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[–] 93 points 1 month ago (21 children)

As a Canadian, I ask that Americans do more than stand there.

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  • [–] 22 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    I would say that people are doing stuff, but we're constrained by several things:

    1. Fixed election cycles: Once in office, only the fellow officers of the federal government, whether Congress or the top tiers of the Executive, are able to recall, expel, or remove officials in the government. Since all the branches of our government are held by one political faction, the chance of this is vanishingly small

    2. Lifetime appointment of judges: As a consequence of the actions of some key figures (cough cough, RBG) we're stuck with an extremely conservative and Trump allied Supreme Court that won't block or overturn any of the administration's actions

    3. The leaders of Congress have decided not to exercise their power which for the 249 years prior to 2025 has been the main check against something like this happening. Per point number 1 there's no recourse for citizens until this November essentially. I don't know the statistics in countries like the US vs Canada, but at least here in the South, Senators or Representatives in leadership positions get essentially a free walk at least to the general election, most of them through to reelection

    4. Due to how it was set up, the US Senate, whose main roll is essentially being the red or green light on much of the President's agenda, changes extremely slowly because we don't elect them all at once. Luckily this year, a majority of the Senate incumbents facing reelection (20 out of the 35) are Republicans, so the Democrats could (in theory) make significant gains or at least have more of a chance to

    5. This administration has shown that it really doesn't care about popular opinion at all about anything

    6. As others have mentioned in this thread, the administration has made it a habit of locating and locking up under terrorism charges people that publicly speak out against it and has made it practice to murder people in the street trying to help those in need, so the stakes are significantly higher than political change has been in the past

    The main thing Trump has done is exposed just how much of our government has been de facto. I think one of the main issues is that the founders of the country basically assumed good faith in much of the mechanics the built into the system because that was more of a component of high class culture back then.

    I think it's important to remember for us Americans too though that almost to a man, most of these guys hated each other and did everything in their power to undermine each other. People talk about polarisation in politics today like it's a new thing and totally unprecedented. The Era of Good Feelings lasted like 5 years people, democracy needs disagreement to survive

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  • [–] 9 points 1 month ago

    And I'd like to add that 'hopefully' people have learned a lesson here. I too was incredibly frustrated by the fact that Congress just doesn't get anything done... but I'm not electing a dictator to solve it, wtf

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  • [–] 21 points 1 month ago (14 children)

    People are being imprisoned under terrorist charges for life for standing up to this government in peaceful protest

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  • [–] 26 points 1 month ago (12 children)

    Maybe should learn how to protest from the French.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago (11 children)

    The French police aren't trying to kill the protesters. They literally shoot you in the head with bullets here.

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  • [–] 20 points 1 month ago

    So what's the plan? Good luck on that vote you've got coming up, but let's not be naive about what might happen. Hiding and hoping didn't work out very well for Anne Frank, it won't work for Americans either.

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  • [–] 12 points 1 month ago (7 children)

    I thought you had a second amendment just for this?! If we believe the amount of Americans here telling everyone to arm themselves, and that they are ready to defend themselves if a police officer looks menacing, you'd all be ready for this.

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  • [–] 8 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Let me speak in my American voice: β€œlol, what are you doing? I’ll follow you.”

    And I’m saying this in a voice that just sprinted a mile and is out of breath.

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  • [–] 50 points 1 month ago (11 children)

    Wow, pretty awful comments here so far.

    Thanks neighbour. I hate your government, but I don't hate you. You are not your government. Keep resisting in anyway you can.

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  • [–] 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

    We're trying to while avoiding terrorist charges for simple things like carrying pamphlets that isn't right wing approved

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  • [–] 6 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    what is the 2nd amendment for?

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  • [–] 12 points 1 month ago*

    Guess that depends on how you understand the second amendment. Many modern Americans believe it’s a green light to own ARs to take lives indiscriminately. American forefathers envisioned something much closer to an armed militia to stand up to a tyrannical government.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 month ago (5 children)

    I think it boils down to a lot of frustration on our part. Every time he threatens us or another ally everyone says how sorry they are, but nothing comes of it and it just keeps happening.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago

    It's just as easy for us to commit sedition as it is for them to commit treason.

    What are we doing to help them organize their revolution?

    That shit ain't easy. We need to support any resistance we can, no matter how small.

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  • [–] 47 points 1 month ago* (4 children)

    Leave it to an American to come here, express sorrow to us, and then expect grace from us when all they do is type a sentence in a community that isn't targeted for them.

    I'm sick of Americans coming into other communities, getting on their soap box, and then saying the bare minimum to expect praise. People have stereotypes about us saying sorry all the time, but online all it ever seems to be is self-deprecating Americans coming into communities of other countries saying "sorry we're like this..." and "I'm sorry for being American"

    If you truly cared you wouldn't be here begging for internet points in a performative confessional, get out and do something, showcase it, and then maybe you get a pass because ten years of this crap in varying degrees has gotten extremely tiring.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    This post is probably a bot. If you think you're tired of it, just imagine how we feel.

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  • [–] 20 points 1 month ago

    Come back to us when you have done something about it.

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  • [–] 18 points 1 month ago (6 children)
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    [–] 11 points 1 month ago* (8 children)

    As a working class human I stand for the working and poor classes. Fuck nationalism.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (4 children)

    Sure. Canada is looking like the better vessel for basic humanitarian concerns, though.

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    [–] 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

    I personally can't stand these kinds of posts since they're just so pointless. Are you expecting a pat on the back for making an internet post about how sowwy you are?

    Maybe put in a bit more effort if you actually stand with us. Share links about communities with like-minded individuals. Show us what you have been doing to change your country. Show us how we can help you guys.

    Edit: I'd love to know why I'm being downvoted.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 month ago
    [–] 4 points 1 month ago
    [–] 3 points 1 month ago

    Then protest. At least weekly. Not every 4 months. Even if it’s just you doing it. It has to start somewhere

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    I've been told many times that the vast majority of Americans are against Trump. If the VAST majority of your citizens are against the current leader and he is being allowed to do this much damage against the wishes of the vast majority YOU DON'T LIVE IN A FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACY

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