In my mind I almost think we need to go on a general strike and become homeless together. Homeless in a sense that we migrate to a location where we can get sensible people together in a location.
Then we can rebel against the for profit system by protecting each other with weapons, food, community.
Go back to a system that protects nature, people, and land.
But I’m curious what everyone else thinks. I know congregating in one location would make us vulnerable to domestic terrorism from our government. But in all honesty who wants to live in an oppressive regime anyway?
I was having this discussion with a friend of mine yesterday, talking about how US citizens managed to positively move marijuana legislation in a better direction…I think this is a good example…
NORML was a major player in changing political and social attitudes about marijuana. They’d stage major demonstrations that were more than just performative. They’d hand out leaflets with information. Gave you the contact info for your reps to put the pressure on them. There was merch for fundraising. The atmosphere at those demonstrations was electric - people were happy to be a part of the movement.
And here’s the most important part: they never let up. Not until they started hearing sincere conversations happening in congress. Not until states started changing their attitudes. And all this in the days before social media was ubiquitous.
NORML’s approach is a great model to follow to effect positive change - change that the people genuinely want.
When I see, for example, the No Kings demonstrations, I have to ask if their follow-through is as effective. Do they encourage people to continue to engage with their government after they go home? In addition to the anger at the current situation, are they also generating excitement about what could be? Because if it’s just periodic protests with silence in between, that’s not going to be as effective.
Let’s be clear - our government didn’t get this bad overnight. It took decades of silent fascist creep to effect a gradual shift. It’s not going to get fixed overnight either. Make those demonstrations loud, festive, informative, and make sure they echo for months after the fact, until the next one. Raise funds for the cause by selling shirts and hats and stickers people are proud to wear. Sell the message. Let it be known that the message is for all Americans, even the ones you hate for voting this shit into existence, because those are the hearts and minds you have to change.
It can be done. It might take decades but it can be done. It’s been done before, in way worse environments than this.
And hey, if it helps, even in the backwater red counties I drive through, I see way less enthusiasm for this garbage than I did even just two years ago. I feel like that’s not insignificant.