The beginning of wisdom is to define things properly and then to call them by their right names. – Asian Proverb
My definition of Influence, which encompasses motivation, inspiration, and call-to-arms, has a much deeper content standard than I hear from people who contend that they are “influencers.” Most of them focus principally on what they say or write. My standard requires the words, said or written, certainly, but also what is actually understood; what is inculcated and used in decision-making; and what perseverant behavioral effects are applied in real world settings.
True Influence in counter to Fascism is imperative today.
“When early Americans wrote things like ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,’ they did not do so to provide bromides for future bumper stickers.”
– Jeffrey Smith
We live in an era of trashy behavior, of slipshod standards, of too much cruelty and too little decency filtering their way throughout society. Old men in politics promote hate and dehumanization while young men in politics celebrate Hitler and joke about gas chambers and rape. – Peter Wehner
Reports about Fascists’ despicable behavior flood the media and continue to terrify and enervate the people. While fear can enervate, it can also motivate to action. However: “When people live in a time of maladjustment, when there is tension and disequilibrium, many become unbalanced themselves….” – Einstein
Consequently, we need a new kind of leader who can inspire, energize, motivate, and galvanize citizens of great demographic diversity to instrumental actions and perseverance.
Every time you read or hear an axiom from living influencers that attacks America’s Fascists, especially political campaigners, ask them about “action steps” they recommend that will remedy America’s current condition as a fascistized dictatorship. Currently, media and Internet messages about Trumpists’ activities are simply more of the same and may be informing the public of the weakness and incompetence of the loyal opposition – the Democratic Party.
If you cannot address the query directly to the alleged influencers and pundits themselves, ask yourself, first, what can and must be done, and what you can do; and then ask the same of your associates. We know all we need to know about the intentions of the Fascists now ruling America. Simply telling Americans that our domestic enemies are continuing their assaults on democracy is not helping.
Clearly, whatever our alleged advocates for Democratic Principles have been doing has not been working – Trump was elected twice. The looming threat of further eradication of America’s freedoms as embodied in the avowed objectives of Trump and his acolytes make it known. Therefore, we should not simply keep doing the same old things and expect better results – this, as Einstein said, defines insanity.
The only title in our democracy superior (e.g., more powerful) to that of President is the title of American Citizen. – Louis Brandeis
I MUST REPEAT: The people’s electoral power, 190 million Americans who did not select Trump in 2024, unmarshalled and unweaponized as yet even by the Constitution’s allegedly authentic advocates, e.g., the Democratic Party leaders, includes the 111 million 2024 self-disenfranchisers, and those who selected Harris and Others, as well as true Republicans who are now disenchanted by Trump’s assault on America.
We who study history, international relations, and comparative politics are never surprised when those who clamor most loudly that we must smash and destroy current systems – the opposition party — are later found among the leaders in a new system of oppression – or as beneficiaries of the status quo.
Although Trump was sent packing in 2020 because of an unprecedented increase in voters between presidential elections, 17.1 million, there remained in place the permanent bureaucracy; the career politicians in both parties; the very well-heeled lobbying system; the military-industrial complex; and the obdurate financial power elites — America’s REAL rulers. The clown left town but the circus stayed around.
Complacent citizens went home after the election, congratulating ourselves and claiming that we had done our job — so let Biden and Harris do the rest to make America into a full Democracy.
In the 2024 election, 111 million voter eligible Americans self-disenfranchised; and, as a consequence, Fascists came back to power in DC with an even greater capacity to create a Trump Monarchy. We reelected a man who ushered in an era of massive assaults against Democratic institutions, an increase of the most heinous of crimes and violence against specific groups of American citizens, and a clear fostering of Fascism. The self-disenfranchisers were more responsible for the return of Trump than the 77 million who voted for him.
Democracy’s advocates — James Madison’s “… considerate and best friends of the Constitution” — must become True Influencers and not allow the positive November 4 election outcomes to result in the usual post-election indifference syndrome, such that the 2026 Midterm voting pattern further empowers Trumpists.
