Any user of this website knows that democracy is something that must be fought for. Despite that, what we see today is a lackluster and even lethargic response to threats to our democratic way of life not seen perhaps in our entire history. Never before have the enemies of democracy here at home been so well organized and so determined to carry out their mission. Never before have they had so much success. While our institutions have activated some of their antibodies here and there to respond to this threat, not enough is being done. Those few things that are being done, for example the January 6th hearings, may not have enough time to change anything before they’re shut down the next time enemies of democracy take power.
While we should remain optimistic for the best case scenario, we should plan for the worst. Over the past few years there have been successful direct actions and instances of civil disobedience, but those have also been disorganized and poorly represented. While some of these movements have resulted in some victories (winning local judicial elections, changing broader national conversations on a few issues), the fact is that freedom loving people have been losing ground. The purpose of this series of posts is to help them in some small way take that ground back.
Even if in our near future we're wrong, and democracy does hold firm without the need for a mobilization, it is inevitable some day that we will need to act to save it. We hope to cover every aspect of that, from getting important people in your life and in the movement's life to safety to more practical items like what to wear to a protest.
Why are we suggesting this? Why not continue with conventional electoral and community organizing. Two things: First, we all should absolutely continue with electoral and community organizing. It's a crucial part of any strategy that will result in victory for democracy and in the type of future we want to see for our children and grandchildren.
But crucially, second, one must recognize when the game is being rigged against them and take rational steps to counteract that problem. When people who disagree with your right to exist take power they don't play by the rules. In fact, they rewrite the rules to benefit themselves. It would be pretty stupid of us to play by their rules and expect to win. While we should always volunteer for progressive candidates, vote, and do everything we can to win elections, that alone is simply not enough anymore. We have to wage a total war for our rights.
In the following posts we hope to outline the broad strokes of a manual for how progressives can win this struggle while staying safe, staying positive, and staying free. We hope you join us and read our posts along the way. For now, the only way to start any fight like this is by remembering why we're doing it. Call someone you love, maybe someone isolated and alone, maybe someone in a red state who can't afford to move. Let them know you're there for them. Let their story remind you of why you of what's really at stake here. We'll see you on the next one.