Something I’ve experienced traveling around the state is that there is a palpable fear of even letting your friends know you are a Democrat, or even in line with what Democratic politicians are doing. There’s vandalism that takes place here, and people are scared of that. Having your yard sign stolen or your flag taken down is one thing, but having your car keyed or trash left in your yard, that’s another. I know people who have been harassed after they are outed as a Democrat, and then people give them trouble. People hear those stories. They’re not fake. They’re not made up. I’ve seen and heard some really ugly language.
I’m not a Dem (I’m a Leftists), but this pretty much sums it up. The Right plays dirty. They aren’t bound by any sense of decency. I’d say the only way we can beat them is to respond with our own violence (which I, personally, detest). I don’t see us beating them because they don’t believe in rules of engagement. Sorry to be so demoralizing in this post.
Resorting to your own violence is exactly what the far right wants you to do. They love that. They will always be as horrible as they can possibly be about everything and then the second you sink to their level they will begin howling and screeching that they’re being treated unfairly. It’s exactly what Trump did and has done since he first ran for president. The only way to fight back is to call them on their bullshit and try to stay civil and work within the law. REMEMBER, THEY WANT YOU TO FIGHT DIRTY BECAUSE IT WILL ONLY GIVE THEM MORE POWER
If they use the law to take power staying within the law is no longer the moral or necessary path.
But for the party of law and order, your violation of it is justification to continue to take more power and to be more militaristic.
They don’t care about justification
This is not as solid advice as you think. History has shown the only time the status quo is rewritten is when the common people have banded together to hold their rulers accountable. Civility is only saved from villains under the watchful eye of a Nimean Lion. To throw away your anger is to be consumed by apathy.
I never said to “throw away your anger” I just mean that the right wants everyone else to sink to their level. There is a huge difference between defending yourself versus allowing someone to mold you into everything you claim to be against.
We must do more than just defend ourselves. The rot is too deep. We can’t defend against every Republican action perfectly; we must fight back to restore the balance, or more.
You’re just going to play into their game because violence and cheating is THEIR GAME. They’ve been doing it for so long that they’re pretty much always going to win when we go that route. There has to be a better solution somewhere between “doing nothing” and “mass violence and anarchy in the streets”
Maybe, why don’t you present one with supporting evidence of its efficacy?
Because from where I’m sitting the answer is definitely violence, it has always been violence, and it will always be violence. The only choice is whether that is structural violence being monopolized by the state, vigilantism by factional groups, or mass uprising by the proletariat.
No matter how you slice the pie, violence is a part of 100% of the social evolution of society. You will not be able to provide a single example to the contrary because it does not exist.
Congratulations, you sound just like the MAGA idiots in the January 6th insurrection
🥳
Wow, an ad hominem argument…what a surprise. While you may not like the ethical implications of what I said (I don’t either for the record), you would he hard pressed to argue against it.
So, again, I ask you to tell me how you think the system has or will change without violence being a main deterministic factor?
My own perception is that they’ll accuse you of treating them unfairly and twist or make things up anyway.
It’s the same as in a strategy game: if you only defend, you may have a better position against the opponent, but all the battles happen in your home base and all the damage that occurs will be to your buildings and soon the opponent will control the playing field.
I think the only way to turn this around is to, well, actually turn it around. Make it as natural as saying “hello” to dunk on conservatives. Make fun of them. Blame them for everything under the sun (and chances are you’re right). Revive the RWNJ insult (“Ring-Wing Nut Job,” used during the Occupy days). Wear t-shirts with anti-conservative slogans, go loud, that’s what I think would turn the tide.
Those people are not in the majority, yet nobody dares to speak up, so they feel untouchable. It’s pretty telling how quickly the become butthurt and cry foul at the tiniest sign of resistance.
If they have decided to do violence, your refusal to do the same will not stop them. Obviously don’t antagonize,v threaten or bluster, but don’t delude yourself into thinking they’ll leave you and yours alone if you just play nice.
Or, to quote someone a lot better with words than I am,
Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.
Self defense is not “resorting” to violence, it is self defense, a protected right included in state constitutions like Pennsylvania. Some may rightly argue that it is a civic duty.
That’s not really that true.
Living in Portland, far right mobs used to come in and stir shit (while their police buddies stood aside and smirked) until the city collectively drove them out. It was ugly but we’ve been proud boy free for the last 2-3 years.
Sometimes violence is the answer
I remember reading in a Portland newspaper that the one time antifa didn’t organize a counter-protest, the Proud Boys (many of whom had driven in from out-of-state) started driving around the neighborhoods terrorizing random folks on the street who looked like they might be LGBTQ+. That was a “never again” day for sure.
Yep, the whole Portland situation was a real eye-opener.
Violent prison chain gangers, wife-beaters and bar brawlers, in short, thugs, were bussed into the city nearly every week with the worst intent. Their private chats (leaked via Unicorn Riot) exposed how they planned press-friendly rallies by day and violence by night.
Meanwhile, Fox News and Facebook were radicalizing your rural grandparents over “scary Antifa buses coming into rural neighborhoods to beat people, torch buildings.”
The whole twisted and crooked right wing machine on display right there.