Depends on the size of the wave behind him. Studies have shown a wall alone isn't as effective at stopping large waves. Now when there are effective and thought out breakers further out, the wave tends to have little effect.
Thankfully, this administration is incompetent. Problem though is the amount of resources they have and a Democratic, and Nationwide resistance, that can't stop eating their boots for failure of any true effectiveness.
We need a leader. Just like the Republicans, we need a person, or person, we can rally behind. Figureheads that stand as tall as Trump. Until then, what we have are several broken fronts working loosely together against a larger, [mostly] coordinated force.
Been calling it since Covid. People then were turning their heads whenever some asshole walked into a building without a mask. NO ONE would say anything. I did. Stayed safe. Pissed off some idiots and am better for it.
The United States as a whole has been complicit for awhile now. Better to not start any waves. People saying they have jobs to keep, bills to pay. Don't want to risk anything.
Whoa now, careful there. With the cutting of renewable energy the next thing you know companies will be offering boons like onsite housing and increased pay in the form of something like Company Tokens that can be used for good the company kindly ships in.
You shall find your answers if you follow the path of power, which in time will lead into the Forest of Money, and after many days shall lead into the Heart of Dissension. All of it found in the Realm of Mockery.
For you see, many of the Republican leaders aren't stupid. They are quite smart. However, they collectively have very similar character traits:
Propensity for hatred
Superhuman ability to project
Stupendously fragile ego
Thirst for power not for, just against
Diligence against learning
Frightened to challenge their own beliefs
Terror of ostracisation
Desire to fit in
They hate so strongly that they refuse to understand that the "values" they have are projections of their own ego in their thirst for power. This desire for authority is never to help others, it's to stomp on those who challenge their fragile beliefs lest they get questioned too hard and are kicked from the many mini cults they subscribe to. Don't believe me? Play "I'm an Imaginary Republican in 2025!"
"This goes against..! -> "OBAMA..." -> [insert personal attack] -> "My constituents could never..." -> "In 1847..." -> covers ears "LA LA LA" -> Other holdout Republicans begin voting yes on destroying the Universe and all who live within it -> Votes "Yes" trying to be the last holdout because his colleagues know what he's doing and salty because they know his base probably loved it
Unless something happened it was always going to escalate. The question was ever only the cause and whether any side would meet that escalation with their own. I started asking something similar during Covid and was told people didn't want to risk someone spitting on them. I said it again after January 6th and people replied that they didn't want to be targets by some psycho. A year ago when this started to become clear I asked why we weren't out on the streets reminding the DNC what we need and I got the same answer then I've gotten in the past: I can't take off of work/I need to pay my bills.
Then that's where we are. A bunch of do-wells talking about how to do well. That lack of action will let fascism take proper hold. I suppose we'll see what happens. I certainly hope a leader steps up.
The only difference between a tyrant and a leader of any free people are their ideals. Their strength of character - or at least the illusion of one, their ability to subvert or gain power and influence, their control, as with many conflicts these are sides of the same coin, branches from the same tree. Trump stepped into a vacuum created through the weakness of leadership and the largely Democratic desire to maintain and their constant slow rate of change.
Right now we are fighting many small battles on many fronts. While we continue to win countless legal battles the reality is every single time this administration does something, often something they haven't yet done, it's to take another step towards control. History has shown that fascism is defeated every. single. time. through unity. We are NOT united. We are only maintaining the illusion of a people together. Because of this if we are to stop the advance of fascism in this country now we must be willing to step up and utilize the very powers granted throughout the years to people in power.
It's that or a very likely death by a thousand cuts. Unless someone steps up that will have the actual majority of the citizens of this country behind them, and I am talking bigger than what Bernie had, though with the same passion behind it, I believe all these legal wins and few actual triumphs will lead to naught.
What we will do in the meantime is what another great empire across the pond did until its final days: Argue with one another as swords are run through our chests.
Except the only ones talking about overthrowing the Government in coup attempts are the MAGA, and it took years of very careful planning to dismantle enough to get this perfect storm. Use the powers that the Republicans themselves put into place and turn the tables. Then win. Fix shit after. The cruel reality of our world is that even a hero cannot save everyone. It's bleak and black and white and sometimes even after you make all the right choices you can still end up in a losing fight.
Oh no, I don't want to encourage corrupt people to run for office. I just want the current officials to stop being pushovers and shove through the necessary litigation and other scripts necessary for change to happen. Democrats are sooooo fucking terrible when it comes to wanting to follow the rules that they will sabotage themselves before doing anything remotely heinous.
It's time to stop trying to play bipartisan. As we are seeing very few Republicans want to cross the line for very few issues. What remains are the actual evil Maga Republicans and the rest who are too cowardly to do the right thing, even when you can see they want to do something. This leaves the Dems who now have a decision to make:
Continue playing for friends and pray it works, relying completely on normal opposition to become allies.
Play hard by holding these people in contempt and shutting them down at every opportunity and having individuals removed from offices that Trump cannot legally either vacate or place anyone in.
Actually band together under a single, strong, well-spoken leader that the people want. For this we have a handful of choices.
What we CANNOT keep doing is playing a normal fucking game of Football while the other side plays street level Rugby with someone's Uncle Jorge too deep in his fifth can to referee properly.
I am specifically because Republicans have gained their ground through doing things like this. We are in our situation currently due to the gerrymandering, lies, bribes, and bullshit. Let's happily fight fire with fire and once we win it all make it so it could never easily happen again
They still exist. As with many things with this administration it's a test. The more compliance they get the more they move the posts. Resistance is a very real and very frustrating thing for them to deal with. It just doesn't seem as if it's doing a lot because they can continually create other issues. Illusionary posts if you will.
There is a powerful key difference nowadays, two if you broke it down into its component parts:
Information is much, MUCH easier to come by and because of that while hate and intolerance continues to be widespread you also see a larger number of at least partially informed people on average.
Hitler got most of Germany to at least openly state they were on his side in some form. The U.S. is a rather large country and hugely diverse and growing more sharply outspoken by people who were once quiet, on both sides.
I also know that Trump doesn't have the charisma of Hitler and we are not a Nation still reeling from the economic effects of a World War.
However, that is not to say this won't get worse. It just won't be a blanket with pockets of resistance. More likely entire States will stand, as many already are. I just hope we the people decide to unite and do what we must before it gets worse.
Super strong likely means mass and/or density, which means more calories needed to maintain. Unless it's some magic. Either way, that and money means you can eat until you're happy. The only two pills I'd want out of those given.
Reminder that while these tariffs are the big news item, focus extremely hard on what isn't being today. Work within your communities and harass the fuck out of your politicians, Republican AND Democrat. Maintenance will be the word for at least two years.
Depends on the size of the wave behind him. Studies have shown a wall alone isn't as effective at stopping large waves. Now when there are effective and thought out breakers further out, the wave tends to have little effect.
Thankfully, this administration is incompetent. Problem though is the amount of resources they have and a Democratic, and Nationwide resistance, that can't stop eating their boots for failure of any true effectiveness.
We need a leader. Just like the Republicans, we need a person, or person, we can rally behind. Figureheads that stand as tall as Trump. Until then, what we have are several broken fronts working loosely together against a larger, [mostly] coordinated force.