16. Authoritarian governance does not simply turn on, like a flick of a switch changing the state of being. It accretes from distinct actions. The vast majority of these can be resisted. All of them can be documented for eventual justice. Not preemptively conceding means not mystifying their power.
17. It is going to matter increasingly less who someone voted for in 2016, 2020, or even 2024. It is going to be so much more important to find ways to help people from all backgrounds realize that Trump in practice is very different from Trump in theory. The more people who see with their own eyes…
… the corruption, the incompetence, the cruelty, the lies, and, most importantly, the manifold everyday harms to their own interests, the more converts and allies we will gain. We are not rebuilding prior attempted coalitions, we are building a new one. As he fails, we will grow.
18. Observe occasions when bureaucratic inertia, ethical restraint by nonpolitical or uniformed staff, overlapping chains of command, or simple lack of appropriate planning or leadership are slowing the execution of Trump initiatives. Work to aid these forces already in motion within the government.
19. While we are in political opposition, we need to focus first and foremost on stopping, slowing, and delegitimizing the actions of the regime. The time for positive policy development is after we win back power. For now, it is enough to say no, they’re wrong, again & again, and to obstruct them.
20. They can’t dehumanize us all by themselves. That depends on their followers. So we have to put our humanity in their faces at all times. We have to make it a much starker choice to follow the inhuman commands of the regime. And we must also call out what an evil tune they’re playing.
13. We need to be known as the side that tells the truth. It’s OK to lie or deceive for security or operational purposes. But when it comes to public-facing communications, we need to be the more trustworthy side, consistently, & across all the issues. Slow down, check, & have accurate information.
14. We need to welcome all who join or ally with us in good faith, regardless of their background before becoming part of the opposition. We need to be vigilant for infiltrators & provocateurs. But not paranoid. Don’t gatekeep those who would help us sincerely because of judgments about their past.
15. Don’t preemptively concede an inch! You may privately think there will not be a free election in the future. But never say it. That harms our work to make sure that we will still have one. Don’t act like the worst is inevitable or it will be. Always make them be the side that breaks the rules.
I have been saying this constantly because HUGE numbers of people on here seem to have decided the constitution and the rule of law are already effectively dead. That's bizarre to me! You're CONCEDING that fact? Why?
Agreed. At this point everyone has underestimated Trump to some degree. There's nothing to be gained from people trying to position themselves as some immaterial gold star liberal or leftist.
I've seen people throw up their hands and say maybe we should lie more (or at the least engage in hyperbole) out of frustration because it worked for the opposition. So don't do this?
1. It's still OK to live and share a good life. Indeed, it's imperative that we continue to live lives that are good for ourselves — not to selflishly retreat from the world but to renew ourselves and be grounded and clearheaded for the struggle. What this means is up to you. Be easy on yourself.
2. If you share any secret with a person who does not truly need to know it, you may regret the consequences. Lawyer-client privilege is real and enforceable if properly invoked, however, and you should trust private communications with lawyers. (PS. I am a lawyer but I am not your lawyer.)
3. We all need to (re)learn MODERN best practices for first aid, CPR, & field trauma care; many of us who can afford it would do well to stock up on a variety of basic medical supplies & medicines to sustain needs through potential periods of deprivation. Many organizations offer training already.
4. Before engaging in direct action or confrontations with cops, make sure that you are well-rooted in a genuine community of some sort based on durable relationships. We are social beings & you need the check & balance of a peer group. Isolated radicals make poor choices. We need you free & alive.
5. Decide now what you won't tolerate. Start planning for how you will respond if that seems about to happen. In your efforts, be mindful of security, clear communications, efficient decision-making, strategic thinking, and learning from the experience of your and others' tactics how to improve.
6. This is not going to be an armed struggle. You do not need to handle a gun or to know how to. You will be much safer if you don’t. If guns come out, run away. Live to regroup. Make the government and its supporters own any and all violence and the evil consequences it brings.
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