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A fun (unfortunately) thought experiment to help in these times [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-02-09
Hi all,
I am enjoying the shadenfreude at the moment with Republicans experiencing FAFO, and particularly those who are asking others (I would guess...Dems??) to help them save their farm, stop their family from being deported, help them not have grants cut off etc.
All of these are Trump voters who are regretting their decision.
And one thing is (very unfortunately) for sure, that there will be more and more of these. It has just started.
Each Trump supporter will come to this moment in their own time. Tomorrow, next week, next month.
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There has been a mental illness sweeping across the country, exported to the world, and it is this: only if something effects me, do I give a sh1t. It is not classed as one, and is aggressively pushed by RW actors.
Now, they are getting punched in the face and it is hurting.
That many are asking their ‘subhuman opponents’ (us) to come to their rescue, give them comfort etc. is lazy, and does not involve pulling themselves up by their bootstraps for growing a better brain.
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So, we smart people (at least in this instance; I’m not the smartest in other ways!!!) have an upper hand now.
The fact we voted for Kamala gives us a pass on all of this.
And that now people are being coward-punched by Trump/Musk and Co, means that we have an opening into them that we didn’t have before.
We don’t have legal enforcement of our ways, but we have potentially social enforcement….
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WHAT DO I MEAN BY SOCIAL ENFORCEMENT
Maybe not the best term, but stick with me. In indigenous societies, especially in Australia pre-1788 invasion, you do a major wrong and you are cast out from the mob. Depending on what it was, it can be days or weeks. The way back is to admit your actions were wrong, show remorse, say what you will do to rectify it, and act on it. Then the consequence is lifted by the mob.
We have a chance to do that now. We are a tribe of sorts (loosely defined of course).
So here is an idea. A ‘form’ can be drawn up that can be sent to now ex-Trump supporters who are in a world of major financial hurt.
Something like this:
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
a) describe your current situation (financial, social, professional). Include emotions felt such as anxiety, fear, uncertainty, confusion ...
b) describe your current state of thinking about Trump, the billionaires, fellow Trump supporters, and the Republicans.
c) describe what you need from others — Senators to take their call; Go Fund Me; someone to speak to etc.
d) show us the difference in your thinking or state pre-November 5 to now. We need receipts (some post or comment talking about how amazing Trump will be; how he’ll get all dem immigrants, lefties, transfolk….) and show the timestamp from a public forum (X, Facebook etc.). Email sent to friends won’t do enough.
e) show us what you have realised you need to do to change your thinking (that is, dealing with a number of psychological mindsets around ‘this issue doesn’t matter if I’m not affected’, or ‘I only vote for those who help me financially succeed’ etc.). This is important because if this silent or hidden attitude isn’t brought to light and dealt with, they will go back to voting for fascists. Our work will be a waste.
e) how they will join the resistance in meaningful ways that are effective in stopping the administrative coup. We aren’t just a counselling service. They need to state how they will help.
OK, once they get that, we will work to let others know that they have REHABILITATED themselves, and have shown remorse. And we will get them in contact with resistance organizers/ations that they can contribute to. This is their ‘community service’. Their jailtime is their shame and that will last a LOOOOONG time.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
I’m not saying this fixes things, or that they even deserve it more than others. Yes, I understand.
Call this applied empathy with a spine.
We just have a power at the moment that would never have been here had Kamala won.
We have won the moral battle. We have moral authority we can flex openly without too much pushback.
This is a 1:100 year event.
Let’s not waste it.
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Disclaimer: just an idea. Maybe people like it, maybe they don’t. It may be impractical. But what we definitely do have is the higher ground, for obvious reasons.
Thanks for reading.
[END]
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