Trump was elected. This isn’t what I wanted, but I’m trying to stay positive and not worry so much. The people have the power to make choices and work and campaign and support what they believe in and I for one want to take advantage of that. I want to help those that will be affected in the coming years and stand for what I believe is right. What resources, campaigns, protests, anything should I and others be aware of? What can we do to make the change we want to see?

  • L3s@lemmy.world
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    15 days ago

    Waaayyy too many comments with calls for violence.

    Lets do better, violence is NOT the answer here.

  • db2@lemmy.world
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    The people have the power to make choices and work and campaign and support what they believe in

    Don’t bank on that being the case. American democracy is literally dead as of today. The president elect is a felon with an IQ lower than his age, we’re cooked.

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      The people have the power to make choices and work and campaign and support what they believe in

      It’s totally the case. The people did work and campaign and support what they believe in. They did make a choice.

      They chose fascism.

    • Sop
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      This is dangerously wrong. Any person can have a huge impact on their own community without changing countrywide politics. It is super important that caring USians start contributing to their communities and help the people that are more at risk of being wrongly prosecuted for living their life. Please volunteer at mutual aid programs, please protest against genocide, please educate the people around you, please make sure trans and queer people are safe, please speak out about racism. And when you witness a nazi victimising someone based on their identity/race/disability/etc, please act and don’t look away.

      Telling people that ‘change is hopeless’ only endangers vulnerable groups more.

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    15 days ago

    Donate to companies like Planned Parenthood who help women access resources for reproductive health and services.

    Something like the Internet Archive would also be incredibly important for preserving what politicians and organizations have said (so that they can’t claim they didn’t say something and try to have it erased off the internet).

    If money isn’t your strong suit, then I don’t know – I’m not American. But I’ll still comment for the above, and to hopefully help boost this post.

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      The internet archive is based in the US. Until they relocate to a safe alternative, it doesn’t matter how much money they receive.

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    15 days ago

    Me personally, I am ready to go all in on election reform, specifically getting rid of the Electoral College. Not sure what that looks like but I am hopeful in spite of the 700+ times it’s been tried before.

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    I think the only thing to do now is help at a local level. Washington’s fucked, nothing you can do to change that. What I am planning to do: (1) be kind to my family, especially my wife; (2) donate to the school and food pantries; (3) just fucking cope. Work on my hobbies, exercise, just… one foot in front of the other. Endure.

    Oh: and I’m thinking about buying a gun and learning to shoot. Seriously.

    • nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      Im using this comment to make myself avaliable for communication for anyone who’s considering getting a gun. The only thing I like more than guns in the face of fascism is taking gun culture back from the chuds and giving it to the people who are actually at risk. I’ve introduced many of my friends to firearms both on and off the firing line. Anyone reading and curious can comment or message me, I will do my best to give good, safe advice appropriate for your situation and flat out admit if I don’t have the answers you’re looking for.

  • Addition@sh.itjust.works
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    Guys, I know we all mean well, but no amount of activism and voting is going to make a difference anymore. They will suspend the Constitution and ensure we never have elections again. The Democratic experiment is over and we can’t keep thinking that we’ll be able to vote it out.

    If you want to help, try and do it tangibly. Organize underground support networks for your queer and minority friends, seek or create covert resistance orgs, and have a realistic plan for pogroms.

    • grue@lemmy.world
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      have a realistic plan for pogroms.

      I have no idea what such a plan would look like.

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    Find out if there’s local Mutual Aid groups in your area, then figure out what your relevant skills are, and then give those skills as free to use for your local Mutual Aid groups.

    None of the systems we have traditionally relied on will hold, and no one is coming to save us. We can only turn to taking care of each other. We will all have to work hard to make it happen, but at least that work will be going to our communities instead of to capital.

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    Mutual Aid networks and Direct Action groups. Build paralell power structures. Even a violent revolution is useless if we don’t have these bases to build progress on, and if we’re really really lucky, we may even be able to avoid violence with such a network.

    • BrotherL0v3@lemmy.world
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      Hear, hear! If anything, this election has proven that we need to work on class consciousness and the Overton window. Mutual aid, direct action, protest & strike support, salting, and civil disobedience are all ways we can produce the conditions needed for positive change.

  • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
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    Get involved in local politics.

    Work or donate towards getting rid of the electoral college.

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    Doing things and not spiraling is about all we can do at this point. I suppose it depends on the things you care about or want to prioritize The massive cuts to government spending Trump has talked about are inevitably going to impact services like Social Security and Medicare so mutual aid resources are going to be important for a lot of people:

    Mutual Aid Hub-Resources Food Not Bombs FAQ

    If you’re concerned about what will happen in places like Gaza and Ukraine there are charities that are helping those affected by those conflicts:

    Charity Navigator Gaza UNITED24-Offical Ukranian Fundraising Platform

    Finally, if you are not in a position to donate money then there are ongoing election efforts that need volunteers. At this point that’s mostly ballot curing, helping voters sort out issues with their absentee or mail in ballot. Some of these ongoing elections are incredibly tight and making sure those ballots are accepted could make a difference, especially in low profile races:

    Mobilize.us Ballot Curing

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    This is general advice regardless of party.

    Look at your your town/city govt and keep an eye on meetings (a lot are streamed now post Covid). Know the people in office and what they are for/against. Focus on actions more than words. Vote for people you believe in and keep in contact with them. They can be surprisingly approachable.

    Act similarly at the state level. Know and pay attention to the justices, senators and representatives. Reach out on issues you find important.

    Being informed on govt and politicians doesn’t happen through ads and comment sections, and it doesn’t stop when elections are over. Do what you can where you can for what you believe in.

    And maybe just maybe it will result in a solid Presidential candidate

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    This is a great attitude to have. You can do so much on a local level. Be there for the people around you, and try to notice when someone is not doing well and might need your help. Speak up for those whose voices are not being heard. Being available and protective towards those in your own community who are vulnerable is the least you can do. Some other significant ways you can contribute are:

    • volunteer at organisations that provide food/shelter/harm reduction
    • become a union member and help with the fight towards fair compensation for every worker
    • volunteer at organisations that have a goal of building community and provide safe spaces
    • donate to organisations mentioned above

    Also realise that you do not know what it’s like to be disabled/queer/of an ethnic minority/a person of colour or of another vulnerable group (unless you are a part of that group of course). You need to learn about their struggles before you can effectively help them. You probably already know someone who belongs to one of those groups, now is the time to listen to them and learn from them so you can better vocalise their struggles towards those who don’t understand.

    Also, motivate others to do the same! All hope is not lost, humans instinctively look out for one another and the biggest change is made through helping those around you.

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      Hard disagree. Randomly murdering fascists does not a revolution make, to say nothing of the odds of winning that fight.

      Go to the gym. Be able to do cardio without dying. Work on your fitness and health. Then buy a gun. Train with it. A lot. Organize with like-minded people. Invest in community defense, look out for LGBT / immigrant / marginalized friends and family. Be prepared for violence, but keep it a last resort. When / if bullets start flying, lives with be ruined on both sides of the gun.