Why is the US sleeping as autocracy approaches?/Jay Inslee

[cbabe]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/29/why-is-america-sleeping-as-autocracy-approaches

Why is the US sleeping as autocracy approaches?
Jay Inslee
(Jay Inslee served as the governor of Washington from 2013-2025)

The country’s future depends on law firms, universities and media companies – as well as everyday Americans – breaking their silence

Tue 29 Apr 2025 08.00 EDT

…

Is this passivity and lack of resistance understandable? Of course it is. That’s why the old saw “first they come for the … then they come for you” was invented.

But we should call upon our college presidents, law firms, leaders of civil society, to get in touch with their responsibility to democracy itself, as well as their own institutions, which surely will end up on the firing line someday if Trump continues to be emboldened by his victims’ servility.

Perhaps it is too strong to refer to these organizations as collaborators. Perhaps. But this wholesale timidity and collapse must be considered rank appeasement at best, modest complicity at worst.

… more …

[FirstLight]

1. What some might see as passivity can also be understood as survival...

So many people are hurting right now... if you are scraping by, you can't take time away from your stupid job to go protest...even if you want to. because you need that $ for rent and food! I think many people don't understand the income disparity ond how it really looks on the ground. People in poverty LIVE in fight/flight every DAY... they are just trying to make it... and this govt bS doesn't "affect" them directly until the guards are in the streets. (even if the high costs do affect them, they feel helpless.

I also think a lot of folks are ignorant of their ability to *DO* anything. Short of marching, and making phone calls that never get traction, what CAN we actually do that is within the grasp of those in survival mode? The tarriffs will only make this worse, because people will have to either get a second job, or start doing gig work like door dash ...but eventually we can't ALL be driving for door dash when nobody can afford the stuff!

Personally, I am physically disabled and unable to march. I have tried reaching out to invidisible groups etc and offering my journaism skills to do press releases etc, no reply.

THIS is where we need the dem leadership, IMO. We need an actual DIRECTION ofr our fear and anger to be coalesced into action. I have no idea what that looks like

[cbabe]

2. Inslee is calling out those with ability to resist:

‘Unfortunately, we are not seeing the necessary courage, not in the east, not in the west, not in large law firms, not in boardrooms, not in school district superintendents, not in chambers of commerce. The silence is deafening.‘

Ps I’ve also reached out to organizations to no avail. Try everything including chalking sidewalks and community meetings and phone calls and grocery store line chats. Every bit helps.

[FirstLight]

4. I definitely do my own form of protest & resistance where I can!

...since my personal journay right now is climbing out of abuse and control. It behooves me to fiercely shine my Light and be healed and authentic in all aspects of my life! I'm promoting self healing, feminine power, etc...in my personal life and in my business practices Trying to be a strong role model for those youngsters lol

[JustAnotherGen]

3. I'm not as likely to

Rage against the machine - because I don't think there is a political solution to end the maga Republican party voter's dominance.

[Skittles]

5. some of us have been well aware, and for some time now

for example, rightwing dominance all forms of media is a HUGE problem

[lees1975]

6. Combine that dominance with Democrats unable to articulate a clear message.

We don't seem to have the ability to act. It's so frustrating to see time go by and Democratic members of the House and Senate going back to fundraising while, basically, Rome burns.

[Skittles]

8. it's I think new leadership for Dems is WAY OVERDUE

in ANY other job that would be AUTOMATIC with the results they have been getting lately

[lees1975]

7. "But this wholesale timidity and collapse must be considered rank appeasement at best, modest complicity at worst."

Careful, Jay, you'll get blasted for bashing Democrats.

This is exactly why those who are fed up with Trump, frustrated, and want to resist are looking past the Democratic party sitting in the Capitol, twiddling their thumbs.

Democrats had the power to put a stop to this, prevent Trump from ever getting back to the White House and would not take the necessary steps to do it. It would have required some risk. It would have been worth it and they could have figured out how to deal with it after stopping the biggest threat.

But here we are. Throwing up our hands, continuing to let it happen and not really putting up much resistance, at least, not led by Democratic party leadership. What do we expect, we didn't move when we had the power.