this post was submitted on 02 May 2024
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I think the biggest issue is that we don't know what to do when we're mad anymore. People think that being mad is all you need - that if you say you're mad, things will change. I often see people get pissed about something, then calm down and move on, as if they somehow achieved something with their anger alone.
I'm hoping that there's some pressure going on under the surface, and people will eventually reach a point where enough anger has built up that they can't take it anymore and they really take action, but from what I've seen, people are so against the concept of acting upon angry feelings that I worry they'll just hold it in until they die.
Action needs to be organized and have a clear purpose. Disorganized, unfocused action is easily overcome by the powerful. After decades of a very deliberate culture of individualism, we have a psychological mountain to climb in finding our way back to focused collective action. Not to mention that the mechanisms of such action (such as labor unions) have been gradually dismantled for half a century or more.
The culture of individualism will be extremely hard to move past at this point. Also, the wealthy won't let it happen. If you think the police are only there to protect the wealthy's investments, just wait till we actually get some traction on any sort of labor movement.
There needs to be mass protests, but be sure to obtain the proper permits, avoid infringing on private property, coordinate with your local authorities on proper times and acceptable public places that won't interfere with commerce, avoid any sort of vandalism or violence because the message will be lost, and make sure not to alienate those who help your friends and neighbors to make a living.
Organize protests, but only within the boundaries that would render them useless.
Look at other countries, plenty of places where angry people are doing something about it...