General Discussion

I found the article to be very disappointing. It follows a familiar pattern used again and again by many liberal and progressive writers. They start out with an accurate description of the unfolding catastrophe. In this article the author lists seven different alarming things the administration is doing as they consolidate power and demolish the country:

• The conversion of federal law enforcement and the system of justice into an instrument for punishing enemies of the regime and its leader

• The executive order declaring “Antifa” a “domestic terrorist organization.”

• The deployment of the U.S. military against (so-called) domestic enemies.

• The conversion of mainstream media into regime-compliant propaganda and disinformation providers

• The capture of the corporate sector

• The reduction of the legislature to a plate of Jello

• The removal of any opposition in the form of expertise by decimating the federal government

All of those things are happening and together they comprise a clear warning that we are in extreme danger. So far so good. But as so often happens, he author then recommends a vague, weak and ineffective response.

First, we are told to take a step back from identity politics and purity politics. Of course. Throw the people whom are under attack by MAGA under the bus, as though they were just excess baggage.

Then we are lectured that "now is not the time to curl up in despair." What does that even mean? I would say that despair is a pretty sane response to the crisis, for one thing. Where is this "curling up" happening? Many people are asking themselves and each other what can be done, as the options become more and more limited. I am having those discussions with people every day. Many are astute enough to know that marches and elections are probably inadequate responses at this point. Does that mean they are curling up or are they recognizing reality?

Then we come to the recommended actions. "We have work to do—institutions to defend, pro-democracy organizations to support, lawsuits to pursue, corruption to expose, and midterm elections next year."

That is what we have been doing. If that worked, we would not be in this crisis.

Using alarmist talk about the fascist takeover of the country for the purpose of promoting the same old responses - donate, sue, and vote - is morally depraved as well as dangerous. None of that has even slowed MAGA down, and those approaches are getting weaker and weaker by the day.

Suggesting that if we don't climb onboard the "donate, sue, and vote" bandwagon, we are therefore "curling up in despair" is deeply insulting.