We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Thursday, November 17, 2016

As anti-Trump protests spread, Democrats scramble to contain opposition

Click here to access article by Barry Grey from World Socialist Web Site
These protests point to the development of a significant political movement in the United States. An entire generation of youth is becoming radicalized by the coming to power of the most right-wing government in American history.

Since losing the popular vote by over 1 million votes but securing the Electoral College last week, Trump has reaffirmed his war on immigrants, pledged to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court with an anti-abortion zealot and made clear he will pack his cabinet with law-and-order reactionaries and warmongers.

In the face of growing opposition to Trump, top Democratic Party officials continue to preach accommodation and “unity.”
Even though I don't believe the capitalist ruling class's government will significantly change, they appear to me to be a bit reckless by installing Trump as their puppet president. I think it could very well have the effect of radicalizing many young people and others. Bloggers are making all kinds of wild speculations about the Trump presidency, but this one I believe is rather serious. This could be an indication of our masters' excess hubris and a slap down of the challenge by young people to their authority (think Bernie Sanders) or it could be an indication of their rational confidence in their police state infrastructure to contain any dissent. Time will tell.