Dictatorships are built on narratives. To stop them one must break their narrative, which is an iterative process—they’ll change the narrative to explain away new developments, but if you force them to keep making changes faster than their adherents can absorb them, their shared reality will fall apart.
I feel this is really the most important answer here. We must break the false narratives that they use to hold power.
And nothing does that better than video evidence. Fortunately, virtually every cell phone still in existence can record video.
but the problem now is we are in the age of “ai” & fake videos.
They will just claim everything is fake (while claiming their own fake videos are real and the only Truth).
Nothing can ever be perfect. We have AI detection capabilities to identify faked videos. You’ll never convince 100% of any group of anything. We still have to sway as many people as possible. Not every voter is a conspiracy nut.
They’ve given up on narratives and now say lots of conflicting things to overload your brain.
Ding Ding Ding! This right here. Unfortunately, they say one thing one day, and the opposite the other, and know their followers will latch onto the answer they want to believe/be true. It is exactly how religions work too.
after all other options are exhausted civil disobedience is the only thing left
examples would include handing about abortion pills in illegal states
Yes, this makes sense! Hopefully while doing so one could build a coalition that includes more and more people.
Nice try FBI
Damn
Username checks out.
A year ago I was unemployed and single. My answer then would have been considerably different than now. I’m much happier with my life but the world is now much worse off and I’m currently struggling to reconcile my radical progressive views with the desire for a comfortable life. I’m still strongly of the opinion that our society (in the US at least) is beyond repair, but I’m less eager to see the reset button pressed. I’m fortunate to be in a blue state (though like all blue states, it gets real red outside the city limits), so my plan at the moment is to pretend the federal government doesn’t exist.
Similar boat. I’m climbing out of a pit of 10 year of shit luck and painful life events. I’ve been getting glimpses of the good life and was starting to accept my progress and recognize how far things had come. My trajectory was success. Now I have 4+ years of bullshit to look forward to and even if the dems win the next time, they’ve shown they won’t, can’t, don’t know how to wield that power effectively.
My partner has an adult dependent who now lives with us and it is going to put a wrench into the wheels of our own plan to leave for overseas where we want to start a family somewhere where it is affordable and they are less likely to be victimized or murdered at school and will actually learn something. This would not be such a big deal as we make a good family, but staring down the barrel of this red white and blue idiocracy, the barriers to leaving feel like a sledgehammer to the face.
To your last point, I’m moderately happy with my state government though my municipality is Religious, MAGA, Jesusland, hell. I used to wish for revolution or huge social change as a kid, but as an adult I realize that we all need to change our own hearts and start treating each other with respect. Institutions can be changed, but it has to happen from the bottom up through individual actions (or intentional lack of action). Top down always results in tyranny. That’s why this education domino is going to hurt so bad. People won’t learn how to think anymore, just what to think, and they’ll be monitored closely from the day they are born to the day they die. Still holding out hope though.
I just have to continue reminding myself that people somehow continued to live happy, fulfilling lives during the fall of the Roman Empire.
It’s because they still had the trebuchet, long may it reign!
In my opinion, it depends on the kind of dictatorship and your status of power. I assume that you’re an average US american looking at the election rn - then there isn’t really anything we can do here. The system is simply too strong, and Donald Trump has too much institutional authority to be stopped.
However, I ask you to keep in mind that dictatorship isn’t an authoritarian monolith and that we as common citizens have a possibility to influence and undermine authoritarian governments. Nazi Germany immediately comes to mind; many citizens disobeyed the government, may have leaked information or sabotaged important projects, even into the highest ranks (Stauffenberg and Schindler are prime examples). A dictatorship is only as effective as the bearers of power in a certain region. For example, police officers, but also common citizens (just keep in mind that a significant amount of Germans provided shelter for Jewish people).
It seems from my perspective that the authoritarian train cannot be stopped. So I’d do my best now to prepare for what is to come. Educate yourself about the key political players in your concrete region, if you decide to stay. Understand who holds the essential components of power - the council, the police officers, school district. Who supplies the common goods? Especially local producers often are connected strongly to the people and can be a major influence in the region. With this knowledge, you will be able to in turn exercise influence yourself and be able to help yourself and people who will be victims of Project 2025. We have a certain strength here - we know what it coming. Many people don’t. Use this knowledge for the good. Even if you cannot stop a “global” transition to the authoritarian regime which is to come, you can mitigate its effects on the local community by participating and influencing the bearers of decisions.
I hope it makes sense. If you disagree, feel free to reply - I’d love to get more input on this topic. If any further questions arise, don’t hesitate to ask :)
At least 30,000,000 people protesting non violently for a year, hoping no war will erupt. This might help
“Protesting” isn’t what we need. We need them running for office, whether that is president, senator, congressperson, or even for the local school board: a lot of those lower officers will move up over time.
Just like the remnants of the Tea Party took over the GOP, we need a “Guillotine Party” to redirect the Democrats to focus on the robber baron billionaire class.
That’s the next step. But running for office is far from being enough without an engaged base, and you get this by sustained protests and other non violent means. Especially if you’re facing a regime with fascist aspirations. Soon it might be too late
Yes, if that many people would do that it could make a huge difference
You say that as if dictators, by their nature, aren’t going to sneak up on us. The question, sadly, should be what we would do once one reveals themselves, and the answer to that is in a battle of wit VS law.
Join the resistance. Evil must be opposed.
According to the german constitution germans are not only allowed but required to kill unelected heads of government.
Although I’m Swiss, I would do the same. Every Swiss person has to enter the Military and it’s a societal contract that our militia is there to keep the democracy alive.
And when/how would you know it was time to do this thing you’re ready to do?
You wouldn’t. Everyone would keep being brainwashed into accepting reality. It’s happening now.
Sorry, couldn’t hear you over the sound of the boiling water in this pot
I would get into fierce arguments on the internet to insist that we must vote for the lesser of two evils every election so that we get that dictatorship a little later instead of right now.
If Trump had lost, second time in a row, it could have well been the end of him. Big enough loss and it could have been end of the whole movement. Republicans could have come back to the centre. If you didn’t vote Harris, Trump is your fault. The system is completely broken, but it’s still what you have. Campaign for a better system while voting for the least bad. Enjoy your Trump.
I voted for Harris, but obviously that didn’t work out, did it? If you honestly think republicans would go back to the center after trump is gone then you don’t understand republicans.
I think a lot of people say out this election. They can’t then complain they got Trump. I don’t understand Trump Republicans, but that’s not all Republicans.
The kingdom of Korea will not fall tonight!
Nope, not today, glowie.
I would like to think a lot of sacrifices for the sake of my “fellows”.
Realistically some mild ineffective activism with a whole lot of hiding because I’m not responsible for the idiots that let the situation get there in the first place.
I wouldn’t. I’d just move somewhere else.
Why? Because whatever I do to attempt to stop the transition will be much less effective on obtaining quality of life improvements for myself and my loved ones than moving somewhere else. And that’s not even going into the risks of attempting to get between a potential dictator and their power.
Votes are individually irrelevant. Protests are ignored, even if massive. Opinions and relevant facts to change opinions are lost in a sea of extremely well funded narrative-affirming propaganda. Civil disobedience will get you nothing but legal trouble. Strikes are broken.
Let’s be real. There is nothing that can be done, realistically, as an individual without an extraordinary amount of political capital, money or military influence.
Anything short of a huge chunk of the armed forces organizing an armed coup is completely irrelevant.
The only realistic solution is jumping ship.
And what country is going to accept mass political refugees from the USA?
You make it sound like that’s an easy option that everyone has.
I believe I was asked what I personally would do and USA was never mentioned.
That’s fair. I feel really frustrated that I can see what’s happening and have what feels like no options at all to deal with it.
I can understand your frustration and I’m sorry you’re going through this.
I’ve seen my country fall apart too and it ain’t no picnic. Reason why my answer is what it was.
Have you successfully left a country in the past under similar circumstances (if I’m understanding correctly)? Sounds like an interesting story, if so.
Well, not me, but some family members left during the Pinochet years (I’m Chilean). I have a Venezuelan friend living in Madrid who left during Chavez too, and know a few other cases.
The thing about dictatorships is that they can come in any flavor.
I guess, it depends on the dictatorship. For example if it’s the one being formed in the US currently, here are some ideas: https://theintercept.com/2024/11/14/trump-agenda-organize-protest-movement/
