photo Trump announces right-wing immigration hardliner will serve as "border czar" Trump, who has promised to implement the largest deportation operation in US history, announced that Tom Homan, his former acting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, will serve as "border czar" in his incoming administration. In addition to overseeing the southern and northern borders and "maritime, and aviation security," the MAGA cult leader said Homan will take lead on rounding up millions of immigrants and sending them...somewhere else? Homan, whose appointment does not require Senate confirmation, claimed the military would not be involved in Trump's mass deportation plans and that ICE would move to implement the operation in a "humane manner," whatever that means.

Take Action: Tell Republicans in Congress: Hands off our Obamacare!

photo VIDEO OF THE DAY: Breaking news on big Supreme Court shake up Justice Sonia Sotomayor, 70, is currently expected to remain on the Supreme Court, despite uncertainty about when Democrats will control the White House and Senate again after January 20, 2025. Brian Tyler Cohen discusses what's truly at stake and spells out the sobering truth: the only thing worse than a 6-3 conservative supermajority is a 7-2 conservative supermajority.

Take Action: Demand Congress reform the Supreme Court!

photo Elon Musk busted in ILLEGAL vote-buying operation MoveOn: Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, gave more than $75 MILLION to elect Trump and attempted to give away $1 MILLION a DAY through Election Day to registered voters in key battleground states like Pennsylvania in efforts of boosting voter registration in favor of Trump. This is outrageously illegal and he must be held accountable. Will you sign the petition to demand the Department of Justice investigate Elon Musk for his flagrant efforts to buy votes?

Right-wing claims that millions of noncitizens would illegally vote evaporated after Trump’s win Huh. So no massive vote fraud, eh? Well, at least the baseless fearmongering served its purpose and helped put the MAGA cult leader back in power.

Elon Musk jumps right into GOP Senate leadership battle by attacking one contender as the "top choice of Democrats" The world's richest ketamine enthusiast wasted little time meddling in the internal affairs of the Republican Party he just bankrolled back into power. Having helped secure a second Trump presidency with hundreds of millions of his own Monopoly money, Musk clearly intends to seek a return on his investment. The nüTwitter head twit put his finger on the proverbial scales and brandished John Thune, the current GOP #2 in the Senate, the "top choice of Democrats" and threw his support behind Florida's Rick Scott, a rubber stamp of a senator fully committed to doing all of Donald's bidding, no questions asked.

Take Action: Tax Elon Musk before he becomes a trillionaire!

photo EPA staff fear Trump will destroy how it protects Americans from pollution Uh, yeah. Same. At least the 75+ million people who backed Trump won't have to worry about the alarming health effects and disastrous consequences of their vote, since Republicans breathe different air and drink different water than the rest of us. Oh, wait. Never mind.

Sen. Bernie Sanders says he doesn't support urging Justice Sonia Sotomayor to step down Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday defended keeping Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the Supreme Court, after some Democrats have reportedly considered pressuring her to step down while President Joe Biden is still in office. "No," Sanders said, when asked by Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker whether he thinks Sotomayor, who is 70, should step down from her post while Biden can nominate a liberal replacement. "I don't think it’s sensible," Sanders said, without elaborating on his position further.

photo How Trump won and where we go from here No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen: Woof.

Nikki Haley informed she’s not welcome back in Trump's second administration Bend the knee, kiss the ring, and kindly see yourself out the door.

California voters reject proposed ban on forced prison labor in any form California voters have rejected a measure amending the state Constitution to ban forced labor in any form. The constitution currently bans it except as punishment for crime. That exemption became a target of criminal justice advocates who are concerned about prison labor conditions. People who are incarcerated are often paid less than $1 an hour to fight fires, clean cells, and do landscaping work at cemeteries. The initiative was included in a package of reparations proposals introduced by lawmakers as part of an effort to atone and offer redress for a history of racism and discrimination against Black Californians. 2024, y'all.

Trump demands Senate streamline his Cabinet picks as recruitment begins The president-elect has demanded the incoming Republican leader in the Senate streamline the temporary approval of his Cabinet appointees, as the MAGA cult leader and his cabal of right-wing extremists plan on wasting zero time implementing a host of policies that will ravage the country. Can't wait to see what incredibly important posts the likes of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk land.

photo

The USA, today

US Air Force backpedals claim it is not responsible for PFAS cleanup in Arizona Democrats hold out hope in Pennsylvania Senate race as Republicans declare victory Fire officials describe harrowing conditions as Southern California wildfire exploded Hispanic radio host tells MSNBC Dems lost Latino men over Harris' gender Trump accusers feel his election win will prevent assault victims from coming forward Trump taps House Rep. Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador The daily planet

Israeli strikes kill dozens in Lebanon and northern Gaza while Netanyahu and Trump speak Israel’s ousted defense minister says the military has done all it can in Gaza Developing world needs private finance for green transition, says COP29 president Satellite images and documents indicate China working on nuclear propulsion for new aircraft carrier Japan’s parliament re-elects Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba despite bruising election result The Taliban will attend a UN climate conference for the 1st time Hope...

Veterans with PTSD making progress thanks to service dog program Positive outlook on aging is linked to feeling sharper mentally, says new study GoodGoodGood: New invention uses animal bones to filter water, promising a nearly "zero cost" solution to water filtration facebook-share Share twitter-share Tweet PS — Please don't forget to sign the petition telling Congress to defend the freedom of the press, and be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Good Influence on Instagram

I have very little ideas about how voting is made secure right now. But it seems like measures could be taken to make voting more secure.

1. One idea, that is not ideal, but seems like it would work, is to just not vote anonymously anymore. Voting records would show who voted for whom, would be public record. You could have a website where people click a box "yes this is who I voted for".

2. Same as 1) only instead of listing names, give voters a random number when voting. Post publically what numbers voted for whom, and have people be able to click a box confirming that is who they voted for (and the website could show which votes have been confirmed.

3. Create a non-partisan committee/agency that investigates voting results.

4. Video records of what people vote for. Not revealing publically who voted for who, but for comparisons sake with investigating committees/agencies.

I feel like I've had a couple better ideas but can't think of any right now. Any other ideas?

Hi from Japan!

Japan ranked 125th out of 146 countries surveyed in the 2022 Global Gender Gap Report (down from 116th the previous year), marking its lowest position ever, making the issue of gender inequality a hot topic!

One might think this would create an ideal environment for feminism to spread, but in reality, feminism has failed to gain widespread support in Japan. In recent years, it has repeatedly faced backlash, to the point where some even whisper of its demise!

What exactly happened to feminism in Japan? In this article, we will analyze the reasons behind feminism's failure in Japan and explore solutions from the perspective of the fifth wave feminism!

What Went Wrong with Feminism?

The reasons why feminism has often sparked controversy and failed to gain support in Japan are believed to be due to the following characteristics!

ELITISM

Elitist feminism is the belief that "awakened" (WOKE) and "updated" progressive feminists should lead and guide women who are not.

Because of this, feminism tends to have a strong skepticism toward democracy, lacking the very notion that it should listen to the opinions of non-feminist women. It is characterized by a fierce disdain for non-feminists, even disregarding basic freedoms and human rights, which are fundamental to democracy, and violating them without hesitation!

Moreover, by declaring that "under male dominance, women are being pitted against each other by the strong (i.e., men)," it denies the capacity to take responsibility of ordinary women and ignores their protests. This disregard for the voices of ordinary women has sparked fierce backlash and contributed to the loss of support for feminism in Japan!

MARXISM

Marxist feminism is the belief that the root cause of the oppression of women is the capitalist economy, and that women will never attain freedom unless the current economic system is fundamentally reformed. It is considered part of the second wave of feminism, with prominent Marxist feminists in Japan including figures such as Chizuko Ueno. It receives enthusiastic support from the Japanese Communist Party!

Marxist feminism is characterized by its disregard for so-called economic freedoms such as property rights and occupational choice. It denies the legitimacy of women striving for success within the capitalist economic structure, viewing it as an endorsement of the system. As a result, it particularly antagonizes female entrepreneurs and working women, and does not hesitate to engage in economic attacks, such as obstructing business operations and threatening employment!

RADICALISM

Radical feminism is the belief in a monolithic theory of sexual domination, which posits that all societal issues can be explained through sexual oppression. It views men as oppressors and sees the interests of women and men as inherently conflicting and adversarial. This ideology is characterized by intense hostility and attacks directed at men, including infants, as well as wives and mothers. Radical feminists also have a strong aversion to and seek to regulate fiction that deals with romantic and sexual themes between men and women, leading to frequent issues of occupational discrimination against manga artists, illustrators, models, talents, and sex industry workers!

Furthermore, radical feminists believe in a conspiracy theory that a patriarchal political system, transcending history and geography, exists to dominate women. They assert that women's liberation can only be achieved through the overthrow of this patriarchal system through struggle. As a result, they are fiercely antagonistic toward the first wave of feminism (liberal feminism), which aimed for positive coexistence and mutual prosperity with men.

ANARCHISM

Feminism has historically rejected organizational structures that involve power dynamics, resulting in the absence of decision-making bodies, consensus-building institutions, enforcement agencies, and self-regulatory mechanisms.

This has led to issues such as the movement's disorientation, waste of resources, the spread of extreme ideologies, and rampant vigilantism and internal conflicts. While significant issues like economic disparities between genders have been neglected, a significant portion of resources has been expended on regulating basic human rights such as freedom of expression, creating an inexplicable situation.

TOTALITARIANISM

Totalitarian feminism is the belief that individual women's sovereignty and accountability should not be recognized, and that individual rights and interests should be controlled to align with the interests of all women.

It is critical of the public/private divide, and does not hesitate to criticize and attack private matters such as romantic relationships, marriage, childcare, clothing, work, use of money, statements, language usage, hobbies, sexual preferences, views, beliefs, opinions, and emotions.

Associated with the second wave of feminism, it is famously represented by the slogan "The personal is political," and is characterized by forming factions that become mob-like and frequently infringe upon women's sovereignty, freedom, and privacy rights!

SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM

Social constructivism is one of the theoretical foundations for expression regulation theories. It is a sociological hypothesis that suggests controlling societal expression, speech, and communication can (re)construct society in a preferable way.

Lacking specific measurement methods, analysis techniques, and research methods, it is highly abstract and not falsifiable, making it more of a philosophical theory than a scientific one. Despite its nature as pseudoscientific superstition, it has been adopted by second-wave feminism and is often used to justify infringements on freedom of expression and thought by totalitarian feminism.

Social constructivist feminism campaigns worldwide to limit freedom of expression. In 2015, it even mobilized the United Nations to demand the abolition of freedom of expression in Japan, demonstrating its strong international influence!

ANTISOCIALITY

Some feminists argue that current laws, social norms, and moral standards are created from a male-centered perspective, and that legislation is a system designed for men as a group to dominate women as a group. Consequently, they tend to question the legitimacy of democratically established laws and social moral codes, showing a lack of respect for the rule of law and minimal willingness to contribute to society. They do not hesitate to engage in antisocial behaviors such as obstructing blood donation campaigns and traffic safety campaigns, as well as criminal activities like vigilantism and defamation!

Proposal of Reiwa Brand New Feminism

Reiwa Brand New Feminism (fifth-wave feminism) is a reform movement that reflects on the failures of feminism in Japan, addresses the issues mentioned above, and aims to tackle unresolved problems such as economic disparities between genders.

It is self-evident that basic human rights, such as freedom of expression and occupational choice, should not be regulated, and that activities such as book and art burning, occupational discrimination, misandry, insults towards mothers and wives, hatred of men, invasions of privacy, collective vigilantism against minors, attacks on livelihoods, disregard for laws, criminal activities like defamation and lynching, and antisocial acts like obstructing blood donation and traffic safety campaigns are unacceptable. However, Reiwa Brand New Feminism proposes specific measures not just to criticize these malicious acts, but to implement effective solutions!

From heresy to orthodoxy. The secret strategies of Reiwa's Latest Feminism are as follows!

https://preview.redd.it/uta1gdc0at2e1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=55b66eac29b83169c68ad2dcae02fc2dabe69137

DEMOCRACY

Reiwa Brand New Feminism will abandon the previous elitism and adopt democracy!

An online parliament will be established on [FEMINISM.JP](https://feminism.jp/)

 where any woman, regardless of nationality or ideology, can register as a voter, integrating the five billion women worldwide into a single political body! This will serve as the highest decision-making body for feminism, operating under the principle of one person, one vote, and aligning feminism with the will of women, thus addressing the current issue where radicals claim to represent all women without consent!

[万国女性議会予定地 | WOMEN'S PARLIAMENT 令和最新版フェミニズムは  FEMINISM.JP  に民主的でバーチャルな万国女性議会を設立すること feminism.jp 令和最新版フェミニズムは  FEMINISM.JP  に民主的でバーチャルな万国女性議会を設立すること feminism.jp](https://feminism.jp/)

We believe that fundamental human rights and freedoms, starting with freedom of expression, are essential requirements for democracy, and we will ensure and strive to expand these rights!

We will break the current situation where feminism is led by ideology rather than public opinion and redefine what it means to be a feminist! In Reiwa Brand New Feminism, feminism will mean the decisions of the World Women’s Parliament, not the feminism ideology, and a feminist will mean a voter of the World Women’s Parliament, not a follower of the feminism ideology! Additionally, we will guarantee secret voting rights and protect voters from harassment and vigilantism by radical activists!

We will also establish a feminist constitution and use constitutional power separation to prevent the abuse of power by elites!

ANANARCHISM

Reiwa Brand New Feminism will organize a government based on the constitution established by the World Women’s Parliament! This government will serve as the executive body of feminism, with the mission of expanding women’s wealth and power according to the decisions of the parliament!

CAPITALISM

Reiwa Brand New Feminism will sever ties with the Communist Party, abandon anti-capitalism, and deter attacks on employment and business operations by Marxist feminists, aiming for genuine prosperity through economic activities!

We will establish a moderate and reasonable capitalist constitution that guarantees economic freedoms, set up a budget for women's economic promotion, solicit business ideas, invest with female capital, and launch countless feminist enterprises! By employing men as labor and distributing stock shares to voters of the World Women’s Parliament, we will elevate women to the capitalist class and reverse the economic disparity between genders within thirty years of the parliament’s establishment!

MODERATISM

Reiwa Brand New Feminism will overcome the hatred towards men and non-feminists characteristic of radical feminism!

We will establish a constitution that respects the basic human rights of men, guaranteeing voting rights to the children of voters, regardless of gender, and recognizing their rights to participate in the World Women’s Parliament and receive dividends from feminist enterprises! Needless to say, it is nearly impossible to later revoke these recognized human rights, much like trying to deprive a specific group of their rights in Japan.

We will also aim to bring benefits, especially economic ones, to the male family members, partners, and friends of voters! This includes preferential and favorable employment at feminist enterprises, discounts on products and services from feminist businesses, and welfare services provided by feminist government entities!

RULE OF LAW

Reiwa Brand New Feminism considers the rule of law to be an essential foundation for a just and fair society and will separate the judiciary to prevent the abuse of power by the parliament and government!

Additionally, we will adhere to the laws and regulations of each country and region, investigate illegal and antisocial activities by feminists, and cooperate with local law enforcement and judicial institutions to crack down on such activities. We will support lawsuits by victims against feminists and work to compensate for the economic and social losses suffered by the victims!

Social Contribution

Our goal is to contribute to society and the world, particularly by providing economic benefits!

We will actively invest in countries and regions with a high number of voters, establish feminist enterprises, and aim to make these regions hubs for women's economic promotion and capital accumulation!

We aim to contribute to regional economic revitalization, create employment, and extend the benefits of women's economic promotion to all residents, not just voters! Additionally, we will build local networks, engage in politics, fund local festivals, and elevate the social status of women in the community!

Would You Like to Become a Reiwa Brand New Feminist?

To advance discussions and preparations for the establishment of the World Women’s Parliament, we are forming the World Women’s Parliament Preparation Committee (tentative) and plan to hold regular meetings!

We kindly invite you to consider joining the "Wara-Wara Dan," the preparatory committee for the establishment of the World Women's Parliament!

Please join us in supporting and expanding women's rights!

【Membership Rights】

• You will have the right to propose topics and vote in our general assembly!
• You will have both the right to vote and the right to stand as a candidate in elections for the chairperson and executive members!

【Membership Qualification】

• You must be a capitalist.
• You must be a democratist.
• Regarding democracy and capitalism, your definitions must conform to those of the World Aspergers' Organization. For more details: https://www.asperger.jp/post/the-three-principles-of-world-aspergers-organization
• You must be a law-abiding person.
• You must comply with the committee's rules: https://note.com/asperburg/n/naa66f6325be5

Reiwa Brand New Feminism is also seeking sponsors! Sponsors will have their names and messages featured on the sponsor page of the future World Women’s Parliament location!

[https://feminism.jp/sponsor.html\](https://feminism.jp/sponsor.html)

Those who wish to participate in this historic project are encouraged to contact us through the comments section at the end of this article!! The preparation committee needs your support, cooperation, knowledge, skills, likes, follows, and financial assistance!!!

Thank you for your reading！If you found it interesting, please upvote, share, comment, crosspost and follow us! : ）

[Sources:]

万国女性議会予定地

[https://feminism.jp/\](https://feminism.jp/)

万国女性議会設立建白書

[https://note.com/asperburg/n/nc0a26b47385b\](https://note.com/asperburg/n/nc0a26b47385b)

令和最新版フェミニズム　～檄文～

[https://note.com/asperburg/n/n5a27acede98e\](https://note.com/asperburg/n/n5a27acede98e)

令和最新版フェミニズムのすゝめ

[https://note.com/asperburg/n/ndd322551417d\](https://note.com/asperburg/n/ndd322551417d)

https://preview.redd.it/usht11usat2e1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=f9de3041cc62da43de6908c0d4ee5422422a6592

It's not racketeering if it's democracy

People who come to this subreddit are often concerned about the state of democracy. As lower case d democrats (people who support democracy), we need to elevate our discussion here and face to face. Right now, our conversations are dominated by doomsday declarations that are essentially a place for our screams to echo into the void with no action or intention.

Democracy is under threat. Democracy must be improved. Further democratization of our systems is very much needed in order to facilitate the survival of our species, planet, and the march to egalitarian society. So instead of posting about how shit’s hitting the fan, I’d invite my fellow democrats on this sub to start naming and debating potential solutions. A popular movement for democracy must elevate itself at this time. So let’s talk about how that might occur, what that might look like, and to what end.

Eat it chumps. The best president in history is back in office in January. Now you all have to get jobs instead of stealing my money from my paycheck.

Our democracy is at stake, please help, if you are US/CANADA citizen, every vote is important

Even 10 votes can write history.

Russian influence almost won the first election. We depend on USA/CANADA for democratic vote!!!

For my Romanian fellows:

https://youtube.com/shorts/zUbpK97VbMY

There is no real democracy in the world. Had any nation had a true democratic system, the citizens of that nation would have a say in the honey pot.

The first and last democratic system was created by pirates and it died with them when England offered universal pardons.

https://preview.redd.it/8bvx0xon3j2e1.png?width=3192&format=png&auto=webp&s=1bbf506c8203e991150651280a7bb887baa512e0

YEAR 1 Under Authoritarianism What to Expect?

1. They will come to power with a campaign based on fear, scaremongering and distorting the truth. Nevertheless, their victory will be achieved through a democratic electoral process. But beware, as this will be their argument every time you question the legitimacy of their actions. They will claim a mandate from the People to change the system.

Remember – gaining power through a democratic system does not give them permission to cross legal boundaries and undermine said democracy.

2. They will divide and rule. Their strength lies in unity, in one voice and one ideology, and so should yours. They will call their supporters Patriots, the only “true Americans”. You will be labelled as traitors, enemies of the state, unpatriotic, the corrupt elite, the old regime trying to regain power. Their supporters will be the “People”, the “sovereign” who chose their leaders.

Don’t let them divide you – remember you’re one People, one Nation, with one common good.

3. They will subjugate state media, turning them into a propaganda tube. Then, through convoluted laws and threats they will attempt to control all mainstream media and limit press freedom. They will ban critical press from their briefings, calling them “liars”, “fake news”. They will brand those media as “unpatriotic”, acting against the People (see point 2).

Fight for every media outlet, every journalist that is being banned, censored, sacked or labelled an “enemy of the state” – there’s no hope for freedom where there is no free press.

4. They will create chaos, maintain a constant sense of conflict and danger. It will be their argument to enact new authoritarian laws, each one further limiting your freedoms and civil liberties. They will disguise them as being for your protection, for the good of the People.

See through the chaos, the fake danger, expose it before you wake up in a totalitarian, fascist state.

5. They will distort the truth, deny facts and blatantly lie. They will try to make you forget what facts are, sedate your need to find the truth. They will feed “post-truths” and “alternative facts”, replace knowledge and logic with emotions and fiction.

Always think critically, fact-check and point out the truth, expose ignorance with facts.

6. They will incite and then leak fake, superficial “scandals”. They will smear opposition with trivial accusations, blowing them out of proportion and then feeding the flame. This is just smokescreen for the legal steps they will be taking towards totalitarianism.

See through superficial topics in mainstream media (see point 3) and focus on what they are actually doing.

7. They will propose shocking laws to provoke your outrage. You will focus your efforts on fighting them, so they will seemingly back off, giving you a false sense of victory. In the meantime they will push through less “flashy” legislation, slowly dismantling democracy (see points 4 and 6)

Focus your fight on what really matters.

8. When invading your liberal sensibilities they will focus on what hurts the most – women and minorities. They will act as if democracy was majority rule without respect for the minority. They will paint foreigners and immigrants as potential threats. Racial, religious, sexual and other minorities will become enemies to the order and security they are supposedly providing. They will challenge women’s social status, undermine gender equality and interfere with reproductive rights (see point 7). But it means they are aware of the threat women and minorities pose to their rule, so make it your strength.

Women and minorities have to be ready to fight the hardest – reminding the majority what true democracy is about – and you must fight together with them.

9. They will try to take control of the judiciary. They will assault your highest court. They need to remove the checks and balances to be able to push through unconstitutional legislation. Controlling the judiciary they can also threat anyone that defies them with prosecution, including the press (see point 3).

Preserve the independence of your courts at all cost, they are your safety valve, the safeguard of the rule of law and the democratic system.

10. They will try to limit freedom of assembly, calling it a necessity for your security. They will enact laws prioritizing state events and rallies, or those of a certain type or ideology. If they can choose who can demonstrate legally, they have a legal basis to forcefully disperse or prosecute the rest.

Oppose any legislation attempting to interfere with freedom of assembly, for whatever reason.

11. They will distort the language, coin new terms and labels, repeat shocking phrases until you accept them as normal and subconsciously associate them with whom they like. A “thief”, “liar” or “traitor” will automatically mean the opposition, while a “patriot” or a “true American” will mean their follower (see point 2). Their slogans will have double meaning, giving strength to their supporters and instilling angst in their opponents.

Fight changes in language in the public sphere, remind and preserve the true meaning of words.

12. They will take over your national symbols, associate them with their regime, remake them into attributes of their power. They want you to forget that your flag, your anthem and your symbols belong to you, the People, to everyone equally. Don’t let them be hijacked. Use and expose them in your fight as much as they do.

Show your national symbols with pride, let them give you strength, not associate you with the tyranny they brought onto your country.

13. They will try to rewrite history to suit their needs and use the education system to support their agenda. They will smear any historical or living figure who wouldn’t approve of their actions, or distort their image to make you think they would. They will place emphasis on historical education in schools, feeding young minds with the “only correct” version of history and philosophy. They will raise a new generation of voters on their ideology, backing it with a distorted interpretation of history and view of the world.

Guard the education of your children, teach them critical thinking, ensure their open-mindedness and protect your real history and heritage.

14. They will alienate foreign allies and partners, convincing you don’t need them. They won’t care for the rest of the world, with their focus on “making your country great again”. While ruining your economy to fulfil their populist promises, they will omit the fact that you’re part of a bigger world whose development depends on cooperation, on sharing and on trade.

Don’t let them build walls promising you security instead of bridges giving you prosperity.

15. They will eventually manipulate the electoral system. They might say it’s to correct flaws, to make it more fair, more similar to the rest of the world, or just to make it better. Don’t believe it. They wouldn’t be messing with it at all if it wasn’t to benefit them in some way.

Oppose any changes to electoral law that an authoritarian regime wants to enact – rest assured it’s only to help them remain in power longer.

And above all, be strong, fight, endure, and remember you’re on the good side of history.

EVERY authoritarian, totalitarian and fascist regime in history eventually failed, thanks to the PEOPLE.

– With love, your Eastern European friends

—

Authoritarian Checklist □ Win elections on fear & populist promises

□ Reclaim power for the People from the “elites”

□ Purge highest positions in key government institutions

□ Place cronies in positions of highest power regardless of their competence

□ Brush off any critical press as “fake”, “corrupt”, “acting against the People”

□ Bluntly lie to the People

□ Ban press from parliament/congress/White House or selectively limit their access

□ Limit press freedom & quietly take control of mainstream media

□ Label opposition & protesters as “traitors”, “elites trying to reclaim power”

□ Limit freedom of assembly

□ Fix highest court to be able to bypass Constitution “for the good of the people”

□ Limit minority & women’s rights

□ Ruin the economy to fulfil your populist promises in the short term

□ Alienate international partners and allies, “making your country great again”

□ Quietly fix electoral law under the disguise of making it better

□ Start over, until there’s nothing left…

– With love, your Eastern European friends.

—

6 RULES for Survival under an Authoritarian Regime Rule 1

Don’t stay indifferent. It WILL concern you eventually. It will concern your family, your friends. Voice your objection IMMEDIATELY. Show them you care. RESIST.

Rule 2

They thrive on FEAR & IGNORANCE. Expose their scaremongering, show flaws in their arguments. Raise awareness, EDUCATE people around you. They will try to distort FACTS, rewrite history. DON’T LET THEM.

Rule 3

Organize protest movements, mobilize civil society. They’re well organized, so should you be. FLOOD THE STREETS. They WILL back off when they see your numbers. They depend on you – the PEOPLE.

Rule 4

Don’t let them DIVIDE you into different classes of citizens, “true Americans”, “patriots” vs “traitors”, “enemies of the state”. You’re ALL citizens, ONE nation, despite different beliefs and ideology. Make your diversity your STRENGTH. Stay TOGETHER for a common goal – survival of your country, of freedom and democracy.

Rule 5

Don’t give up, don’t get tired, and don’t try to wait it out. Don’t hope it will pass. It WON’T. They will manipulate the people, control the media to sway public opinion, fix the electoral system and STAY FOR GOOD.

Rule 6

If you don’t get them to back off or to step down, you better make goddamn SURE that when the next elections come, assuming there’s still any democracy left, NO ONE will vote for the same bastard(s) again!

– With love, your Eastern European friends

—

7 RULES on Approaching Authoritarian Supporters What if your neighbour, friend or family member supports the authoritarian regime?

Rule 1

Don’t look down on them, don’t patronize them, even if you know what they’re saying has no factual basis or you find it offensive. Don’t preach, ask questions. Try to understand them, where they are coming from, what their problems are and why they see solutions to them in the regime. Treat them as people, as equals. They believe what they’re saying is true and they might have valid reasons for their support.

Rule 2

Don’t get emotional, don’t get provoked into heated arguments. Fight the other side’s emotions with your calm, logical approach. The angrier they get, the calmer you should be. They’ll calm down eventually.

Rule 3

Focus on what you have in common. Do you live in the same neighborhood? Do you work in the same company or sector? The smaller the community, the easier it is. Give examples, like “we all need to get this done for all of us, if we don’t cooperate neither of us will have it”.

Rule 4

Use their language, don’t treat it as inferior or below you – don’t seem patronizing (see rule 1). If they curse, curse with them. If they approach you with humor, don’t get angry or uptight about it, reply with humor. Show them you’re actually not that different (see rule 3). As long as you communicate on two different planes, you will never meet.

Rule 5

Don’t block their news sources, don’t turn away from their leaders and authority figures. Treat them as an insight to their worldview and tactics. Use them to your advantage, to better prepare for their arguments. Whenever you don’t agree with something or detect a lie, voice it calmly, expose it with factual arguments.

Rule 6

Pinpoint the practical, negative effects of their side’s actions, ones that affect them directly. Find examples of how they, their families, children or friends will be personally impacted by their policies, or how it will affect your shared community.

Rule 7

If all else fails, don’t turn away, don’t abandon your friends and family, don’t shun your neighbors. Remember, an authoritarian wants to divide you to control you. So invite them over to your BBQ, crack open a beer, and who knows, maybe they’ll realize you’re not so different after all.

– With love, your Eastern European friends.

As the neo-liberal international experiment reaches its inevitable conclusion of corporations pillaging the public sector, Americans will see the monster of transnational businesses take over the rest of FDR's legacy and sell it for parts. Public sector workers from every field will find themselves out of work and ripe for even more exploitation by the oligarchs. These jobs will pay less, have no employment security, and restrict benefits. Loyalty to ideology is now more important than facts or evidence, and truth is now determined by how the most individuals "feel" about it.

The idea of "consent of the governed," while novel in written form in the Declaration of Independence is, by no means, a unique invention of the US's founding documents. Consent of the governed is a law of nature. Time and again throughout history we have seen groups of people rise up and overthrow their rulers: China's Boxer rebellion, Haiti's slave revolt, the October Revolution, the French revolution, etc. "Consent of the governed" is subjective to societal norms, and while it is reductive, it helps to identify ONE PRIMARY motive for mass unrest. In China, the Party gets to stay as long as the people are fed. In Russia, the Czar is safe as long as he doesn't involve the country in any foreign wars. In Germany, people overlook a lot of issues so long as there is bread. So what is the one primary motive to keep the people's consent in the US?

For a long time, I could not identify what "consent of the governed" means for the American character. I was taught and I believed the American myth that we are people that demand "liberty" and "freedom," but with authoritarians in all branches of government, especially the Executive, again and again violating the fundamental civil rights of Americans I have a new conclusion. The primary motive for consent to be governed for Americans is the promise of wealth; the American myth of the self-made man, rising from rags to riches is the essence of the American character.

Americans primary motive for allowing themselves to be ruled instead of represented is the promise from the system that anyone can become wealthy. It does not matter if it is likely or even true, only that it is promised. The first group of Americans to be hoodwinked by this bait-and-switch of "liberty" and "wealth," were the male landowners. Violence and the threat of violence by the state was enough to keep the rest of the population in line. Then as the groups of enfranchised people expanded, they had to be brought into the lie. Freed slaves were indoctrinated into the "liberation" cult of wealth. Women were then added and, of course, they needed to be shown how the real thing that matters in America is productivity and wealth creation. Bit-by-bit, the workers have been divided along lines of race, sex, religion, or ethnicity, instead of class. To have class consciousness in America is to reject the ONE PRIMARY consent of the American character: the promise of wealth.

Democracy is inconsistent with the American character. The answer, however, is not to ditch democracy but rather to revolutionize the American notion of "consent of the governed." Democracy cannot exist within a system that worships wealth and therefore centralized power. As the US's prominence on the world stage is destroyed by the incoming administration, we as Americans must rethink the nature of "consent of the governed," and honestly ask ourselves if a society premised on wealth inequality can ever be one in which everyone is free.

Edit: typo, grammar