Realistically, if such a protest did start, most people would not be able to just drop everything and leave. That’s something that would need at least hundreds, in some cases thousands of dollars set aside to cover. We’re talking at least days of lost work, not to mention costs associated with being away from home for days at a time. Even if everyone was willing and able to do that, without organization and pre-planning, even finding out about that it’s happening will take time. And if a protest happens on the other side of the country, even if I hear about it and want to attend, what are the chances it’ll still be going on by the time I get there? Realistically almost none, and on that logic alone, most people wouldn’t try to participate.
On the other hand I think the 50501 protests did show that there’s appetite in almost all 50 states to take action. Those weren’t even widely publicized or well organized, and we still had people showing up. If there were some assurances that after spending 2 days driving and a thousand dollars on costs, there’d be something actually substantive happening when we got there, I think we’d see a turnout. I just don’t think it’s likely many people would gamble on it.
Localized protests in individual states do help, too, even if only to make it clear to everyone that there’s national support for such action. It’s like yelling at all the other states, saying “Hey, we all share your concerns!”, which has value. We just need a unified message and a unified plan of action, or at least some organizers who have a plan and can lead a crowd.
I can understand the desire to rationalise a path through what you’re facing at the moment.
It’s really just frustrating. I want to take action. I’m motivated. I have the means to do it, I just don’t know what to do, or how. So I see posts that boil down to “It’s easy, just go organize at the capital!” and like… I’d love to do that, but if you have experience with this sort of thing, what do I do, specifically, to make a difference? We’re well beyond the point where “Call your congressman!” makes a difference. We need something immediate. Every day, shit’s getting worse, and the “Just vote in 2026!” crowd are far more optimistic than I am; I think we’re already past the point where there’s been irreparable damage and it’s been two fucking months.
Anyway, this is really just a rant, and to be clear, I’m not upset at you or anyone else in this thread. I’m just upset in general, and I don’t know what to do about it.
I feel entirely powerless to affect change too. But then at times I guess it’s because the vast majority of people don’t see the world in the same way that I do, and so unless I can convince them that change is important, then isn’t going to happen.
And how would I convince these people? How would I make them see the world in the way that I do? How do I communicate something that is so central to me but so subtle and peripheral to them? Why should they bother to listen?
And the conclusion that I come to is that in a world where we are generally free to express ourselves, but are constantly fighting for attention, it is always going to be an uphill struggle; but it’s the only thing that I can do to change anything.
Realistically, if such a protest did start, most people would not be able to just drop everything and leave. That’s something that would need at least hundreds, in some cases thousands of dollars set aside to cover. We’re talking at least days of lost work, not to mention costs associated with being away from home for days at a time. Even if everyone was willing and able to do that, without organization and pre-planning, even finding out about that it’s happening will take time. And if a protest happens on the other side of the country, even if I hear about it and want to attend, what are the chances it’ll still be going on by the time I get there? Realistically almost none, and on that logic alone, most people wouldn’t try to participate.
On the other hand I think the 50501 protests did show that there’s appetite in almost all 50 states to take action. Those weren’t even widely publicized or well organized, and we still had people showing up. If there were some assurances that after spending 2 days driving and a thousand dollars on costs, there’d be something actually substantive happening when we got there, I think we’d see a turnout. I just don’t think it’s likely many people would gamble on it.
Localized protests in individual states do help, too, even if only to make it clear to everyone that there’s national support for such action. It’s like yelling at all the other states, saying “Hey, we all share your concerns!”, which has value. We just need a unified message and a unified plan of action, or at least some organizers who have a plan and can lead a crowd.
I can understand the desire to rationalise a path through what you’re facing at the moment. But sometimes change is outside of our hands.
As an aside, don’t forget that higher levels of organisation make it easier to decapitate a movement.
It’s really just frustrating. I want to take action. I’m motivated. I have the means to do it, I just don’t know what to do, or how. So I see posts that boil down to “It’s easy, just go organize at the capital!” and like… I’d love to do that, but if you have experience with this sort of thing, what do I do, specifically, to make a difference? We’re well beyond the point where “Call your congressman!” makes a difference. We need something immediate. Every day, shit’s getting worse, and the “Just vote in 2026!” crowd are far more optimistic than I am; I think we’re already past the point where there’s been irreparable damage and it’s been two fucking months.
Anyway, this is really just a rant, and to be clear, I’m not upset at you or anyone else in this thread. I’m just upset in general, and I don’t know what to do about it.
I feel entirely powerless to affect change too. But then at times I guess it’s because the vast majority of people don’t see the world in the same way that I do, and so unless I can convince them that change is important, then isn’t going to happen.
And how would I convince these people? How would I make them see the world in the way that I do? How do I communicate something that is so central to me but so subtle and peripheral to them? Why should they bother to listen?
And the conclusion that I come to is that in a world where we are generally free to express ourselves, but are constantly fighting for attention, it is always going to be an uphill struggle; but it’s the only thing that I can do to change anything.
Sorry that I don’t have an answer for you.