Your and my tribe has at least 70 millions, to say the least, a strong opposition.
As an individual, a small man in a big world, it at first feels overwhelming to face the mailed fist of a wannabe dictatorship.
The following times will tell how effectively the Founders, e.g., in the Federalist Papers, provided against tyranny, which is, after all, the given reason why we separated from the Mother Country, Great Britain, first into thirteen colonies, squabbling among themselves, and ultimately into the United States under the Constitution.
Our biggest test, of course, was the Civil War, which, thankfully resulted in the 14th Amendment -- equality and due process.
Now we face a crisis where white-nationalists speak of civil war -- which seems to be, all the way back to 1860, the default position of white racism.
For now, I am going to continue my support, financially, of the NAACP and the ACLU, and see if there are ways open to me to get involved personally with groups or leadership.
I, too, am looking at the Bar Associations.
I am going to take a close look at the Southern Poverty Law Center.
A very distinguished member of the Opposition is Sherrilyn Ifill.
Sherrilyn Ifill is a great intellectual leader of the Opposition. Sherrilyn Ifill is first cousin to the dear and well-missed Gwen Ifill, God rest her good and cheerful soul -- that brave and grand woman.
Sherrilyn Ifill is Distinguished Professor of Practice at the Law School of Howard University, has delivered speeches at Ivy League schools, is Leader Emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
As I get up wounded from the dismal election, I start looking at Sherrilyn Ifill's thoughts on strength in opposition here:
My focus will be first and foremost on immigrants, because Thomas Homan is a sadistic man who intends to use brute force and gloats in the idea of separating families of immigrants, he is the pervert who designed the thick bureaucracy that yanked crying babies from their immigrant moms and blocked any tracing of the child to the parent, so hundreds were lost in a system with no loved one to protect her from the cold lock-ups and, for some, abuse.
The ACLU and immigration rights groups are those I will look at first.
Peter: We need to build our own spirits, first through loving dearly the persons given to us to love -- our spouse, our child, our friends.
We need to be patient with others who ignorantly, but without malice, voted for the other side.
We need to build our own intellect and spirits, be it through sports, through music, art, literature, philosophy, or the hard sciences.
For in building our own spirits, we gain strength for the fight.
We exist primarily to live.
But to live is also to have integrity in our backbone.
Which means we gather in little villages. Look, I am a blue island in a red sea in a little suburb (Olive Branch, MS) of Memphis -- I live here to be with my grandkids.
But even through this platform, Substack, which mark you is a very imperfect, even faulty platform, but I have met many dear friends here. We can give each other strength and share plans together.
Be careful about Substack. Not all authors are bona fide. There are some far right on the 'Stack, and I have tried, in vain, to raise protest.
Robert Reich, this morning, suggested the following (seems weak against the Steel Structure of Tyranny, but here it is):
"Protecting the vulnerable and preserving our rights and liberties will require a great deal of hard work by people who believe in our Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law. "The work includes:
"Monitoring Trump and his government — despite the disinformation, propaganda, and lies we’ll be receiving — and disseminating the truth.
"Maintaining a watch over the people and institutions we value.
"Being ready to sound the alarm in our communities and networks when those people and institutions are under assault.
"Organizing and mobilizing nonviolent resistance to such assaults.
"Using civil disobedience wherever possible.
"Litigating through state and federal courts where possible.
"Speaking out against malicious lies like those that spread during the election by Elon Musk on his propaganda machine X and against vicious lies amplified on other MAGA mouthpieces.
"Using our economic muscle to boycott corporations that support Trump, Musk, and other centers of MAGA power.
"And much more."
But Sherrilyn Ifill, Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance, Robert Reich, Michael McFaul, Daniel W. Drezner are among the leaders of good, sound people on the 'Stack.
One writer I pay close heed to is CellyBlue, who appropriately has the moniker, "I do know this."
I am slow in gathering the information, Peter, but when I find what I deem reliable, I as one, fallible man, I will share it.
This was almost TL:DR but I did my best! IMO the big realignment followed the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of the mid-1960s, encouraged of course by Nixon's "southern strategy." (Why do I like so many others continue to put that in quotes? Damned if I know.) That also began the slide of the GOP into a party that at first looked like a close cousin to the Southern Democrats of yesteryear then post-Reagan became ever more dysfunctional, anti-democratic, and (dare I say it) fascist.
Compounding this is the general ignorance of the U.S. electorate about how "the economy" works and what forces affect it, i.e., that the president doesn't control it, though government (executive, legislative, and judiciary branches) can influence it, and since the Citizens United decision the judiciary has been influencing it much too much and not in a good way. And critical talk about the economy, including ideas like economic justice, is short-circuited and stifled by cries of socialism! communism! anti-Americanism! That's been going on since at least the late 19th century.
There seems to be widespread agreement that "the economy" was a major factor in the 2024 election, and Trump's victory. Given how limited the electorate's economic knowledge is (I'm being kind here), this is pretty horrifying. Add in how difficult it is to get accurate information about anything, even if you're highly motivated, and it looks even worse.
At 76, I remember everything vividly you wrote HERE and also in your "Dreamers on the Rise."
Your assessment is quite correct.
The Southern Strategy was a perverse movement.
Racial bigotry and violence prompted by incendiary rhetoric and blood libel is a clear and present danger renewed after 2025.
Your observation that the left is denounced with unreasoning cries of "socialism! communism!" is spot on. I have read of this socialist/communist smear occurring in the 1870s or 1880s here in America.
That was a recent item I read, possibly from Heather Cox Richardson, I am not sure now of the source, but it was vivid and stuck in my mind.
So, what we are up against is deeply engrained in WHITE-American culture.
That has EVERYTHING to do with a cheaply won victory achieved only through the obscene appeal to humanity's lowest instincts.
The economy as a factor is interesting.
Plus, I would hear voters -- interviewed in news programs -- say, "Kamala Harris gives outlines, but what are her specific programs . . .?!" --
Really? These voters WONDERED what Kamala Harris' specific programs were, when the outline of her administration was crystal clear, her message signaled the whole direction of a Harris/Walz administration and . . .
The alternative was a flame-throwing racist and would-be tyrant who promises a reign of terror upon immigrants . . .
So these voters were quite enervating.
To me, the ONE issue was the dangerous, incendiary racism of the right, and their total disregard for the Constitutional principles as set out in detail in "The Federalist Papers".
My own Bible is the Constitution and "The Federalist Papers" with guidance from the Social Contract writers John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the late John Rawls ("Theory of Justice" -- an eminent Harvard professor), and reaching back to Polybius' exposition of the Constitution of the Roman Republic in Polybius' history of the Punic Wars.
These are the foundations of a liberal democracy.
We are in a dangerous state when I explained this to loved ones, who then asked me if they had to accept, basically, socialist programs to be in a liberal democracy. Argghh!
Many have no idea what a liberal democracy is.
No WONDER we have millions who succumb to an obscene, incendiary Orange-Racist.
Susanna Sturgis, thank you so very much, not only for your welcome and TRUE thoughts, but also for the beautiful Substack column that you write. I appreciate YOU very much!
‘ And Kamala Harris remains my hope for 2028, for with her, I commit that we shall continue the fight for civil rights and the dignity and equality of each person.’
The Dems have a history of eating their own. So, I do not believe Kamala will make it to nominee in 2028. My best guess is they will nominate a white male.
This coming week, I’m going back to being an independent because the Dems are too passive to do what needs to be down to protect Democracy. That is, DO NOT GIVE TRUMP THE KEYS. Instead, start investigations into Russian corruption of our politics and prosecute offenders for sedition. We will not fight back because of respect for the rule of law when MAGA does not respect the rule of law and have corrupted our entire political and legal structure. Also, with the sickening mentality of the electorate, I’m not sure that even if the Dems fought back they could be effective.
Let’s be realistic. The MAGAs now control all three pillars of government, control education, control media, control the minds of a significant portion of the electorate mired in a cesspool of hate, bigotry, misogyny, ignorance and apathy or aversion towards democracy.
Extreme self interested wealth now controls our country.
Jim Sanders: "Extreme self-interested wealth now controls the country."
Even more so:
A vicious, incendiary racist hatred speaks for the GOP, and, from 2025, as Head of State.
In the 1960s, some Civil Rights leaders balked in impatience at the nonviolence principle, when the neanderthal cops of Birmingham Alabama clubbed skulls with billy-clubs.
Even if I wanted to withhold transfer of power -- which I do not -- Armando is merely a villager in a suburb of Memphis with only the pen as a weapon.
You may well be right that there will be a Darwinian struggle within Democratic leadership to determine who will be the Alpha Wolf in 2028.
But the loss is not the fault of Kamala Harris, who pitched a perfect campaign like JFK in 1960.
Kamala Harris had only 107 days, and I think she did a wonderful job, and I support her.
But I am Darwinian enough to support any leftist Alpha Wolf that would defeat bigotry in 2028.
Liz Gauffreau: You and I and other friends will continue "to make good trouble" in the spirit of the loveable, good John Lewis.
You and I can only do what we can as individuals.
But in the state of Nature, that is enough for any person.
You and I cannot change a nation or a region, but we can be whole persons and inhabit our soul with love of one another, with equal dignity and worth to each person.
I have seen that gain attention in a small community.
Chuang-tzu, a humorous and wise philosopher during the Warring States in China (circa 400 BCE), said that some could lead a nation, others could lead but a small village.
My circle of friends form a small village, but, in the spirit of the wise Chuang-tzu, we sustain our life and love in ourselves and for one another.
"You and I cannot change a nation or a region, but we can be whole persons and inhabit our soul with love of one another, with equal dignity and worth to each person."
Thank you Armand Beede....may your tribe increase
Peter Redoblado: You are very kind.
Your and my tribe has at least 70 millions, to say the least, a strong opposition.
As an individual, a small man in a big world, it at first feels overwhelming to face the mailed fist of a wannabe dictatorship.
The following times will tell how effectively the Founders, e.g., in the Federalist Papers, provided against tyranny, which is, after all, the given reason why we separated from the Mother Country, Great Britain, first into thirteen colonies, squabbling among themselves, and ultimately into the United States under the Constitution.
Our biggest test, of course, was the Civil War, which, thankfully resulted in the 14th Amendment -- equality and due process.
Now we face a crisis where white-nationalists speak of civil war -- which seems to be, all the way back to 1860, the default position of white racism.
For now, I am going to continue my support, financially, of the NAACP and the ACLU, and see if there are ways open to me to get involved personally with groups or leadership.
I, too, am looking at the Bar Associations.
I am going to take a close look at the Southern Poverty Law Center.
A very distinguished member of the Opposition is Sherrilyn Ifill.
Sherrilyn Ifill is a great intellectual leader of the Opposition. Sherrilyn Ifill is first cousin to the dear and well-missed Gwen Ifill, God rest her good and cheerful soul -- that brave and grand woman.
Sherrilyn Ifill is Distinguished Professor of Practice at the Law School of Howard University, has delivered speeches at Ivy League schools, is Leader Emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
As I get up wounded from the dismal election, I start looking at Sherrilyn Ifill's thoughts on strength in opposition here:
https://sherrilyn.substack.com/p/why-are-we-here
My focus will be first and foremost on immigrants, because Thomas Homan is a sadistic man who intends to use brute force and gloats in the idea of separating families of immigrants, he is the pervert who designed the thick bureaucracy that yanked crying babies from their immigrant moms and blocked any tracing of the child to the parent, so hundreds were lost in a system with no loved one to protect her from the cold lock-ups and, for some, abuse.
The ACLU and immigration rights groups are those I will look at first.
Peter: We need to build our own spirits, first through loving dearly the persons given to us to love -- our spouse, our child, our friends.
We need to be patient with others who ignorantly, but without malice, voted for the other side.
We need to build our own intellect and spirits, be it through sports, through music, art, literature, philosophy, or the hard sciences.
For in building our own spirits, we gain strength for the fight.
We exist primarily to live.
But to live is also to have integrity in our backbone.
Which means we gather in little villages. Look, I am a blue island in a red sea in a little suburb (Olive Branch, MS) of Memphis -- I live here to be with my grandkids.
But even through this platform, Substack, which mark you is a very imperfect, even faulty platform, but I have met many dear friends here. We can give each other strength and share plans together.
Be careful about Substack. Not all authors are bona fide. There are some far right on the 'Stack, and I have tried, in vain, to raise protest.
Robert Reich, this morning, suggested the following (seems weak against the Steel Structure of Tyranny, but here it is):
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-will-you-do
"Protecting the vulnerable and preserving our rights and liberties will require a great deal of hard work by people who believe in our Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law. "The work includes:
"Monitoring Trump and his government — despite the disinformation, propaganda, and lies we’ll be receiving — and disseminating the truth.
"Maintaining a watch over the people and institutions we value.
"Being ready to sound the alarm in our communities and networks when those people and institutions are under assault.
"Organizing and mobilizing nonviolent resistance to such assaults.
"Using civil disobedience wherever possible.
"Litigating through state and federal courts where possible.
"Speaking out against malicious lies like those that spread during the election by Elon Musk on his propaganda machine X and against vicious lies amplified on other MAGA mouthpieces.
"Using our economic muscle to boycott corporations that support Trump, Musk, and other centers of MAGA power.
"And much more."
But Sherrilyn Ifill, Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance, Robert Reich, Michael McFaul, Daniel W. Drezner are among the leaders of good, sound people on the 'Stack.
One writer I pay close heed to is CellyBlue, who appropriately has the moniker, "I do know this."
I am slow in gathering the information, Peter, but when I find what I deem reliable, I as one, fallible man, I will share it.
So, dear friend, stay tuned!
This was almost TL:DR but I did my best! IMO the big realignment followed the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of the mid-1960s, encouraged of course by Nixon's "southern strategy." (Why do I like so many others continue to put that in quotes? Damned if I know.) That also began the slide of the GOP into a party that at first looked like a close cousin to the Southern Democrats of yesteryear then post-Reagan became ever more dysfunctional, anti-democratic, and (dare I say it) fascist.
Compounding this is the general ignorance of the U.S. electorate about how "the economy" works and what forces affect it, i.e., that the president doesn't control it, though government (executive, legislative, and judiciary branches) can influence it, and since the Citizens United decision the judiciary has been influencing it much too much and not in a good way. And critical talk about the economy, including ideas like economic justice, is short-circuited and stifled by cries of socialism! communism! anti-Americanism! That's been going on since at least the late 19th century.
There seems to be widespread agreement that "the economy" was a major factor in the 2024 election, and Trump's victory. Given how limited the electorate's economic knowledge is (I'm being kind here), this is pretty horrifying. Add in how difficult it is to get accurate information about anything, even if you're highly motivated, and it looks even worse.
Susanna J. Sturgis: You said everything quite well, and I totally agree.
I love the beauty of power of YOUR writing here:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-150919023
I was very moved by:
https://susannajsturgis.substack.com/p/dreamers-on-the-rise
At 76, I remember everything vividly you wrote HERE and also in your "Dreamers on the Rise."
Your assessment is quite correct.
The Southern Strategy was a perverse movement.
Racial bigotry and violence prompted by incendiary rhetoric and blood libel is a clear and present danger renewed after 2025.
Your observation that the left is denounced with unreasoning cries of "socialism! communism!" is spot on. I have read of this socialist/communist smear occurring in the 1870s or 1880s here in America.
That was a recent item I read, possibly from Heather Cox Richardson, I am not sure now of the source, but it was vivid and stuck in my mind.
So, what we are up against is deeply engrained in WHITE-American culture.
That has EVERYTHING to do with a cheaply won victory achieved only through the obscene appeal to humanity's lowest instincts.
The economy as a factor is interesting.
Plus, I would hear voters -- interviewed in news programs -- say, "Kamala Harris gives outlines, but what are her specific programs . . .?!" --
Really? These voters WONDERED what Kamala Harris' specific programs were, when the outline of her administration was crystal clear, her message signaled the whole direction of a Harris/Walz administration and . . .
The alternative was a flame-throwing racist and would-be tyrant who promises a reign of terror upon immigrants . . .
So these voters were quite enervating.
To me, the ONE issue was the dangerous, incendiary racism of the right, and their total disregard for the Constitutional principles as set out in detail in "The Federalist Papers".
My own Bible is the Constitution and "The Federalist Papers" with guidance from the Social Contract writers John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the late John Rawls ("Theory of Justice" -- an eminent Harvard professor), and reaching back to Polybius' exposition of the Constitution of the Roman Republic in Polybius' history of the Punic Wars.
These are the foundations of a liberal democracy.
We are in a dangerous state when I explained this to loved ones, who then asked me if they had to accept, basically, socialist programs to be in a liberal democracy. Argghh!
Many have no idea what a liberal democracy is.
No WONDER we have millions who succumb to an obscene, incendiary Orange-Racist.
Susanna Sturgis, thank you so very much, not only for your welcome and TRUE thoughts, but also for the beautiful Substack column that you write. I appreciate YOU very much!
‘ And Kamala Harris remains my hope for 2028, for with her, I commit that we shall continue the fight for civil rights and the dignity and equality of each person.’
The Dems have a history of eating their own. So, I do not believe Kamala will make it to nominee in 2028. My best guess is they will nominate a white male.
This coming week, I’m going back to being an independent because the Dems are too passive to do what needs to be down to protect Democracy. That is, DO NOT GIVE TRUMP THE KEYS. Instead, start investigations into Russian corruption of our politics and prosecute offenders for sedition. We will not fight back because of respect for the rule of law when MAGA does not respect the rule of law and have corrupted our entire political and legal structure. Also, with the sickening mentality of the electorate, I’m not sure that even if the Dems fought back they could be effective.
Let’s be realistic. The MAGAs now control all three pillars of government, control education, control media, control the minds of a significant portion of the electorate mired in a cesspool of hate, bigotry, misogyny, ignorance and apathy or aversion towards democracy.
Extreme self interested wealth now controls our country.
Jim Sanders: "Extreme self-interested wealth now controls the country."
Even more so:
A vicious, incendiary racist hatred speaks for the GOP, and, from 2025, as Head of State.
In the 1960s, some Civil Rights leaders balked in impatience at the nonviolence principle, when the neanderthal cops of Birmingham Alabama clubbed skulls with billy-clubs.
Even if I wanted to withhold transfer of power -- which I do not -- Armando is merely a villager in a suburb of Memphis with only the pen as a weapon.
You may well be right that there will be a Darwinian struggle within Democratic leadership to determine who will be the Alpha Wolf in 2028.
But the loss is not the fault of Kamala Harris, who pitched a perfect campaign like JFK in 1960.
Kamala Harris had only 107 days, and I think she did a wonderful job, and I support her.
But I am Darwinian enough to support any leftist Alpha Wolf that would defeat bigotry in 2028.
Hey, I think Kamala did a wonderful campaign. This country failed her and reflects how darkness that has always been present has mushroomed.
Thank for the historical context for where we are right now. I hope your final paragraph comes to pass.
Liz Gauffreau: You and I and other friends will continue "to make good trouble" in the spirit of the loveable, good John Lewis.
You and I can only do what we can as individuals.
But in the state of Nature, that is enough for any person.
You and I cannot change a nation or a region, but we can be whole persons and inhabit our soul with love of one another, with equal dignity and worth to each person.
I have seen that gain attention in a small community.
Chuang-tzu, a humorous and wise philosopher during the Warring States in China (circa 400 BCE), said that some could lead a nation, others could lead but a small village.
My circle of friends form a small village, but, in the spirit of the wise Chuang-tzu, we sustain our life and love in ourselves and for one another.
This is what I'm taking with me to hang on.
"You and I cannot change a nation or a region, but we can be whole persons and inhabit our soul with love of one another, with equal dignity and worth to each person."