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Will The USA Survive March? [1]

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Date: 2025-02-18

On March 12 the budget expires. Both sides expect a legislative fight over shutting down the government. Democrats see it as their only leverage. I disagree. They have no leverage at all. The GOP has no losing scenarios. No matter what happens, they will benefit.

Lets “game out” some situations to show you what I mean.

1. There is a shutdown, and it’s never reversed. The US defaults within a few weeks, an emergency is declared, and the fascist takeover is completed instantly.

2. There either is a shutdown that’s reversed or there isn’t one at all, but in the process the GOP extracts massive concessions from Congressional Democrats to make it happen. The dismantling of our government continues apace, but now with a veneer of Congressional approval. Separation of powers arguments court cases are defeated and the sole remaining guard rail of democracy is removed. The fascist takeover becomes inevitable, and also gains a huge boost to it’s chances of success. This is incredibly likely. Democrats care about keeping the government running; the fascists don’t. They won’t be the ones to fold.

3. The budget situation is resolved with a clean continuing resolution. The fascist takeover in the Executive Branch continues, exactly as it is now. They gain no ground, but also lose none. Although it does give us more time to fight, and that’s worth something. That makes this the best possible outcome, but it’s also incredibly unlikely. The GOP have no reason to agree to this. Every other outcome achieves their goals even faster. Yet even they do agree to this, they still win, because it does nothing to stop the takeover already in progress in the Executive.

In other words the best possible outcome is still a loss. So what do we do when there are no winning plays?

Play a different game.

Democrats must use the shutdown to call for an Article V Constitutional Convention. Any changes made the Convention must still be ratified by 2/3 of the states, so this is an end-run around the fascists. Bypass the captured Executive branch, bypass the captured Judicial branch, and bypass the dysfunctional Legislative branch. Take this fight for our nation directly to the states themselves. Remind everyone that the United States is made up of STATES. As it was at the nation’s founding, as it has been through it’s history, and as both sides seem to have forgotten. Not all of those states will be on our side, but 2/3 is a high bar to clear. They will also suddenly be faced with their own self interest, instead of the Party interest. The political calculus will change. For good or ill, this is how America was made. If we have any chance to save it, it is by going back to it’s Constitutional roots.

The risks are incredibly high; we could lose the entire Constitution, or end up Balkanizing the nation. Or will we? We are losing that Constitution anyway. The courts have no teeth and are being ignored, the 3 branches have all failed in their duty. Continuing forward is just as likely to lead to the above outcomes as a Convention is, if not more so. All that remains is the illusion that government still functions as we are accustomed. There is nothing left to lose.

So I say go for broke. If the nation’s life is on the line, act like it. In case of emergency, break glass. This option was written into the Constitution for a reason. Now is our last chance to use it.

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[1] Url: https://dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/18/2304616/-Will-The-USA-Survive-March?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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