Before I begin today, I’m putting on my virtual suit of armour in preparation for the blowback I might receive from my views today. Over the last couple of days, I have laid out a strategy for economic disengagement. I examined all angles, including barriers to participation and the impact of bad actors. Then halfway through writing this post, I had an Eureka moment (I think). Welcome to my world of ever-refining ideas. Yesterday’s version relied on using the Indivisible database as a foundation for a mailing list, which I now think is a vulnerability, and what I’m unsure about is
Indivisible is effectively a Democratic aligned organisation, as is the No Kings coalition. To be clear, I support the entire alliance in its efforts, but is it the best fit for an apolitical economic disengagement campaign?
Do we really need a mailing list at all to make this work? Radical thinking, I know, but bear with me on this.
This project primarily needs to be sold as an apolitical fight that extends across the political divide. This is about the top 1% versus the bottom 99%, and that is how it has to be framed —not Democrats versus Republicans. It’s about right and wrong, the people against the oppressors. The evidence shows this is not a difficult sell. So here’s how I modified my thinking:
Still, convene a small panel of liberal minded economists(as outlined in my post yesterday), the purpose of which is to examine how best to target an attack on corporate America, who should be the focus of this whole operation. Call it an Economic War Cabinet if you like. This becomes the targeting body for the assault. The brains of the outfit, if you like? This panel model can be treated like an F-35 weapons bay. Today, an economist panel, tomorrow a healthcare panel, etc.
That’s the backend of the process where all the targeting and strategic planning takes place. Then we need to move on to the second part of the equation—the delivery of the economic assault instructions. I had thought this would be best achieved via an email list or SMS list. Makes sense, right? That’s it until you realise the friction it introduces to the process. Do I think there is value in building a list? Absolutely, but this becomes a secondary consideration in my revised thinking.
Mailing lists entail the overhead of list management and, for some, the fear that you are asking them to register their personal details, which may be hacked, leaked, or sold by the data controller. So we are in what I like to call ‘The Trust Zone’, which I’ll come to in a moment.
What sparked my change of direction was the genius ‘Group 7’ viral campaign that is currently running on TikTok, instigated by musical Artist Sophia Jones, which resulted in 17 million likes on a single clip, which spread across TikTok like wildfire. Why is it important? Because it’s proof that you don’t need millions of followers or, in this case, registered users to create a rallying point for what you’re selling. Of course, in Sophia’s case, the TikTok algorithm played its part, but there are enough liberal voices on TikTok to promote our site.
My point is that all you need is a highly engaging, interactive landing page where the instructions from the economist panel can be distributed. It could even be mocked up as a wartime cypher machine, providing the next economic-assault mission. It appears on a site at a specified web address. Messages are sent to site visitors at the same time each day. There’s no login required, no email address needed to participate —just a rallying point for the mission. Of course, downstream, you can create a companion mobile app, etc.
The key point is that a website could be up and running in a matter of days, and the whole resistance community could play their part in promoting the site. Then it’s just a matter of transmitting the economic targeting instructions to the site. Job done! All people then have to do is follow the instructions. Finally, it’s a matter of duplicating that site across all social media platforms so messaging can be coordinated across the landscape. Also, web embed code could be provided to Meidas, Demcast, Indivisible, and any organisation across the political spectrum that wants to see this tyranny defeated and wants to support the mission. This would allow them to embed the mission site within their own website to extend reach.
The next step is to create a mailing list without it appearing that you are making one. You can offer the option on the mission page to register to be notified when a new instruction is issued. At this point, the user can be informed that they are being added to ‘The Freedom from Tyranny’ movement database (I’m just spitballing here). This allows for a self-propagating mailing list or text list. It has the potential to build a database that would make the Project 2025 database look like amateur hour. It is genius in its utter simplicity.
The best part of it is that it could be up and running in less than a week with the right people. For my own entertainment, I’ll build a proof-of-concept site over the next few days to make my point. If there’s anyone out there who would like to participate, give me a shout, and we can have a conversation. This concept I’m sharing here is totally open source; I have no intention of profiting from it in any way.
Regarding the broader picture, I have to tell you that, in my humble opinion, those who should know better aren’t thinking straight at the moment; they're off in search of a social media dopamine hit. As a result, we are seeing what, in my opinion, is a blackout campaign with a potential serious flaw, yet there’s no shortage of dealers willing to sell it in return for engagement.
People have long said, "It’s all about the economy," which isn't wrong, but let me assure you that it’s also about the data —and in 2026, data will become more valuable than gold. Tragically, at the moment, nobody is looking past the political vanity project of the day. The tribes have spotted the opportunity for glory, and they are now all setting up their separate economic blackout projects.
I’m sad to say that social media brings out the stupid in us at times, and no more than in this moment. Some organisations seem to believe we are living in the good old days of unions and worker protections. They do this, either out of ignorance or reckless disregard. Some, indeed, many are suggesting people don’t go to work and ‘work to rule’ at a time when employers are itching to reduce payroll.
I cannot express how irresponsible it is to place their own supporters’ jobs on the line for a social media win. I’m not for a minute suggesting this is a deliberate act, but the result is tragically the same: people might lose their jobs at a time when it has never been more challenging to secure a new one. It’s reckless, and I hope people will not participate in that aspect of any blackout proposition. Beware of the ‘Champagne socialist brigade’, I would caution; it’s easy to risk losing a job when it’s not your own. Someone has to say it, and it may as well be me, given I’m suited up for the pushback.
Is economic disengagement the only answer? It is, as I have advocated for all along. However, if you are going to use social media as the delivery mechanism and not a more targeted approach, then you have to construct a meaningful target list for your economic assault. It is absolutely right to go now, given the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday events, and these are perfect targets; equally, advocating for the switch to local businesses, which are really suffering as a result of tariffs, is a great move. A 5-day test balloon campaign is an ideal opportunity to flex and prove the power of the public purse. It will put a clear marker down for corporate America to think about, and it could be a significant step forward, but PLEASE remove the encouragement to stay away from work. That’s a cost-cutting gift to the opposition wrapped in a big red bow.
We are not MAGA, and every participant should conduct a risk assessment before participating. Nobody should have to set themselves on fire for the cause. Equally, though, we need to be prepared to make sacrifices for the greater good. It’s a judgment call I trust most people to make, but only time will tell.
I have been advocating for spending strikes for a while now, as you know. It will be fascinating to observe the take-up on these campaigns. On a separate note, I would absolutely caution against attempts at a general strike, because unless you have mass, coordinated and sustained action, all that will happen is that the unemployment numbers will rise. People who can’t afford to lose their jobs will suffer immeasurably at a time when far too many are already suffering.
The key test for these actions, which by the way I am enthusiastic to support, except for the withdrawal of labour, will be an actual test of the appetite of the American people to endure sacrifice, and I’m really interested to see how it pans out. As a retiree living in a country with somewhat more robust workers' rights, my concern is not for me but for those with families and commitments who are already living on the edge.
As I pointed out in my post yesterday, blanket blackouts might seem attractive. However, they can be a very blunt instrument that hits low-income workers disproportionally, and I don’t believe that needs to happen if it’s better targeted. I must have missed the memo where it said we’re prepared to throw the working poor under the bus for social media engagement. For those saying ‘No pain without gain,’ and ‘There have to be sacrifices made,’ I would say it’s much easier when others are the sacrificial lambs. Who doesn’t like a sacrifice while you look on?
I’m exhausted thinking about what could go wrong here, but only time will tell. I’ll conclude by noting that the proposed campaigns carry a clear Democratic label, which may narrow their appeal to millions of Americans who don’t trust Democrats. For me, this has to be a non-partisan campaign.
It’s worth noting that to make a real impact, you need to reduce consumption by around 3%. In street protests, to have a tangible impact, you need to meet the 3.5% rule — about 12 million people — so respectfully, there’s still a way to go and a lot of work to do.
Meanwhile, Trump is busy dismantling America and building a shrine for the top 1% to consecrate with the money they have stolen from the American people. We constantly advocate for the American people to invest in critical thinking, and there has never been a time when they should deploy it more than now.
I whole heartedly agree with your title. The work you put in to your Substacks is appreciated. But, please, cut down on the length of your posts. You have very important information to share, exceptional assessments and impactful recommendations to help us all BUT I can not read your Substacks to the end. And I’m someone who ALWAYS reads every word, even stuff other people won’t. Break it up into 2 posts, cut back on descriptors and streamline what you want to say. Sorry, I had to say it. More people will follow you and read the important information you have.
Absolutely agree with all of your points and the plan to cut off the money feeding the rich. Their immoral rape of our economy and willingness to let others suffer is a great motivator. I appreciate your honesty in bringing out the fact that many cannot stop going to work. But they can definitely buy local. I like the 5 day test, the non partisan messaging, too. Punishing the billionaires is attractive across all parties and is a great way to attract independents. I hope the big problem groups like Indivisibles and 50501, Common Cause, etc., step up and listen and work with you. I am ready.