Great column, as usual--but this one really soars. You're presenting the cold, hard truth. Coulda been otherwise. But here we are at this scary point. I am in
I would agree with the overall sentiment of this essay. I believe that there are too many people who don't care (the 'burn it down' crowd), some people are too old and lack the critical thinking skills to understand a problem as complex as this. There is another element that wants this war. On both sides. MAGA, those who wish to cause violence, and the people who would counter that. The war is coming, I don't doubt that for a second.
J6 had significant meaning, similar to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor before it. People are numb, dumb, and don't care. I have family members who have their heads stuck firmly in the sand and refuse to pull them out. I am not sharing anything you don't know.
I like your suggestions for a New Bill of Rights. I am concerned that the price will be too high, making the burden too great for this country to survive as it is. No more Vietnam-style protests have an entire generation behind it to stop the war. There is no real pressure from the people for change. Everyone is on their phones. There are no more real leaders. No real policy being passed that does what it is supposed to do. Make the grass greener and the beer colder.
I believe that if we stop allowing the SCOTUS to completely ignore the 9th and 10th amendments, like they don't even exist, the Federal Government is not meant to rule over its citizens. The founders never even liked democracy. Why? Because they didn't believe in 51% of the population stepping on the necks of the other 49%. Give the power back to the states and the people. It is the right thing to do. Then we will see profound, LASTING change.
The Democratic Party never fights back. People are getting sick of it. The list of examples are endless. And i find more everyday from sixty years ago.or longer.
I don’t think it’s not that we don’t fight back. It’s that what was the party of the people has become the party of academics and thinkers. All very polite and non-violent. We used to be the party of the workers, the non-affluent. The Republicans saw how to subvert them as we grew more and more to be the party of intellectuals. We have to get back to our roots and learn how to speak the common language again. IMHO.
Great piece Jim! These solutions are laid out clearly. I don’t understand why Dems cannot get their act together. And as you’ve been saying for years (thank you for this) we are in a psychological war! If only the American people could be educated about this, things might shift. Thanks for all of your hard work. Please keep at it. It’s important and we hear you and I hope more people will start to listen. 💙
Excellent as always. As a hater of p2O25, I feel the only thing that can stop them is military force. As successful as the No Kings protests seemed, it most likely encouraged them to act faster.
I like the bold messaging and it’s always a good idea to go for everything you want, especially when the goals are shared by so many. You may get less but you never get more than you ask for. Now the clear, consistent messaging needs to go from us to the top. This needs to be confronted—not swept under the rug as it was for four years.
Excellent post. Inspired me to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Jim, your “Platform” has all the right ingredients. Some commented about abandoning the electoral college. I agree. Also, to bring respectability and confidence back into politics, I think we need to do something to keep all politicians (and Supreme Court justices) from corruptly making money off their job. Trump’s crypto scheme is just the most obvious.
The main reason for my subscription upgrade is to be able to comment here, join an occasional Zoom call and most importantly to encourage you to help us prepare for the Second Civil War. It is here. At 73, I wish I didn’t have to be a part of this. However, I doubt I will be here to see how this turns out. I think we will need a generation, perhaps longer to resolve our descent in Authoritarianism. And there is no guarantee that the end result will be renewed Democracy. I am reading Peter Turchin’s “End Times: Elites, Counter-Elites and the Path of Political Disintegration”, and looking into Strauss and Howe’s “Fourth Turning”. We need to prepare ourselves for a dismal, protracted battle.
I am here to support your voice because “you get it”. We cannot succumb to wishful thinking and optimistic platitudes.
The big question is whether the resolution of this Fourth Turning will result in Democracy or Autocracy.
Two Scenarios:
1. Democratic Renewal
• Broad-based coalition overthrows or forces the exit of authoritarian leadership.
• Constitutional convention or reforms rebuild civic trust (e.g., new voting rights, court reforms).
• New generation (Millennials/Gen Z) rise to political power.
• Restoration of U.S. standing and gradual economic recovery.
2. Permanent Autocracy or Managed Democracy
• Constitutional norms never return.
• Regime-aligned elites control judiciary, media, and economy.
• Elections continue in name but lose meaning (Hungary, Russia model).
• Civic disengagement and exile become widespread among dissidents.
• National myth shifts to justify illiberal rule.
Strauss–Howe call this the “Founding Moment”—the period in which a new order, for better or worse, becomes institutionalized and sets the tone for the next century.
First we must get over the idea of the Democratic Party leading any restoration of democracy. There are “good” Democrats, but their value is their ability to lead groups of people.
Secondly, we can assume that our enemies will take more and more control of the spaces we currently have for discussion…like Substack. So we need to be prepared to move to other methods of exchanging ideas: in person, phone, paper documents.
Thirdly, and nothing new here, we can assume that nothing we plan will be a secret. Our goal is to keep the goals, outlined by Jim, alive and spreading. To convince people that they do not have to bow to the fascists or to the Christian nationalists.
Our strength is in our numbers, numbers large enough to bring the fascist advance to a stumbling halt. Numbers big enough that, if we refuse to cooperate, their machine grinds to a stop. Vehicles don’t get repaired or refueled. Food deliveries stop. Supplies become scarce or unavailable. Obstacles suddenly appear where there were none before. Nothing moves.
Jim’s post requires multiple rereads to comprehend the severity of his message. It is painfully accurate and a call to action for those who choose not to succumb to the forces of evil.
Yes, the reason for its existence no longer exists. It’s a dinosaur and a means of fixing elections with redistricting and gerrymander and elector manipulation. Out with it. One person, one vote.
A+++ on the building blocks of a We The People government, Jim. I will be forwarding this to my contacts. I believe we've barely seen the tip of the iceberg with our Governor. Newsom grew up in the politics of Bobby Kennedy (the real one). He's a think-on-your-feet from deep, well-informed roots political fighter - just what we need. His interviews with the MAGA's reminded me of the Art of War: "If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.".
Great strategies to consider here.
I feel the next best major move is a large general strike to avoid violent confrontations.
Great column, as usual--but this one really soars. You're presenting the cold, hard truth. Coulda been otherwise. But here we are at this scary point. I am in
What can grass roots do ?
I'm all in.
I would agree with the overall sentiment of this essay. I believe that there are too many people who don't care (the 'burn it down' crowd), some people are too old and lack the critical thinking skills to understand a problem as complex as this. There is another element that wants this war. On both sides. MAGA, those who wish to cause violence, and the people who would counter that. The war is coming, I don't doubt that for a second.
J6 had significant meaning, similar to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor before it. People are numb, dumb, and don't care. I have family members who have their heads stuck firmly in the sand and refuse to pull them out. I am not sharing anything you don't know.
I like your suggestions for a New Bill of Rights. I am concerned that the price will be too high, making the burden too great for this country to survive as it is. No more Vietnam-style protests have an entire generation behind it to stop the war. There is no real pressure from the people for change. Everyone is on their phones. There are no more real leaders. No real policy being passed that does what it is supposed to do. Make the grass greener and the beer colder.
I believe that if we stop allowing the SCOTUS to completely ignore the 9th and 10th amendments, like they don't even exist, the Federal Government is not meant to rule over its citizens. The founders never even liked democracy. Why? Because they didn't believe in 51% of the population stepping on the necks of the other 49%. Give the power back to the states and the people. It is the right thing to do. Then we will see profound, LASTING change.
The Democratic Party never fights back. People are getting sick of it. The list of examples are endless. And i find more everyday from sixty years ago.or longer.
I don’t think it’s not that we don’t fight back. It’s that what was the party of the people has become the party of academics and thinkers. All very polite and non-violent. We used to be the party of the workers, the non-affluent. The Republicans saw how to subvert them as we grew more and more to be the party of intellectuals. We have to get back to our roots and learn how to speak the common language again. IMHO.
Great piece Jim! These solutions are laid out clearly. I don’t understand why Dems cannot get their act together. And as you’ve been saying for years (thank you for this) we are in a psychological war! If only the American people could be educated about this, things might shift. Thanks for all of your hard work. Please keep at it. It’s important and we hear you and I hope more people will start to listen. 💙
Excellent as always. As a hater of p2O25, I feel the only thing that can stop them is military force. As successful as the No Kings protests seemed, it most likely encouraged them to act faster.
Love it!
I like the bold messaging and it’s always a good idea to go for everything you want, especially when the goals are shared by so many. You may get less but you never get more than you ask for. Now the clear, consistent messaging needs to go from us to the top. This needs to be confronted—not swept under the rug as it was for four years.
Excellent post. Inspired me to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Jim, your “Platform” has all the right ingredients. Some commented about abandoning the electoral college. I agree. Also, to bring respectability and confidence back into politics, I think we need to do something to keep all politicians (and Supreme Court justices) from corruptly making money off their job. Trump’s crypto scheme is just the most obvious.
The main reason for my subscription upgrade is to be able to comment here, join an occasional Zoom call and most importantly to encourage you to help us prepare for the Second Civil War. It is here. At 73, I wish I didn’t have to be a part of this. However, I doubt I will be here to see how this turns out. I think we will need a generation, perhaps longer to resolve our descent in Authoritarianism. And there is no guarantee that the end result will be renewed Democracy. I am reading Peter Turchin’s “End Times: Elites, Counter-Elites and the Path of Political Disintegration”, and looking into Strauss and Howe’s “Fourth Turning”. We need to prepare ourselves for a dismal, protracted battle.
I am here to support your voice because “you get it”. We cannot succumb to wishful thinking and optimistic platitudes.
I look forward to the fight no matter the outcome
Hope Jim has solid protection as he speaks the truth of what he sees in context, no mincing words.
I’m reading Howe’s book also and it’s obvious we are in the middle of the turning. The other side recognizes it too.
The big question is whether the resolution of this Fourth Turning will result in Democracy or Autocracy.
Two Scenarios:
1. Democratic Renewal
• Broad-based coalition overthrows or forces the exit of authoritarian leadership.
• Constitutional convention or reforms rebuild civic trust (e.g., new voting rights, court reforms).
• New generation (Millennials/Gen Z) rise to political power.
• Restoration of U.S. standing and gradual economic recovery.
2. Permanent Autocracy or Managed Democracy
• Constitutional norms never return.
• Regime-aligned elites control judiciary, media, and economy.
• Elections continue in name but lose meaning (Hungary, Russia model).
• Civic disengagement and exile become widespread among dissidents.
• National myth shifts to justify illiberal rule.
Strauss–Howe call this the “Founding Moment”—the period in which a new order, for better or worse, becomes institutionalized and sets the tone for the next century.
First we must get over the idea of the Democratic Party leading any restoration of democracy. There are “good” Democrats, but their value is their ability to lead groups of people.
Secondly, we can assume that our enemies will take more and more control of the spaces we currently have for discussion…like Substack. So we need to be prepared to move to other methods of exchanging ideas: in person, phone, paper documents.
Thirdly, and nothing new here, we can assume that nothing we plan will be a secret. Our goal is to keep the goals, outlined by Jim, alive and spreading. To convince people that they do not have to bow to the fascists or to the Christian nationalists.
Our strength is in our numbers, numbers large enough to bring the fascist advance to a stumbling halt. Numbers big enough that, if we refuse to cooperate, their machine grinds to a stop. Vehicles don’t get repaired or refueled. Food deliveries stop. Supplies become scarce or unavailable. Obstacles suddenly appear where there were none before. Nothing moves.
Jim’s post requires multiple rereads to comprehend the severity of his message. It is painfully accurate and a call to action for those who choose not to succumb to the forces of evil.
yes indeed. Well said.
I’ll never get over this part: “No one above Proud Boy ever spent a day in prison for trying to murder the Vice President and Nancy Pelosi.”
it is really out there, isn't it? What.Were.We. Thinking????
Change the election system, get rid of the electorate college
Yes, the reason for its existence no longer exists. It’s a dinosaur and a means of fixing elections with redistricting and gerrymander and elector manipulation. Out with it. One person, one vote.
A+++ on the building blocks of a We The People government, Jim. I will be forwarding this to my contacts. I believe we've barely seen the tip of the iceberg with our Governor. Newsom grew up in the politics of Bobby Kennedy (the real one). He's a think-on-your-feet from deep, well-informed roots political fighter - just what we need. His interviews with the MAGA's reminded me of the Art of War: "If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.".