Tag: democracy

Fighting Fascism – Day Forty-Seven– Is Artificial Intelligence a tool of fascism?

by Michel Welmond, posted in Uncategorized

This is a different kind of blog that intends to spur discussion more than action. I am very interested to know what you think about the political potential (positive and negative) of artificial intelligence. It will definitely disrupt labor markets, that is for sure, if it lives up to its promise of performing more complex tasks. However, can it also effectively limit liberties, thwart democracy, and enable those who have a fascist agenda, such as the current administration? Dan McQuillan, in his book “Resisting AI: An Anti-Fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence” claims that AI is inherently fascistic: “AI not only undermines due process but produces thoughtlessness.”

But can’t the opposite also be true? Can it serve the resistance? It appears that AI’s increasing role in our economy, polity and society is inevitable. Discussing what we do about this is essential for any resistance strategy going forward.

Finally, there is the tremendous use of water and energy needed to run these huge language models, an environmental cost that should also be considered. It is a very wasteful technology and some of argued that it should be limited for that reason only. Others argue that technological solutions (always technological solutions) can be found to that problem.

When I asked ChatGPT and Deep Seek how to combat fascism, they returned answers in line with much of what I have discussed in these blogs. Here is an example from ChatGPT:

“Fighting fascism requires a combination of awareness, activism, and community engagement. Here are some key strategies:

  1. Educate Yourself and Others
    • Learn about the history of fascism, its warning signs, and how it gains power.
    • Share knowledge to help others recognize and resist authoritarian tendencies.
  2. Promote Democracy and Human Rights
    • Defend democratic values such as freedom of speech, equality, and justice.
    • Support policies and organizations that protect civil liberties.
  3. Engage in Grassroots Organizing
    • Build or join community groups that work to oppose hate speech, discrimination, and extremist ideologies.
    • Organize peaceful protests, campaigns, and petitions.
  4. Support Marginalized Communities
    • Be an ally to those targeted by fascist rhetoric and policies.
    • Volunteer time or donate to organizations supporting refugees, immigrants, and minority groups.
  5. Challenge Misinformation and Propaganda
    • Fact-check and counter false narratives used to spread fear and division.
    • Promote independent journalism and credible sources of information.
  6. Participate in Politics
    • Vote in elections and encourage others to do the same.
    • Support candidates and leaders who oppose authoritarianism.
  7. Build Solidarity Networks
    • Connect with activists and groups internationally to share strategies and resources.
    • Strengthen community ties to resist division and polarization.
  8. Confront Hate Peacefully
    • Avoid violence but remain firm in confronting hate speech and actions.
    • Use creative forms of protest like art, music, and theater to raise awareness.
  9. Protect Vulnerable Institutions
    • Advocate for judicial independence, free media, and fair elections.
    • Hold leaders accountable through legal means and public pressure.
  10. Stay Vigilant and Persistent
    • Fascism often rises during times of crisis, so continuous engagement is necessary.”
    • Keep up the pressure even when threats seem diminished.

Resistance to fascism is most effective when it is organized, inclusive, and consistent.”

It also listed several organizations (many of which I had already cited in earlier blogs) that it deemed important to support when resisting fascism. But was it just telling me what I wanted to hear? I also asked Chat GPT whether AI was fascistic or anti-fascistic. Here was its answer.

The impact of AI on the rise or resistance against fascism is complex and multifaceted. Here are ways in which AI can both contribute to and combat authoritarian tendencies:

Contributing to Fascism:

  1. Misinformation and Propaganda: AI can be used to create and disseminate misinformation, deepfakes, and propaganda, which can manipulate public opinion and sow discord.
  2. Surveillance and Control: Governments may use AI for surveillance and monitoring of citizens, potentially stifling dissent and infringing on civil liberties.
  3. Polarization: Algorithms that prioritize sensational or divisive content can contribute to societal polarization, making it easier for extremist ideologies to take root.
  4. Automated Decision-Making: Bias in AI systems can lead to discriminatory practices, reinforcing existing inequalities and fueling resentment.

Fighting Fascism:

  1. Fact-Checking and Misinformation Detection: AI tools can help identify and counter misinformation, providing people with accurate information and promoting informed discourse.
  2. Empowering Civil Society: AI can assist organizations in mobilizing resources, analyzing data for advocacy, and reaching broader audiences to promote democratic values.
  3. Promoting Transparency: AI can enhance transparency in government operations, helping to hold officials accountable and ensuring that citizens have access to critical information.
  4. Facilitating Dialogue: AI can be used to create platforms for constructive dialogue, helping to bridge divides and foster understanding among diverse groups.
  5. Data Analysis for Social Justice: AI can be utilized to analyze social issues, identify patterns of inequality, and inform policy decisions that promote equity and justice.

In summary, AI has the potential to both exacerbate authoritarian tendencies and serve as a powerful tool for promoting democracy and social justice. The outcome largely depends on how AI is designed, implemented, and regulated, as well as the intentions of those who wield it.

When asked, ChatGPT indicated that AI should be regulated, be driven by ethical guidelines, and designed transparently to prevent more nefarious uses (just what I wanted to hear!), but we can only wonder how that could happen. Dan McQuillan asks, “… whether the giant AI corporations would balk at putting the levers of mass correlation at the disposal of regimes seeking national rebirth through rationalized ethnocentrism.” Considering what we have experienced over the last few weeks, we know the answer to that question. More damning, MacQuillan argues in another paper that any attempt to control potential toxicity of ChatGPT: “can’t change the fact that the underlying language patterns were learned from the raw internet, including all the ravings and conspiracy theories. Considering AI’s inevitability, (some argue that it is not inevitable and it will be proven to be mostly hype – I’m not so sure). do we have a choice but to figure out how the resistance can put AI to use? To subvert its fascistic propensity? What do you think?

Fighting fascism — Day Thirty-one — reflections from Côte d’Ivoire

by Michel Welmond, posted in Uncategorized

I was on a personal visit to Côte d’Ivoire over the last week (just got home yesterday afternoon). It was fantastic to come back to Abidjan, where we lived for three years, and see old friends and colleagues. I loved rediscovering the rhythms, sounds and scents that carried us away while we lived here. It was great eating aloko, attieke, grilled chicken and fish, tasty mangos and papayas, eye-watering pepper sauce (pili-pili), and drinking ginger and bissap juice. Most everyone I know is ageing gracefully – although life remains hard for many.

What Ivoirians think about what is going on in the US might surprise you – it certainly surprised me. Of course, I did not do a formal survey. My observations reflect a smattering of conversations with people who told me what they think and/or what they think others think. So, take it as an impression rather than a generalized “truth”. Many seem to see Trump’s victory positively and this for four main reasons.

First, most believe that the new US administration could care less about Africa, and that is a good thing. That Côte d’Ivoire is considered a “shithole” country is just as well because Americans (and everyone else – as I will develop further) will then leave Africa alone and not use it for geopolitical advantages that have done Africans little good and a lot of bad. This conflates with the widespread anti-French sentiment that has increased considerably over the last few years. Ivoirians see Trump’s election as an embarrassment for the French. The argument goes something like this: the French are responsible for much that is wrong in Côte d’Ivoire; American policy has been to support the French in its oppression of Côte d’Ivoire; the Americans will no longer back France’s geopolitical strategy and Côte d’Ivoire will therefore benefit.

People are split about the second reason I will share here. Some friends adamantly believe that it is a widely held opinion, while others doubt that it is a significant factor. Basically, it consists of a negative narrative about development assistance. Money is stolen; ministers’ mistresses are driving around in 200,000 dollar cars (an actual scandal that filled pages here in Côte d’Ivoire); people’s lives are not getting any better even though lots of resources come here; there are too many strings attached (debt, being beholden to aid providers — again, a very strong anti-French discourse); and with no aid, governments will have to finally step in and do their job.

The third reason has to do with conservative social norms. Homophobia seems quite pervasive in Côte d’Ivoire. I don’t know what the legal status of LGBTQ+ is, but I’m assuming that it is not great. Trump is seen as some sort of return to morality, particularly defined by the rejection of the LGBTQ+ “agenda”. I have heard some resentment of the perceived push by the US (and the French) for African countries not to legislate against homosexuals, so the new administration’s rejection of LGBTQ+ protections is seen as some sort of redemption. Trump’s supposed religiosity has also been accepted by many here as genuine.

The last reason, is not really a reason, but rather a reflection on what contributes to the formation of the above ideas. Of course, it comes from social media – a social media that we know is often manipulated by government, outside powers, and those who cleverly express provocative opinions. People do not trust the mainstream media, and are attracted to the provocative unbridled style of influenciers. Also, I have heard that the Russians in particular are working hard to orient social media towards its anti-French rhetorical deluge.

I personally do not believe that America’s moral, diplomatic and strategic “abandonment” of Africa will allow a thousand flowers to grow. There are many others, within Africa and elsewhere, who are more than willing to take advantage of any void (China, Russia, Jihadists, and Rwanda, to name a few). Also, the drying up of development assistance will not be a positive for poor Africans. And moral indignation is always relative (the princely do often fall). However, the strategically organized rendition of social media does ring true. The question is why, in terms of content, form, and spirit is it so convincing. I don’t have an answer to that.

Taken together, the arguments are similar to the logical daisy-chains we have seen amongst MAGA supporters: government involvement (or that of foreign powers) in the lives of the every-person is both absent and too present; there is a “hidden agenda” that explains why there is so much suffering; money is leaking out of the government system and into the hands of the few; the fall of the outsider elite is a gleeful event; strongmen whose “hands are not tied” will set things straight (figuratively and metaphorically); and the “real truth” comes from dark, whispery corners (okay, some inordinately loud corners as well).

What does all this mean for the fight against fascism? Basically, we have formidable enemies when trying to win hearts and minds. They are organized not just nationally, but internationally. We must do better in terms of combatting the torrent of misinformation. I have written about the need for us to talk to people, even those we don’t agree with, as modest acts of anti-fascism. My short trip to Côte d’Ivoire confirmed for me the necessity of doing this.

Fighting fascism — Day Twenty-Four — fighting through your pocketbook

by Michel Welmond, posted in Uncategorized

Sorry I missed a blog date. I am currently on the road, having decided to visit some friends in West Africa for about a week. It will be interesting to see what they might have to say about what is going on in the US right now. I’ll report back soon.

Today’s blog is about fighting fascism through economic means. One way to express one’s disgust/disagreement/outrage regarding the current political trends is to stop consuming so much, stop consuming certain products, or stop buying from certain suppliers. I suggest three ways that you could express your resistance to the current slide towards fascism in our consumer society.

First, as we know, the administration has called government agencies and the private sector to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. The cynicism and downright meanness of this move is only surpassed by the willingness of many private companies to (quite quickly) close or weaken their relevant programs and policies. Doing this during Black History Month only adds insult to injury. You can respond by staying away from certain companies and also demonstrate that you appreciate those that have held firm despite pressure from the administration. Below are a list of companies that fit into each category.

Companies that have pared back or ended their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs include Google, Amazon, Meta, McDonald’s, Target, Walmart, Ford, John Deere, Craftsman, Harley Davidson, Coors, Lowes, Toyota, Caterpillar, Jack Daniels, Nissan, GM, Intel, Paypal, Chipotle, and Comcast.

Companies that have maintained their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives include Microsoft, Apple, Costco, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Salesforce, Pinterest, NASDAQ, E.L.F. Beauty, Logitech, Visa, Coca Cola, and Wegmans.

I may have some mistakes: please let me know and I will revise. My sources for the above are Forbes, Yahoo News, NPR, Google, and Reddit.

The second action is to go specifically after the elephants in the room: Amazon; Meta; and X (there are others so please share suggestions). Each is associated with billionaires who have taken the craven attitude of aligning themselves with the administration in very vocal and active ways. If it is possible to obtain products from other sources than Amazon, I suggest that you should try very hard. Closing Facebook accounts is a tricky move, but I know people have done so. Many are concerned with the implications of becoming isolated. Personally, I have not yet because I still this idea that we can subvert it to our ends – but I might be rationalizing. WhatsApp may be replaced by Signal and X by Bluesky (I’ve done both). I’m not sure what to do about Google, since I have had the same gmail address for a couple of decades now and it would be hard for me to change email accounts, but I’ll consider it. These are tough choices and what happens when there are monopolies.

The last is to participate in an event that I found out about from Democrats Abroad: An economic “blackout” that is supposed to take place on February 28. The following sections describe this action in some detail (copied from Democrats Abroad). I have to do more research on this idea.

The 24 HOUR ECONOMIC BLACKOUT

“As our first initial act, we turn it off. For one day we show them who really holds the power.

WHEN: Friday February 28th from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM

WHAT NOT TO DO:

  • Do not make any purchases
  • Do not shop online, or in-store
  • No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy
  • Nowhere!
  • Do not spend money on:
    • Fast Food
    • Gas
    • Major Retailers
    • Do not use Credit or Debit Cards for non essential spending

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

  • Only buy essentials that are absolutely necessary (Food, Medicine, Emergency Supplies)
  • If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.

SPREAD THE MESSAGE

Talk about it, post about it, and document your actions that day!

WHY THIS MATTERS!

  • Corporations and banks only care about their bottom line.
  • If we disrupt the economy for just ONE day, it sends a powerful message.
  • If they don’t listen (they won’t) we make the next blackout longer (We will)

This is our first action. This is how we make history.

The meme for this event is here.”

As a final point, last night, Democratics Abroad brought Malcolm Nance to talk to Americans living outside the US. Malcolm is a former military and intelligence officer with tremendous experience all around the world. He is also an analyst, contributor to major media outlets and a writer. He has about a dozen books on the subjects of terrorism, ideology, democracy. He was quite eloquent and believes that there is a national resistance movement that is forming. He had messages in line with what has been proposed in these blog (“Do something for America every day”). One of the more inspiring points he made was that we should adopt a “resistance posture”.  Taking actions such as the ones discussed above are manifestations of that. For those living abroad, he also suggested that we should be the ambassadors of the True America, the one that continues to be dedicated to democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech and thought, and equality.

There is a national resistance movement that is forming.

Fighting fascism – Day Twenty – keep counting

by Michel Welmond, posted in Uncategorized

You may have wondered why I keep numbering my blogs. Today is Day 20 since the inauguration. I was inspired by an article in the Atlantic Monthly that described how Adolf Hitler had dismantled the German democracy in only 53 days after he became chancellor on January 30, 1933. He did this through constitutional means and was able to shut out and oppress opposition in such a way that he could take over all the levers of government in a very short period of time. Sounds familiar? In any case, I plan to continue counting the days until I reach the famous “53”. Will the administration have beat this number? Have we been able to stop them from achieving their aims? We’ll have to evaluate that when we get to that sinister number.

Just as a reminder, these blogs aim to encourage you to take action every day. I know that it must seem difficult at times and the present context can feel very disheartening. However, the idea behind this modest call to action is that we must stay engaged, regardless of wins and losses. Many, if not most, citizens are appalled by what is going on. By acting, we are transformed from being a group to being part of a network, and eventually part of a movement.

Right now a lot is happening in the courts, which I find inspiring. We don’t seem to be able to count on Congress to do much to slow down or stop the administration (although we need to continue to pester them many times a day to do so). A friend shared with me this very interesting list of all the legal challenges against the administration from Just Security. They count 41 separate cases.

I understand from an article in the New York Times that phone banks at Congress are overwhelmed. It is difficult to get numbers but the article claim that some senators are getting 1,600 calls a minute. Don’t know how many are for or against, of course, but supposedly a healthy proportion is in protest to what is happening. So, do keep calling or writing or go visit their office!

Indivisible comes up again and again as a premier organization mobilizing protests and actions. A friend shared the following which is a summary of one of their virtual meetings and a list of useful resources. Please take a look at the points I highlighted in green, in particular. Everything on this resource list is useful, though.

And I’m sorry if I am not keeping up with all the great ideas you have had or the comments that you have made. I promise to catch up soonest. Here is one that I promised to mention. a piece written by JVL about what the Democrats need to do now – How to Win the USAID Fight.  And it isn’t to follow Chuck Schumer.  Some very good stuff here.


All the best,

Michel

[FROM INDIVISIBLE]

There was so much AMAZING energy on this week’s Q&A chat with Leah and Ezra! We are glad you were here if you were one of the 3,000 who joined us. If you missed it, don’t worry, we are including everything you need to know to get caught up on the call where we laid out “The Plan” for moving forward.  

Indivisible group member, Chris J., shared a wonderful quote: “The antidote to anxiety is ACTION”  We will not succumb to anxiety and are ready to take action.    We are trying to learn from you, the leaders of this movement. One specific topic that has come up is people wanting a list of alternative news sources other than mainstream media.  Please take a moment to respond to this quick survey and we will compile and share a list of where you’re getting your news. 

Resources from yesterday’s call:  

Find a recording of yesterday’s discussion here “What’s the Plan” 

If you prefer to read the transcript, you can find it here.  

Join us on February 13th for the next What’s the Plan? Q&A with Leah and Ezra: Register here

Have you seen the new Indivisible guide yet? Here’s our guide to resisting Trump 2.0

If you live in a blue state, check out our Indivisible Blue State Guide  Start or get connected with your local Indivisible Group  

Trump’s nominees aren’t just bad picks – they’ are a threat to democracy. Fight back! Nix Trump’s Most Dangerous Nominees

Don’t miss a thing! Bookmark this page to keep track of all weekly actions: 

Hold your elected officials accountable! Show up at their offices and demand to be heard.  Start here with our Meeting with Office Holders Toolkit 

Check out our resource on how to stay prepared and secured during a second Trump administration.  

Follow us on Bluesky 

Find your local Indivisible group: https://indivisible.org/groups 

Join our mailing list 

If you want to organize locally against ICE raids on schools, see this google doc with a toolkit on how to push your own school boards to fight back.   

Fighting fascism – Day Twelve – call your representatives!!

by Michel Welmond, posted in Uncategorized

Fighting fascism – Day Twelve

A good friend has indicated that we need to really focus on communicating with our legislators. This friend has some very good advice about how to do this. I’m going to be a little bit lazy here and just cut and paste what she provided to me. I think that what she proposes demands more of our time than what I have suggested, but she makes some pretty good arguments about why we should pursue this strategy:

PICK UP THE PHONE!!!! PICK UP THE PHONE!!! There are two things that all sane Americans should be doing all the time right now, and they’re by far the most important things. [If you want to share this, please copy and paste so it goes beyond our mutual friends.] –>

You should NOT be bothering with online petitions or emailing (not sure I agree, but let’s follow this idea through).

1. The best thing you can do to be heard and get your congressperson to pay attention is to have face-to-face time – if they have townhalls, go to them. Go to their local offices. If you’re in DC, try to find a way to go to an event of theirs. Go to the “mobile offices” that their staff hold periodically (all these times are located on each congressperson’s website). When you go, ask questions. A lot of them. And push for answers. The louder and more vocal and present you can be at those the better.

2. But, those in-person events don’t happen every day. So, the absolute most important thing that people should be doing every day is calling. You should make 6 calls a day (I am less demanding, I admit): 2 each (DC office and your local office) to your 2 Senators & your 1 Representative. The staffer was very clear that any sort of online contact basically gets immediately ignored, and letters pretty much get thrown in the trash (unless you have a particularly strong emotional story – but even then it’s not worth the time it took you to craft that letter).

Calls are what all the congresspeople pay attention to. Every single day, the Senior Staff and the Senator get a report of the 3 most-called-about topics for that day at each of their offices (in DC and local offices), and exactly how many people said what about each of those topics. They’re also sorted by zip code and area code. She said that Republican callers generally outnumber Democrat callers 4-1, and when it’s a particular issue that single-issue-voters pay attention to (like gun control, or planned parenthood funding, etc…), it’s often closer to 11-1, and that’s recently pushed Republican congressmen on the fence to vote with the Republicans. In the last 8 years, Republicans have called, and Democrats haven’t.

So, when you call:

A) When calling the DC office, ask for the Staff member in charge of whatever you’re calling about (“Hi, I’d like to speak with the staffer in charge of Healthcare, please”) – local offices won’t always have specific ones, but they might. If you get transferred to that person, awesome. If you don’t, that’s ok – ask for their name, and then just keep talking to whoever answered the phone. Don’t leave a message (unless the office doesn’t pick up at all – then you can…but it’s better to talk to the staffer who first answered than leave a message for the specific staffer in charge of your topic).

B) Give them your zip code. They won’t always ask for it, but make sure you give it to them, so they can mark it down. Extra points if you live in a zip code that traditionally votes for them, since they’ll want to make sure they get/keep your vote.

C) If you can make it personal, make it personal. “I voted for you in the last election and I’m worried/happy/whatever” or “I’m a teacher, and I am appalled by Betsy DeVos,” or “as a single mother” or “as a white, middle class woman,” or whatever.

D) Pick 1-2 specific things per day to focus on. Don’t go down a whole list – they’re figuring out what 1-2 topics to mark you down for on their lists. So, focus on 1-2 per day. Ideally something that will be voted on/taken up in the next few days, but it doesn’t really matter – even if there’s not a vote coming up in the next week, call anyway. It’s important that they just keep getting calls.

E) Be clear on what you want – “I’m disappointed that the Senator…” or “I want to thank the Senator for their vote on…” or “I want the Senator to know that voting in _____ way is the wrong decision for our state because…” Don’t leave any ambiguity.

F) They may get to know your voice/get sick of you – it doesn’t matter. The people answering the phones generally turn over every 6 weeks anyway, so even if they’re really sick of you, they’ll be gone in 6 weeks. From experience since the election: If you hate being on the phone & feel awkward (which is a lot of people) don’t worry about it – there are a bunch of scripts (Indivisible has some (I had shared 5calls.org in previous posts), there are lots of others floating around these day). After a few days of calling, it starts to feel a lot more natural. Put the 6 numbers in your phone (all under P – Politician. An example is McCaskill MO, Politician McCaskill DC, Politician Blunt MO, etc…) which makes it really easy to click down the list each day.

Fighting Fascism — Day Nine – staying in the mood

by Michel Welmond, posted in Uncategorized

Fighting fascism – Day Nine

Considering that the “flood the zone” strategy is under implementation, it is easy to lose focus and feel overwhelmed. This is when a list of guidelines or attitudes to adopt might be useful. Although they aren’t completely in line with what I have been promoting (take action), they provide good analysis and advice.

A good friend forwarded this very interesting list of things to keep in mind, cut from an article by Mark Elias entitled 10 Ways to Protect Democracy.

“1. Stay engaged: When all the news is about Trump and pardons and lies, it is easy to want to retreat and stop paying attention. Don’t. It is precisely when things are hard that we must all lean into remaining vigilant and informed.

2. Help Democrats: The success of any opposition movement rests on the opposing party taking power. This is not a minor detail; in our system of government, it is the essential goal. Next time you want to attack a Democrat for being too much of this or too little of that, realize that you are only helping the GOP. Instead, find a Democrat you support and volunteer or contribute to their campaign.

3. Don’t do (the administration’s) work: This is more than simply resisting (the administration’s) actions; it is refusing to accept his false assumptions. When he says he wants to abolish birthright citizenship, do not accept the premise that he has the power to do so. Stay grounded in the truth: The U.S. Constitution is clear, Trump is powerless and the courts will reject his efforts. (Not too sure about this: I think we will have to fight this on many levels).

4. Don’t grade on a curve: This goes both ways. Do not hold Republicans to a lower standard and do not hold Democrats to a higher one. When a Republican does something normal, recognize it is normal not exceptional. When a Democrat does something normal, recognize it is normal and not terrible.

5. Believe in the courts: Republicans control all three elected branches of the federal government. They do not control the courts. Yes, the U.S. Supreme Court has a solidly conservative majority, but the high court only hears a few dozen cases a year. And in some of those, the Court has sided with democracy. Most importantly, remember that Joe Biden confirmed a record number of new federal judges. And, of course, there are state courts. For better or worse, we are dependent on the courts to help protect democracy. Rather than assume they will not, insist they do.

6. Beware of false attacks: Pam Bondi is an election denier. Kash Patel has an enemies list of political opponents. (The administration) has promised retribution. When you hear that () foe (of the adminisrtration) is under investigation, be skeptical. When you read about anonymous leaks against pro-democracy leaders, consider that it may be part of an effort to discredit their work.

7. Support independent media: The legacy media is failing our democracy. Every day brings more news of another billionaire owner or corporate overlord bowing down to (the administration). The solution is found in independent news outlets that have no incentive to make nice with the Republican Party. Some of these are broad-based news operations, some are issue specific. Pick a few and subscribe for free. Find one or two that you pay to support. It will go a long way to ensure a vibrant media ecosystem willing to stand up for democracy.

8. Use your town square: Every one of us has a town square. It may include our social media accounts, our local book club or dinner table. Use your town square to speak out in favor of democracy and against what Republicans are doing. Do not shy away from difficult conversations; seek them out. Engage the curious. Educate those who seek information. We all have a role to play, so don’t assume your voice is too faint or your platform too small.

9. Prepare for a long fight: In 2017, we hoped that Trumpism was a fluke and would pass. We now know it will not. We are in for a long fight and must build and commit to an opposition movement that will stand the test of time. We will have victories and setbacks, good days and bad. We must understand that this will not be over in one election or with the defeat of any one candidate. This is the fight of our generation, and it will take time.

10. Don’t give up hope: Our best political movements were hopeful. John Kennedy insisted that “we should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes.” Bill Clinton was the man from Hope. Barack Obama ran a campaign based on hope and change. Donald Trump and the Republicans want you to give up hope. Despair and cynicism fuel their movement. We must always, in the words of Jesse Jackson, “keep hope alive.””

_____________________

The same friend shared the following article that I found very inspiring: Advice for heading into Week Two

_____________________

The daughter of MLK and Coretta Scott King also has a ten-item list of advice for these times.

  1. Don’t use his name, EVER (I always refer to the “administration”)
  2. Remember this is a regime and that he is not acting alone
  3. Don’t argue with with those who support him – it doesn’t work (I don’t agree)
  4. Focus on his POLICIES not his orange-ness and his mental state
  5. Keep your message positive; they want the country to be angry and fearful because this is the soil from which their darkest policies will grow
  6. No more helpless/hopeless talk
  7. Support artists and the arts
  8. Be careful not to spread fake news. Check it’
  9. Take care of yourselves; And
  10. Resist!

Nice announcement on Common Cause to put us in a better mood: Trump Reverses Aid Cuts After Outcry: President Trump reverses aid cuts after public outcry, marking a major win for Americans defending critical programs like Medicaid and food assistance.

New 5calls.org items to check out (I like this site, but they are not always quick enough).

Might want to make a trip to COSTCO, since they decided to keep their DEI program. Might want to skip Target, though, which didn’t…

Fighting fascism – Day Two – freedom of the press

by Michel Welmond, posted in Fighting fascism

Thanks for checking out my blog. Here’s my ongoing attempt to keep fighting fascism!

The fascists are moving very fast: erasing birthright, pardons for insurrectionists, militarizing the border, pulling the U.S. out of the WHO and the Paris Climate Agreement, gutting diversity, equity and inclusion programs and overturning protections for transgender Americans are among the more egregious acts. Many more have happened and are on the way.

There will be a lot to do to fight back. And it will be a long haul. In my opinion, anti-fascist organizations are probably not moving fast enough –the ones I listed yesterday haven’t updated their “TAKE ACTION” pages in response to the inaugural speech yet. However, many of the actions they propose stay relevant. I just looked at the ACLU action page and there are at least a half-dozen petitions that can be signed. There’s one on Common Cause’s website that I believe merits attention regarding Project 2025.

In any case, what is important is to stay informed and to inform others. We need to keep on top of what is happening. There is a lot of news being reported and analyzed out there and it is easy to be overwhelmed. I do not claim to be a master of that universe, but I would like to draw your attention to one site that I think has particularly interesting coverage. The Contrarian is run by two former Washington Post reporters, who quit for reasons we certainly understand. I find they have interesting articles and discussions that are worth visiting.

Aside from Media Matters, which I listed yesterday, here are a few other organizations that are fighting for freedom of the press and against disinformation.

  1. Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – Focuses on defending digital privacy, free expression, and internet freedoms. (www.eff.org)
  2. Political Research Associates (PRA) – Conducts research on authoritarian and far-right movements to counter their influence. (www.politicalresearch.org)
  3. Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights (IREHR) – Tracks far-right extremist groups and promotes strategies to fight them. (www.irehr.org)

I need ideas! If you have any suggestions, please share them with me so I can put them on subsequent blogs posts.

Fighting fascism every day

by Michel Welmond, posted in Fighting fascism, Uncategorized

The slippery slope towards fascism became considerably steeper yesterday. The new American administration intends to constrain civil liberties, freedom of speech, and opposition. It will remove economic opportunities for those who are not already rich and protections for minorities. It plans to undermine the nation’s education system, health care system, social safety net, and other institutions that provide support and reassurance to the average person. It will try to reverse efforts to protect the environment. It will “deregulate” or, in other words, remove guardrails that prevent the greedy from further ravaging our land, people, and spirit. It seeks to orient the justice system to protect the interests of the few rather than everyone and to weaken the rule of law. It will more readily resort to violence. It will try to undermine our democracy. It will try to stay in power forever. This is fascism.

What should we do about this? Fighting fascism requires a combination of awareness, activism, and community engagement. Resistance to fascism is most effective when it is organized, inclusive, and consistent. I propose a simple strategy to start: conduct an act of anti-fascism every day, no matter how big or small. Write a letter to a government representative or news outlet or sign a petition or contribute to an organization that is fighting fascism or attend a meeting of a group dedicated to making something happen differently at a local, regional, national or international level or go to a demonstration or engage in a boycott or carry out an act of civil disobedience.

It will depend on your comfort zone, time, resources, interest in a particular topic, passion, and energy level. The important thing is to do something every day. It does not mean spending your whole day fIighting fascism (of course if you can, why not? But most people have to do laundry). Spending even ten minutes a day (well, maybe twenty) may be enough for you to keep the pressure on.

Communication is key. The best weapon that the fascists have is to make you feel that you live in an isolated bubble and that you are a helpless individual: that you are alone. By conducting an act of anti-fascism every day, you join others who are similarly engaged and together we make a difference. Make new friends!

I will provide suggestions of anti-fascist acts every day. You would be surprised how easy it is to find things to do. Send me ideas and I’ll post them as well. At the end of this blog, there are links to a few organizations that are currently fighting fascism and that suggest actions you can take. Sending your friends a link to this blog might be enough to fight fascism for today! Earlier, I called the office of the Governor of Maryland office to demand that he take a stand against deportation (see 5calls.org). It took me just a few minutes. Also, send me any suggestions you may have on how to improve this initiative.

I am committed to the values and principles that define our nation and am distressed by what is happening and what might happen. I cannot just experience this distress silently. That is why I am sharing this simple strategy with you. I encourage you to think about adopting it, if for no other reason than so I just don’t feel so alone!

Several organizations in the U.S. actively fight fascism, promote democracy, and oppose authoritarianism. Here are a few groups. I will list others in subsequent blogs. These organizations often provide resources, organize protests, and advocate for policies that counter authoritarian movements and defend democracy. Many also welcome volunteers and donations to support their causes. Each also regularly proposes actions that can be taken to fight fascism.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – Defends constitutional rights and fights against government overreach, discrimination, and authoritarian policies. There’s a “TAKE ACTION” button on their main web page. (www.aclu.org).

Media Matters for America – Monitors misinformation and far-right propaganda, promoting accountability in media. There’s a “TAKE ACTION” button on their main web page. (www.mediamatters.org).

Common Cause – Focuses on protecting voting rights, fighting corruption, and strengthening democracy. There’s a “TAKE ACTION” button on their main web page. (www.commoncause.org).

Five Calls – An easy-to-use site that guides you to make calls to government representatives (congresspersons, state delegates, etc.) to voice your concern and demand action on a selection of key issues. (www.5calls.org)