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.
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.
The US military's entire existence is so they can attack other countries to keep rich americans rich. I dont think they will now suddenly change and care about the life of anyone not rich.
There is that fact, but also a lot of the military are contracted to remain in service or else go to prison. Many of them are there against their wishes simply because their contracts last for years. They are often drawn from poor backgrounds into signing exploitative contracts very young through lies. That is quite different to police where remaining in the job is a choice that pits you directly against your neighbours. There is a long tradition of soldiers becoming radicalised into anti-authoritarian and anti-war beliefs.
That's why people say ACAB, but not ASAB.
I had a similar conversation about this with a Marine yesterday, and I definitely trust the lower ranks and their commitment to the American people, but it is after all an authoritarian hierarchy. I’ve heard of privates coerced into taking vaccines under the threat of disappearing, and if soldiers can fire on their own civilians in other countries, I have every reason to believe they can here. And I know some of them readily would.
LOL this is ridiculous. threat of disappearing is bullshit. During the GWOT many units were mandated to get Anthrax and a host of other vaccines, and you know what? Most people just took it.
A few didn't. They got their discharges.
No one fucking disappeared. Jesus Handy Christ, that's so fucking dumb it's astounding
you know you're deranged right? either you're dumber than dogshit for believing this when you read it below the BATBOY headline, or you're sick in the head for making it up.
It was a threat… I don’t actually believe that an officer would do that no matter how high their ranking. It seems pretty obvious that they just wanted the private to fall in line so they didn’t give him any other options. But this was told to me by a vet and it happened over 20 years ago according to them. Maybe the guy was delusional but he seemed deadly serious when he told me.
if this happened - and I'm REALLY FUCKING DUBIOUS, they should have been reported to their command for a fucking UCMJ inquiry.
I'm going to assume he was delusional and leave it there.