It is irrefutably true that America’s leaders who early on were opposed to Trump’s rise underestimated his capacity to become the Supreme Ruler of America, provided, that is, that they really wanted to stop him. However, what was worse and what lent considerable power to his rise was that our opposition leaders were unaware of the extent of latent racism, deep-seated misogyny, weaponized religion, depraved indifference, abysmal stupidity, profound ignorance, the dismal state of American patriotism, and, most particularly, they were ignorant of the number of Americans who held a strong spiritual attachment to the Philosophy of the Confederate Nation. The prevalence of Confederate flags during Trump’s fomented but failed coup attempt was all the evidence I needed.
I remain unconvinced that too few “influencers/leaders” in the “Opposition Party” are knowledgeable of and confident in the fact that the majority of the Americans among the self-disenfranchisers, 111 million in 2024, are “Democrats” or lean toward the Democratic Party. Moreover, a meaningful percentage, I am sure, irrespective of party affiliation, are disgusted with the behavior of Trump and his minions; but they are not going to shout it from the rooftops or post it on social media — Stochastic Terrorism has done its job. However, the historic 17.1 million increase in voters who helped evict Trump in 2020 were not all Democrats! The 2025 vote outcome is also evidentiary. I repeat again and will repeat again and again: The Trumpists know this and that is why they are doing all they can to prevent a fair election.
We need more Patriotic Political Statespersons — Public Servants, as opposed to Professional Politicians — Americans who will come to the fore and follow John Wesley’s advice of more than 250 years ago:
“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them to vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy.”
Wesley said nothing about the “worthy person’s” political parties. The era in which we find ourselves is unprecedented in American history, including the Civil War. In the Civil War, the president of the United States was not the Supreme Leader of our Domestic Enemies.
Consequently, it is not outside the realm of possibility that more Patriotic Political Statespersons will emerge from our decadent American pre-fascist mire and foster efforts by all means possible to complete the Four Step Eviction Process and get America back on the road to complete the Founder’s Unfinished Business.
The real courage is coming from ordinary people on the streets who are facing down Trump’s secret police and brandishing nothing more than cell phones to document the officers’ savage behavior. It may just be that the average citizens who are brave enough to fight for their prerogatives to pursue life, liberty and happiness are the honorable leaders Plato believed were the only ones capable of running a virtuous state. If so, this suggests that while democracy may have its weaknesses, it is also the best hope for saving itself. — Heather Digby Parton
Leaders at the local levels who are in direct contact with the people must line up openly with the people and convince them that they can turn the essence of marches, petitions, polls, boycotts, etc., into effective, perseverant action steps that can save America from Fascism, indeed, it is the only thing that can.
Some believe that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I’ve found. I found that it is the small things. Every day deeds by ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. –Gandalf
The transformation we need will necessitate face-to-face, on-going interactions to convince deceived Americans, those who have been told and shown for centuries that their votes don’t matter, of the awesome, amplifying power of single votes. In 2016, 112,000 votes put Trump in power, which he has not relinquished, but which constituted only 0.03% of the US population and 0.043% of Americans 18 and over. About 12 million eligible Black voters did not vote in 2016; and 73%, or 52 million adults between 18 and 30 years of age, the single largest group of adult Americans, did not vote in 2016.
In addition to the “ordinary folk,” we have to convince the economic elites that they will not lose their economic places at the top of the socio-economic hierarchy. The proper change in society does not constitute a ZERO-SUM scenario — the people at the bottom will be better off in a just society because the economy and, thus, the people, will be stronger, not because of a “Robinhood” effect.
What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sirs, deceive ourselves longer. – Patrick Henry
