Whose job is it going to be to feed Trump’s paranoia and the paranoia of his cabinet members and the Republicans? Some carefully worded articles, accidentally in the hands of Trump and his minions could remind that everyone has their own ambitions; everyone wants to be favored or will assume they should be next in line to be the top auth…
Whose job is it going to be to feed Trump’s paranoia and the paranoia of his cabinet members and the Republicans? Some carefully worded articles, accidentally in the hands of Trump and his minions could remind that everyone has their own ambitions; everyone wants to be favored or will assume they should be next in line to be the top authority to replace the incompetent, old and decrepit has-been, and most of these people have already gone on record with strong criticisms of Trump or have opposed him at some point. Trust is not one of their strong points. How do we plant and encourage the doubts, distrust, and paranoid delusions that will inevitably undermine their organization and stimulate them to attack each other and viciously compete with each other, quickly weakening them? Headlines such as “Who will stab Trump in the back first, or more likely, who will he stab in the back first” are sure to get some attention and stir some fresh fear or hostility. Let’s get cracking on some strategic and psych-based material to supply newspapers, podcasts, broadcasters, and others. Letters to the editor should ask the questions that alert their insecurity and irrational fears. We may be able to beat them at their own game.
PS: There is a Women’s March set for Jan 18th. Thom has mentioned a big day of protest on Jan 17th a number of times. Are both planned separately for consecutive days with no coordination? Why not a general strike to shut the country down for a few days?
...As for what you said near the end, about marches, protests, strikes, etc.:
I thought what needs to happen are once weekly million person demonstrations on the National Mall, with hundreds of millions of Americans encouraged to commit to attending these over the next four years.
But then I realized the DC government would not be able to deal with the security and expenses of perhaps 200 mass demonstrations in a row over four years.
Instead, it is going to need to be permanent presences in every city and town downtown, like Occupy was, in places where it worked well, such as Dayton, Ohio where I was involved.
The local progressives will rent a storefront, and make it a center for organizing, teach ins, and low key demonstrations without large signs consisting of persons walking through downtown from the storefront maybe twice per week, with matching tee shirts.
There will also be lectures, poetry slams, music, comedy, and other fun things held at the storefront. This will go on for the entire four years. That will be sustainable, because it will not just be resistance, but also fun and joyful.
Today, at our local weekly progressives solidarity get together, that we started after 11-5, we discussed the storefront idea. There are progressives who rent storefronts here in downtown DeLand, Florida, and the first step will be for one to rent at a reduced rate because he/she supports us. Then, let's say that would be $2000 per month. Well, if we could just get 40 of us to donate $50 per month for four years, we could make it happen!
Your ideas are admirable, if a bit pie-in-the-sky under present circumstances. There is a reason the marches are scheduled for a date prior to the inauguration. The Heritage fascists and Trump can be expected to start crushing any form of dissent on Jan. 21 without mercy or regard for the right to assemble. Heads will be bashed and limbs will probably be broken and do not be surprised if they use live ammo to break up any event which they see as a challenge to Trump's total authority to rule unfettered. I suspect you spent a lot of time in school and did very well there and enjoyed the experience. But the country you grew up in and learned about will not the country you live in after Jan. 20th in all likelihood. I sincerely hope my cynicism and fear are unwarranted. But we have plenty of comments on tape and in writing to show that very dark days are ahead. Part of the reason we have reached this point is because Americans are apathetic and naïve. Getting people to participate at the level you envision is a near impossibility until millions are destitute, homeless, and hungry. I do not mean to discourage anyone. But we have no choice but to be realistic and to prepare for the worst. Best of luck.
As for BEFORE or ON Jan 21, if they want to start their f***ing civil war right away, I say let's get it over with. The sooner the better, if they are determined to get violent and dive right in to attacking the rest of us.
(Just between you and me)... The REAL reason I am trying to bring progressives together locally is so that when the s**t hits the fan, they will have already re-learned to interact face to face, without any "media", because the media will be useless, until Radio Free US begins broadcasting from Canada and Mexico. If the locals want to sit and chat about who the county party is going to run for the special house seat election Jan 25, fine. At least they are deepening old school ways of interacting with each other, which will be all we will have when the cult comes after us as "the enemy within".
Whose job is it going to be to feed Trump’s paranoia and the paranoia of his cabinet members and the Republicans? Some carefully worded articles, accidentally in the hands of Trump and his minions could remind that everyone has their own ambitions; everyone wants to be favored or will assume they should be next in line to be the top authority to replace the incompetent, old and decrepit has-been, and most of these people have already gone on record with strong criticisms of Trump or have opposed him at some point. Trust is not one of their strong points. How do we plant and encourage the doubts, distrust, and paranoid delusions that will inevitably undermine their organization and stimulate them to attack each other and viciously compete with each other, quickly weakening them? Headlines such as “Who will stab Trump in the back first, or more likely, who will he stab in the back first” are sure to get some attention and stir some fresh fear or hostility. Let’s get cracking on some strategic and psych-based material to supply newspapers, podcasts, broadcasters, and others. Letters to the editor should ask the questions that alert their insecurity and irrational fears. We may be able to beat them at their own game.
PS: There is a Women’s March set for Jan 18th. Thom has mentioned a big day of protest on Jan 17th a number of times. Are both planned separately for consecutive days with no coordination? Why not a general strike to shut the country down for a few days?
...As for what you said near the end, about marches, protests, strikes, etc.:
I thought what needs to happen are once weekly million person demonstrations on the National Mall, with hundreds of millions of Americans encouraged to commit to attending these over the next four years.
But then I realized the DC government would not be able to deal with the security and expenses of perhaps 200 mass demonstrations in a row over four years.
Instead, it is going to need to be permanent presences in every city and town downtown, like Occupy was, in places where it worked well, such as Dayton, Ohio where I was involved.
The local progressives will rent a storefront, and make it a center for organizing, teach ins, and low key demonstrations without large signs consisting of persons walking through downtown from the storefront maybe twice per week, with matching tee shirts.
There will also be lectures, poetry slams, music, comedy, and other fun things held at the storefront. This will go on for the entire four years. That will be sustainable, because it will not just be resistance, but also fun and joyful.
Today, at our local weekly progressives solidarity get together, that we started after 11-5, we discussed the storefront idea. There are progressives who rent storefronts here in downtown DeLand, Florida, and the first step will be for one to rent at a reduced rate because he/she supports us. Then, let's say that would be $2000 per month. Well, if we could just get 40 of us to donate $50 per month for four years, we could make it happen!
Mr. Monett,
Your ideas are admirable, if a bit pie-in-the-sky under present circumstances. There is a reason the marches are scheduled for a date prior to the inauguration. The Heritage fascists and Trump can be expected to start crushing any form of dissent on Jan. 21 without mercy or regard for the right to assemble. Heads will be bashed and limbs will probably be broken and do not be surprised if they use live ammo to break up any event which they see as a challenge to Trump's total authority to rule unfettered. I suspect you spent a lot of time in school and did very well there and enjoyed the experience. But the country you grew up in and learned about will not the country you live in after Jan. 20th in all likelihood. I sincerely hope my cynicism and fear are unwarranted. But we have plenty of comments on tape and in writing to show that very dark days are ahead. Part of the reason we have reached this point is because Americans are apathetic and naïve. Getting people to participate at the level you envision is a near impossibility until millions are destitute, homeless, and hungry. I do not mean to discourage anyone. But we have no choice but to be realistic and to prepare for the worst. Best of luck.
I totally agree, Robert.
As for BEFORE or ON Jan 21, if they want to start their f***ing civil war right away, I say let's get it over with. The sooner the better, if they are determined to get violent and dive right in to attacking the rest of us.
(Just between you and me)... The REAL reason I am trying to bring progressives together locally is so that when the s**t hits the fan, they will have already re-learned to interact face to face, without any "media", because the media will be useless, until Radio Free US begins broadcasting from Canada and Mexico. If the locals want to sit and chat about who the county party is going to run for the special house seat election Jan 25, fine. At least they are deepening old school ways of interacting with each other, which will be all we will have when the cult comes after us as "the enemy within".