Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile)

"but I don't care about electoral politics!" you say, and that's fine, but electoral politics care about you. This election doesn't change the fact that we live in late-stage capitalism, but it absolutely changes how things look on the ground and where the threats come from

It's not a sure thing, but as of now it looks like Joe Biden is going to squeak out an election win. The margins will be large enough to defeat court challenges, but small enough to make it look like election fraud to the far-right (and even the regular right)

The armed rallies we're seeing elsewhere--the ones slowing counting and threatening the lives of the vote-counters--are going to spread. They will come to the PNW soon They will be armed, frothing with rage at anyone who looks liberal, and at least somewhat supported by the cops

Trump is going to continue to make noise about the stolen election and encourage his supporters to "fight back." And they will They'll do it short-term in ways similar to what we've seen They'll do it long-term in ways that look like the Tea Party on steroids, or worse

In my opinion, the most important thing to do is prepare to push back against an armed and furious far-right insurrection This isn't guaranteed--we've seen the ineptitude of the far right recently, their inability to cooperate--but nonetheless, I think they're the biggest threat

Here's where I'm gonna get controversial I don't think it's a good use of our energy to go up against the National Guard right now Do whatever you want. I'm not against it on principle. Maybe this is bitterness at not being able to join y'all But sometimes, triage is necessary

For the last five months we have been trying to push society forward. Police abolition, or at least defunding, or at least some fucking accountability. Programs that help Black communities I sometimes drive around Portland and remember the hope I felt in those early days

As of now we must struggle not to backslide. To demoralize and defeat the far right, remind them that this is not their country and they don't get to rule it by force The immediate priority has just shifted to antifascism. I'm not happy about it, I hate it. But I see what I see