The Protests
Timing is Everything and We Were Too Late
You know when mass protests could have stopped them? During DT's second impeachment.
Or, again, when they were diddling around about prosecuting DT AND his accomplices in congress. If there had been millions in the streets every day at that point, it might have changed things. It should have been done in 2021, and if Garland wouldn't prosecute we should have demanded better. But things seemed peaceful so we just went about our business.
When the Voter’s Rights Act was still on the table, before Joe Manchin killed it, we should have been 5 million strong in DC. The smart people were saying we would never have another free and fair election. Then everyone stopped talking about it.
The next inflection point was when he started to run. We should have shut that down with our bodies in the streets. But everyone was sure the system would take care of it.
Failing that, if there had been massive street actions all through the election period we could have prevented what happened. I blame the undecideds and the idiot caucus on the left for this as much or more than the MAGA. There were NEVER enough MAGA to win, or even to let them steal it. But enough of y'all stayed home because "Gaza" or because "She is talking to Republicans" blah, blah, blah. They could not have stolen it if the blue vote was big enough. But the purity people crowd is not to be moved by logic.
The final time when massive protests might have worked, but with less certainty, was between Nov 7 and Jan 6. After the election, the Democrats, who were STILL IN POWER, literally disappeared. So afraid were they of rocking the boat or of being seen as going against tradition, or of "being like THEM" that they did NOTHING to fight back against a result that many were suspicious of from day one.
So NOW we have been protesting, far too late. As heartening as it is to see our numbers, it won't change any of the evil that has befallen us. And we are being told to “donate now” for the midterms. Yeah, that is when we will kick their asses…
Way back in February, which now seems like the Pleistocene, there were a bunch of people in the national conversation talking about the guardrails. The general consensus, even among the most sanguine, was that these systems had, to one extent or another, failed. Some of us believed they were entirely gone. But even so, the main force on the left and center continues to act as if these guardrails are still in place.
We were told to call our representatives, watch the courts, and protest loudly. None of these actions have stopped the regime nor restored democracy. They are beggaring the poor and building death camps.
I have never in my life wanted to be wrong more than now. If you still believe there are guardrails, that is, if you still think conventional means will fix this, than by all means, keep doing it. There are only two possibilities--either you were right all along, which would bring me great joy. Or I was right all along, and eventually you will reach the same conclusion.
The tyranny will end. It always does. But at what cost to us in blood and treasure? In the meantime, as the boot heel comes down on our communities, I urge us all towards self-help, mutual aid, and the creation of a gift economy.
You’re so right about a lot of this. I hope (I have to) that you are not right about it all. I’ll still protest, I’ll still resist - we could in fact be preventing even worse things. Maybe we’ll never know if this is true. But not every law firm, college, judge, media outlet etc has capitulated. So I’ll keep pushing and hoping Congress and many others open their eyes and grow a freaking backbone.
Unfortunately, I agree with you. I am 76, and I have lived in other countries, including some that are so called "third world" because my Dad worked for USAID. I am delighted at the massive protests: but, at least for now, they are futile. Trump and Regime have consistently defied, ignored and avoided the Constitution, which is the basis for our system of government, and...... surprise, he has always, always gotten away with it. Which means the Constitution doesn't work, and a new system has, like it or not, been put in place: an autocracy funded by the oligarchs of America, and supported by a corrupt media that has an immense propaganda machine, and, like all precursors of fascist governments, a military in place and a majority of the populist population who is easily manipulated. we are NO LONGER a democracy.
Can this change? Better minds than mine question. I do not think we can look on the systems we have assumed were in place to change things. It may take a revolution, and who knows, that may be a good thing, maybe not. I do note that the short lived democracy of Russia ended when Putin came to power, and nothing has changed since. Most Russians are poor, and have no control over what their government does, and keep their mouths shut for practical reasons. Did they want to lose their sons and daughters in a war with Ukraine? Probably not, but they knew they had no choice in the matter. I hope we are not the same situation. For myself, I have no illusions now, and I prepare to live under very different assumptions than I held say 7 months ago. And so did many Russians - but life goes on, as I think they dealt with. That is what I will do, and protest as I may, and hope for the best in the future.