Like the title says this isn’t a jab at anyone’s political stance or position. I am asking because I do not know what the desired response would be to the protests that would make things better. Correct me if im wrong but the only course of action to remove a president in the US is to have them impeached, right? Or is there a version of the no confidence vote that other country’s have been using?
Subsequently, if impeachment is the course, would it make anything better having Vance take over? I know that was the argument in Trump’s first term and from my understanding Vamce is no better than what’s his name vp from first term.
I’m hoping the discussion focuses on the logistics and options that are on the table for potential outcomes and ask that replies that are going to just hope for them all to get terminal cancer be kept to themselves. Not because I’m trying to censor anyone’s voice but rather because there are a ton of threads that already are chalk full of reasons why people hate the current administration and the ill will they wish upon them all.
I’m looking to discuss the direction forward not the mistakes that got us here.
At this point the best argument for protests is that they serve to keep up the morale of the protestors. The danger of protests is that they get out of hand. Obviously that doesn’t look likely right now, but for people tempted to advocate mass action, you need to be aware of the hazards. A protest that gets out of hand or becomes violent is a godsend for any would-be dictator. If gives them the chance to crack down and say “I told you so, this exactly why you elected me”. Trump is dreaming of a protest that gets out of hand, just as he’s dreaming of more political assassinations (which people in this community have been ignorantly cheerleading).
As I understand the theory of authoritarian collapse, the ideal strategy for protests is to pick your moment very carefully, get out in large numbers, and stay peaceful and orderly at all costs. Everything is else will be useless or catastrophically counter-productive. There is now plenty of case study to back this up. Including very recent situations in Venezuela (so far futile but at least no bloodbath), South Korea (success), and right this minute in Georgia (teetering between violent crackdown and revolution).
In America, the moment for such action would perhaps be if Trump were to explicitly ignore a Supreme Court order.