How to Cope with a Trump Administration
At this point, it appears that nothing will prevent Donald Trump from being inaugurated on January 20, 2017. That means that his administration will be trying its best to dismantle many of the protections and programs we have managed to create. As much as I like decrying that awful man's election to the presidency, I think it's time to begin planning for measures that can help prevent a wholesale destruction of rights and programs that benefit so many people. Let's turn our attention to ways we can protect ourselves. Some of the ways we can do that might include:
Federal Lawsuits - Many of the things Trump is proposing are questionable, at best, in terms of their constitutionality. We should be supporting organizations that have the expertise and funding to file suits immediately in federal courts to block implementation of efforts that are unconstitutional. The ACLU is one such organization, but there are many others. Find them and support them to the limits of your abilities.
Democratic Advocacy - For those of us who are represented in Congress by Democrats, we need to intensify our communication with those representatives. They will need our support and ideas on ways to stop legislation, appointments and more that will harm people.
Flipping Republicans - If you're represented by Republicans in Congress or state legislature, open a line of communication with those representatives, too. Make it clear that you are part of an organized group that will not stand for any wholesale assault on individual freedoms and rights. Point out why they need to oppose individual proposals by the Trump Administration. It won't always work, but the effort must be made.
United Organization - This is not the time to split into splinter groups. We will not succeed in replacing elected Republicans by dividing our political efforts. We learned that well this year. We need to come together in common cause if we are to have any chance whatever of reversing the trend toward right-wing tyranny.
Fight Republicans, Not Other Democrats - If you're angry, and you should be, focus that anger on Republicans and right-wingers, not on intra-party disputes. Use social media to make your points known, but don't use it to further divisions on the left side of the political spectrum. Such divisions do no good. We must be allies for each other, not enemies.
Vote, for Pete's Sake - The next elections are coming up, starting next year with local and state elections. We need, first of all, to vote in massive numbers. There is no alternative to actually showing up and voting, and bringing others with you. Non-voting cost us the 2016 election. It truly did.
Plan Now for Later - Start finding candidates for office now, not later. If current office-holders need to be replaced, the efforts to find and support outstanding alternatives should already be underway. The sooner we begin, the better our chances will be.
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