have more power to dismantle the carceral thinking, machismo, misogyny, and white supremacy that still dominate leftist spaces.
I see these as related.
To me, one of the biggest obstacles is the apathy. Palestine has shone a hard cold light on this, and here in AoNZ - the same thing when it comes to Te Tiriti.
What leftist space? Which ones specifically?
https://bsky.app/profile/leahmcelrath.bsky.social/post/3lcbqgz7cbs2m
Max sentence 21 years
This is under biden
They are more and more giving themselves permission to do a world-wide cleansing
Criminalizing homelessness is NOT a solution. You are welcome to follow us, we write advocacy articles and serve the homeless community of Chicago.
... Probably means we'll have more camps.
A lot happened, and things that didn't were all trial balloons
Sure, the big "POTUS immunity" ones will be passed on, but I'm worried the rest have been memory-holed & history won't record them
"Experts in authoritarianism advise to keep a list of things subtly changing around you, so you’ll remember."
https://theweeklylist.org/weekly-list/
I am trying to get people to understand that Discovery Inst. is deeply entrenched.
*Sure Jan gif
Daily life will get worse for all non rich.
1. Misinforming.
2. Bribing.
3. Threatening.
Putin can give a master class on this.
As @aoc.bsky.social says, a better world is possible.
We are obligated to do better this time. Thank you for the reminder.
… adapt and are even entertained since, as Chaplin understood, fascism has always adopted a clownish demeanour.
"Oh we destroyed the economy? Oh uh... Look over there and immigrant!"
There is a difference!
Just cracked it open, but seems like something you might find interesting as it relates to this subject
The genocide already started
They are going to incarcerate and/or excecute us. They have said so. They are excited about it.
The time to act is now!
Unity is more than important!
We must focus on actionable, forward facing, results oriented plans and ideas!
The time to act! Is Now!!!
Forensic Audit‼️
Fuck em‼️‼️‼️
They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty, why are we? Lives are at stake, ours‼️
In our victory we don’t persecute them. They are salivating to persecute us, violently‼️
A fascist can't really take root without military backing.
Who is willing to fight for someone they do not know?
"And then they came for me, and then there was no one left to stand up for me"
It is amazing what was accepted and why and it is amazing what is accepted in the US NOW and why.
The only thing that will save America is that Trump is 40 years older than “you know who” was.
Guess I missed that chapter
Nothing more reinforcing of the image of American White Supremacy than seeing sheep lining up for their wolf-king.
It scares me to think there’s actually a large percentage of the United States that is educated about history, and in favor of an American Reich.
https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/no-time-think
What’s clear to me is that everyday people are the fourth estate checking power #resist
So you could move
Quick and invade other countries
The political theory is a critique of hierarchical attitudes to human identity that have existed for centuries. It didn't create them.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/647492.Ordinary_Men
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tocssf3w80
https://gofund.me/f3c977b8
It's like Mussolini and “at least he got the trains running on time”. Yes that was important to them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tocssf3w80&list=PLhZxrogyToZsllfRqQllyuFNbT-ER7TAu
fake religious cults are gullible.
Some p. are weak minded.
So they first go after the ppl with the least privilege, & work their way up.
And Prisonculture is right, ppl w/ privilege get used to it TILL IT'S TOO LATE
JFC who gives a fuck how they decided who to go after first? The point is the divided & conquered.
Jesus Christ, get your head in the game and quit over-intellectualizing.
It is already happening - see the list of the rich & powerful lining up to bow down.
https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/no-time-think