We are in the throes of a takeover. We’ve had a coup. Our institutions are under attack by a formidable enemy-and it is winning. We are marching headlong into autocracy. It probably has already arrived. Thank you for being completely honest with us. I agree we need options now. If we wait until 2026, it will too late.
I've come to realize that this existential threat is succeeding in large part because it is so threatening.
Those who don't like bad news are not listening, and those who are listening understand, but most or many are overwhelmed by their emotional response to what they see and hear, and either actively avoid discussing it, or are in such a state of arousal that violence is the only solution they can conceive of.
It takes a certain state of calm and acceptance to see clearly where we are, accept it, and build the resolve to take action. Like it or not, we are in a political war.
We have two critical tasks: 1) help people accept and truly see the current reality
2) form an organized resistance.
Violence would bring extreme suppression. We need to organize. We need real plans, leadership, and a shared vision of how to succeed. We need to evaluate risk and make decisions on public vs. private participation.
We wasted five months hoping that Congress, or failing that the Democratic Party, was our leadership. Those organizations have been corrupted from within and are not remotely capable of taking this on.
The next six months are critical. We need to begin meeting in person to work on plans for non-violent, organized resistance.
Banyan, you are absolutely on the money. I take no pleasure from being the one delivering bad news, but it would be reckless to try and paint lipstick on a pig 🐷
My deeper concern is that in our me, me, me world the sacrifice this will take will be too much.
I have protested weekly in various places in California for months. The numbers are not growing. The honks from cars are in slow percentages. California is too proud and too self-centered to admit that we all have to fight or we are going to lose any last semblances we have of our democracy. Waiting until it affects them personally is a recipe for "so sad but you are too late." So many things should have aroused the public but haven't. The BBB's passage dashed my last hope. I am eager to read what you will propose in part three.
I would hope we can add two factors to your plan. Both of which the regime has effectively used. Funding, as the Heritage Foundation has been bankrolled by deep pocket individuals, including inherited money, and a spokesman. I hope there is funding from some entity that still values the American Dream, decency and progressive improvement to support the effort. It may be necessary for leadership to be a trusted person or persons, at least some with no ties to the Democratic Party (could a Republican elder statesman step up?). The thought of what this land, and the connected world, will look like and be lived in by our posterity is the greatest fear and sadness I have ever known. It is beyond anything I imagined.
Mr. Romney certainly has the credentials for the position as does Mr. Flake. While it may be past the time for their aid in the cause of preserving (restoring) this form of government and effecting the necessary changes of improvement, it would be a pleasant surprise if any were patriotic (in the former sense) to try. The risk to any opposing the Regime is very real, but the risk to us all of not opposing and reducing its harm is great.
1) help people accept and truly see the current reality
2) form an organized resistance.
Big yes. I am rabble-rousing to a world of gadflies about needing to become a force, and trying to find people as informed and as fired up as I am to think together about doing something. I'm reaching out, hither and yon, like in my Substack this week.
I continue to feel that we will not make progress until we see that we need, not more organizations that make noise, but an army that works together in an organized way.
This organization does not simply appear out of nowhere. Two or three times I have heard very intelligent people on their podcasts saying," we need to find our leadership." Then the podcast ends, and everyone goes their separate ways.
We have done all the talking that we need to do. We know that this is fascism, that this is authoritarianism, and that it is coming for all of us. Who among us has not worried that their social media will be scraped by one of the tech firms and given to the current government? We do know the danger that we face. And while it's important to keep track of what the government is doing, much more important is that we begin to self organize. I'm in the Pacific Northwest, but that doesn't mean that I can't travel. Who here feels that they could either lead or help organize?
As we are leaderless, perhaps this crossroads is part of the divine plan, where we are no longer followers, that has been endemic since the arrival of the sun god two thousand years ago and we placed authority outside of what had been a matriarchal, nature-based way. (Anne Baring is brilliant about this: https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/if-at-first-or-at-second-comments) So, how to create a coalition in a self-organizing way? I do a lot of writing about that, and it could be what some creative bunch, that sees the bigger picture, thinks together about.
I looked at more of what you resonate with and we could be good allies for going beyond shoulds into thinking together about what to do. You’ll see that if you check me out. I’ve been on that tack for a long time, before there was any other enthusiasm for it, but the times they may be changing. People I resonate with are popping up here, and I’m thinking about a world-changers Zoom.
Your assessment resonates with me as spot on. It is terrifying and so many lives will be sacrificed for the wet dream of the Christian Nationalists end times. I am deeply grateful that you let those of us who are not financially well off have access to your work. So many creators are making a living off of subscribers and their work is worthy of compensation. But those subscriptions can add up quickly. Also, this economy is extremely fragile and appears that it may crash in the future (I’m speaking tentatively because the financial world is not my wheelhouse). I am older and without the funds required to relocate out of the country. And those monsters who would categorize me as a parasite can rot in hell. Take care & Blessings to you & those of us slogging through this nightmare.
Thank you for getting this out there correctly! I’ve been screaming for awhile now, there will be no elections!!!! or there will be one but they will just pretend they won like putin and other dictators do. I am looking forward to part three on what we can do cuz I’m grasping at straws at what is left of our options.
Ultra hard-hitting appropriately blunt dark commentary, but important to read!
First excerpt:
“You have to understand that Trump is not the brains of the outfit; Vought and his coalition of malign actors have an intimate understanding of the law and the Constitution. They are experts in bastardising the rules, to the point that even when they know they have gone too far, they know the judicial branch is playing catch-up and they have the ultimate backstop of a bought and paid-for majority on the Supreme Court. Before they scaled the walls of the castle, they had already disrupted the government to the point where it could not function as it should. Trump has removed inspectors general and replaced all the top military lawyers and generals with those more friendly to their agenda.”
“…It simply serves to reassert that he is running an international extortion gang from the Oval Office. He sent out a bunch of template extortion demands which didn’t even afford recipients the courtesy of using culturally appropriate language. Being forced to send out these letters is simply an admission of defeat. The recipients have already effectively called his bluff. He is merely kicking the can down the road while raking in his baseline 10% for goods from most countries. The world no longer trusts him, or for that matter, takes him seriously. He’s a source of derision on the international stage, and if he thinks he’ll get the Nobel Peace Prize, he’s an even bigger fool than I thought he was.”
Not sure it's going to matter; it isn't improbable that the cabal behind this have someone else at the ready to replace their current Orc. We know there's JD, anyhow.
I actually knew all of this and have been screaming since I first read much of Project 2025. Now I am very much looking forward to your final part because I have never been able to see how we can stop it! I hope there us hope! Thank you for your reporting...
This is an excellent piece, and I thank you for it. It seems to me that the American people have grown both complacent and lazy. Complacent: People have been clinging to the idea that "it can't happen here" or as one of my friends said stoutly in 2016 "the Constitution will hold." How foolish she was. Luckily she didn't live to see how wrong her estimation of the strength of the Constitution was. Lazy: People have been and are still unwilling to expend the necessary effort to learn not only about what's actually happening to their fellows but also to read about what Project 2025 was promising from the first for the people of the USA. It's more than sad. It's pathetic.
We are in the throes of a takeover. We’ve had a coup. Our institutions are under attack by a formidable enemy-and it is winning. We are marching headlong into autocracy. It probably has already arrived. Thank you for being completely honest with us. I agree we need options now. If we wait until 2026, it will too late.
I've come to realize that this existential threat is succeeding in large part because it is so threatening.
Those who don't like bad news are not listening, and those who are listening understand, but most or many are overwhelmed by their emotional response to what they see and hear, and either actively avoid discussing it, or are in such a state of arousal that violence is the only solution they can conceive of.
It takes a certain state of calm and acceptance to see clearly where we are, accept it, and build the resolve to take action. Like it or not, we are in a political war.
We have two critical tasks: 1) help people accept and truly see the current reality
2) form an organized resistance.
Violence would bring extreme suppression. We need to organize. We need real plans, leadership, and a shared vision of how to succeed. We need to evaluate risk and make decisions on public vs. private participation.
We wasted five months hoping that Congress, or failing that the Democratic Party, was our leadership. Those organizations have been corrupted from within and are not remotely capable of taking this on.
The next six months are critical. We need to begin meeting in person to work on plans for non-violent, organized resistance.
Banyan, you are absolutely on the money. I take no pleasure from being the one delivering bad news, but it would be reckless to try and paint lipstick on a pig 🐷
My deeper concern is that in our me, me, me world the sacrifice this will take will be too much.
I have protested weekly in various places in California for months. The numbers are not growing. The honks from cars are in slow percentages. California is too proud and too self-centered to admit that we all have to fight or we are going to lose any last semblances we have of our democracy. Waiting until it affects them personally is a recipe for "so sad but you are too late." So many things should have aroused the public but haven't. The BBB's passage dashed my last hope. I am eager to read what you will propose in part three.
I would hope we can add two factors to your plan. Both of which the regime has effectively used. Funding, as the Heritage Foundation has been bankrolled by deep pocket individuals, including inherited money, and a spokesman. I hope there is funding from some entity that still values the American Dream, decency and progressive improvement to support the effort. It may be necessary for leadership to be a trusted person or persons, at least some with no ties to the Democratic Party (could a Republican elder statesman step up?). The thought of what this land, and the connected world, will look like and be lived in by our posterity is the greatest fear and sadness I have ever known. It is beyond anything I imagined.
Stuart: "could a Republican elder statesman step up?" A couple of names came to mind: Mitt Romney, Jeff Flake.
Mr. Romney certainly has the credentials for the position as does Mr. Flake. While it may be past the time for their aid in the cause of preserving (restoring) this form of government and effecting the necessary changes of improvement, it would be a pleasant surprise if any were patriotic (in the former sense) to try. The risk to any opposing the Regime is very real, but the risk to us all of not opposing and reducing its harm is great.
1) help people accept and truly see the current reality
2) form an organized resistance.
Big yes. I am rabble-rousing to a world of gadflies about needing to become a force, and trying to find people as informed and as fired up as I am to think together about doing something. I'm reaching out, hither and yon, like in my Substack this week.
Recruiting Michael Moore
The job is to change humanity's mind
https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/recruiting-michael-moore
" We need to begin meeting in person to work on plans for non-violent, organized resistance." I'm in Los Angeles. Where are you?
I'm in the PNW.
I continue to feel that we will not make progress until we see that we need, not more organizations that make noise, but an army that works together in an organized way.
This organization does not simply appear out of nowhere. Two or three times I have heard very intelligent people on their podcasts saying," we need to find our leadership." Then the podcast ends, and everyone goes their separate ways.
We have done all the talking that we need to do. We know that this is fascism, that this is authoritarianism, and that it is coming for all of us. Who among us has not worried that their social media will be scraped by one of the tech firms and given to the current government? We do know the danger that we face. And while it's important to keep track of what the government is doing, much more important is that we begin to self organize. I'm in the Pacific Northwest, but that doesn't mean that I can't travel. Who here feels that they could either lead or help organize?
As we are leaderless, perhaps this crossroads is part of the divine plan, where we are no longer followers, that has been endemic since the arrival of the sun god two thousand years ago and we placed authority outside of what had been a matriarchal, nature-based way. (Anne Baring is brilliant about this: https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/if-at-first-or-at-second-comments) So, how to create a coalition in a self-organizing way? I do a lot of writing about that, and it could be what some creative bunch, that sees the bigger picture, thinks together about.
I'm interested in seeing your writing.
I looked at more of what you resonate with and we could be good allies for going beyond shoulds into thinking together about what to do. You’ll see that if you check me out. I’ve been on that tack for a long time, before there was any other enthusiasm for it, but the times they may be changing. People I resonate with are popping up here, and I’m thinking about a world-changers Zoom.
Hits the target perfectly
Your assessment resonates with me as spot on. It is terrifying and so many lives will be sacrificed for the wet dream of the Christian Nationalists end times. I am deeply grateful that you let those of us who are not financially well off have access to your work. So many creators are making a living off of subscribers and their work is worthy of compensation. But those subscriptions can add up quickly. Also, this economy is extremely fragile and appears that it may crash in the future (I’m speaking tentatively because the financial world is not my wheelhouse). I am older and without the funds required to relocate out of the country. And those monsters who would categorize me as a parasite can rot in hell. Take care & Blessings to you & those of us slogging through this nightmare.
Thank you for getting this out there correctly! I’ve been screaming for awhile now, there will be no elections!!!! or there will be one but they will just pretend they won like putin and other dictators do. I am looking forward to part three on what we can do cuz I’m grasping at straws at what is left of our options.
Spot on, looking forward to your solutions tomorrow but don’t have too much hope that the good guys can catch up in time.
Excellent
Ultra hard-hitting appropriately blunt dark commentary, but important to read!
First excerpt:
“You have to understand that Trump is not the brains of the outfit; Vought and his coalition of malign actors have an intimate understanding of the law and the Constitution. They are experts in bastardising the rules, to the point that even when they know they have gone too far, they know the judicial branch is playing catch-up and they have the ultimate backstop of a bought and paid-for majority on the Supreme Court. Before they scaled the walls of the castle, they had already disrupted the government to the point where it could not function as it should. Trump has removed inspectors general and replaced all the top military lawyers and generals with those more friendly to their agenda.”
Important commentary and second Exerpt:
“…It simply serves to reassert that he is running an international extortion gang from the Oval Office. He sent out a bunch of template extortion demands which didn’t even afford recipients the courtesy of using culturally appropriate language. Being forced to send out these letters is simply an admission of defeat. The recipients have already effectively called his bluff. He is merely kicking the can down the road while raking in his baseline 10% for goods from most countries. The world no longer trusts him, or for that matter, takes him seriously. He’s a source of derision on the international stage, and if he thinks he’ll get the Nobel Peace Prize, he’s an even bigger fool than I thought he was.”
I have to embrace Hope and believe we will find a way to get through this darkness and work to rebuild. We are the Majority.
We have each other. It won’t be easy but I believe we will succeed.
Not sure it's going to matter; it isn't improbable that the cabal behind this have someone else at the ready to replace their current Orc. We know there's JD, anyhow.
I actually knew all of this and have been screaming since I first read much of Project 2025. Now I am very much looking forward to your final part because I have never been able to see how we can stop it! I hope there us hope! Thank you for your reporting...
The key movers are unvetted security updates of software that enable the control of vital machinery
💯
Lock Trump up
LOCK TRUMP UP
LOCK TRUMP UP
LOCK TRUMP UP
LETS SAY IT AGAIN WITH FEELINGS
LOCK TRUMP UP
LOCK TRUMP UP
LOCK TRUMP UP
https://libertyshore.org/liberty-shore-essay-01-choices-behavior-and-the-human-kind/
This is an excellent piece, and I thank you for it. It seems to me that the American people have grown both complacent and lazy. Complacent: People have been clinging to the idea that "it can't happen here" or as one of my friends said stoutly in 2016 "the Constitution will hold." How foolish she was. Luckily she didn't live to see how wrong her estimation of the strength of the Constitution was. Lazy: People have been and are still unwilling to expend the necessary effort to learn not only about what's actually happening to their fellows but also to read about what Project 2025 was promising from the first for the people of the USA. It's more than sad. It's pathetic.
Excellent article, thank you. Amazing and would be so life altering if we proceed in this manner. How to stop this?