End of the American Republic?

PJ_Soul

A totalitarian governemnt. I feel like most Americans are still in denial. Open your eyes America.

DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students unless it turns over disciplinary records

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/us/harvard-kristi-noem-international-students

josevolution

PJ_Soul said:

A totalitarian governemnt. I feel like most Americans are still in denial. Open your eyes America.

DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students unless it turns over disciplinary records

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/us/harvard-kristi-noem-international-students

Most of us here already realize this to be true! 

PJ_Soul

josevolution said:

PJ_Soul said:

A totalitarian governemnt. I feel like most Americans are still in denial. Open your eyes America.

DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students unless it turns over disciplinary records

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/us/harvard-kristi-noem-international-students

Most of us here already realize this to be true! 

Really? I don't think so. If most people did, then something more would be happening, instead of most just going about their business as usual.

josevolution

PJ_Soul said:

josevolution said:

PJ_Soul said:

A totalitarian governemnt. I feel like most Americans are still in denial. Open your eyes America.

DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students unless it turns over disciplinary records

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/us/harvard-kristi-noem-international-students

Most of us here already realize this to be true! 

Really? I don't think so. If most people did, then something more would be happening, instead of most just going about their business as usual.

Sorry I should have been more precise I meant here in the MT! Yes most Americans are not in tune or care to be in tune about the state of affairs, just look at the Porch most of those people just want the rail or more shows they brush all that’s happening off as if it will just go away after 4 years 

nicknyr15

PJ_Soul said:

josevolution said:

PJ_Soul said:

A totalitarian governemnt. I feel like most Americans are still in denial. Open your eyes America.

DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students unless it turns over disciplinary records

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/us/harvard-kristi-noem-international-students

Most of us here already realize this to be true! 

Really? I don't think so. If most people did, then something more would be happening, instead of most just going about their business as usual.

What do you want to be done? People voted and these are the consequences. There’s protests all the time. Are you expecting an insurrection or some sort of overthrow of the government? Of course people are going about their business. 

HughFreakingDillon

nicknyr15 said:

PJ_Soul said:

josevolution said:

PJ_Soul said:

A totalitarian governemnt. I feel like most Americans are still in denial. Open your eyes America.

DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students unless it turns over disciplinary records

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/us/harvard-kristi-noem-international-students

Most of us here already realize this to be true! 

Really? I don't think so. If most people did, then something more would be happening, instead of most just going about their business as usual.

What do you want to be done? People voted and these are the consequences. There’s protests all the time. Are you expecting an insurrection or some sort of overthrow of the government? Of course people are going about their business. 

Going about your business and hoping for the best is what helped get us to the genocide of millions of Jews and WW2. 

This is not hyperbole. This is month THREE of FOURTY EIGHT. Imagine how quickly shit is going to get to the point of no return. 

Protests. Calling congresspeople day and night. Basically harassment, and back it off a bit so it isn’t illegal. 😂 

nicknyr15

HughFreakingDillon said:

nicknyr15 said:

PJ_Soul said:

josevolution said:

PJ_Soul said:

A totalitarian governemnt. I feel like most Americans are still in denial. Open your eyes America.

DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students unless it turns over disciplinary records

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/us/harvard-kristi-noem-international-students

Most of us here already realize this to be true! 

Really? I don't think so. If most people did, then something more would be happening, instead of most just going about their business as usual.

What do you want to be done? People voted and these are the consequences. There’s protests all the time. Are you expecting an insurrection or some sort of overthrow of the government? Of course people are going about their business. 

Going about your business and hoping for the best is what helped get us to the genocide of millions of Jews and WW2. 

This is not hyperbole. This is month THREE of FOURTY EIGHT. Imagine how quickly shit is going to get to the point of no return. 

Protests. Calling congresspeople day and night. Basically harassment, and back it off a bit so it isn’t illegal. 😂 

I guess we’ll just have to revisit this in 4 years and hope you’re wrong. In the meantime, I most definitely am going about my business. I voted and will continue to, but that’s it for me. 

Halifax2TheMax

PJ_Soul said:

A totalitarian governemnt. I feel like most Americans are still in denial. Open your eyes America.

DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students unless it turns over disciplinary records

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/us/harvard-kristi-noem-international-students

Much too late. And a majority of ‘Muricans are all in by their voting or not voting at all. They want and have received authoritarianism. It’s going to get worse before it might get better. Way worse. From Letter From An American:

Two days ago, Bukele posted a picture of himself and Trump with their arms around each other with the comment: “Friends.” Ron Filipkowski of MeidasNews wrote: “We traded Europe for a guy that builds concentration camps for profit.”

tbergs

I think that it is hard for people to even know what to do because there is so much aggression from this admin to try and fend off. As a regular citizen with school age kids and a job, it's hard enough for me to survive the day-to-day making sure I keep my job (working in a higher ed college who is not backing off our DEI stance) and support our kids in all the ways they need. No one needs to quit their job, give up their family time or devote their entire waking moments to protesting. Do what you can when you can, as long as you do something. It may be as little as donating to the ACLU or other groups fighting to protect rights and access to services.

I recognize this admin is stripping rights and trying to oppress opposing views on the daily so I combat that through local involvement with our school, church and township where these topics have garnered focus groups with action plans on steps we can take as a community. I wish I had more of a larger scale impact and could be one of the lawyers taking these fucks to court and arguing for the people, but I don't have that authority. I am grateful for those that do and the action they are taking. I think that's what we all should be doing, at least if you oppose any of what's happening. Be involved at the level you can and push the desired actions/changes forward to those who have the bigger voice and can do something. It does matter, even if the change/result is not immediately made clear. We cannot be dissuaded just because the change we want to see doesn't occur within a set time-frame.

OnWis97

It's difficult. Between working, sleeping, raising kids (well, not me; but some people), and trying to at least enjoy ourselves a little bit there's not much time.  Add to that the hopelessness of knowing you could devote your entire soul to the fight and it might not matter (kind of a tragedy of the commons), and the motivation is low. Of course, it's just what they want, but I tottally get it.

I'm 50, married w/o kids, have a paid-off house and DINK income. I waffle between being overwhelmed, selfishly thinking I need to enjoy myself, guiltily thinking I should take my fortunate situation out for a spin and just risk it all, hopelessness, hopefulness (OK, that one's rare), fatalism, and denial. Overall? I just feel stuck and like there's not much I can do, which is what they want (repeat).

HughFreakingDillon

for sure, I'm not suggesting everyone do everything all the time. That would be hypocritical of me. Nick just asked "what could be done". And that's what could be done. If you have the energy. And the time. And the willingness. 

DE4173

🎯

HughFreakingDillon

literally no one said that. DE4173 said:

🎯

cblock4life

“If Donald Trump can disappear people to El Salvador without due process, he can do anything.”

https://apple.news/A4eHnHQYNRvWepbUYxaaAEQ

cblock4life

Halifax2TheMax said:

It’s happening. And we know some are all in on this. All in. Again, from Letter From An American:

Here’s the thing: Once you give up the idea that we are all equal before the law and have the right to due process, you have given up the whole game. You have admitted the principle that some people have more rights than others. Once you have replaced the principle of equality before the law with the idea that some people have no rights, you have granted your approval to the idea of an authoritarian government. At that point, all you can do is to hope that the dictator and his henchmen overlook you.

This POS is not going to overlook anyone who didn’t vote for him.  He probably has his lackeys going through all our votes as we speak.  And yes, that sounds absolutely ridiculous and unlikely, but it’s Trump and he’s despicable and a disgrace of a human being.  

cblock4life

Lisa Murkowski just said that retaliation is real and they’re scared.  Great….

Halifax2TheMax

cblock4life said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

It’s happening. And we know some are all in on this. All in. Again, from Letter From An American:

Here’s the thing: Once you give up the idea that we are all equal before the law and have the right to due process, you have given up the whole game. You have admitted the principle that some people have more rights than others. Once you have replaced the principle of equality before the law with the idea that some people have no rights, you have granted your approval to the idea of an authoritarian government. At that point, all you can do is to hope that the dictator and his henchmen overlook you.

This POS is not going to overlook anyone who didn’t vote for him.  He probably has his lackeys going through all our votes as we speak.  And yes, that sounds absolutely ridiculous and unlikely, but it’s Trump and he’s despicable and a disgrace of a human being.  

I would not discount that “it’s not likely.” Imagine the power and fear one could yield by taking personal information from the IRS and cross referencing it against FEC or HHS or SBA data. Now, extrapolate that across voting districts or wards or states. Your retribution could be down to the individual or community level and no one might be the wiser. But, it’s too late.

cblock4life

Halifax2TheMax said:

cblock4life said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

It’s happening. And we know some are all in on this. All in. Again, from Letter From An American:

Here’s the thing: Once you give up the idea that we are all equal before the law and have the right to due process, you have given up the whole game. You have admitted the principle that some people have more rights than others. Once you have replaced the principle of equality before the law with the idea that some people have no rights, you have granted your approval to the idea of an authoritarian government. At that point, all you can do is to hope that the dictator and his henchmen overlook you.

This POS is not going to overlook anyone who didn’t vote for him.  He probably has his lackeys going through all our votes as we speak.  And yes, that sounds absolutely ridiculous and unlikely, but it’s Trump and he’s despicable and a disgrace of a human being.  

I would not discount that “it’s not likely.” Imagine the power and fear one could yield by taking personal information from the IRS and cross referencing it against FEC or HHS or SBA data. Now, extrapolate that across voting districts or wards or states. Your retribution could be down to the individual or community level and no one might be the wiser. But, it’s too late.

You’re too fucking smart.  I mean that in a good way.  And again, I appreciate your posts.  

brianlux

PJ_Soul said:

A totalitarian governemnt. I feel like most Americans are still in denial. Open your eyes America.

DHS threatens to revoke Harvard’s eligibility to host international students unless it turns over disciplinary records

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/us/harvard-kristi-noem-international-students

For sure.  This is where we are now.  The question is, will we stay in this miserable place?  Will be go back to what was only sort of working well?  Or will we move into a better future all together?  Hard questions for me to ponder.

josevolution

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5255957-judge-declines-to-further-enforce-order-restoring-ap-access-to-white-house/#origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&cap=swipe,education&webview=1&dialog=1&viewport=natural&visibilityState=prerender&prerenderSize=1&viewerUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Famp%2Fs%2Fthehill-com.cdn.ampproject.org%2Fc%2Fs%2Fthehill.com%2Fregulation%2Fcourt-battles%2F5255957-judge-declines-to-further-enforce-order-restoring-ap-access-to-white-house%3Fusqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%25253D&amp_kit=1

Does freedom of the press even matter to this administration?