Those that believe we can lose our democracy and get it back in 2 or 4 years...

[kentuck]

are dangerously deluded.

Once the fascists (corporations) take power, you will not get it back. You will not win a landslide election to throw them out. It is not about who votes - it is about who counts the votes.

There has to be a sense of urgency about this. Congress cannot or should not go on a vacation and then talk about debating it "next year". The longer this crisis goes unresolved, the worse it will be.

Have we learned nothing from history?

[shraby]

1. Something should have been done 5 minutes ago, that's how important this is.

[stollen]

27. I wrote to Mitch McConnell 5 min. ago

on his webpage, but it didn't "take." I think his mailbox might be full (of outrage). Maybe someone else will have better luck?

[WhiteTara]

55. He doesn't even bother to take messages

on his Senate phone.

[stollen]

127. It's working now. I emailed him twice.

RESIGN!

[WhiteTara]

130. I called. It's easier to ignore

emails. Harder to ignore words in your ear.

Welcome to DU

[0rganism]

129. more like 5 months ago

5 minutes ago is still much too late

[putitinD]

2. +1

[roamer65]

3. The United States won't exist in 4 years if we don't act now.

The goal of Putin is the breakup of the country.

[Ilsa]

72. California and texas break off, followed by Wa and Or?

New England
Confederacy
Ca, Or and Wa could be called Pacifica?
Don't know what to do with the rest, but yes, the breakup could get real, really fast.

[KamaAina]

88. Snag a copy of Joel Garreau's The Nine Nations of North America.

The boundaries are displayed right on the cover. Northern CA, western OR and WA, and coastal BC and AK are called Ecotopia.

[Ilsa]

90. Wow. I got part of it right. LOL. Thanks. nt

[BlueJac]

4. Yes me too!

It is crazy, the silence here.

[RKP5637]

36. I think it's all part of the coup, seriously! n/t

[Horse with no Name]

5. Agreed

This is our Waterloo.

[duffyduff]

6. If somehow that happens, the states can secede. n/t

[Skidmore]

7. Apparently those who threw it away

were equLly deluded. You could see the shape of things to come under Trump from light yesrs away.

[Cattledog]

8. Congress is now the "politburo".

The Kremlin now has a puppet embedded at the highest levels of our Government. The question now becomes will someone in the intelligence community do the right thing?

[pangaia]

32. And the puppet is installing other puppets...

[spanone]

9. john cornyn couldn't be bothered......

All this "news" of Russian hacking: it has been going on for years. Serious, but hardly news

[stollen]

128. He's been getting lots of emails

of complaint. He can be bothered.

I'm going to bother him more tomorrow.

[Doreen]

10. I have felt from the

moment he became president elect that on 1/20 the U.S.A will cease to exist. We will NEVER recover unless something changes before 1/20.

[bdamomma]

76. not to be funny

but I see that hour glass like in Wizard of Oz, time is running out. And I hear that song "Buddy can you spare a Dime" one difference we have nuclear weapons. This is serious.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. This guy, who predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union, thinks we're on the same path:

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/heres-how-the-us-empire-will-devolve-into-fascism-and-then-collapse-according-to-science/

[kentuck]

12. I could imagine that nothing would make Putin happier...

than to see America split up like the old Soviet Union?

[bdamomma]

84. well that article

makes me feel much better

[kimbutgar]

13. Game over on January 20th in the USA when the keys gets handed over to Putin's puppet.

I can see the orange hitler threatening To nuke California if we don't bow down to him. I was comfortable believing we had a blue wall in California now I am scared $hitless.

[Fast Walker 52]

19. oh god, oh god, I hadn't even thought of that

SHIT.

[Maraya1969]

102. That is what we have to stop. Even if Obama declares martial law! And I hope he does

until these cockroaches are found and killed.

[Fast Walker 52]

112. I'm not sure martial law is the way to save the US, but something extreme needs to be done

[yuiyoshida]

104. Hey if he wants to NUKE CALIFORNA

I WOULD rather be ashes than to live under a dictatorship and as for the NUCLEAR FALL OUT, WHICH direction do you think the AIR STREAM flows...its from WEST TO EAST... yeah we might be ashes but Washington will get the FALL OUT!

[briv1016]

71. As well as NY, CH and PH.

[YOHABLO]

111. The only thing to fear is fear itself. One way or another we're going to take

this tyrant down. It's in our Constitution to do so.

[McCamy Taylor]

14. Agree. However Americans are no desperate enough to risk what they have

and by the time they are desperate enough it will be too late.

[RKP5637]

37. Yeah, I think millions are outraged, but they don't know what to do and it seems there is

no leadership channeling that outrage. This, is not a normal election. Someone has to stand up and grab the reins!

[bdamomma]

75. not someone

all of us this is our country, or will we be the new refugees going to Canada???

[Silver Gaia]

108. Yes. WE NEED A LEADER! Someone with some bit of power needs to step up NOW!

[man4allcats]

120. Someone did.

His name was Bernie Sanders.

[Silver Gaia]

126. That's not helpful. Don't see him leading anything right NOW.

[man4allcats]

133. Did reality bump your wittle bo-bo?

Last edited Sat Dec 17, 2016, 08:01 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm so sorry.

PS: See Bernie's page at https://ourrevolution.com

[Silver Gaia]

134. What?!? What the heck's a "wittle bo-bo"???

You pick some minor comment from a week ago to snark at me about? Good grief. Oh well. My comment still stands. I am not seeing much leadership from much of anyone right now, not of the kind we were discussing here, not from Bernie or anyone else. No need to respond. I am done here.

[TheFrenchRazor]

45. pretty much. nt

[workinclasszero]

15. Yep the German people thought the same thing no doubt

after Hitler was democratically elected into power.

It didn't work out so well for them or the world.

[RKP5637]

39. That thought haunts me constantly! this all is very very very reminiscent!!!!!!! n/t

[workinclasszero]

47. It is scaring me to death

If Trump takes office on Jan 20...I look for a huge terrorist disaster to happen soon after. Surely in 2017 sometime.

All Trump and the republicans need is a Reichstag fire moment, then the final act will play out.

Trump will lock down this country for good with martial law and abrogation of rights due to the 'terrorist' emergency.

And then we are done....

[RKP5637]

51. He's certainly stacked his regime with enough generals. And many of his deplorables

will sign on as Brownshirts to suppress the filthy radicals. Exactly how it will play out. Didn't his wife or someone say he reads a lot of books on Hitler. I seriously wonder how many Americans have any concept of what is going on. So many are airheads when it comes to stuff like this.

[kentuck]

53. But it is the positions of the generals that caused me a double-take...

His right-hand man, Lt General Michael Flynn. He trusts him and he has the deceitfulness and the "toughness" to be his friend. He'll be the NSA Adviser.

And we've all heard about the heroics of Mad Dog Mattis. We've heard about his large library of books and the fact that he's never been married. Everybody likes him. But we don't know him. He may be nothing more than a "yes man" for Donald Trump? He wants him as his Defense Secretary.

And he wants General Kelly to run the Homeland Security Department. How long until they return to the "search and frisk" policy that was once practiced by Guiliani and the NY City Police Department? What happens when Trump wants to declare "martial law" in some inner city?

He has a perfect set-up for a police state and his generals will be over all the other generals. Will they follow orders or will they resign their commissions? Or will they be "fired" by Donald?

[RKP5637]

67. Definitely a potential scenario. n/t

[bdamomma]

80. maybe there are some generals out there who will rebel

against these other generals. you never know?

[workinclasszero]

59. He sure as hell did

People just refuse to believe that this could happen in America.

Although now a large slice of Amerika called the alt-right...nazis, KKK and religious right types are actively engaged with the republican party to bring about this horror.

Trump and the mainstream news media brought them out of the shadows and gave them power.

[RKP5637]

66. Far too many Americans still have their heads in the sand. I just don't get it. n/t

[bdamomma]

85. I wonder when our liberties slowly

deteriorate if our media will report the truth........sigh

I hate to say this but I think the number of suicide cases will increase........I could be wrong.

[Silver Gaia]

109. YEP: "Trump and the mainstream news media brought them out of the shadows and gave them power."

[workinclasszero]

89. Dump will have a ready made brownshirt army

with his promised Deportation Force eh?

[RKP5637]

91. I think we're going to see troops in the streets with his lust for power! n/t

[Oneironaut]

68. A Fascist would start with the Muslims.

This can be easily sold. Remember - Hitler didn't start killing Jews right away. He villified them, and sold their detention as a task of necessity.

Will Americans stand up for the most villified among us? History always shows us that most, sadly, won't. Most people in a Fascist environment crave normalcy, even if it means accepting intolerable acts of cruelty to their neighbors.

Sadly, most people in this country are utterly ignorant when it comes to history. They wouldn't recognize Fascism if it bopped them in the face. I blame our poor education system.

Trump is a Fascist. The US is not Fascist yet. Trump needs to be held in check constantly, or we will tumble into the dark abyss.

[NewJeffCT]

118. I know - are we going to get our own

version of the Reichstag fire blamed on the Muslims?

[suston96]

16. In a democracy.....

....elections must be thoroughly transparent and its ballots easily and quickly verifiable by recounts or other such methods.

I often jested to those who told me that they won't vote.....

If you do not vote, I said to them, the wrong people might win the election.... .

Well, the wrong people did win the election so....

Too many people did not vote....or....

They voted but their votes weren't counted.

[bdamomma]

86. exactly all those

people who didn't vote will definitely be hurting, to vote is a right. I told my girls who voted for the first time in this election they have to vote which we did by absentee ballot, how other people in the world can't vote and how important it is.......and now here we are. We have a 16 yr old who is our pRes-elect god I can't even say that with all these war powers.......we need to stop this.

[ananda]

17. Agree.

With all three branches of government in Republican-Russian hands,
the vote will be gamed and endangered even worse than it already is.

[TheFrenchRazor]

44. "republican-russian" yep; use R/R behind their names from now on. nt

[yuiyoshida]

105. So WILL WE Have to get USED TO THIS???

I guess that means we will have a new flag soon..

[Fast Walker 52]

18. totally agree-- we are in frightening new terroitory

I guess we'll get to see just how many good Germans we have here.

[Bear Creek]

20. What to do

I heard a conversation on NPR that this is nothing and this is the way the tea party felt when Obama took office. I think that the senator is wrong. I do not remember his name. This is different, the stacking of unqualified people in cabinet positions by pay to play. The russian involvement. The electronic voting machines hacked. the FBI throwing our election. Trumps money interests. One of Trump's top aides in Moscow. Trump is not going to security briefings (is he getting his from russia?) This is a coup. This is not a time to play nice.

[handmade34]

38. DT is getting just enough

"security briefings" to share good info with Russia... "this is not the time to play nice"!!

[TheFrenchRazor]

43. yep; the Con is appointing all generals and business robber-barons; are you scared yet? nt

[Fast Walker 52]

21. So-- what EXACTLY can we do at this point?

[BlueCaliDem]

52. Martial law. We've been invaded by a hostile foreign power. The president MUST declare

martial law.

If pResident Bush threatened Martial Law if the U.S. House didn't approve TARP, then it's more than reasonable that President Obama declare Martial Law now that we KNOW Russia has entered our elections for his orange puppet to become president.

It's now or never, because I don't see Putin giving up power in the WH in 2020 or ever again.

[Fast Walker 52]

69. whoa... I see your point, but whoa

and I don't think Obama will do this. so what can WE do?

[BlueCaliDem]

94. Yeah, I know. I don't like it, either, but it's either that or we accept Trump's (p)residency.

Or should I say, the One-Percenters' presidency? Putin's American presidency?

Short of declaring martial law, there isn't anything WE can do to stop Trump from ascending to the WH. Clearly, our votes no long matter in the States that matter. No presidential election for us anymore. Republicans refuse to do anything about it and Democrats have barely any power.

If Trump makes it to the WH, you BET he won't hesitate to declare martial law once the 2020 elections roll around. Dictators don't give up power without a bloody fight, and he'll then be Commander in Chief.

Say bye-bye to American democracy and all our freedoms. Welcome Russian-backed U.S. autocracy.

[Fast Walker 52]

113. yeah... all I know is these are freaking weird times and something has to break

[BlueCaliDem]

116. Agreed. eom

[Generator]

22. You are correct

I can't believe this happening. But I am not in denial. I can't picture where this country will be in a year. Now is the only time to stop this.

[kacekwl]

23. Problem is who do you trust.

Where can we go for justice ?

[RoccoR2]

25. Hard to trust anyone high-up in our gov't

Higher one goes the more secrets s/he must keep

[kentuck]

29. We, the People...

remember?

[RKP5637]

41. How do we engage we the people? Millions are enraged, a strong leader needs to stand up now and

grab the reins and say this is wrong, and lead the challenge. At this stage, I see none taking that role.

[Indydem]

117. You decry fascism and authoritarianism.

And in the next breath encourage a "strong leader" to rise and "grab the reins" and "lead the challenge" of the constitutional election of a new president (that we disagree with).

Can you possibly be more ironic?

[bdamomma]

87. exactly, not to be

corny, but power in numbers, all its going to take is one event. Remember how everyone was protesting when trump got in and the media and at that time was showing it......and trump harnessed the media you know the rest. We need to do this, no one will save us. Let us rise up.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

24. Have we learned nothing from history?

"We" as a whole and generalized, no we have not learned from history. In fact "we" are not capable of learning.

[dae]

26. A large part of our society has learned nothing period.

[underthematrix]

28. Most people do not read history books.

And that's why the coup happened. MSM kept telling our FACT FREE feelings were more important that our democracy.

[kentuck]

31. Such a sobering thought.

They never had the time. They thought it would be better to let others vote in their place. They really did not know enough to vote for themselves.

I guess it is true....democracy is not a spectator sport.

[pangaia]

30. You are right..,.

SO I suggest---

Get out and contact your reps and tell them to fight against this coup d'etat and every single nominee il duce puts up for his cabinet.

Call the White House
Call Attorneys General
Write letters to editors.
Contact broadcast media.
Join groups fighting the coup.
Contribute $$ if you can.
Post on social media.
Join protests, marches, strikes, boycotts.
any other type of civil disobedience. .
PROTEST any way possible...

Anything else you might think of...

THE SOUTH KOREANS JUST DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

BRAVO 대한민국 !!!

[Miles Archer]

33. If Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid get killed off...

...they will not be magically restored with a 2018 Democratic midterm "landslide," or even a White House win in 2020.

Every program in place that the Republicans view as "entitlement"...every program that does not directly benefit the 1%ers...is on the chopping block.

Paul Ryan doesn't need to be President. He's positioned to get everything he wants without having to set foot in the Oval Office.

The issue now becomes any elected Democrat who chooses to vote on the side of Ryan's agenda.

[Cosmocat]

61. The primary issue is the citizens of this country

All of what you posted is true, further it has been plainly obvious for many years, let this country not only made Trump POTUS, but have had rs in full control of Congress for half a decade now.

[suston96]

34. The US Constitution doesn't quite work..........

We, the people, have the power to fix it.....

The people made the Constitution, and the people can unmake it.
It is the creature of their will, and lives only by their will.

Chief Justice John Marshall, 1821

[RKP5637]

35. Exactly my thoughts! We are going down this path on steroids and I see no roadblocks ahead.

IMO far too many are ho hum another election we will win next time. Well, there well might not be a next time once the Trump regime is installed.

It seems many today never studied history or have forgotten. Countries can go downhill fast.

IMO this situation is urgent, but far too many in TPTB don't seem to see the urgency and others want to speed it on its way.

FFS, what a nightmare. This is far more important than a congressional vacation.

[TheFrenchRazor]

40. can not be repeated enough. nt.

[jalan48]

42. We've been sliding into it for years. The 2000 election should have been a wake-up call.

[Merlot]

73. It was a wake up call

And it's been a slow moving train wreck ever since. Democratic victories have been short lived while republicans have succeeded in taking over state legislatures, governorship's, and passing draconian laws against women, gays, and people who vote.

Once bush was installed, there was no going back. Even then it was obvious we lost so much ground that would take years to get back.

[brooklynite]

46. So, give up?

We're not overturning the Election or changing the votes of the EC, so what's your point?

[kentuck]

48. I think those that are talking about 2020 may have already given up?

In my opinion, we have no choice but to fight. How? In any way we can. We cannot simply stand by and do nothing, can we?

[sarisataka]

49. Technically we are a republic

[0rganism]

60. technically, we are a representative democracy

the whole "we're a republic" thing gets thrown around from time to time, and it's true -- we ARE a republic; however, every nation where the head of state is not a monarch or hereditary autocrat can claim that title. so it's not very descriptive, and is often used to blur discussion of democracy in the USA.

to the point, we are a representative democracy: every public office with authority and responsibility is either an elected office or an appointment by someone who is elected or another such appointee. furthermore, democracies are characterized by freedoms, such as the freedom of speech and press.

it is this democracy we stand to lose. permanently.

[uponit7771]

83. +1

[MADem]

50. Not without bloodshed (see: Germany 1938).

We can either prevent it with that "sense of urgency" or pay later.

I keep saying if you are a minority group--anyone who might be subject to bigotry/discrimination because of who you are--GET YOUR PASSPORT NOW!!!!! And get a passport card, too, to keep in your wallet, in case you need to cross a land border in a hurry.

[Jake Stern]

77. Not just minority groups. The fascists will eventually turn on poor whites and the disabled as well.

Ironically thanks to a RW government in Hungary, my fiancee, baby son and I have a chance to acquire Hungarian citizenship which in turn gives us EU citizenship.

If one has the stamina and resources to stay and resist, beautiful. We don't see this country rebounding for a couple decades at best so feel it's best to cash out our proverbial chips and walk away with what little we have. We just don't want our son raised in a society that is actually trying to normalize Fascism.

Folks need to check if they qualify for ancestral citizenship programs like the ones in Hungary, Germany, Italy or Greece if for no more reason than to have a Plan B. If not see if their qualifications may allow them to shoot for a work permit.

[MADem]

115. The disabled in my view are a minority group.

The poor whites will be swept up into the machine that maintains order--they'll either adapt or die.

Ancestral citizenship is offered in Ireland as well, if you have a grandparent who came over on the boat.

In many countries if you can just support yourself, via a pension or savings or what-have-you, they'll leave you be. You can apply for residency and get their version of a green card.

[haele]

132. The disabled are always amongst the first to be targetted. They're easy pickings.

Because unlike race or gender, the disabled are not an identifiable monolithic group, and there's not a common trait that could bring them together.
Dealing with a debilitating physical or mental disability is naturally expensive; with funding cut, if faced with a choice between the unending struggle to maintain the person with a chronic issue and one's household for the rest of the family, a lot of people will be faced with something akin to Sophie's choice - who can thrive and who can't.
And this is the way it will be framed:

"Here's how it works in this country now - the taxpayers are not going to support anyone who can't work and produce anything of value. If Gofundme, the church bake-sale and/or the charity tip jar at the corner store doesn't get you enough money month after month for his care, Little Joey there will just die painfully at home because you don't make enough money to both pay rent, feed your family, and take care of him. Or you can just ship him to the government cripples camp where he'll get three hots, a cot and basic hospice care - maybe - until he finally dies in a couple months. Whatever you choose doesn't matter in the long run; he's a useless burden that will never amount to anything anyway."

And so, the disabled will be labled as useless burdens on society. It's been done before, it will be done again.

Same will happen with the elderly. If you can't work, if you aren't able to afford to take care of yourself, and if there's no one that can afford to take care of you just for the sake of love or fidelity, it's a moral crime in both Calvanism and Randian Capitalism to try to extend your survival.

Haele

[Solly Mack]

54. I think so

[Cosmocat]

56. I hate to tell you, but the country doesn't care

1/3 of us see it and care.

1/3 are right wingers who would support Republicans if they wanted to throw all their children in volcanoes.

1/3 are the "independents" and people who don't vote who will follow Republicans into whatever rat hole they drive us into.

Nothing coming to light now wasn't completely obvious on November 8.

Sorry, the country is shopping and getting ready for Christmas and frankly could give a shit that Trump is a pos idiot, that the Russians actively manipulated their dumb asses or that Republicans are going to upend SS and Medicaid.

[Duppers]

114. +100

[Greybnk48]

57. We need a leader and to do something RIGHT NOW!!! n/t

[Generic Brad]

63. Regret ably, we won't

It was a nice country while it lasted. Now we figure out how to survive in the surrealistic new normal. The America we knew is not coming back.

[bdamomma]

93. this would be the time to do it

let them think Christmas and shopping is distracting us, WE THE PEOPLE.

[shadowmayor]

62. Now?

All profits have gone to the upper 1% for the last 36 years. The bloated DoD has managed to get us bogged down in two lousy wars with disastrous results. Our infrastructure is crumbling, schools are falling behind and falling down. We are not leading the world in green energy systems, our wi-fi sucks compared to more "advanced" countries. Our media is shit. The Fascists have been running the show for quite some time, only now we get to see their clown prince, the naked emperor standing at the podium saying "fuck you America".

Yes, the struggle continues, it's our duty as citizens to fight. But as Howard Zinn aptly put it: "The government is not your friend". And just who controls this government?

I've often thought the appointment of lil' shrub to the White House was a naked coup by the right wing powers that be, but considering the results (stolen again by the Republicans of course) of a close election in 2004, but it's the ignorati on the right who is the enemy within. These folks hate anything labeled Democrat and will line up behind any strong "daddy" figure on the right. Toss in some good ol' racism and sexism and patriotism and you've got a pool of authoritarian bots willing to do the bidding of any mad man at the helm.

And our fawning corporate media has led this parade from the start.

[AlexSFCA]

64. We are all in this together

the populist movement is a powerful wave against liberal democracies. However, I am not sure we can truly prevent anything. It seems that we're gonna have to let history play itself out. I do not beleive Hitler could have been prevented, maybe delayed. We know that history is cyclical and tends to repeat itself periodically. We can mount a civil war or way can wait for WWIII. Trump will have almost unlimited power using NSA capability to his advantage including gathering intel to win future elections for his loyalists. This is not to mention if, God fobid, we have another terrorist attack, Trump will have enormous amount of discretion to use that event to his advantage.

Everything that is happening in the world right now is a direct result of invasion to Iraq. Subsequent refugee crisis was not something that European democracies were preared for and opportunitst politicians quickly took advantage of it. This new populist wave is convincing people that safety is more important than democracy and constitution.

[burrowowl]

101. No the decline started with Raygun!

"Everything that is happening in the world right now is a direct result of invasion to Iraq."

[jeffreyi]

124. I agree.

I remember the day after the ray-gun election, the district ranger announced that everything would be different now, no more budget for our natural resource management agency. That was true, played out gradually over many years. Then in the 80's they tried to dismantle the national forests and give them to the blm...less environmental regulation, you know...that ploy ultimately didn't work, enough people with political clout in the agency were still around. Some of them, including our forest supervisor, threw themselves on the career funeral pyre to stop that land grab. Now those experienced, knowledgeable, and networked people who started out groundpounding and rose in the ranks are retired, old, dead, whatever, and the long slow decline from starving the budget beast for so many years has just about killed off our national forest management, around here at least. Never mind that the percentage of the federal budget allocated for forest service is some ridiculous tiny fraction of 1%, even though this is where our water wildlife lumber biological diversity blah blah comes from. How different things are now, massive land grabs are doubtless in the works. The Bundy thing is a slow motion nightmare. However. The forests are changing, quickly. Mother Nature laughs last, always.

[Oneironaut]

65. Imo, like falling into a steep crater, it's easier to fall in than get out.

We have the potential to crawl our way out once we hit the bottom, but it would be easier to stop falling now.

Trump is a Fascist who wants to sign our government over to Putin. We need Democrats and Republicans who aren't spineless "Good Americans" to resist his agenda at every turn.

[Bucky]

70. I've learned that Яepublicans will sell out America for a tax cut.

We still have a number of powerful institutions and traditions that can (or might) keep Trump from going too far.

But there's going to be a lot of damage along the way. This is so so bad.

[Initech]

74. Joseph Stalin was right. Those that cast the votes decide nothing.

Those that count the votes decide everything.

[NobodyHere]

78. You know what I learned from history?

That even after Bush being president for 8 years that it is still possible to take back the White House and Congress.

[Jake Stern]

81. Have the feeling this administration will make Shrub look resonable

He didn't pack his cabinet with military brass and it didn't look like a right wing super-majority in Congress was a real possibility. Wait for some sort of national crisis after January 2019 giving the GOP dominated House and filibuster proof Senate a chance to pass Trump's "emergency measures" .

[mahina]

79. The Anti- Coup

The Anti-Coup by Gene Sharp is available for free download or purchase

The Anti-Coup by Gene Sharp, formerly of the UH Matsunaga Peace Institute and now at the Albert Einstein Institution in Boston, is a manual on how to effectively resist a coup. It is available for free at the AEI link here. http://www.aeinstein.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/TAC-1.pdf You can also buy a copy. I loaned mine out and need to use the pdf. It's a short read.

To those who feel hope fading, please remember Solidarity in Soviet occupied Poland, the anti-apartheid resistance in South Africa, resistance to the Nazis in Denmark during its occupation WWII, and the defeat of Pinochet in Chile among many other cases in which non-violent resistance prevailed.
Table of contents:

How Coups Operate
When are coups likely to occur?
Attempts to prevent coups
Coups have been defeated
Germany 1920
France 1961
The Soviet Union 1991

Anti-coup defense
The putschists require...
Direct defense of society
The need for preparations
The civilian defenders' aims
Resistance: general and organized
Treatment of the usurpers' troops and functionaries
Facing attack: obstruction and communication
Facing attack: repudiation and rejection
Blocking control by putschists
Defying repression and intimidation
The importance of nonviolent discipline
International support
Shifts in strategy during the struggle
A durable success
In case of need for long-term defense
Collapsing the coup
Deterring coups d'etat
Promoting anti-coup defense
Preparations by civil institutions
Government initiated preparations
Possible legislation and other plans to mobilize defense
Other types of preparations
Consequences of an anti-coup defense

Appendix one
Legislation and other Governmental preparations for Anti-coup defense

Appendix two
Preparations by the Civil Society for Anti-coup defense
1. Public education
2. Media
3. Specific groups and institutions
0

[uponit7771]

82. +1, so true... dictators get power and don't let it go... Benedict Donald is a dictator

[briv1016]

92. I'm reminded of the Orwell classic Nineteen Eighty-Four

Spoilers ahead: If you haven't yet read it, stop now and get yourself a copy.



Orwell showed that Authoritarian governments are nearly impossible to overthrow once they reach a certain level of control. Will we reach that point?

[yuiyoshida]

106. Already have

Republicans own the House, Senate and soon the Supreme court. The White house...check mate, mate!

[roamer65]

107. Probably not.

The country will fragment first. Much like Yugoslavia.

[OldRedneck]

95. Bob Dylan tried to warn us

Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son
And where have you been, my darling young one
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son
And what did you see, my darling young one
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder that roared out a warnin'
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin'
Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded with hatred
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

And what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
And the executioner's face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'
But I'll know my song well before I start singin'
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

Songwriters: Bob Dylan
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall lyrics © Bob Dylan Music Co.

[sofa king]

96. Hermann Goering spelled it out:

"...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

George W. Bush still hasn't stopped doing it to us, so they're going to have to double down on it.

[jimlup]

97. Agreed We have to fight back hard NOW

I'm not sure what that means but I know that we can't wait.

[Calista241]

98. The history I remember was 8 years ago.

Everyone here thought W wouldn't turn over the Presidency either. Every other thread was about how "they" would never let Obama be President. Well, W turned over the Presidency as easy as you please, and Obama to this day talks about how accommodating W was to him when he was President Elect.

Our citizens expect a new election every 4 years. Kamala Harris is likely to be one of our major candidates in 4 years, and unless you think she and people like her can be corrupted, you're simply fearmongering.

[mopinko]

99. the window closes on dec 19. i hope they have the cameras rolling.

i hope that these electors realize that they are about to be thrust into history's spotlight. there had better be a line of satellite trucks from the washington monument to new jersey on that day. they had better fail their historic duty in the full light of day, god damn it.

[orleans]

100. in answer to your question: NO. OBVIOUSLY NOT.

sadly enough

[yuiyoshida]

103. Note: Since REPUBLICANS control All the Branches of government

They own it and can do what ever they want with it. Its not the NEXT four years I am scared of, its if or when TRUMP decides to be President for LIFE and the Congress, Senate and Supreme court agree with him.

No one could stop him then, and you can kiss Democracy good bye because now we have a full blown PUTIN style Dictatorship.

The constitution was always just a piece of paper with words written on it, to most Republicans. They make up their own rules. Corporations have always done whats best for them even if it means polluting Streams and the very air we breath. They figure they can sell us water and air and for a large price and those who can not afford it, will die.

Its no sweat off their brow. Corporations have always fucked over the common man and woman, and this will be no different. Crony Capitalism is alive and well in Amerikkka.

[Freethinker65]

122. Be thankful he is 70 and obese

[yuiyoshida]

123. He may be but he has followers

who are younger and more spry...and eager for power. If this country became a dictatorship, he would have the best doctors to take care of him for the rest of his life, and when He dies, than his sons would take over.

[Sunlei]

110. once you're outside the 'walled communities' you'll never get back in uninvited.

[CanonRay]

119. Well said

once it's gone, it's gone forever absent a bloody revolution.

[Scruffy1]

121. Comparing this fascist bunch doesn't quite fit in my opinion.

All my life I've lived in a proto fascist state-the good old USA. It's was started as an oligarchy and the few reforms ever made were long hard fights.It's baked into the Constitution of the United States. That is why we are taught that a document that allows slave owners is holy. It also guarantees unequal representation in the Senate. We have been teetering on the edge all my life. I remember the FBI and the anti-war movement and the assassination of Fred Hampton. Nothing has changed. As long as propaganda is more cost effective than force the government will use it, but if that fails, anything goes. Who you going to complain to? The Trump attorney general? The FBI? (I have actually seen people posting that the FBI should investigate things) That's like asking the cat to investigate who killed the canary. Nixon committed treason in 1968, The Reagan people in 1980. Nothing happened to them, and nothing will happen to T-rump.
The bright side is that the National Socialist were smarter than the Tea Party idiots so I don't think they will be able to hold power very long. They created a new class of financial instrument with the backing of the bankers and big industrialist and managed to reduce unemployment greatly and raise the standard of living with massive infrastructure projects. They never even had consumer austerity during the war because they were afraid of losing support. The Tea Party dopes will never sign off on massive debt, so I don't think it will get off the ground and I'm hoping privatization won't fly.Besides which the party insiders despise T-rump and will stick a knife in his back every chance they get. If they revive the night of the long knives we might be in serious trouble, but I really can't see this clown car being successful in anything.

[Politicub]

125. I feel helpless

It seems like everyone is fast asleep.

[BSdetect]

131. Biggest fear

Some "guiding hand" will show them how to avoid outrage and make incremental small changes to achieve their goals.

That will sneak up on the majority of people combined with trumph news media PR.

Chipping away at rights will be stealthy.