Trumpland and the Need for Resistance

At a time when the whole world seems to be unravelling, or going mad, I'm not really interested in hearing from those trying to explain how we got to this nightmarish Trumpland.

Because for me at least, the explanation couldn't be simpler or more obvious.

And this little video sums it up well.

How did Donald Trump win the election?

Turns out, apathy, white voters, and swing states pretty much lined up to hand Trump the presidency. pic.twitter.com/uxJIIfOlmc

— Fusion (@Fusion) November 16, 2016

Not enough progressives bothered to vote, and too many wasted their votes on third parties. Because in their little minds Clinton was worse than Trump.

You know, like the losers in this country who are always wailing "Trudeau is worse than Harper WAAAAH!!! And would deliver us unto the Cons with apples in our mouths.

And while that is depressing, there's nothing we can do about that now. As Obama said the other day not voting has consequences. And so does idiocy.

But who I am interested in hearing from, are those who can explain to those dolts the situation we now find ourselves in thanks to them. 

As Andrew Sullivan does here. 



This is now Trump’s America. He controls everything from here on forward. He has won this campaign in such a decisive fashion that he owes no one anything. He has destroyed the GOP and remade it in his image. He has humiliated the elites and the elite media. He has embarrassed every pollster and naysayer. He has avenged Obama. And in the coming weeks, Trump will not likely be content to bask in vindication. He will seek unforgiving revenge on those who dared to oppose him. 

A country designed to resist tyranny has now embraced it. A constitution designed to prevent democracy taking over everything has now succumbed to it. A country once defined by self-government has openly, clearly, enthusiastically delivered its fate into the hands of one man to do as he sees fit. After 240 years, an idea that once inspired the world has finally repealed itself. We the people did it.

While also explaining the urgent need for resistance.

We will need to march peacefully on the streets to face down the massive intimidation he will at times present to a truly free and open society. We have to hold our heads up high as we defend the values of the old republic, even as it crumbles into authoritarian dust. We must be prepared for nonviolent civil disobedience. We must transcend racial and religious division in a movement of resistance that is as diverse and as open as the new president’s will be uniform and closed.

Or as Owen Jones writes, the need for an all out war of attrition. 



His ghostwriter has called him a “sociopath” whose presidency risks “the end of civilisation”. He is appointing extremists to the White House: in a call for vigilance to the American people, Republican strategist John Weaver declared that “the racist, fascist extreme right is represented footsteps from the Oval Office”.

As John Oliver puts it, Trump being president “is not normal”, and his rule should never be normalised. His opponents should refuse to accept the legitimacy of this president and – like Republicans have done before – refuse to co-operate and begin a nonviolent war of political attrition.

Jones also explains, as I have tried to do, why this is not just an American problem, but a global problem.

The problem is the entire world is now subject to the writ of the leader of the last superpower. We are all, to a degree, under his dominion. The American people have a struggle on their hands, not just to preserve their democracy and republic, but to fight for the rest of us, too. There is a long tradition of marching in solidarity with people in foreign countries standing against their own rulers.

And that we must all do what we can to support and help progressive Americans resist that fascist monster.

And in that regard I'm really glad to see that hundreds of thousands of protesters are already marching all over America...



And that many of them are high school students...



Who have been walking out of schools to join the protests in the streets like they never have before.

Which couldn't be more moving...

Girls:"My body! My choice!"
Boys: "Her body! Her choice!"
Students schooling Republicans.
Nicely done!#dcpswalkout pic.twitter.com/tU4udl6bni

— Very Serious People™ (@TheXclass) November 15, 2016

Those who couldn't vote are setting an example for those who could but didn't.

And since they are the future, we can be sure that the future belongs to us.

In the next few days and weeks I will try to come up with ways we can help our good neighbours in their epic battle for democracy and decency.

And ask you for your suggestions.

For it is our struggle too. The survival of the planet is at stake.

And we are all The Resistance...