Wonderful, thoughtful post! Certainly got me thinking about how the Left might counter Trump's blitzkrieg.
Historically, if autocrats move quickly while surrounded by enough sycophants, they can concentrate power in themselves in ways that are very difficult to reverse. Trump has done a lot of damage to the nation already and set himself up to do much more with his loyalists in place.
I fear that if we bide our time with serene impassivity, the time for action will be past. We've already failed to turn Trump supporters' attitudes away from him by helping Americans see that beneath all the bluster, there ain’t much there there. Democrats have a decades-long history of listening, discussing, writing good policies when possible, and being nice -- but rarely motivating even their own supporters. Trump created a movement, we have not.
I fear that the Left is simply repeating what liberals in other authoritarian regimes have done and we'll wind up without attention, power, or even a plan -- much less the inspiring counter-movement our nation needs. Come on, Democrats, remember how to lead: point people in a direction so they can take action, as a group, and feel like they're making a difference.
Wonderful, thoughtful post! Certainly got me thinking about how the Left might counter Trump's blitzkrieg.
Historically, if autocrats move quickly while surrounded by enough sycophants, they can concentrate power in themselves in ways that are very difficult to reverse. Trump has done a lot of damage to the nation already and set himself up to do much more with his loyalists in place.
I fear that if we bide our time with serene impassivity, the time for action will be past. We've already failed to turn Trump supporters' attitudes away from him by helping Americans see that beneath all the bluster, there ain’t much there there. Democrats have a decades-long history of listening, discussing, writing good policies when possible, and being nice -- but rarely motivating even their own supporters. Trump created a movement, we have not.
I fear that the Left is simply repeating what liberals in other authoritarian regimes have done and we'll wind up without attention, power, or even a plan -- much less the inspiring counter-movement our nation needs. Come on, Democrats, remember how to lead: point people in a direction so they can take action, as a group, and feel like they're making a difference.