this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2024
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I'm feeling so uneasy with everything I've been seeing. I keep thinking about what we will be this time next year, and if shit hits the fan, what is your plan? I'm queer and was politically active in 2020, so I would potentially be considered a political enemy.

The only blueprint I can think of is what you do in an active shooter situation; Flee, Hide, Fight.

I know there's that romantic notion of "don't be a coward, get out and protest", but I remember the brutality of the 2020 protests firsthand, and even then I thought "thank god I'm going toe to toe with the CPD and not the CCP". Next time is going to be different. The president now has authority to send drone strikes. Protests and riots don't stand a chance agains missiles and live rounds.

Flee- I have an Uncle in Montreal who my family could potentially use as a way to at least temporarily escape the chaos. The hope I'd have is that Canada and other countries would accept American refugees, however that's not a guarantee.

Hide- If borders are closed, lay low and move away from major cities if possible. If civil war breaks out, try to get away from the violence even if you think your side will win. Todays losers may be tomorrows victors.

Fight- If cellular data/ social media algorithms can keep track of you, and surveillance can make sure there's no movement, this would be the last resort of desperation. I guess if possible try to either find a group for safety in numbers, or conversely go guerrilla as groups of resistance would make easy targets.

Sorry my mind is running and I'm getting scared.

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[–] breadsmasher 240 points 4 months ago (17 children)

you guys have cried about your guns for two hundred years in case of this exact situation

[–] [email protected] 195 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

i think the gun people might be voting for trump

[–] [email protected] 162 points 4 months ago (26 children)

Never underestimate dem/liberal gun ownership. We are just quiet about it and don't make it our entire personality.

[–] lennybird 34 points 4 months ago (12 children)

I can't be the only one to roll my eyes at comments like this. Like in one respect I get it, we want to say we will fuck up the fascists. But on the flipside, what the fuck are you guys actually suggesting here?

Bear in mind per Propublica reporting that the right-wing extremist groups want to incite a race/Civil War. They hate the fact that there is such a stark contrast in violence between the left and right and it's making them look TERRIBLE.

Bear in mind firearm manufacturers are actively trying to break into the leftist market to sell more guns. Pretty obvious.

Forgetting the evidence that guns for all intents don't make you safer. We need to use our brains before bullets, lest we've all already lost.

[–] [email protected] 47 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I’d say it’s a reaction to where ammosexual conservatives talk as if they have all the guns and would therefore win instantly in the civil war scenarios they masturbate over.

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[–] Benjaben 20 points 4 months ago (4 children)

You seem to be taking an "either / or" approach here. In my opinion the left should do everything possible to avoid violence, and also own guns in case these efforts are unsuccessful. It doesn't need to be one or the other.

It's really kind of a matter of definitions to me. In my view, there exist situations where a firearm is about the only way to prevent super bad outcomes for myself. Those situations are uncommon, there are many good ways to avoid them usually, and I hope to never find myself in one. But by definition, if I find myself in a situation like that, having a firearm available is the difference between having agency and having none.

Some people feel that the likelihood of such a scenario is so small that it's a bad idea to prepare for it. Maybe this is how you feel? I do understand that point of view, I simply disagree. I don't really understand points of view that seem to argue there is no scenario where firearms are useful, or that we're magically "past that" as a society (and to be clear, I'm not sure you're taking that stance). To take one example, just look at the response to Hurricane Katrina as an example of how flimsy our law and order really is. Once a situation is bad enough to overwhelm the existing structures we have in place, all bets are off and rules for behavior evaporate. We've seen this happen, in our country, in our lifetimes, more than once. I don't understand the derision - why eye roll?

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[–] Donjuanme 21 points 4 months ago

They're still crying about Biden coming for their guns (I'm American), happily ignoring "take their guns first due process second" Trump

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[–] [email protected] 122 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (7 children)

“On Tyranny” has some great guidance on this, as well as some guidance on how to do what you can to help put the brakes on it happening.

TL;DR there’s quite a lot more, but stay off the internet, get used to making small talk, making eye contact. Know who’s in your community physically and who has your back. Renew your passport, make friends in other countries if you can. Make friends. Stay off the internet.

[–] ThePantser 47 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It's really hard to make friends in other countries without the internet. Gonna have to go back to ARPANET.

[–] [email protected] 41 points 4 months ago

He didn’t actually say stay off the internet; that was my oversimplified retelling. A little more complete but still oversimplified version would be: Be careful and don’t share more than what you think is safe to share, and try to focus on the real world as much as you can. The real world doesn’t have mass surveillance in quite such a prepackaged and straightforward fashion, and it is where all the real outcomes good or bad will eventually take place anyway, so prioritize it as much as you can.

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[–] JoeKrogan 96 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Have a pint at the Winchester and wait for it all to blow over

[–] [email protected] 77 points 4 months ago (14 children)

Canada will not accept US citizens as refugees unless things really goes to hell, we're not even accepting refugees who come from other countries via the USA as they're supposed to ask for refugee status in the first of the two country they step in. So yeah, don't get your hopes up, Canada isn't a consolation prize for you guys, fix your own shit.

[–] sturmblast 23 points 4 months ago (5 children)

That doesn't stop you from getting a work visa and moving there.

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[–] GroundedGator 64 points 4 months ago (1 children)

A better question would be what are you going to do to make sure the orange Mussolini doesn't win?

Make sure you, your friends, and your family are Registered to vote.

Make sure everyone you know gets to the polls on our before election day.

Become a poll worker.

We need to make sure we vote in numbers too big to steal. In 2000 the election was handed to Bush by the Supreme Court because of one state. Looking at the last term, the court would absolutely find a way to shift the election to the con in chief if it was just one swing state with irregularities.

Talk to people about project 2025 and what it will mean. This is how the guardrails from 2017 are removed. This is how we start a Christian theocracy. If we vote blue all the way down, the Dems may be able to put stronger rails in place. If it's not Project 2025 it will be Project 2029. These conservative think tanks have been doing this since Reagan, but this is by far the scariest.

Talk to friends and family about the Biden administration wins. It's not just Biden you're voting for, it is a continuation of his administration.

Bottom line, this is likely the most important election of many of our lives. All of us must participate.

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[–] [email protected] 64 points 4 months ago (1 children)

We are pretty much screwed any way you slice it. Make sure you’ve got a trusted network of people, make sure you’ve got your passport renewed. Make sure you’ve got some coins stashed away.

But also, get into local government. Go to a city meeting. It sounds dumb but if you’re not involved then you’re not informed and have no power. A lot of cities have the power of ordinances that can make life less hellish.

Look up climate feedback loops cause we’re already over the edge on that crap. Ain’t nothing to be done except start living underground.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

Look up climate feedback loops cause we’re already over the edge on that crap. Ain’t nothing to be done except start living underground.

We can still lessen the effect. Every .1 degree less average global temperature rise helps.

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[–] Feathercrown 53 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Be really mad amd then do nothing

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[–] [email protected] 49 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Nice try, DHS. I'm just a silly wittle unarmed kitty :3

(You better fucking read this into evidence during my military tribunal)

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[–] daddyjones 45 points 4 months ago

As a non American living outside of the US; I'm much more concerned about a second Trump term.

The first one was mostly just annoying, funny and embarrassing for you guys.

This time he'll be taking over with war in Europe and the whole Israel/Gaza thing. There is quite a lot of damage he can do...

[–] MojoMcJojo 43 points 4 months ago (7 children)

Don't underestimate the US military, as an ally. They are primarily younger, and the upper echelons are educated and all take their oath very seriously, to defend the Constitution, from enemies foreign and domestic. Of course there will be factions that will stick to Trump, like certain national guards, but that will fracture command and weaken our ability to react internationally. The military understand those implications, the potential literal end of the world. In the end, they push the button, not the president. The lower ranks have no desire to fight American civilians either, it's antithetical to everything they are taught, and the age range is generally people in their 20's and 30's.I trust a Marine, a soldier, an airman, a seaman heheh, coast guard too, oh and the spacemen, way more than a cop, to do the right thing.

A vet.

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[–] jordanlund 37 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Keep my head down and power through the next 4 years same as last time.

[–] Snapz 34 points 4 months ago (5 children)

This is VERY MUCH not last time. There's intent this time, you really need to tune in.

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

As someone who might be targeted and killed as this drags on, I'm not really worrying about it much. Control whatever you can, be aware obviously, but what more could you possibly do? Monday's ruling is already in the past - I mean to say that we've already made our choices, long ago (some people have seen this coming for nearly a decade now), and all that is left is to live (or whatever) with them. It "helps" that climate change awaits to kill us all regardless of who wins the next election. To be clear, no I do not say that lightly.

Hypothetical illustration: let's say that you are a deer caught in the headlights of a car. Do you jump forward? Backwards? Remain still? Duck? Jump straight up vertically into the air as high as you can? Once in this position, no matter what you do there are risks, and your choices are limited, with the outcome of your decisions mostly not up to you. Side-note: you could maybe not have jumped out straight in front of a speeding car... but that choice is behind you now, and you can only deal with what is, not what you wish had been.

So don't panic unduly - that isn't helpful - just focus on doing the next correct thing, and the rest... well, isn't up to you.

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Get up, send my kids to school and go to work.

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (7 children)

You guys make this sound like some kind of doomsday movie.

I'm not downplaying how bad things are, but if you really have the several thousand dollars you'd need to actually uproot your entire life just sitting around, good for you. Most people don't have that kind of free money.

And good luck moving if you have pets, or have family members you care for. Have you guys even been to your "target" countries? Do you have plans for how you'll make income? How does healthcare work in your target country?

If you have all that figured out, and have nothing to leave behind, then good for you, I really do hope you end up better off. But this panicked response of "What are you waiting for, run!!!!!" is way more entitled than people seem to think.

[–] Snapz 50 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (10 children)

Don't think you know what is 110% coming if Republicans get the presidency back.

And the even longer list of consequences that would result if these things came to be

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[–] SLVRDRGN 23 points 4 months ago

Free money? People have been running/fleeing, are still running/fleeing, from regimes/ideologies, etc. today. Running for your life is not an entitled act, it's survival. Running while expecting to just continue your life as is (income, luxuries, etc,) that could be described as entitled.

So the question is - is this a survival moment? The answer might be no, we're blowing this out of proportion. Or yes, now is the time.

I personally believe that if we had the highest voter turnout in US history, it would absolutely nail Trump. People need to exercise their right to vote, like their life depends on it.

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[–] erp 31 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Hit Facebook, Lawyer the Gym, Delete Up

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 4 months ago

Stay and vote. The way I see it, Canada is fucked if PP wins anyways, and will be hurt by Trump regardless. Europe is fucked if the alt right wins in France and hobbles Germany in the next couple elections. Nigel Farage is going to parasitically eat the conservatives from the inside out in the UK. Trump will pull put of NATO, which means war on Europe's doorstep and probably all of south east Asia if China decides they don't mind war.

Running isn't going to work. Voting and protesting and political action is what will keep us all at peace and ever vigilant against populism and later, fascism. All hope isn't lost. We still can undo the damage and categorically reject hate and corruption that is threatening democracies worldwide (and already dooming authoritarian countries with massive population gaps and economic damage)

[–] sturlabragason 28 points 4 months ago (6 children)

Western Europe is pretty decent if you can move and get a job here.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 4 months ago (8 children)

Europe, who is already seeing far right insurgencies due to a few immigrants? Yeah, good idea. And if Trump wins you can basically say goodbye to any sort of future that isn't a hellscape. We're already far behind our dues on climate change and this will be the final nail in the coffin.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Hey. We got through the last trump presidency. If it happens, we'll fight like hell to protect the ones who are most vulnerable, and we'll figure it out. Personally I am still hopeful that it won't happen. We all need to vote and not get complacent, but this panic is good, electorally speaking. One reason Clinton lost in 2016 was that a lot of people didnt take trump's chances of winning seriously. Biden's polling low right now because leftists are mad at him (and rightly so). But as the election starts to ratchet up more and more, we'll hopefully see people fall in line on at least keeping Trump out of office.

I hate it, personally. I hate that we get government-induced anxiety every election year, just to get people to vote the way they should. All this attention on Trump and Project 2025 is meant to force the undecideds to choose where they stand. If you've already decided how you'll be voting in November, take a break for your own mental health. Last election cycle I made myself crazy listening to political podcasts, checking 538, analysing polling data. I can't do it this year, so I'm trying not to get too deep into it.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I will note that not everyone got through the last Trump presidency. Clinton would have had an actual response to Covid because she wouldn't have disbanded the NSC unit that would have saved most of the 1.1 million Americans who died of Covid-19.

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[–] ulkesh 27 points 4 months ago (7 children)

Sic semper tyrannis…

Was what Boothe shouted when he shot Lincoln. But Lincoln was no tyrant and history has proven him to be the best President we ever had.

I wonder what historically interesting quotes will occur in the future.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 4 months ago

Whether you're left, right, or center, focus on becoming ungovernable.

If you build up your local community and supporting institutions, and commit to ignoring unjust laws, you can greatly minimize the degree to which anything at the federal level impacts you.

This involves a lot of self sufficiency and privacy efforts that many are resistent to because of the loss of convenience, but it is well worth it.

[–] yrmp 20 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (6 children)

I’ve been saving for a down payment for a house for two years. It would appear my money is not wanted in the USA. I also have dual EU citizenship. My plan is to improve my spoken German and take my family overseas.

As an atheist married to a Salvadoran woman with whom I have two hispanic children, I feel like after they run out of illegal immigrants we’ll not be far down the “committing suicide with two bullets to the back of the head” list. Or maybe we’ll just get sent to a camp that treats ADHD if you catch my drift.

I visited Germany in 2022 and was very impressed with the walkable/bikeable infrastructure and ICE trains even if they were late on occasion. The food wasn’t my favorite but the culture and people were kind and they still seem to value rule of law and societal decorum to a certain degree. The idea that making a nazi salute in public is jailable/fineable is really how it should be everywhere but “free speech” yadda yadda…

I have wanted to leave the US since 2003. Just didn’t have skills or money until now. I’m still going to struggle with a language barrier and finding a job with A2 level German. That’s my biggest issue right now I think.

My mom moved to the US not knowing English. How the turntables have turned.

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