Most Americans, after Trump’s first moves, are in a wait-and-see mode. I tried to find out how this might mirror Germans’ attitudes after Hitler’s first moves. Germany’s Nuremberg Documentation Center gives a summary.
The new government finds pretexts to suspend important fundamental rights and establish permanent martial law. Germany is on its way to a dictatorship.
While large segments of the population lend their support, or at least take a wait-and-see attitude, the Nazi Party quickly begins to extend its power with a mixture of legal and pseudo-legal measures, as well as open violence.
Democratic institutions like the Reichstag and the governments of the various German states are disabled, in some cases with their own support. Undesirable officials are removed from office.
The National Socialists also have no qualms about applying the power of the state to combat their political opponents. The first concentration camps are established in March 1933. Book-burnings, and especially the first boycotts against Jews, give early hints of the future scope of persecution and violence.
The other political parties and associations underestimate Hitler and the National Socialists. They are caught off guard by the speed and brutality of his actions, are wary of public controversy, or hope to preserve remnants of their old influence by making concessions to the new strongmen. The coalition partners' plan to "tame" Hitler is a dismal failure. [The Path to Dictatorship]
Underestimate?
Like others, I have certainly underestimated Trump and the new American fascism. I’m only beginning to get involved in public controversy. I don’t think I’ve made concessions yet.
We’ll have to wait to see if the courts have a restraining effect on Trump’s dictatorial actions. And if the Republicans in Congress begin to remember they’ve long stood for many of the principles Trump is subverting. Think free trade, smaller budget deficits, free speech on campus, law and order, and a hardline attitude against authoritarian regimes.
Until those forces begin to take effect, our best resistance against what Trump is doing may be to shine a light on his actions and results . . . and to make sure no one thinks we’re in the wait-and-see crowd. Americans need to understand there’s a visible throng of disgusted, resentful opposition across the country. Waiting maybe, but certainly seeing.
Can we help others to start seeing?
Rallies? Hilary and I have spent more than a couple of afternoons since Inauguration Day on street corners with our signs. (Mine says FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE CAN’T WAIT !!) I don’t believe these rallies have much influence on policy-makers, but they may have an impact on our fellow citizens driving by. “Look, Hon, there ARE others besides us who want to fight back!”
How else can we persuade wait-and-see Americans of the facts?
Show them those facts. Preferably simple, narrow facts that affect their pocketbooks and don’t attack their fundamental beliefs.
Show them that there are a lot of us who are upset and thinking about how to fight Trump’s undemocratic actions.
Besides roadside rallies and letters to the editor, how about . . .
Yard signs?
I’d like to tell those who pass by my house about an issue. For example:
Or I could just pull down Trump and Musk, blame MAGA, and generally piss and moan about what’s happening in Washington.
I could also try to get others to make themselves heard or known.
And of course, I could just stick to my favorite subject!
We can find hard-hitting yard signs at Democracy Signs and a wide variety of other messages on Etsy.
It’s uncomfortable to think of the MAGA drivers passing, perhaps giving us the finger as a few did during our street-corner protests. But I’ll bet that 80% of passers-by are not strong Trump supporters and are in uncommitted semi-alarmed wait-and-see mode. Those are the people we’re trying to show they are not alone.
If we don’t want a sign on our lawn, maybe a bumper sticker or two would be preferable. Next week I’ll be looking at bumper and window stickers that could help me tell my fellow citizens what I think - and what they should think.
If we have to wait for a better country, Americans should at least see what their country has become today, and that lots of us object.
Aaron and I will be out there. From the beginning I knew what Trump was like. His rallies were like Hitler's: "Lock her up!" "lock her up!, "Lock her up!", "Build that wall!", "Build that wall!", "Build that wall!" Had a familiar: "Heil Hitler!", "Heil Hitler!", "Heil Hitler!" chant to it. And "Make America Great!" Reminded me of "Deutchland Ubber Alles!" Incidentally, Hitler did say he was going to make Germany great, too. And Hitler used the Jews as the ostensible threat and Trump did likewise to immigrants. He began with a rant about Mexican drug dealers and rapists, to Muslim terrorists, and then branched out to another lie about immigrant criminals, during a time when there was little criminal activity, especially by immigrants. Now that he is in, he without the approval of Congress, with his rich buddy, Musk, who bought his way in, is muddling and destroying public agencies and services, threatening public and private media when they say things he does not like, and going after judges who are doing likewise. And Republicans sit there, approving inept leaders, whose only credential is their loyalty to Trump, waiting for things to get better. History has taught us otherwise. Speaking of history. Remember when Chamberlain tried to appease Hitler by letting him take Sudetenland, part of Czechoslovakia, as he thought Hitler would take no more? Trump is going to try and appease Putin likewise with regard to Ukraine????? I know many others will be out there, and hopefully Republicans will grow some spine and impeach this SOB. If not, I hope the pending votes will help Democrats to prevail and save our democracy.
MUMPS is trying to kill millions of people, pollute the air and water, boil the planet, destroy education, and tank the ecoonomy so they can pick over the bones. Then they commit treason. Resist. Non violently!