Posted by /u/Theory_of_Time
Our democracy is at immediate risk, and history is repeating itself. What Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing mirrors the actions of past authoritarian regimes. It took just 53 days for Hitler to dismantle Germany’s democracy. 53 days. He used executive orders, erased marginalized groups, and silenced opposition—while too many stood by and did nothing.
Trump’s executive order erases transgender and intersex people from legal recognition—just like Hitler erased Jewish and trans people from legal records before persecution began.
Elon Musk now has access to the U.S. Treasury’s financial system—just like Putin’s oligarchs seized control of Russia’s wealth to consolidate power.
Trump is erasing vital medical information from our government and silencing opposition—just like Hitler suppressed science and banned opposing views.
Trump is dismantling government agencies, firing oversight officials, and gutting institutions like USAID and the Department of Education—just like Hitler replaced government officials with loyalists to eliminate accountability.
We are on day 15, and we are running out of time. We have to make change, or our democracy will be gone.
I keep trying to explain this to people I’m in direct contact with. I’ve been trying to explain this to them since March of last year when it was clear that Biden wasn’t capable of winning. We got a glimmer of hope in August before the convention when Harris was the assumed nominee and she hadn’t actually campaigned yet.
IF you’ve ever got your ass beat. Or if you’ve ever, like, really fucked up doing something physical in the wilderness or in an extreme situation…
Keep… your… feet… moving.
The power of the darkness is overwhelming. Its debilitating. It freezes you in your tracks.
You have got to keep your feet moving. We can’t do this alone. No one knows where we are headed. But don’t let anyone diminish or blunt your pain. We need that pain raw.
Pain tells us something is wrong. It reminds us that we are still alive, that we are still fighting. Pain is the clearest proof that we haven’t given up, that we haven’t accepted the inevitable.
But you have to keep your feet moving. You can’t stand still. If you’ve broken your arm falling down the slope and woke up in a debris field. Its not the fall that killed you. You woke up didnt you? Its the hypothermia that sets in from wallowing or panicking.
And if your feet aren’t moving yet, consider this a kick in the ass, and get going. Buy a drone. Get a P100. If you are out of shape, start the process of getting to the point of being able to run at least one mile (2000m), without stopping. I’m sorry team, we’re not going to be able to garden or shit post our way out of this. Its time to get moving.
Started out thinking this was a motivational metaphor, but then it kind of looked like your answer for the woes of the world is personal fitness? Do you, like own a gym or something?
Have you never seen Zombieland?
Rule#1: Cardio!
The cops will not be on our side. It’s going to be hard to fight them, and harder if we’re unprepared.
Edit: I don’t mind being downvoted, but I am surprised someone disagrees. Let me ask you something: can you name one civil rights movement where the cops were on the right side of history?
I’m struggling bro. But unlike most of lemmy, I make up some of the 5% of people in the US who actually have served in the US military. I know a path that leads through, in some small way, difficult.
And yes, just being physically capable makes a huge difference. It makes a difference to your mental well being. Its something you can do, tonight, tomorrow, this morning. Being physically capable of just… things. Of standing for long periods of time. Of lifting heavy things. Of running from, or into danger: being physically fit can make all of the difference.
Functionally, I’m trying to empower people with things that are accessible, that they can do right now. There are those privileged enough to have safe havens where they think they can run for cover. For most Americans, thats not an option. There is more, far more that I do advocate for. But I’m not going to do that here. Not out loud, and not right now, and probably only in person. I need you to interpret what I’m saying now as code.
But in lieu of that? Bruh you can run. You, or any one else reading this, you can run. Or walk, or crawl, or wheel yourself. You can become stronger than you are. You can read things, now. Important things. Things we might now have access to in a week. You can learn basic electronics. You can learn basic chemistry. YOU, reading these words now, are a capable and worthy individual.
And what these fucking spineless fuckers convince you of, is that you can’t. That you are too weak. That you aren’t enough… And that is what I’m here to oppose.
Well said man well said!
Did you attend today’s 50501 protests at your state capitol?
I did not unfortunately, however, my partner did.
I stayed at home and am in the process of panic-downloading all of the relevant data for 4 grant/ research projects I’m associated with, maybe 60 million dollars in funding total.
In an alternative timeline, I could just expect these data to “be there” and would be able to access them at our leisure. In light of whatever fuckery this shit tsunami represents, well… we might lose access at any point.
I wasn’t able to either because the state capital is so far away and I have kids in school, work so I don’t starve, etc. These are the differences between us and Europe I feel. The population is so scattered and has no safety net.
Yeah, my state capital is a 4 hour drive away. Frankfurt to Berlin is a 3 hour train where you can get work done or read a book. You also can’t get fired in Germany for calling out sick to protest.
The US working class has very little power left. No unions, no solidarity, almost no rights, and no one in government that actually fights for us
Look the last time this shit went down, being in a small down didn’t mean you escape it.
As important as protest can be (especially in getting people involved), its ultimately performative. There are however things you can do. Do something, anything.