Excellent article and one I will be referring to again. I’m guilty of some of the mistakes outlined here- despairing comments, uncharitable interpretations etc. It nice to see it all in a coherent thesis on resistance. Thank you for sharing!
We need to build these platforms this site needs a lot more people. It takes time but we don’t have that. Need more progressive media. Getting more people here will help.
Help any of your friends with the same process: many are nervous to change social media profiles and enjoy sticking to what they know.
Be the bridge that shows them new sites are easier to navigate than they realize. By working at the grassroot level, you help multiply your effect! Everyone wins.
Do we really think he will serve his 4 years and then walk away? No. He will try to change the rules, exploit every loophole, and create enough chaos to stay in power for as long as he wants
Throughout human genetic history, community has been what makes it so we can survive. When in doubt, join or build a community. Thus ends the 1st lesson in survival skills 101. (this works for many things including PTSD) After denial and grief etc. Action is what will help keep you reality centered
"Trump has no master plan. He acts impulsively, often based on something he recently saw or someone said to him. " this is so true, although some around him do have a master plan, trump neither has the intelligence or patience
My third gift in my care package is a ring box. I suggest when you get in a fight with a "MAGA" whip out the ring box and open in he/her face and a finger springs out. Then run like hell. What do you think???
George, excellent article, but I gave all my girlfriends care packages to get through the next 4 years. I put a blue beaded bracelet to represent that you voted for Harris. I added a bracelet flask that holds 3.5 Oz. I recommend wearing it at all times and keep it filled.
Since I'm disabled my goal for the next four years is to not end up homeless or starving to death knowing I live in a country that once thought rape was a crime and helping people wasn't.
1) Either build a nuclear shelter in your back yard, or head to a distant mountaintop far away from everything.
'Cause with that guy in charge, WW3 is practically guaranteed. He will betray NATO and encourage Putler to attack Europe. Alaskans should watch their backs, too.
Since they hate immigrants so much, I’m learning a second language - an accelerated program driven by a healthy dose of spite, of course. I also started taking Taekwondo classes so I can kick things. Really hard. 🤷🏻♀️
The best way to prepare is to realize that there very little chance this ends in four years. There has never been an authoritarian in history who willing gives up power, has there?
Wake up everyone, this won't be over until the authoritarians are destroyed.
I have to assume he's going to stroke out or have a heart attack before the 4 years are up. There's no way Vance can fill his shoes and it will all come crashing down for them when the fake tan felon is gone.
You'd be surprised how durable a dictatorship can be once people's rights have already been stripped. No matter who steps into the leader's shoes it won't magically make elections legitimate again or give back people's rights to not be detained without cause etc...
Help better educate the public to the harm that religion does. Christians got Trump elected BOTH times!!
We will never be able to get out of this recurring cycle if we keep allowing this to happen. To stop it, we MUST leave religion in the past where it belongs.
That really doesn't help when large groups of people are being lied to and told to go and vote for who their preacher wants them to vote for. That the secret little trick that has been used to get around that 'separation'.
This is such a great plain-speaking pep-talk! We should all save it and reread it. I worried that turning off programs that I had previously watched, or not reading sharp commentators like Ezra Klein who I no longer trusted, would only hurt me. But it hasn't. This article tells why.
It’s my opinion we need to stop focusing on him and start hammering on the impact the GOP has on people. They take only for them and nothing gets to the people. Followed by blame and hate toward any target they choose to distract from the abhorrent policies.
Though no comparison 11,507 German Americans were also interned during the war, comprising 36.1% of the total internments under the Enemy Alien Control Program.
Internment of detainees were in camps across the country. I,don't know if their properties were confiscated.
Thank you George. This list goes beyond party and could be a lifelong plan. Reactivity, stress, and fear can easily become front and center as a human response to any threat. Practicing these would rewire the brain and promote a sense of meaning and connection to something greater than fear....
I'm focusing on the small acts of resistance (kinda my thing) and build community. Tomorrow is the first ever RaCon which will be a monthly self care/support others arts and crafts get together. I'm excited to build this community to support the larger activism efforts!
I'm not so sure that Trump and his cowards are not trying to get more than two terms of office. They definitely try to get media in line to create an oligarchy.
This is sound, and more than helpful. The only thing I would add is to find joy and compassion, wherever you can, and then spread both of them as much as you can. Great stuff. 💙
What I could never stand about Democrats is immediately playing defense against B.S., talking about 'surviving' and never about conquering.
I, a Democratic voter, have ZERO desire to just 'survive'.
Never did, never will.
My original plan was to vicariously live amongst the cats, artists, and photographers I follow on TikTok. Gonna need a plan B I guess. One that doesn't involve heavy drinking.
That's rather optimistic thinking if anyone believes these goons will leave office after 4 years. Trump might not make it to 4, but the others will take over.
I’m already exhausted thinking about if my gay son will be targeted because he’s gay or will my straight son will be targeted just because he’s black and then there’s me 🤔 will I be a target because I am a black woman and old 🤦🏽♀️🙏🏾🙏🏾
Watching from across the pond in Ireland, we sympathise and wish you the best of luck on another roller coaster 4-year Trump madcap survival test, hopefully we all make it though with just a few bruises 🍀
The only way I can get through it, is to avoid the media. I can’t listen to them analyze every frigin mistake he makes & hear of his treasonous governing ways with his corrupt cabinet. No way.
Ive had my shre of seeing magas proudly sporting their dunce hats. One even commented “somone who knows how to handle finance in office”. My only thought, wait til he sees the tarrifs. Walmart &gas wont be cheap next 4 years.
'Coping and getting through' Yes, this is important for mental health and for everyone in the film industry, may I suggest you get after climate control like it's 9/12
How the USO came to life in 1941.
We win elections when we vote. https://youtu.be/b6zE1VQC9Hc
On January 20th in Washington DC, please don’t forget to bring your Martin Luther King face cutout on a stick and those expensive eggs to celebrate the SIGNIFICANCE of the day.
It's not Trump you should be afraid of, it's the Musks and Putin behind him.
And the billionaire-controlled social media (and traditional media) behind those that are willingly, and without any pressure, pave the way of these fascism.
The term "Neo-nazi" is what actually describes them.
I think, and i could be totally out of order, he's going to just keep himself in office longer than the term limit.
It'll be completely illegal and immoral, and he's just gonna... do it.
Executive Act?
Legislative coercion?
I dont truly know, but I'm nervous.
I wouldn’t actually say “coping with and getting through” nor how to survive but rather “HOW TO FIGHT BACK”. Be vigilant, be strong, and be united my fellow non-MAGA Americans. 💪🇺🇸
Words are important - going forward, to cope, everyone must name things correctly - it wasn't a "hush money" trial it was "election interference", Republicans are not "conservative", "facts" are provable and not "fake", reporters mustn't cover anything with the incoming administration as "normal"...
You’re optimistic that this will stop in 4 years. It won’t. Even if trump goes, it’s all in place to be maintained. Tech bros and corporate interests have what they want and won’t let it go; fascism is spreading throughout Europe again and the environment is cooked.
This is very helpful. Like a lot of folks, I've struggled with a mix of sad and angry emotions since the election. It's been akin to the grieving process, honestly. I've gotten through the acceptance part (barely), but not much more. These suggestions have given me some inspiration to start *doing*.
Thank you for sharing such a powerful and insightful piece. It’s exactly the kind of perspective and encouragement we need right now!! I highly recommend others take the time to read this it’s a reminder that hope and action go hand in hand. Let’s keep pushing forward together.💛💪🏽👏🏽
I am so terrified for the young, who feel no hope for the future with insane prices for EVERYTHING. Those with mental health challenges, who will have health care ripped from them, for women who are being made second class citizens. Help your neighbor, help the youth. Promote hope. We must resist!
I saw a video of a dad talking to his son during a ptsd intrusion. The dad asked, “Do you want to hold on to the fear, or let it go?” The son was able to respond, “Let it go.” The dad said, “Then look at me and let go.” I’m going to have to choose to let go a lot during the next 4 years.
⚠️+Be inspired by those who came before!
@sifill.bsky.social:
“You know, it wasn’t as though there was Plessy versus Ferguson in 1896 & then there was Brown in 1954. That’s not what happened! What happened is that people were planting in that period—& that’s why I referred to this as planting time.”
The law you refer to is the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. A change would require 2/3s of Congress to approve proposed amendments for approval by the states. 38 states must approve the proposed amendment within 7 years. FYI, Harris won 20 states.
He’s not going to survive to 2026. He’s a useful idiot and his time of usefulness is about past. The billionaires and theocrats rode his orange ass into the White House and they more than likely will never leave. Going to be a lot longer than 4 years.
This is an excellent article that reinforces how I've felt at times, and what I've done to divert my energy to the correct space. "Gaman" is my new mantra. Thank you.
Thank you for posting this. Personally I have no interest in pointing to all of the coming hubris, I choose to work locally with organizations that directly affect people in the place I call home.
Hope the Dems work on an exciting candidate & start getting in spotlight. Unfortunately, I don’t believe a country who voted for 🍊 over Harris is ready for a female leader. It infuriates me. Don’t shoot the messenger but a country who voted for Biden to save us isn’t ready for a female. Pathetic!
I am based in the US and this is my coping strategy as well. Just keep my head down, focus on my family and personal life, and survive. It’s a total cop out and I feel guilty about it, but it doesn’t do any good to get worked up over things I cannot control.
If the news was still news, this wouldn’t be necessary. It’s not facts it’s cherry picked, skewed rubbish designed to generate outrage and in addition to being exhausting, it’s become obvious and old.
I was thinking about fencing off Fallout style, but with the way lumber prices skyrocketed the last time cheeto was President I'd have to win the lottery.
"...to every reader who is itching to write in the Comment section 'There won’t be any more elections,'...I urge you not to give voice to dark fears... If you repeat such warnings in response to every hopeful rallying cry, you...normalize the notion that Trump can stay past his expiration date." 👍
Don't be afraid to speak up or speak out but do so with politeness (throws everyone off when you do). Prepare accordingly (as in additional resources) for proposed price hikes and additional resources for things like school programs and the like.
not me. i'm out. someone let me know when the georgia style protests are to protect america from the insurrectionists orange jesus and his followers. i'm not playing the hyper sensationalism media game anymore.
The big problem I have is that the Democratic Party has no chance of doing anything. They continue to play by a rulebook that no.longer.exists. Put someone into leadership that is acutely aware of that fact...then maybe. Old men with throat cancer...the epitome of Dem power plays.
The people currently in charge in the Democratic Party just want to continue to be stuck in the same rewinding timeline. We need younger leaders - we need people that are not afraid to gut punch people. And the octogenarians - get the hell out of the way!
Being the voice of hope must be coupled with the clear understanding of how bad this situation could turn out. For the first time in my 78 years, my government is in the hands of people bent on tearing down our institutions. The potential for serious and lasting damage is enormous.
Thanks! That helps, a lot. Yes us white liberal elites have never had to worry about our rights being taken away, opportunities limited, or under threat of violence until now.
If we can pull it together and stop feeling sorry for ourselves. We learn and grow and our lives become richer. We can figure out a way through this. We are AMERICANS. We can do this. (She tells herself)
I've found myself turning back to Buddhism in a serious manner for the first time in a long time. No joke, it's helped a lot. Meditation, not stressing external things I can't control, all that jazz.
There's this Buddhist saying that has helped me a lot with despair "beyond fear, beyond hope." To hope for one thing is the be afraid of something else. If the world seems hopeless let yourself be unmoored from hope.
Kind of reminds me (ironically) of a saying of despair I'd heard once, that all hope is poison. It hurts more to have had hope in the first place. I like your positive variant of that idea. I'll definitely think on it in the coming days.
Surviving we need to go now with all our voices together & launch an all out effort to stop this madness! It will destroy us our freedoms & possibly our world as we know it! Trump is criminally ill & thinks he can conquer all! This is a red alert last effort sorta action! Let’s wake up now!
I’m off Facebook and Instagram-was never on threads or twitter. No longer watch any main stream media news. I’m finding I’m doing better mentally due to all of the above.
Getting through? There are no consequences for him. Executive orders killing all gay and Trans people. Biden is going to die at Trump's inauguration. Trump will shoot him and the Left won't do shit. Concentration camps. This is Trump with no guardrails. This is terrifying.
I want to see him do it; it’s an awful PR move. He’s a narcissist who loves a camera. For context my father is a trans woman and I have multiple gay friends. And people will riot. Let him f-ing try. People will revolt.
DON’T plan to be attending sentencing by Zoom, virtually, televised & certainly NOT by person. If 74,609,796 DON’T appear; does that mean 74,609,796 get an UNCONDITIONAL DISCHARGE!
US will be handed down sentencing on January 20th, 2025, by Chief Justice Roberts. Decision arrived by 77,502,707 who believe a Felon would be better served in a White House than a JAILHOUSE, thereby 74,609,796 voters will serve time in US prison who’s warden will be the Felon for set time of 4yrs!
Thank you for sharing this. It can sometimes to be difficult to resist the pessimism when so much is going sideways and so much is at stake. Sometimes the smallest reminders are the most profound.
Next four years? That seems optimistic.
Do you really think Trump's filth will be drained from all the branches of the American government it will have wormed its way into and corrupted, degraded or destroyed by then?
Comments
For us you are now the oligarch states of idiocracy.
Be the bridge that shows them new sites are easier to navigate than they realize. By working at the grassroot level, you help multiply your effect! Everyone wins.
much of trump’s bad stuff as possible, not just hold our noses and wait for it to end.
Dress up as your favorite female hero instead.
If we do our jobs, the rule of law and the Constitution will still be around to ensure he does not.
'Cause with that guy in charge, WW3 is practically guaranteed. He will betray NATO and encourage Putler to attack Europe. Alaskans should watch their backs, too.
Wake up everyone, this won't be over until the authoritarians are destroyed.
We will never be able to get out of this recurring cycle if we keep allowing this to happen. To stop it, we MUST leave religion in the past where it belongs.
You're optimistic. I am preparing for a hereditary dictatorship...
Internment of detainees were in camps across the country. I,don't know if their properties were confiscated.
— Wm. Shakespeare, Measure for Measure Act I, scene iv
I, a Democratic voter, have ZERO desire to just 'survive'.
Never did, never will.
For those of us somewhat inspired by Edward Abbey, and always by spite, “outlive the bastards,” works too.
How the USO came to life in 1941.
We win elections when we vote.
https://youtu.be/b6zE1VQC9Hc
And the billionaire-controlled social media (and traditional media) behind those that are willingly, and without any pressure, pave the way of these fascism.
The term "Neo-nazi" is what actually describes them.
It'll be completely illegal and immoral, and he's just gonna... do it.
Executive Act?
Legislative coercion?
I dont truly know, but I'm nervous.
Question?
How do you “cope” with corporate fascism?
This seems to be a good time to let you know how much you are loved and appreciated, George!
It’s only going to get worse.
Never give up on hope. That’s what the MAGA moron cult wants.
This was a great read.
@sifill.bsky.social:
“You know, it wasn’t as though there was Plessy versus Ferguson in 1896 & then there was Brown in 1954. That’s not what happened! What happened is that people were planting in that period—& that’s why I referred to this as planting time.”
I'd also add, say no to AI generated rubbish too.
We choose sides, we find what we can conquer, and we FIGHT.
I'm looking forward to it, and proud millions of us are ready too. 🇺🇲
I have shared
That prick is forcing us to have thoughts we shouldn’t be having.
Do you really think Trump's filth will be drained from all the branches of the American government it will have wormed its way into and corrupted, degraded or destroyed by then?