RE: https://mstdn.social/@mcnado/116569433904891963

Voting is a suggestion. It's basically the equivalent of a bouncer saying, "hey buddy, now would be a good time to leave." It can be ignored. If a bouncer gives up after a suggestion, they're a shitty bouncer.

A bouncer should start knowing the whole escalation path they might take, from suggestions, to pressure points, to physical violence. You also have an escalation path. Perhaps you're already carrying out simple sabotage or other resistance. This is like a bouncer gently pushing towards the door to make the suggestion more persuasive. Sometimes this is enough.

Sometimes belligerent assholes ignore simple persuasion. If you aren't expecting that, you aren't really preparing.

You should consider your next moves. #Boycott or economic blackout, #GeneralStrike, and #TaxStrike are escalations. Get in the streets and stay there. This is like a bouncer putting someone's arm behind their back and moving them.

Sometimes people try to slip out of that and fight back. Imagine if a bouncer just let themself get pummeled because they weren't ready, even after the belligerent asshole telegraphed it. A lot of bouncers take martial arts, not because they use it as a first response but because they want to be ready for those edge cases.

Armed revolution is like a bouncer getting down to brawl and calling in their buddy with the zip ties and bear mace. It's not something anyone starts with, or anyone wants to escalate to, but some people can't take a hint and are incapable of doing what's best for everyone.

Always know your next step (even if you hope you don't have to take it).

Imagine if a bouncer was just like, "oh, I asked him nicely but he told me to fuck off. I guess the creep who's punching random people and pissing in the corner runs the bar now."

#NoKings is great. I know there's plenty of room for criticism, but it does present a really good opportunity to network with other people who want to do something.

That said, if your whole plan is "I'm gonna hold a sign until something changes" you're in for some really bad news.

Protesting is symbolic. You are begging people in power to (please, please, please) change things. It literally does not matter how many of you there are, they do no actually have to care. The only way to make them care is to fuck with the money.

America, like all dictatorships, runs on money. Nothing is going to change unless you interrupt the money.

While Trump is doing a pretty good job of that himself (especially with the current war), things will have to get a *lot* worse before they get better unless you are *doing something.*

#BlackOutTheSystem is one group that's trying to do something (https://www.blackoutthesystem.com/).

There are 3 things that are far more important than (almost) any protest, 3 things that force change, 3 types of direct action to that are the types of escalation we need *right now.*

#Boycott
#GeneralStrike
#TaxStrike

If your escalation path is just "let's go walk around more with signs" then it's not enough. They absolutely must include at least one, if not more, of these things...

RE: https://tech.lgbt/@LilahTovMoon/116222163239742616

#TaxStrikeNow?

#TaxStrike

RE: https://mastodon.online/@billyjoebowers/116201209037607394

Billions of dollars, so many innocent lives lost in this #IllegalWar, and no plan whatsoever.

If you follow me, you're probably tired of hearing me harp on this, but our founding fathers dumped British tea in the harbor for less! We, the American people and taxpayers, must stop funding this government, whose every action is only in service of Trump.

It is time, right now, for a #GeneralStrike and a #TaxStrike.