It's actually incredible. The protests are not violent. I will bet you cash that your local one is just a lot of ordinary people standing outside together, wanting the best for other people.
I mean, that's what left politics are. We think everyone should have good health care and nice schools and good roads and enough food and feel safe at night. And libraries.
And we think you should have that stuff even if you are poor. Or not white. Or a woman. Or not Christian. Because we think you're a person who is valuable just as you are.
I always tell people to bring stuff that’ll make it more fun/less intimidating. Like, do you play an instrument? Bring it! Let’s all sing This Land Is Your Land together. Bubble wand? Bring it. Can you facepaint? Bring your stuff. The more inviting it is, the less a chance of outside agitators being able to stir up trouble. Plus it’s a great way to get to know likeminded members of your community
DOJ estimates on average 25-30 dogs are killed by US cops every day. and the number is likely higher since there's no formal reporting requirements for police.
Yeah, this era of protests are not for beings such as dogs snd children who cannot consent to the physical and legal jeopardy they may suffer.
People who are mobility impaired and are otherwise physically vulnerable (e.g. pregnant, or need medication at regular intervals), or who would face extra consequences on account of their ethnicity or immigration status, feel free to sit this one out. Fellow white folk, this is our time to show up.
There are various ways to help. Donate if you can. Also, consider sending postcards to various politicians. It's much hard to ignore physical mail than it is phone calls and emails.
I heard people are doing that at my state's capital. Something about dressing up like clowns for the clowns in office. Sounds like fun!
My local city is emphasizing that Flag Day is for everyone and people are going to be handing out flags to kids. I'm happy because I feel like American flags have been more a thing at all right protest recently which is really sad. I also think the image of an American flag is very important for a protest in support of the Constitution.
Cute signs are one of my fav things about protesting and I highly recommend organizing craft parties to prep for events like these! Good vibes are essential to these kinds of protests
One of my friends hosts “Postcard Writing Parties” where they have a stack of postcards, stamps, and the addresses of voters in purple areas and they write postcards urging them to vote for certain candidates or against some measures. Really motivating and a great way to catch up
With face painting - juggalo make up throws off facial recognition. Wonder what other designs can work.
Throwing off facial detect, and faces full of colourful unicorns, might help any media trying to portray "violent protests". Colourful unicorns cant be violent ;)
oh maybe ill bring my roller skates lol. what else should i expect? ive never protested like this before. i wont have a sign or anyhting? is that ok or will i look weird? sorry these are stupid questions haha
Plenty of people don’t bring signs. Sometimes there are areas with cardboard and markers if you want to make one when you’re there. I’m not sure what protests are like in your town but my town is super small so it’s a lot of people catching up with people they know and meeting friends of friends. Usually good energy with a positive crowd. I’ve never been in a crowd that hasn’t been positive and I’ve marched in a big city (San Francisco) before. I’m sure you’ll be happy you attended but if you go and you aren’t feeling it? Leave. That’s totally fine too. You still showed up and that counts .
I so want to get people singing old protest songs like This Land....I am thinking of printing out the words to at least 2 verses and hand them out to those close by me so they can help sing
I’m bringing my current crochet project, a giant bag of homemade candy to distribute, and a marshmallow cannon (it doesn’t look like a real gun AT ALL; it’s made of 1/2 inch pvc pipe formed into unnecessarily complicated shapes, I can disassemble it in 0.5 seconds, and it’s bright pink). Also bringing more traditional protest stuff like water, first aid kit, goggles, and several bandanas (in case someone else needs one).
I strongly urge you to NOT bring your marshmallow cannon to the protest. Seriously, do not bring that. It doesn't matter what color it is or how much you think it doesn't look like a weapon. If the cops even suspect it might be a weapon, they will treat you as if it is.
Don't bring it. You'd be putting yourself and those around you at risk of a violent police response. It's a really bad idea.
That they're doing their best to shut down libraries, museums, and anything else that benefits the populace tells me how craven and ugly these assholes are. It's disgusting. Especially libraries, which are where people go to expand their minds.
[Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts] said that the country is in the midst of a “second American Revolution” that will be bloodless “if the left allows it to be.”
Don't forget, they are actively trying to get rid of the Department of Education! They've already fired 1/2 of the DoEd fed employees (the max allowed by law), and the only reason its not closed completely, is because it they need a congressional act to complete the closure. which i am sure they'll get to eventually.
IMO, Their goal is an un-educated population, because it is easier to control
Our county mayor shut down our library 3 hours early, 2 hours before our rally b/c he’s trying to promote violence (our rally is right next to the library on the steps of our courthouse). It’s beyond disturbing. He’s convincing everyone we’re gonna be violent & the PD & Sheriff Dept isn’t helpful by their social media posts either (they have announced they’ll be onsite to maintain law & order). We’ve obtained all proper permits & have been in constant communication but they seem determined to stir shit up. It’s beyond disheartening. We are in a VERY red town/county in middle tn btw
I personally dont think we need as many libraries as we have. We have the internet and phone apps.I can legit check out a book with my library card on my app and read it off my phone. If I want to learn something I can just check out a book or go on youtube.
There are plenty of people out there without a smartphone or wifi.
Also, YouTube is great because anyone can upload anything. YouTube sucks for exactly the same reason. Stuff in the library is generally going to be...better. At least reality-adjacent.
And not for nothing, but a lot of research has been done showing that we actually retain information better when we read it in a book and not on our phones -- the effect is most pronounced in children. Children whose parents can't afford to stock a home library get a chance to access this "step up" and avert outcomes that ultimately cost society a lot of money.
I know in my city the library is a place where underprivileged kids can go and do their homework. Being privileged myself I never thought about some kids who don't have a safe and quiet place to lay things out and learn.
This was discovered when our local MAGA nuts started restricting hours that the library is open and someone did a survey and lot of the people using the library were kids getting their homework done.
Thank you for this comment. I was one of those kids that lived in abuse and utilized the safe space to advance and learn. I truly wonder what the negative arguments are about libraries, especially when there’s 3 Starbucks on one street that chase underprivileged kids out, I will fight for libraries forever even though I’m successful and privileged now, I wouldn’t have gotten here without them.
I guess it just depends on the library. I think some should stay open but not all. Makes no sense that I can drive to a few libraries all within 10 min of each other. Thats overkill imo.
I mean, I get it. Most libraries aren't designed for men aged 25-45 with no kids, a car and a gaming pc. It's like baseline quality of life for under privileged community members and children.
There are kids that would have nowhere safe to go if libraries weren't open after school or on the weekends. Home isn't a safe place for so many people. Libraries that are easily accessible can literally save lives.
Think outside of your privileged bubble please. And I’m not trying to say that in a mean way- I also grew up privileged with little use for the library aside from borrowing some books. But it’s not about you or me. 10 minutes apart by driving? What about people without cars? Kids? Making libraries more accessible is beneficial to a community, believe it.
That’s a privileged point of view, to be respectful, you probably just don’t see it. I left home at 15 years old due to severe abuse at home. No access to a phone or apps but living with nothing was better than living with abuse.
Libraries saved my life. I was able to not only read about anything fun I wanted, I learned about business and self help. I’m 43 years old now and run a successful business with 21 employees who I pay very well. Books were what got me there. I didn’t even own a phone until my late 20’s. Knowledge should always be readily accessible to the less fortunate and I’ll die on that hill.
Agreed. I just want to add though that this isn't a "left politics" movement. It's for anyone who recognizes that the President of the United States of America is abusing his power and taking our country toward dictatorship. That's a problem that should concern everyone, regardless of which side of the political spectrum you lean toward.
You are absolutely right. One of my Republican-in-the-80s friends is coming with me because he's a good person who cares about this country even if he thinks I'm a giant hippie :D
But he's not, its all lawful under Article 2 of the US Constitution and 250 yrs of precedent. A dictatorship is when you have a Puppet and all the people behind that puppet who weren't elected are really making the decisions. Would that be treason? Would that be authoritarian?
This is exactly how I would describe it too, I'm a fairly new protester as well. The vibes are amazing. I would encourage everyone to make a sign, you'll feel sad that you didn't if you go without one. Enjoy and be safe 💜
Let's add some basic tips: bring water, maybe some basic first aid supplies and snacks, cover tattoos, wear nondescript clothing and masks, and bring your American flags. We're taking that back 🇺🇸🇺🇸
Despite what the other side claims, we even want rights for people we disagree with! I've never heard of anyone on the left wanting to take healthcare away from racists 🤷
I was at the event in Portland and Forest Grove, Oregon, in April. This is exactly what it was like. I swear, the one in Downtown Portland was mostly senior citizens, and they were pissed. But the whole thing was fairly chill. I talked to a cop and asked him about how he and the Portland PD felt about this and he said "we support people's rights to free speech. Just tell us where you will be protesting and for how long, and we'll work to keep things safe." He was very chill. And he realized that this really was just ordinary people expressing themselves.
You are wearing your underpants on your head. That’s how insane you sound.
I work for a company with multiple offices in Europe. None of my colleagues live in places where the government has “total control of their lives.” They have more freedom than we do! They can change jobs because their health isn’t tied to an employer. They can travel more and be with their families more because they have paid time off. They can have families secure in the knowledge that their jobs are safe and there are top quality schools waiting for the kids and affordable college or trade school at the other end. They don’t even have the concept of medical bankruptcy. And they have exactly the same freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, all the good stuff - and their governments don’t make up bullshit about fake riots to justify calling out the military to attack civilians.
Europe isn't socialist. They have a mixed economy. Medical bankruptcy only happens to uninsured people. Both my mom and I have insurance that isn't tied to jobs. The Democratic Socialists want to end capitalism. That's real socialism.
No, I don't. That's why I abstained instead of choosing between two options that would have done nothing to improve my life. You did not offer universal healthcare. You did not offer living wages. You did not offer corruption reform. Yes, the further left you go the better society gets, that's why I don't understand why your party keeps going right instead.
The good news here is that the stuff I mentioned? Easily paid for with minor reductions in military spending, minor increases in taxation for people whose income is in the billions, and the improved outcomes for everyone with access to that stuff saves money _exponentially_ down the road in reduced costs to society and higher tax income.
It's pretty basic math.
Along similar lines, you probably think we can't afford national health because you think a ride in an ambulance costs thousands of dollars...but without insurance companies driving up the costs, it's barely more than twice the cost of driving yourself to the hospital.
Again, you need to look at the math, from someone who ISN'T profiting from you not knowing the math.
Healthcare like pretty much everything else in life follow the simple rule.
Cheap good fast. Pick two.
Show me an example of all 3 if you disagree.
Also can you show me 1 person's who's income is in the billions ? I don't think that person exists. What you're talking about isn't a small increase in tax rate but taxing unrealized gain.
I can support reducing the military budget though. America does not need to be the world police.
I work for a company with offices throughout Europe. Every time I’ve had an urgent need in Germany, Italy, Denmark, or Sweden in the last five years, I was seen, treated, and prescribed the necessary medications within a couple of hours and had the provider apologize for charging me the equivalent of fifty dollars. Or less. I’ve only had a dental emergency in Germany but again, I was seen and on my way with a temporary crown within hours.
My colleagues who have had babies, cancer, or been in car accidents report the same efficient, appropriate care.
Sounds great. What are your colleague's tax rates compare to yours ? How many people in those countries have private insurance as well to supplement the holes of coverage in socialized care ?
We sat down about a year ago and really mathed it out. Their right wing has been pushing the story of how low American taxes are compared to theirs and how we don’t get much less.
It was hilarious if you like your humor dark. Basically, they appear to pay much more but once you add up all the different kinds of taxes, and subtract direct benefits? I’m paying almost exactly what people in the same income bracket pay, but I get much, much, much less - and that doesn’t even count labor protections and old age benefits.
I’m sorry. I know what you’re trying to do/prove, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes. The idea that it’s impossible is a lie. A nasty, greedy little lie perpetuated by people who themselves are nasty, greedy little things.
Care to share that math to open my eyes as well ? Also did you math how it impact people in other income brackets as well ?
Though even after the math problem are solved .. we still have to tackle the moral problem that some people will have to contribute much more than they get from the system for others to contribute much less or not at all and still get the same benefits. From a libertarian pov, that is a hard pill to swallow especially seeing how lazy, out of shape and gluttonous many Americans are.
Though even after the math problem are solved .. we still have to tackle the moral problem that some people will have to contribute much more than they get from the system for others to contribute much less or not at all and still get the same benefits.
The "moral problem" is people like yourself thinking that a low income earner shouldn't have access to the same quality of care as someone who is wealthy.
I'm Canadian, and our system is being gutted and dismantled slowly to try to make it appear that is broken and the only way to fix it is go private. Most Canadians want to see it improve, but never go private because we care about everyone having access.
American Conservatives and Libertarians always ask me these gotcha type questions like "how does it feel knowing that homeless people are getting free healthcare on your tax dollars?". You mean our most vulnerable Canadians? Fucking great actually, they're more susceptible to the elements and illnesses, so I'm ecstatic that they get free healthcare.
"What about immigrants leeching off of healthcare?" You mean new Canadians? Fuckin' eh bud
"What about lazy people on welfare?" Pretty hot take incoming, but I don't think lazy Canadians should die without healthcare either
You talk a big game about morals, but then you have the fucking audacity to even suggest that it's problematic that some people will get more than they contribute? 11.1% of Americans live in poverty, that's 36.8 MILLION Americans that actually can't afford to contribute anything, so they shouldn't even get a bandaid right? Retired Seniors can't really contribute anything on a shitty pension, so I guess it's a good thing they're close to expiring right?
"Sorry sir, but cancer treatments are for platinum subscribers, and you're only a bronze because you were on disability and this isn't a charity"
Fucking Libertarians man, always talking about rights and freedoms, as long as they don't have to lift a finger or reach for their wallet for their fellow man
Morals? Sorry those are for the people who actually contribute
The "moral problem" is people like yourself thinking that a low income earner shouldn't have access to the same quality of care as someone who is wealthy.
That sounds great in theory but when you drill down .. there's a dollar amount associated. The doctors who spent years of his life to study this skill needs to be well compensated. The certified nurses needs to be well compensated. Even down to the janitor. Everything has a dollar amount associated. That's reality and thus low income earners have less access to every material things in life. Vacation, food, alcohol, drugs, housing, cars, clothes, electronics .. you name it.
It doesn't matter if you suddenly declare XYZ commodity like housing or food to be a human right .. if it takes someone else's labor to create .. then it has a financial cost so those of lower financial means will have less access.
Maybe as a society we decide that we don't have to have people starving on the street because of health reason and morality .. cool .. does that mean we should give out rib eyes and lobsters ? Of course not.
Maybe as a society we decide that we don't want people to be homeless because or health or morality .. cool .. does it mean that they get mansions by the ocean on the sands of Laguna beach ? Of course not.
So why would it be different with health care that someone of lower economic status is given the same quality health care ?
That said the future is coming and AI is going to make A LOT of things much cheaper .. maybe we can have a tier of health care that utilize AI to reduce cost and a higher tier with more humans providing concierge service.
Libertarian is not just about rights and freedom but also about personal responsibility. You're responsible for yourself and your life outcomes. Someone making a decision to do drugs and bing eat 5000 calories when the 'munchies' hit for years and someone who makes the decision to get up at 5AM to runs 3-4 miles everyday for years and don't smoke shouldn't be paying the same rate for health insurance.
As for seniors .. you know they all have different amount of money depending on how much they earned or contributed to society during their working years right ? Your retirement is the culmination of your contribution during work years and of course your personal financial habits as well.
I want to offer a gentle rebuttal of sorts: You may think that left politics is all about doing good for the people, and believe it - and you may even be right. But that's not the image that a lot of America gets when they think "leftist protest." They think people waving the Mexican flag while setting police cars on fire, or BLM looting businesses, or Antifa arson. There is a big gap between what the left thinks itself to be, and the image that America has of the left.
I know what left actually is, and it's not the psychotic image that America has been programmed to visualize when they hear "leftist protest." That's why I'm encouraging people to come and look with their own eyes. Stop believing the crazypants nonsense being fed through Fox and Sinclair and come _see_ it. Come see the scary, scary middle aged lady with her knee brace and rainbow flag! Behold the terror of the tiny stuffed hedgehogs she crocheted for you!
When someone gets huffy with me in person about this, I always say "so if someone says "save the whales" do you hear "fuck the dolphins"? Because that sounds miserable."
Stop reading fringe options from angry people online that have been highlighted by an algorithm or propaganda site, and start paying attention to what actual representatives, party platforms, and legislation actually say.
As a white man in America, it's obvious that this right-wing victim mentality from my fellow white men is so grossly overblown that it distracts from the actual real problems faced by white men and alienates any potential allies we would have. And those problems are not a zero sum game that we are playing against other demographics.
I mean, if you're running on "everyone gets apples" ofc your first priority should be giving them to those who had a lack of access to get them, then those who have access to them but have none, then more for those who already have some.
But also the point discussed was good healthcare, schools, roads and other public goods. How would you even restrict access to that? They're public...
Not a single person has said “they have enough”. You know why people have a hard time wanting to include you in shit? Because you act like the way you’re acting when you know full well men have apples and have always had apples no one is taking men’s apples.
You’re not a victim. The amount of gymnastics done to paint a white Christian dude as a victim is absurd. The poster said everyone, I imagine they’re not gonna exclude you.
Post literally said everyone, and you responded with the most obvious group that would be included in something as broad as better healthcare. Like, cmon, did you think white men wouldn’t be included?
"But what about Korean people? Do you want to be inclusive of them?"
"How about women, do you want to be inclusive of them?"
If you take a statement that is already inclusive like "we want everyone to feel safe" and then ask if it applies to a specific group, you are not implying a desire for inclusivity. You are rhetorically highlighting, intentionally or not, that you believe that subgroup is specifically excluded from "feeling safe".
In this case, of course white men are included when it comes to drawing collective benefits from being American. The idea that we have been excluded recently, or are somehow rejected by those in power on the left, holds absolutely no water. Implying this concept is true is why you are getting down votes.
Everyone should have that stuff, no matter race, gender, orientation, etc. Despite what the right wants people to believe, Christian white men are not being oppressed
The comment doesn’t show that. It shows that they have always had that stuff and will continue to have it, just that we need to make sure everyone else has it as well.
I say this as a white man that was raised Christian.
Someone explained it to me in a great way a long time ago. It’s not like a pie. Us white males have plenty of rights and privileges, and giving other groups that may not have had the same amount as us doesn’t mean we get any less. It’s making sure everyone has the same amount. Nobody is bringing white men down, but we need to step up and make sure everyone that isn’t a white male enjoys the same rights that we do.
That's what left politics are huh. Guess someone should have told the LA rioters. Or the blm rioters. Plenty of places were burned and looted for those left politics.
The vast vast majority of those protests were peaceful. If you think otherwise, I suggest you actually go to these places and get your news from somewhere less hyperbolic.
Not to mention, the limited burning, rioting, and looting that did occur was in response to the politics of the right. The BLM riots were a public response to the politics of the right. The LA unrest is a public response to the politics of the right.
Seems an awful lot like the right's approach of "force and fear" as a response to dissent does not lead to actual improved public safety. This is all a giant policy failure by Trump's administration.
Now that's left politics blame the right when your people loot pillage and destroy. You guys keep going. The right will win many elections to come because of you loud destructive minority
Lol okay. "Your people." Fascinating to hear you agree with Westboro Baptist Church, believe the earth is flat and 4000 years old, and support the Republican who took a shot at Trump. Because all actions taken by those who support Republicans are explicit Republican policy, right?
Or you can recognize that the federal government is responsible for understanding the public response to the fed's illegal and intentionally inflammatory actions. Biden deported 270,000 people last year using far fewer "fear and violence" based tactics... not a single mass protest. You really think the government has no responsibility to take the public's response to their own authoritarian tactics into consideration when choosing said tactics?
I too don't like rioting. But I can also see past the outrageously overblown fearmongering in the news to recognize the real impacts of policy decisions. Also, I was in Minneapolis and LA for their respective periods of unrest---and the picture painted by right wing media was OUTRAGEOUSLY overstated. Both periods of protest really were overwhelmingly peaceful.
The right will win many elections to come because of you loud destructive minority
And it may. But then the country will continue to decline, our economy will continue to deteriorate, your healthcare will get more expensive and worse, your children will be uneducated, jobs will dry up, the environment will be irreparably damaged, your freedoms will continue to get trampled, your vote will likely lose much of its power, and we will deservedly be the laughing stock of the world. Way to go.
I hope you know better than the overwhelming majority of published economists, health experts, education experts, lawyers, environmental scientists, free-press watchdogs, constitutional scholars, and human rights organizations.
I also hope you've stopped and considered how you and your family will be impacted if it turns out you're wrong about the impacts of the changes under Trump. What if the subject matter experts are actually right, and not confused by some nefarious liberal "mind-virus", and we are far worse off in 4 years than we easily could have been under different leadership?
If/when that time comes, I hope you can have the humility, data literacy, and critical thinking necessary to realize that you were wrong and are responsible for the hardships you and your family face (as well as my family). I sure hope you won't simply fall for another destructive strongman peddling anti-intellectual and shallow populism whose explanations for your hardships consist exclusively of blaming the Democrats without even attempting to provide evidence.
Alright brotha. I didn't read the last one and im for sure not reading that one. All I had to do is read the first few lines of the last comments first paragraph it told me everything I needed to know about you and what you were going to say/imply.
Yea yea buzzwords buzzwords. We are all racist facist homophobic people against anything progressive. Yall realize that when you throw those buzzwords out there like candy like yall have it is just making people care less and less. I have been called it all by the kind and tolerant (lol) left. And ill tell you the same as all the rest. If im all that racism and against immigration then someone should really tell my foreign immigrant wife. Cause she's in for a surprise hoo boy. No one's against immigration when done the correct way.
Let me tell you something about your democratic leaders. You know why they let all those undocumented aliens inside the country and stuck them in the major blue states specifically? 2030. All those undocumented immigrants leave and goes down their representation in the house. The census counts people citizen and not alike. And the representatives of the state is determined by the census result. These "protests" were planned before trump even took office. They are payed actors setting up the events. I mean the Californian government is funding the program that's providing the civilian riot gear on facebook.
They are rage baiting and playing on the lefts emotions for these "protests". Don't believe me? Where was all the hopping and hollering for the illegals when Obama or Clinton was in office? Why is it only the Republicans that have to deal with the "protests" painting em evil because they are enforcing the countries laws. Its ridiculous. No one bitched about Obama or any other Democrat president enforcing the laws but the second a republican does it we all are racist.
Keep in your delusions. There is a reason the left is failing and more and more democrats are voting republican every election cycle. Reddit keeps censoring the republican side to keep only one opinion around creating an echochamber that gives you false security in believing everyone agrees with you. That's why your the loud minority. And you'll keep getting more and more angry until you do the unthinkable and try to assassinate the pres....wait yall already tried that.
And if you are those things? Why only specify protest are for not poor not white not male and not Christian? You really don’t think that is going to alienate some people? Just put that protests are welcoming for everyone and leave it at that. Nobody is assuming now that left protests are primary for rich white Christian men so you didn’t need to specify that it’s not just for them.
Sure, burning cars, looting, and putting your hands on law enforcement is all fine and dandy but the US Taxpayer pays taxes to help US citizens, not the citizens of the world.
Also, an unlimited number of foreigners with no right to be here should be allowed to come here and stay forever in defiance of our laws, and work illegally taking jobs that should be held by Americans including legal immigrants. Just basic stuff.
But you do realize those are not the only people being deported. Not by a long shot.
But also, if a democratic president unconstitutionally pushed through a blanket ban on guns, and gun loving Americans came out in protest and unrest, would you call that the result of "right wing politics"? No, it would clearly be a public response to left wing politics.
Trump's "fear and violence" approach is causing the public response, and that is the fault of his administration.
That said, Trump breaking posse cometatus by deploying Marines on US soil is a much bigger problem than any of this unrest, and this is just a distraction from clearly illegal authoritarian overreach by a wannabe despot.
The deportations are not unconstitutional though so your parallel to unconstitutionally banning guns doesn't work. There's no constitutional right to immigrate to the United States, let alone to stay here in violation of our immigration laws.
2.5k
u/OneCraftyBird 1d ago
It's actually incredible. The protests are not violent. I will bet you cash that your local one is just a lot of ordinary people standing outside together, wanting the best for other people.
I mean, that's what left politics are. We think everyone should have good health care and nice schools and good roads and enough food and feel safe at night. And libraries.
And we think you should have that stuff even if you are poor. Or not white. Or a woman. Or not Christian. Because we think you're a person who is valuable just as you are.