[throwaway853578]

Because I have a kid to take care of. A job I need to keep, and a way of life I'd like to maintain. Because it's not happening where I live (yet).

I care about people but I don't give a fuck about my country. It's just a place to live. If it gets too bad I'll move my family elsewhere.

Also, this whole checks and balances thing we learned about in school will surely kick in sometime soon...

[embedding-shape]

> Because I have a kid to take care of. A job I need to keep, and a way of life I'd like to maintain.

Exactly, so why not go out on the streets and actually defend those things then? Currently your (presumed) inaction will cause those to be harmed, you're not "saving those" by saying and doing nothing, you're effectively giving them away if you don't actively protect them.

[throwaway853578]

Because actually defending those things requires violence and I shy away from that. Sitting on the sidelines and protesting doesn't do a damn thing. It just makes the maga people laugh harder. Case in point: our own president sharing an AI video of himself wearing a crown and dumping feces on protestors.

[embedding-shape]

Fair, avoiding violence is usually not the way to go, so fair point.

Protesting does do something though, the very least showing other people a direction to go in, to at least show something. It's hard to argue it does nothing, because images and videos do end up on social media and the news, and you really need the rest of the population on your side, if you actually want to change stuff.

You know what actually doesn't do a damn thing? Not doing a damn thing. Literally anything is better than nothing, just showing support is better than nothing. Talking about it is better than nothing.

[throwaway853578]

> You know what actually doesn't do a damn thing? Not doing a damn thing. Literally anything is better than nothing, just showing support is better than nothing. Talking about it is better than nothing.

That's fair. And I'm talking about it right now and everywhere else I can in safe ways.

As far as protesting goes, I agree with you. It is better than nothing. It does help show people they're not alone. But as I said mentioned, this isn't happening where I live. It would literally take me days to travel to Milwaukee or another hotbed. Some people are stronger than me and take time off and make other sacrifices to attend rallies, and I admire those people, but it's not feasible for me. Or I suppose a more truthful way of saying it is it's not worth it for me because of the sacrifices I'd have to make just for the chance of getting hurt or being added to a list.

[embedding-shape]

If nothing else, thank you for sharing your honest perspective, I appreciate it :)

> Or I suppose a more truthful way of saying it is it's not worth it for me because of the sacrifices I'd have to make just for the chance of getting hurt or being added to a list.

It's really sad to hear that the chilling effect is working so effectively. I of course understand why you make the choice you make, that's not strange, but that they managed to turn your society into this is nothing but sad to hear.

[scarecrowbob]

Just to chip in:

going to small protests has done a lot of good for my ability to regulate. Being involved with a cadre of street medics has made me feel a little less crazy.

It's nice to get off line and into the streets- the reasons are terrifying but it feels better to be with my friends in the road than to be at home fretting about stuff and writing dumb HN responses :D

[goatlover]

The MAGA people I've seen drive by at protests seemed pretty angry.

[senordevnyc]

The same reason you guys don't just deal with any of the big problems facing Spain that collective action would solve pretty quickly?

[embedding-shape]

What physical government oppression have I missed now? I'm not trying to claim Spain is perfect, because it really isn't, especially considering "freedom of speech" (depending on your perspective of it) and some other things Americans might take for granted.

But I'd say that usually when there are large issues impacting large parts of the population, then you can be pretty sure that there will be country-wide protests against it, many times with smaller violent elements, because people here make their opinions and feelings known.

[senordevnyc]

My point is that what Americans face here is a collective action problem, which is no different than many of the problems facing Spain. While you might go out and protest, there are other collective action problems you're not solving today, even though you could if you took action as a group.

[agubelu]

So you don't do anything because you have a job you need to keep and a kid to take care of, but you're perfectly okay with moving to a completely different country on short notice?

[toomuchtodo]

The US, for better or worse, isn't a cohesive country of people interested in a collective, but a smash and grab of economic gains sourced from those who are forced to live in it and cannot flee to developed countries. You come to it, or stay in it, to make more income you would in developed countries at the detriment of everyone else.

Whether you believe the economic human factory farm that is the US is worth saving or preserving will be a function of your lived experience and mental model. "What are you optimizing for?"

[throwaway853578]

Calling the USA a "economic human factory farm" is the best thing I've heard all year.

Yeah we have some perks here. But they're not as rare as our propaganda would have us believe and we sure do pay for them in various ways.

[throwaway853578]

Yes because one of those can get my face smashed in by a baton. Moving is a far safer option for my family.

Call it selfish if you want (hell, I'd even agree with you) but my priority is my family and my life. This idea that I have to care about "my country" is patriotic BS pounded into us to make it more likely to join the army.

[agubelu]

Just curious, do you have dual citizenship? If not, what's exactly your plan to acquire a legal resident status quickly, and where?

[dpc050505]

>If it gets too bad I'll move my family elsewhere.

They're talking about starting wars with the rest of the occidental world. There won't be a elsewhere where you'll be welcome.

[findthewords]

That is a very Russian way of solving the problem.