(Thread) Nov 3: What might go wrong? Part III
Part I is here:
Part II is here:
We’re up to #6: Trump will attempt to delegitimize the election.
Part I is here:
Part II is here:
We’re up to #6: Trump will attempt to delegitimize the election.
1/ This can only work if the election is close or if Trump creates so much chaos that most Americans lose confidence in the process.
@selectedwisdom explains that a goal of active measures is to “undermine democracy, to make Americans lose confidence in democratic institutions.”
@selectedwisdom explains that a goal of active measures is to “undermine democracy, to make Americans lose confidence in democratic institutions.”
2/ Link for @selectedwisdom’s quotation:
pbs.org/newshour/show/…
When enough people lose confidence in democratic processes, it’s all over. That’s why Trump is trying so hard to get you to lose confidence.
pbs.org/newshour/show/…
When enough people lose confidence in democratic processes, it’s all over. That’s why Trump is trying so hard to get you to lose confidence.
3/ On the bright side, the polls right now are not indicating a close race. (That could change and bring us to my #1 worry, here:
)
Make sure the election will not be close by getting busy. see my To Do List here: terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
)
Make sure the election will not be close by getting busy. see my To Do List here: terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
4/ Elections are conducted and monitored locally, and results are certified by Secretaries of State. Once states totaling 270 electoral votes for Biden certify their results, Biden is the president-elect.
Now, notice the synergy between the 6 things we have to worry about:
Now, notice the synergy between the 6 things we have to worry about:
5/ When Trump critics buy into the Strongman Con, they spread the word that OMG Trump and Putin can easily steal this election, which helps Trump delegitimize the election.
When this happens, Trump critics think their vote won't count, so they don't vote, and Trump wins.
When this happens, Trump critics think their vote won't count, so they don't vote, and Trump wins.
6/ And yes, if you go around telling people that Trump has the election fixed and there’s nothing we can do because he and Putin can flip millions of votes and nobody will know YOU WILL DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM VOTING.
Sorry for the all caps 😉
I don't yell often.
Sorry for the all caps 😉
I don't yell often.
7/ There are vulnerable communities that remember when they were kept from the polls. Tell them their votes won’t count and many will believe you.
There is a fine line between healthy concern that motivates people to get involved, and despair-mongering that makes people give up.
There is a fine line between healthy concern that motivates people to get involved, and despair-mongering that makes people give up.
8/ The problem with catastrophizing is if you’re spending your time worrying about unlikely worst-case scenarios, you can't solve the very real problems we have in front of us.
If we’re not solving the real problems we know about, they won’t get solved and Trump will win.
If we’re not solving the real problems we know about, they won’t get solved and Trump will win.
9/ So stay out of what-if rabbit holes.
Here’s how to tell if you’re being led down a rabbit hole. An argument looks like this:
First, X might happen. Then Y could happen. If both of these things happen, we could see B, and then PRESTO: Trump steals the election!
Here’s how to tell if you’re being led down a rabbit hole. An argument looks like this:
First, X might happen. Then Y could happen. If both of these things happen, we could see B, and then PRESTO: Trump steals the election!
10/ See the problem? Speculation piled on hypotheticals removes us from what is actually happening. Stay grounded.
Going down rabbit holes dovetails with Firehose of Falsehoods because when dealing with compound hypotheticals, you’ve left the world of facts.
Going down rabbit holes dovetails with Firehose of Falsehoods because when dealing with compound hypotheticals, you’ve left the world of facts.
11/ Remember: The antidote to fascism is to stay anchored in truth and reality.
I made a webpage called “November 3: What Can Go Wrong," here: terikanefield-blog.com/nov-3-what-mig…
I included the 6 real problems we are likely to face in the next few months that I covered in these 3 threads.
I made a webpage called “November 3: What Can Go Wrong," here: terikanefield-blog.com/nov-3-what-mig…
I included the 6 real problems we are likely to face in the next few months that I covered in these 3 threads.
12/ I made a separate page for the unlikely, catastrophizing questions that I get regularly.
Here it is, with explanations about why these are unlikely: terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
Asking me catastrophizing questions wears me out and makes me testy.
I’m not nice when I’m testy.
Here it is, with explanations about why these are unlikely: terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
Asking me catastrophizing questions wears me out and makes me testy.
I’m not nice when I’m testy.
It's effective.
If we don't want it to happen again, we don't elect a person who brags about breaking laws and cheating.
Elect honorable people and they'll behave honorably.
It's really not hard. But simple explanations bother people.
If we don't want it to happen again, we don't elect a person who brags about breaking laws and cheating.
Elect honorable people and they'll behave honorably.
It's really not hard. But simple explanations bother people.
