• zd9@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      I just typed a whole response and lemmy didn’t save it… here’s something similar:

      Yes there are social media astroturfing operations from Russian, Chinese, (American), bots to instigate violence from protesters. Take a look at any left leaning subreddit, and there are tons of posts and top comments that are saying “we need to shoot ICE agents, fellow lefties” and it’s sad that it’s actually working.

      Also, the regime is continuing to instigate and push until they do actually get a violent response, kind of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. It’s scary what I think is coming despite many people not wanting it, and it not being ultimately the most productive.

        • zd9@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Let me try posting again: The only thing that can stop this feedback loop is if enough common people protest in the streets consistently and ideally general strike. Historically you need about 3.5% of a population putting sustained pressure on a regime to actually cause real change.

          I don’t see that happening here unless something fundamental gets fucked like food, water, hospitals, finance. Yes all of those are getting worse, but not bad enough to cause the average housewife in Ohio to make a sign and protest in the streets of their local federal building.

          Also before the midterms (in addition to increasing violence and suppressing Democratic voters), the regime is going to liquidate our strategic oil supply, print money to send out checks with Trump’s dumb fucking face on it, and other short term stuff to make it look like everything is good to the average idiot who doesn’t know anything other than what’s right in front of their face. In the long term all of that damages national security and prosperity, but as with Trump, it’s only the thin veneer of wealth and appearances that matter.

          • Brave Little Hitachi Wand@feddit.uk
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            2 days ago

            You’re not wrong as far as I can see. I left almost five years ago and it’s the worst thing I’ve ever been absolutely right about. I don’t know if that 3.5 number is magical or just an observation, but an American Spring of some kind is the only real hope left. That or a benevolent military coup, barf argh barf.