What are your contingency plans?

[gothuevos]

January 6 Was Practice

Donald Trump’s next coup has already begun—and today’s GOP is much better positioned to subvert future elections.

www.theatlantic.com

Long, brutal read, but worth it. Perhaps nothing new in there that hasn't been discussed here already, re: the machinery that can be hijacked next time to ensure a successful, "legal" coup. In fact we're probably watching it happen real time in slow motion, and not a damn thing we can do about it.

Just curious what options others are considering when this finally happens. The vast majority of people won't have the means to move.

To be clear, this isn't a "Waah, Trump won so I'm going to leave" moment. This is a "my family and I might not be safe in this country because of our skin color or last name" moment. Do we cross our fingers and just hope that total GOP control will be largely ineffective as it was last time in 2016? Because as you know, last time, they didn't do enough to hurt the right people (in the words of their own supporters). Seems like it won't be enough to just win this time - there must be some sort of retribution involved.

 

[brycejones]

If you're focusing on Trump you're missing the real problem.

 

[Bitek]

Some race war or mass deportation isn't realistic.

More like corruption, graft, govt censorship, attacking academia, attacking blue states.

Since blue states are so wealthy and powerful, the later will go badly.

That's when we get fighting over state resources, incl national guard, which begins the road to civil war.

 

[shortylickens]

If you're focusing on Trump you're missing the real problem.

yeah, its more like the people who have actual power (Murdoch for example) using their influence to brainwash much of America and leaving it stupid, lazy, and ignorant. Its much easier to pacify a populace than straight up rule it.

 

[MrSquished]

Some race war or mass deportation isn't realistic.

More like corruption, graft, govt censorship, attacking academia, attacking blue states.

Since blue states are so wealthy and powerful, the later will go badly.

That's when we get fighting over state resources, incl national guard, which begins the road to civil war.

this will be it exactly.

I truly hope we can negotiate a split with the country. The South should have never been integrated back into the Union, it was a terrible mistake.

 

[fskimospy]

If you're a US citizen the federal government doesn't actually have that much influence on your day to day life.

I think Trump would definitely attempt some sort of retribution against blue states but I'm not sure how effective that would be as it would likely be a ton of work to try and selectively roll it back, and Trump is lazy and incompetent. I would be far more worried if I were a politician who opposed Trump, because he will probably attempt to imprison them or otherwise use federal power to ruin them.

I think if the GOP is successful in destroying democracy the most likely thing that will happen next will be mostly nothing. You'll get some protests, maybe some violence, but I think the day to day will be largely unchanged. I imagine as time goes on things will get worse in the US but since Trump has no governing agenda outside of revenge against those who humiliated him it will be pretty much the same for most people.

 

[Zorba]

this will be it exactly.

I truly hope we can negotiate a split with the country. The South should have never been integrated back into the Union, it was a terrible mistake.

It was a terrible mistake to not further amend the constitution to get rid of the parts that protected slavery, like the electoral college.

 

[Dave_5k]

I could see scenario unfold not unlike Putin or Erdogan, with a Trump-like president making up a foreign or domestic minority enemy of the state as a fake crisis to seize emergency powers, further gradually rolling back both press and judicial independence to "protect the country", with aggressive prosecution and jailing of those who vocally oppose his rule. In name still a democracy, just a one-person democracy.

Given existing gerrymandering and small state power, republicans can easily obtain a supermajority in both houses of Congress to support such rule - if they can come close to breaking even on the overall popular vote. An "R+0" overall popular vote will currently give republicans 2/3 of the states and nearly as many House seats. Which can become trivial to obtain with a manipulated press and an externally manufactured crisis.

In practice this would have minimal impact on most folks day to day lives (at least short term). Unless one happens to be a member of the disfavored minority or nation identified as the "enemy".

A decade or two ago I would have argued US institutions were far too robustly established to allow this to ever happen. But subsequent politization of both the US press and judiciary has been rampant and extreme - with ongoing erosion of the norms separating these institutions from direct and indirect political control now rewarded, and never penalized.

 

[hal2kilo]

I could see scenario unfold not unlike Putin or Erdogan, with a Trump-like president making up a foreign or domestic minority enemy of the state as a fake crisis to seize emergency powers, further gradually rolling back both press and judicial independence to "protect the country", with aggressive prosecution and jailing of those who vocally oppose his rule. In name still a democracy, just a one-person democracy.

Given existing gerrymandering and small state power, republicans can easily obtain a supermajority in both houses of Congress to support such rule - if they can come close to breaking even on the overall popular vote. An "R+0" overall popular vote will currently give republicans 2/3 of the states and nearly as many House seats. Which can become trivial to obtain with a manipulated press and an externally manufactured crisis.

In practice this would have minimal impact on most folks day to day lives (at least short term). Unless one happens to be a member of the disfavored minority or nation identified as the "enemy".

A decade or two ago I would have argued US institutions were far too robustly established to allow this to ever happen. But subsequent politization of both the US press and judiciary has been rampant and extreme - with ongoing erosion of the norms separating these institutions from direct and indirect political control now rewarded, and never penalized.

One of the things learned from Trump, is that unfortunately, there are no safeguards when it comes to the president's powers. If the country survives this period, and sane heads again rule, major legislation needs to be made into unambiguous law that has some limits and actions that have to be done to the presidency.,

 

[Fenixgoon]

i am supposed to have a 6-month international work trip this year. my backup plan is to make that permanent.

 

[Moonbeam]

I tend to look at the issue from the point of view as to how much and how deeply self hate runs in society and that is just commensurate with how much hate I see between the parties. I see quite a bit of hate here for Republicans. I also see a lot of hatred for Democrats. Then I look at how deeply my own desires are to wish for control over my environment. The conclusion I draw is that I am living in a nation asleep to what will happen when the light turns green on letting the hate flow.

We have no idea, most of us, in my opinion, the extent of our rage. You don’t see deplorables out there if you are not measuring from an internal yard stick. We know who they are by what we will not admit we also feel.

 

[shortylickens]

I tend to look at the issue from the point of view as to how much and how deeply self hate runs in society and that is just commensurate with how much hate I see between the parties. I see quite a bit of hate here for Republicans. I also see a lot of hatred for Democrats. Then I look at how deeply my own desires are to wish for control over my environment. The conclusion I draw is that I am living in a nation asleep to what will happen when the light turns green on letting the hate flow.

Yes we know you do. Thats all you ever do. YOU DONT HAVE TO TELL US THAT!

 

[Moonbeam]

Yes we know you do. Thats all you ever do. YOU DONT HAVE TO TELL US THAT!

I know, I know, and I know. But this is about contingency plans. My plans revolve around just your reaction, if I tell the truth the rage it will generate will get me killed. Draw some conclusions.

 

[Viper1j]

Some race war or mass deportation isn't realistic.

More like corruption, graft, govt censorship, attacking academia, attacking blue states.

Since blue states are so wealthy and powerful, the later will go badly.

That's when we get fighting over state resources, incl national guard, which begins the road to civil war.

DeathSantis is already forming his own private army, that answers only to him, and not the Pentagon.

Ron DeSantis wants Florida to establish its own state guard. He can't be trusted.

Florida’s right-wing governor wants the state to re-establish the Florida State Guard, which would serve at his whim and evade federal control.

www.msnbc.com

 

[cytg111]

If you're a US citizen the federal government doesn't actually have that much influence on your day to day life.

I think Trump would definitely attempt some sort of retribution against blue states but I'm not sure how effective that would be as it would likely be a ton of work to try and selectively roll it back, and Trump is lazy and incompetent. I would be far more worried if I were a politician who opposed Trump, because he will probably attempt to imprison them or otherwise use federal power to ruin them.

I think if the GOP is successful in destroying democracy the most likely thing that will happen next will be mostly nothing. You'll get some protests, maybe some violence, but I think the day to day will be largely unchanged. I imagine as time goes on things will get worse in the US but since Trump has no governing agenda outside of revenge against those who humiliated him it will be pretty much the same for most people.

Dont think so. With Trump at the helm everything is for sale… and that means for one that oil will probably not be traded in usd anymore. And its gonna be mafia state from hereon and pretend elections like in Russia.

 

[Viper1j]

Well there's a 60ft yacht I could never afford, sitting where I can get it when the zombie apocalypse occurs.

Or Trump gets his coup.

 

[DaaQ]

I keep getting text messages from KY Dems, a volunteer for such, for a couple weeks now. They want me to run for local office.
Problem is, I have good paying job for where I live, also, this seems an awful lot like a scam attempt.

I have been telling them for WEEKS, to personally call me. On a different number of course even though my personal number is not a KY number.

I have talked to others as well that say they have gotten similar texts. I think it's a scam for one.

2 I thinks it's an operation to annoy the ppl here in Trumplandia.

 

[MrSquished]

i am supposed to have a 6-month international work trip this year. my backup plan is to make that permanent.

Listen if you know of any attractive progressive intelligent women in their mid-40's that want out of this country and want to marry me for my EU citizenship to live over there while I get my seaside shish kebab stand business off the ground let me know. Cash only.

 

[nOOky]

We've already been considering retiring elsewhere mostly due to health care and quality of life. I'd give up my land and house and guns to live somewhere where I didn't feel I'd need to use them against my countrymen someday. Not sure if anyone from the US will be wanted in 6 years when I'm ready to retire, the way it's going.

 

[feralkid]

Well there's a 60ft yacht I could never afford, sitting where I can get it when the zombie apocalypse occurs.

Or Trump gets his coup.

Then you're stuck with maintenance; even worse than a zombie apocalypse.

 

[DaaQ]

If it comes to that, anyone that comes past my mailboxes gets SOS

 

[Indus]

Some race war or mass deportation isn't realistic.

More like corruption, graft, govt censorship, attacking academia, attacking blue states.

Since blue states are so wealthy and powerful, the later will go badly.

That's when we get fighting over state resources, incl national guard, which begins the road to civil war.

Isn't realistic the same way a coup attempt on the US government wasn't realistic?

The same way 9/11 wasn't realistic?

The same way lynchings weren't realistic?

If I've learned something its that the "nice people always mind their own business" and don't want to stop the bully so the bully keeps on getting away with it time and again especially if he's the right skin color.