ST Alpha - "So I'm really struggling to figure out the best way forward for those that oppose Trump. On a personal level some approaches are more obvious (give " (Reading a Post)

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So I'm really struggling to figure out the best way forward for those that oppose Trump. On a personal level some approaches are more obvious (give

Posted by pmb (aka pmb) Nov 14 '16, 11:34

to organizations that will be effected and to candidates to turn the tide, volunteer where I can help, etc.). And to try to activate and motivate younger voters and minorities and help them getout there and vote are important. But for the broader opposition every approach seems fraught with peril. For example:

1) Constant protest and opposition - Several problems. It causes him to lash out more vindictively, galvanizes support of his followers, further undermines lack of faith in government (if there is any successful opposition) and it is likely to get steamrolled by the majority party. I think the "not my president" protests, while understandable, further undermine the institution. They did it to Obama, but I still believe the moral high road matters and further undermining faith in the institution further plays into their hands.

Appeasement - Talking nice to Trump has proven to be very effective in getting him to sway his opinion. Obama's discussions with him may save parts of Obamacare. This may be the best way to mute his effects. The republican congress is less likely to take on his more controversial positions when there is so much they can focus on where they overlap. But the flip side is it may undermine support among the democratic base. And if the republican positions provide some positive results (which they may in the short term by providing economic stimulus that they refused to provide to Obama), He may earn a second term where he is more unconstrained by having to run again. Plus we know what appeasement has historically led to among these kinds of leaders.

Some combination of giving him a chance but opposing policies where necessary - Most balanced and might get you the best of each of the other approaches, but also might get you the worst.

In a world where facts, truth, common decency and belief in ideals like equality don't seem to matter, how do you move forward and try to change that (especially from the minority role). I'm really unsure.

Responses:

they should blow up Parliment -- nm - groiny Nov 14, 12:20 2
- It was Hillary Clinton who lost. Not George Clinton. -- nm - pmb Nov 14, 12:21 1
  - tear da roof off the sucka -- nm - groiny Nov 14, 12:22
Maybe not the right place to post, but I am hearing that he was softening on Obamacare towards the end of his campaign? -- nm - Doctor Spawn Nov 14, 11:51
Educational infographics might help. -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 11:49
anything that promotes unity, truth, and education. I think the lack of unity between classes in the US caused this. -- nm - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 11:43 6
- A bunch of mostly white voters just elected a guy who hates most people with non-white skin. How do you get -- (edited) - ty97 Nov 14, 12:06 2
  - Stop calling Trump supporters racist!!! -- nm - Dp3 si Nov 14, 12:20
  - I mean honestly you have to force it on them. make the nonwhites vote. get their voices out there. -- nm - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 12:11
- I think the lack of unity is causing the pre-existing problem to worsen. (That problem is the in-built pendulum effect of the republic) - Beryllium Nov 14, 11:50 2
  - Because it swung *so far* to the left under Obama (spoils: no, it didn't) -- nm - znufrii Nov 14, 11:51 1
    - From their perspective, it did. -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 11:52
I'm narrowing my focus, volunteering time with someone (an email has gone out) and donating to other organizations. - Mel Profit Nov 14, 11:42 34
- Agreed and understood, but I'm kind of trying to look at the bigger picture. I get that it starts with individuals, but for the next 4 years, what is - pmb Nov 14, 11:49 3
  - Sit and wait for Trumponomics to implode, and catch the next wave of populist outrage? -- nm - znufrii Nov 14, 11:54 2
    - Reagan had the unregulated savings and loan scandals, bush had the wall street gone wild , what will DT'S economy nuking issue be? -- nm - zeit spiced geist Nov 14, 12:11
    - It'll implode just about the time we get Dem control or course. - ty97 Nov 14, 12:07
- I wonder if I can volunteer to do tax returns for people who would otherwise get fleeced going to H&R block. hmmm. -- nm - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 11:44 29
  - Do it. -- nm - Mel Profit Nov 14, 11:51 25
    - I did. what else can I do? maybe help with resumes somewhere? (where do you do that?) -- nm - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 11:52 24
      - Well, if you want, we could set up resumecreek.com to be a free resume advice service. -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 11:53 23
        
        how difficult would this be? -- nm - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 12:01 2
        
        Sounds like it might not be too difficult. HelpMeAbstract is open source, so potentially i could base it on that. -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 12:03 1
        
        FWIW I got some interest from the owner of helpmeabstract and other participants. Graham in particular likes the idea. -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 12:04
        
        If you did, I'd probably send at least one customer a week to you. I wonder if it would be worth it to incorporate as a nonprofit. -- nm - mara Nov 14, 11:57 18
        
        I'd help. I've reviewed resumes as a manager before so that's the extent of my training/ability. - Mel Profit Nov 14, 12:05 3
        
        The "who" would be low-income, ex-cons, etc. You'd get multiple referrals a day from public libraries once the word got out. -- nm - mara Nov 14, 12:14
        
        The abstract site is for developers who are getting started on the conference circuit. -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 12:12 1
        
        Other devs in the community help out -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 12:12
        
        who's in charge of that? is that a spamlet question? (I wouldn't mind doing this, honestly. heavy volume would be an issue but - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 12:00 4
        
        More of MDH. I have helped incorporate one non-profit and it was mostly painless from a tax perspective. - iSpam Nov 14, 12:02 3
        
        so poombah and wiggie are in charge. and counselor lafarrow. -- nm - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 12:03 2
        
        I'm happy to help. -- nm - pmb Nov 14, 12:15
        
        Well, if Bery went that route, it would be incorporated in Canada. -- nm - mara Nov 14, 12:14
        
        I think it would have to be a nonprofit, I wouldn't really feel comfortable charging folks - Beryllium Nov 14, 12:00 8
        
        I don't mean nonprofit vs profit. I mean incorporating rather than just doing it informally. -- nm - mara Nov 14, 12:08 2
        
        But I mean, from the perespective of me wanting a "lifestyle business", it wouldn't work -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 12:11 1
        
        Right, that's one of the reasons I wondered if it would be worth it (worth your time, for one thing) to incorporate. -- nm - mara Nov 14, 12:15
        
        do we have to *incorporate* to help people? -- nm - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 12:06 4
        
        Certainly not at first. -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 12:10 2
        
        so whatever. I'm in. right? mel is too. so if you feel like setting it up, let me know what you need from me. - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 12:13 1
        
        Ok. Can't guarantee a rush, of course, but progress is nice. -- nm - Beryllium Nov 14, 12:21
        
        No, but if you do, you can get grants and donations and stuff. -- nm - mara Nov 14, 12:09
        
        Like this but for resumes instead of conference talk abstracts -- (link) - Beryllium Nov 14, 11:56
  - VITA is what you're looking for. -- (link) - spamlet Nov 14, 11:45 2
    - Ooh, shiny! -- nm - znufrii Nov 14, 11:49
    - yeah, I just signed up. I don't have any talents besides math. -- nm - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 11:46
So far, on a personal level, I've come up with the following: - znufrii Nov 14, 11:40 2
- I'm with you on that. I'm looking at the bigger picture though. -- nm - pmb Nov 14, 11:42 1
  - *shrug* - znufrii Nov 14, 11:47
Work with school boards to bring classes in civics, budgeting, and scientific method to grades 4-12. -- nm - Max Nov 14, 11:37 11
- I love the idea, but here's the thing. I live in an urban area in a very blue state. Local for me personally is not the issue. And the areas that -- (edited) - pmb Nov 14, 11:46 8
  - You don't think schools in your area need those things? -- nm - iSpam Nov 14, 11:56 4
    - The schools in my area are actually quite good and have very active parental involvement. I no longer have kids that age that would make my -- (edited) - pmb Nov 14, 11:59 3
      - Don't you work downtown? I'm sure that CPS could use the help. -- nm - iSpam Nov 14, 12:00 2
        
        There might be some opportunity. I can see. But it still doesn't really get to the issues I'm struggling with. Yes, keeping the democratic base - pmb Nov 14, 12:08 1
        
        I think in 2020 the Dems need to nominate a dog for POTUS. - Doctor Spawn Nov 14, 12:10
  - Fine! Screw it! We're doomed! *kicks garbage can* -- nm - Max Nov 14, 11:48 2
    - Understood. I think I'm in the depression stage of grief today. -- nm - pmb Nov 14, 11:51 1
      - (I was just teasing. I'm fully with you on feeling helpless to come up with an effective plan of attack.) -- nm - Max Nov 14, 11:52
- I think this is the best idea I've heard to date. -- nm - spy cookie amanda jones Nov 14, 11:38 1
  - you know it - Max Nov 14, 11:47

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So I'm really struggling to figure out the best way forward for those that oppose Trump. On a personal level some approaches are more obvious (give

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