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Some people don’t want to impeach, or nominate a woman, because they don’t want to rile up Trump and his base.
I would urge them to read the first words of the first chapter of @TimothyDSnyder’s “On Tyranny”.
I would urge them to read the first words of the first chapter of @TimothyDSnyder’s “On Tyranny”.
@TimothyDSnyder And yes, I understand that people don’t want to do things they think would turn out Trump’s base. But that thinking comes with its own risks. And it breaks the (literal) first rule in the (literal) book on how to deal with a budding autocracy.
@TimothyDSnyder We’re groomed in this country not to rile up the angry white guys. It’s part and parcel of living under white male supremacy. Well, white male supremacy is trying to take us back to full-blown authoritarianism. And authoritarians are fueled by appeasement, even if it’s strategic.
@TimothyDSnyder .@docrocktex26 talks about learned helplessness in this context. In the same vein, @TimothyDSnyder devotes Chapter 1 of “On Tyranny” to the dangers of anticipatory obedience.
@TimothyDSnyder @docrocktex26 None of this is to say we shouldn’t be strategic. We absolutely should be. And it needs to be a strategy that recognizes the nature of the threat we’re facing.
"...We are now under kleptocratic rule, and you need to understand what's happening in the country through a kleptocratic framework in which [traditional political calculations] are not going to apply." - @sarahkendzior
What I'm arguing for is a strategy that reflects and amplifies these weapons: our conscience, our compassion, our refusal to obey in advance. And not just because it would be morally and emotionally rewarding, but because it's what the situation demands.
A lot of you have called out the similarity to dealing with an abusive parent or partner. That’s a really accurate and useful lens to look at this with. I explore it further here -
