I think some leftist accelerationists believe that electing Trump will galvanize resistance the way it did 2017-2020. The ways that regular folks joined us, marched, and actually paid attention to things besides soccer practice was legit heartening and often helpful. I'm thinking about popular demonstrations against the migrant camps, organizing Covid relief and mutual aid, and generally saying "fuck this guy and his policies."
But if Trump returns, none of that shit is going to happen.
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Those would-be allies might conclude that all that resistance was for nothing, and give up. Especially if he wins an outright majority.
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Trump is pretty open that he intends to use violence against his political opponents, and this time he likely won't be constrained by any sort of deep state. Especially if he wins an outright majority.
That's my thinking, but any accelerationists want to tell me where I'm wrong?
can you expand on this assertion?
There are reports that Trump, while president, wanted to shoot protestors. Reports say that Trump toned down his requests "after Attorney General William Barr and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley pushed back on his initial request." There are similar reports about McMaster and other chumps who reined in the absolute worst dogshit instincts of Trump.
I don't think these guys disagreed with Trump because they're good people with good values. I think they did it because they're authoritarians who got high on the pop Americana of Top Gun and Air Force One and believe America Is Freedom, and "You don't shoot people who are protesting*" is one of those freedoms. Or, at the very least, it's supposed to distinguish us from the international foes that these guys have always whined about.
(*Depending on who is protesting and what they even count as a protest. But I have been to dozens of protest marches, I was just at a Gaza march with thousands of people in New York, and I've never once worried about being shot for holding a sign and chanting.)
It's worth noting that a lot of these guys, like Milley, predated Trump's time in office. I think part of the reason Trump kept these guys around is because he straight-up sucks at hiring. This report highlights the difficulties of passing his loyalty test, but I recall another one (I can't find it now) that said that during the transition, the Trump team was shocked to learn that they had to hire hundreds of people. They thought everyone came with the office. Trump was so inexperienced at it that he ended up asking Obama for advice.
None of that is the case the second time around. The folks who stay on do it knowing what Trump wants, and knowing that he'll be empowered to get it. And unlike 2016, there's a plan. Project 2025 has been vetting people for civil service roles, and Schedule F means that Trump could effectively sideline or fire any civil servants who want to slow-walk his agenda. The Supreme Court has already given him the greenlight with the Trump v. U.S. ruling. And, just earlier today, Trump again spoke of deploying the military against his political foes. No one who is joining this administration is doing it because they have some Jerry Bruckheimer view of America's freedom. They all know the score this time around.
There's one more reason that Trump's hands were partially tied during his admin. Pema Levy at Mother Jones wrote about it in the context of January 6, but I think it applies to his administration generally:
Trump has never won a popular vote. If that were to change-- if he were to win the election by a majority, rather than just by picking up electoral votes in our shitty system-- then I can't think of a single thing that would stop Trump from getting everything he wants. The small measures of freedom that some people in this country have eked out (the right to form a union, or protest, or publish criticism of the government), the launching pad from which most of our other freedoms and liberties have advanced or been protected, would be totally wiped out, and there would be no one to stop it.
I hope the prosecutor promising to reinforce the genocide finds some way to appeal to voters then I guess, no shortage of Americans who will excuse ethnic cleansing so it should be a slam dunk right
I hope we continue to live in a world where you can criticize the powerful
Julian Assange didn't demonstrate that you don't live in that world right now?
Isn't he on a beach right now
After spending a decade trying to avoid prosecution by the American justice department for a crime they say he committed fully outside American jurisdiction, and having to admit to guilt. What a victory for free speech and speaking truth to power.
You know Trump wanted to kill him, right?
I enjoy writing and reading critiques of American power (including yours!) on fora like this one, and I think these spaces are valuable for education, radicalization, and organization. I consider this an example of freedom of speech. I also think we risk losing these freedoms under Trump. Do you disagree?
Of course I disagree, I've just told you that I don't think we really have those freedoms to begin with. Liberals just can't get their brains past the binary of red vs blue. I'm not suggesting Trump is better, I'm suggesting there is no practical difference between the two parties. You know Hillary Clinton wanted to kill Assange too, right? https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/1842885/wikileaks-cites-report-saying-clinton-mulled-killing-assange-with-drones/
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Are you genuinely this fucking stupid or is this a bit?
You seem to still view Trump and his fascist policies as somehow unique, which is understandable for someone without much knowledge of US political history at home and abroad.
The president isn't the soul gem of the US government, the nature and circumstances of the machine means its going to keep being more fascist no matter who you slot in there. To engage with Trump as a unique threat is a waste of energy that only serves power.
Also rights are made up, they'll just fucking kill you the moment you become an inconvenience, like Boogie Smith. If you're not organized, your rights are nothing but soothing hypothetical ideas about how things should be.
So so much this.
Muslim electors at the DNC were physically assaulted by other DNC attendees, one got a concussion, because they were holding signs asking for a ceasefire. They were there to vote for Kamala Harris, but hoping to "push her left". There were no consequences for the aggravated assault. Free to speak and get beaten by other Democrats is a real hell of a turd you've chosen to polish.
he was subjected to solitary confinement for 5+ years...
You literally live in a country where people can be jailed with the justification of 'weaponising free speech'.
The only reason why the core population of Imperial metropoles has not experienced as much silencing as your colonial dominions is that your metropoles do not feel threatened.
In other words, your criticism of the powerful is completely toothless as of currently.