In Charles King’s 2020 essay on the work of Andrei Amalrik, a Soviet dissident who predicted the Soviet Union’s collapse two decades before it happened, he said that "the antidote to hopelessness isn't hope; it's planning."
After reading Corbin's piece, I've resolved to set aside time to create an individual, daily plan for how I will try to do my part in resisting what is happening: to make the calls Corbin suggests, to take to the streets to protest, to network and coordinate with friends, family, and neighbors to prepare an action plan of resistance, and an action plan for mutual support if everything goes upside down. One idea I've not heard anyone propose: a march on Washington. Shut the place down with civil disobedience. Block intersections; occupy public spaces. People from all over this country.
We have to be as clear-minded about this as Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney in his speech in Davos on Tuesday -- what we had before January 20, 2024, is not coming back. Using Carney's analogy, we've all been putting signs in our storefront for decades that merely echo the myths of American exceptionalism, and we have ignored for too long the reality: predatory, rapacious capitalism; war as entertainment; the gutting of public services and education; the desperation of so many of our people in the richest country on earth. That's why we're at where we are now. We have the chance now to either create something better, or resign ourselves to the dystopia that we're seeing all around us but refuse to believe.
Yes plan and strategize. Collaborate in encrypted groups and strategize. For years I have been hearing the same type of headlines, the cracks in MAGA, the in fighting, the attacks against each other, the signs of their demise. It gets old, it's hubris. If the liberal media is to be trusted why don't they use the correct words? Why do we not hear the word coup, or kleptocracy every day? Why is cartel only used for foreign drug trafficking? The narrative is controlled inside the Overton window.
This is a psychological war. So what are the tactics: divide and conquer— red vs blue, this is an extension of black vs white, the white wage, W.E.B. Du Bois.
I think the first rule is DON'T UNDERESTIMATE your opponent, except every day that is what I see; Calling them stupid is stupid. Logically they can't be that stupid if they are the ones in charge and they are the ones in control!
Discernment is the key, look at the language, understand psychological warfare, understand propaganda, if you can't see the tactics, if you can't spot the moles you aren't looking hard enough.
The news is designed to divide, enrage, stress and distract. Real journalists who care can get together and beat the drum of real issues again and again, over and over. This is how psychology works, we believe what we hear enough. The algorithms and bots make "them" think their ideas are the majority, to defeat that isn't hard but it takes a consistent message, unwavering.
Use Resistbot to very easily send letters to elected officials. I’m up to over 350 letters. Text RESIST to 50409 and follow the prompts to set up an account. It truly could t be easier.
what is that "resistbot"? set up by whom? a bit hesitant to send a text to sth i don't know where it originated and have my phone number "collected". please enlighten me.
Like they're not all just puppets. Most are compromised before they get the funding to run.
Cut off the money, that's the only thing they will understand. Start with one company like Victoria Secret or Hiltion and shut off every single dollar.
We might get there. But calls to elected officials, en mass, will help us get there quicker. I think general strikes are the only way, but I’m still making the calls.
The system is corrupt. The DNC is corrupt. It's a reality TV show. You think because they "attack" the bad guy that makes them the good guys? No that's just part of the show. They'll even give you small wins—relief valve "yay we won the day."
"The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves" Vladimir Lenin
And…. Still making the calls. Still going to protests, even though that, like voting, is largely performative.
Pieces of the puzzle.
“The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you are going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins. In order for somebody to win an important, major fight 100 years hence, a lot of other people have got to be willing — for the sheer fun and joy of it — to go right ahead and fight, knowing you’re going to lose. You mustn’t feel like a martyr. You’ve got to enjoy it.” - I. F. Stone
Absolutely Tom, great quote! The greatest warrior is the one that continues to fight in spite of losing many battles. I think about heros like RBG who kept losing and kept fighting!
I'll be calling. And general striking on 1/23. Something we could all very easily do to shock the system, something that's easily reversed, is transfer all of our money from our savings to our checking. This isn't a bank run, but it still strains our financial system because the money in our savings accounts is a substantial a lot banks use as leverage for other things. We can very easily open new savings accounts and transfer the funds back.
Agreed. We need our electeds to have half as much courage as Renee Good. She understood that dangerous times require real sacrifice and risk to fight back. Dems only seem to understand comfort.
Agreed. I have already sent messages - personal, not NGO orchestrated - to my Senators and right wing representative (fat lot of good that does with my brainless, MAGA boosting fool). DHS has to stop, and if they won't stop, unplug it.
A simple, very hard thing to do is acknowledge and truly understand the role of the Democrat Party in US decline and the rise of Trump. Democrat supporters and voters are in MASSIVE denial about this.
Another great post. I am going to be so pissed if Democrats compromise on this. We/They must realize we are not playing by the old rules. Radical action is essential. I will call and share this. Thanks!
I have felt since the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic that the compilation of a list of demands, followed by a nationwide general strike, is in order. It's a tall order, no doubt, but I believe more than ever that it needs to happen.
Is there any interest in discussing the constitutional roots to our current malaise? To my commonwealth trained legal eyes, our jurisdictional structure is more 1690 English Parliament than like modern English, Commonwealth or Eurozone democratic societies. The gross distortions in representation in our House of Lords Senate have made it very easy for special interest groups to control the Federal budget. When Lindsay Graham tells you that it cost $65M to get re-elected, he is telling you all you need to know about how the system works. And it costs even more now. The fears of President Eisenhower and Admiral Rickover long ago about the military-industrial complex have come to pass. I do not recall any comments on the other group which has been looting the Treasury every 6-8 years with their giant financial messes: the Wall Street gamblers and their cronies.
We are not living in a fully (small 'd') democratic society and appear to be devolving into an aristocratic society, akin to the height of the British Raj in 1880, and just as corrupt. They were then selling 20,000 tonnes of opium to the Chinese (40,000,000 lbs) per year. We sell arms and build military bases - now the largest military ever created - all on the backs of the working and middle class in our all volunteer armed services. There is little discussion about this: we spend more on our military than the next 6-7 largest players combined.
I doubt we can get control of this without going after the funding. The Brits did it over many decades from before WWI, culminating in 1934 when Winston Churchill succeeded in removing the House of Lords from voting on their budget. How are we going to get control of our spendthrift elected officials?
In Charles King’s 2020 essay on the work of Andrei Amalrik, a Soviet dissident who predicted the Soviet Union’s collapse two decades before it happened, he said that "the antidote to hopelessness isn't hope; it's planning."
After reading Corbin's piece, I've resolved to set aside time to create an individual, daily plan for how I will try to do my part in resisting what is happening: to make the calls Corbin suggests, to take to the streets to protest, to network and coordinate with friends, family, and neighbors to prepare an action plan of resistance, and an action plan for mutual support if everything goes upside down. One idea I've not heard anyone propose: a march on Washington. Shut the place down with civil disobedience. Block intersections; occupy public spaces. People from all over this country.
We have to be as clear-minded about this as Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney in his speech in Davos on Tuesday -- what we had before January 20, 2024, is not coming back. Using Carney's analogy, we've all been putting signs in our storefront for decades that merely echo the myths of American exceptionalism, and we have ignored for too long the reality: predatory, rapacious capitalism; war as entertainment; the gutting of public services and education; the desperation of so many of our people in the richest country on earth. That's why we're at where we are now. We have the chance now to either create something better, or resign ourselves to the dystopia that we're seeing all around us but refuse to believe.
Yes plan and strategize. Collaborate in encrypted groups and strategize. For years I have been hearing the same type of headlines, the cracks in MAGA, the in fighting, the attacks against each other, the signs of their demise. It gets old, it's hubris. If the liberal media is to be trusted why don't they use the correct words? Why do we not hear the word coup, or kleptocracy every day? Why is cartel only used for foreign drug trafficking? The narrative is controlled inside the Overton window.
This is a psychological war. So what are the tactics: divide and conquer— red vs blue, this is an extension of black vs white, the white wage, W.E.B. Du Bois.
I think the first rule is DON'T UNDERESTIMATE your opponent, except every day that is what I see; Calling them stupid is stupid. Logically they can't be that stupid if they are the ones in charge and they are the ones in control!
Discernment is the key, look at the language, understand psychological warfare, understand propaganda, if you can't see the tactics, if you can't spot the moles you aren't looking hard enough.
The news is designed to divide, enrage, stress and distract. Real journalists who care can get together and beat the drum of real issues again and again, over and over. This is how psychology works, we believe what we hear enough. The algorithms and bots make "them" think their ideas are the majority, to defeat that isn't hard but it takes a consistent message, unwavering.
Use Resistbot to very easily send letters to elected officials. I’m up to over 350 letters. Text RESIST to 50409 and follow the prompts to set up an account. It truly could t be easier.
I just made my calls, feels really weird but did it anyway. I didnt leave my address or none of that just repeated what Corbin said.
what is that "resistbot"? set up by whom? a bit hesitant to send a text to sth i don't know where it originated and have my phone number "collected". please enlighten me.
Both Republicans and Democrats are beholden to and answer to billionaires. Something needs to be done about them. Our Oligarchs rule.
Like they're not all just puppets. Most are compromised before they get the funding to run.
Cut off the money, that's the only thing they will understand. Start with one company like Victoria Secret or Hiltion and shut off every single dollar.
Sorry but I believe this is the ONLY way.
We might get there. But calls to elected officials, en mass, will help us get there quicker. I think general strikes are the only way, but I’m still making the calls.
The system is corrupt. The DNC is corrupt. It's a reality TV show. You think because they "attack" the bad guy that makes them the good guys? No that's just part of the show. They'll even give you small wins—relief valve "yay we won the day."
"The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves" Vladimir Lenin
Agree with everything you write.
And…. Still making the calls. Still going to protests, even though that, like voting, is largely performative.
Pieces of the puzzle.
“The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you are going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins. In order for somebody to win an important, major fight 100 years hence, a lot of other people have got to be willing — for the sheer fun and joy of it — to go right ahead and fight, knowing you’re going to lose. You mustn’t feel like a martyr. You’ve got to enjoy it.” - I. F. Stone
Absolutely Tom, great quote! The greatest warrior is the one that continues to fight in spite of losing many battles. I think about heros like RBG who kept losing and kept fighting!
Thank you Corbin-
Phoned all, and my state's Representative, left a message-
Tomorrow day two
"Action is the antidote to despair" Joan Baez
I feel like the more I do this the easier it might get. Must admit the first time I felt like I was doing something creepy.
I'll be calling. And general striking on 1/23. Something we could all very easily do to shock the system, something that's easily reversed, is transfer all of our money from our savings to our checking. This isn't a bank run, but it still strains our financial system because the money in our savings accounts is a substantial a lot banks use as leverage for other things. We can very easily open new savings accounts and transfer the funds back.
Agreed. We need our electeds to have half as much courage as Renee Good. She understood that dangerous times require real sacrifice and risk to fight back. Dems only seem to understand comfort.
got those numbers written down. ima start calling on my break! feels good, real good.
Agreed. I have already sent messages - personal, not NGO orchestrated - to my Senators and right wing representative (fat lot of good that does with my brainless, MAGA boosting fool). DHS has to stop, and if they won't stop, unplug it.
A simple, very hard thing to do is acknowledge and truly understand the role of the Democrat Party in US decline and the rise of Trump. Democrat supporters and voters are in MASSIVE denial about this.
But yes, absolutely #GeneralStrike
Another great post. I am going to be so pissed if Democrats compromise on this. We/They must realize we are not playing by the old rules. Radical action is essential. I will call and share this. Thanks!
We pay the taxes. Not the rich. Stop the source. The IRS is underfunded. They can't even answer the damn phone. They can't lien everybody.
I have felt since the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic that the compilation of a list of demands, followed by a nationwide general strike, is in order. It's a tall order, no doubt, but I believe more than ever that it needs to happen.
now thats inspiration brother! do we call and keep calling?
With you 100% on this, Corbin. Thank you for helping to start this movement. Sharing widely and asking my friends personally to join in.
Corbin, I am sharing your message with my email list. Can you please give more detail as to why we are calling each target? Thank you.
Is there any interest in discussing the constitutional roots to our current malaise? To my commonwealth trained legal eyes, our jurisdictional structure is more 1690 English Parliament than like modern English, Commonwealth or Eurozone democratic societies. The gross distortions in representation in our House of Lords Senate have made it very easy for special interest groups to control the Federal budget. When Lindsay Graham tells you that it cost $65M to get re-elected, he is telling you all you need to know about how the system works. And it costs even more now. The fears of President Eisenhower and Admiral Rickover long ago about the military-industrial complex have come to pass. I do not recall any comments on the other group which has been looting the Treasury every 6-8 years with their giant financial messes: the Wall Street gamblers and their cronies.
We are not living in a fully (small 'd') democratic society and appear to be devolving into an aristocratic society, akin to the height of the British Raj in 1880, and just as corrupt. They were then selling 20,000 tonnes of opium to the Chinese (40,000,000 lbs) per year. We sell arms and build military bases - now the largest military ever created - all on the backs of the working and middle class in our all volunteer armed services. There is little discussion about this: we spend more on our military than the next 6-7 largest players combined.
I doubt we can get control of this without going after the funding. The Brits did it over many decades from before WWI, culminating in 1934 when Winston Churchill succeeded in removing the House of Lords from voting on their budget. How are we going to get control of our spendthrift elected officials?