Resistance Is Not Futile, (and Will Trump Exempt Tesla From the Tariffs?)
There are many ways to fight back, both active and passive
There’s an issue I am hearing about more and more as the madness in DC keeps escalating. Americans are frustrated and angry and seeking ways to let the politicians in both parties feel that anger. It may not look like protest resistance has any momentum but a study by three experts on resistance movements counts nearly three times as many protests across the country as during the first Trump administration.
But those protests are different in that many are very specific about what they are protesting. That may be because the cuts and failure of Congress to act are hitting Americans randomly and unexpectedly and it has been hard to see an obvious coalition forming.
Another factor is that many who supported and voted for Trump are bewildered at the reality that he is attacking them as hard or harder than those of us in blue states. Farmers, veterans, and other majority conservative groups are not yet comfortable with turning against him.
But there are many signs that it is changing. The Bernie Sanders’ and AOC American Oligarchy tour is drawing tens of thousands in majority red states and blue states. Political town halls are erupting to the point where the House Speaker has advised Republican politicians to skip them to avoid hearing the truth.
That alone tells us that these events scare the hell out of elected officials who are only months away from midterm campaigns.
But many are not comfortable with these public active demonstrations, especially in an atmosphere becoming increasingly violent with serious threats being used against voices on both sides that dare to speak out. This neighbor to neighbor potential for conflict is what the administration wants as it keeps things out of balance, freeing them to do more damage.
But it looks like the opposite is likely to take place as average Americans finding common ground as victims of the damage. Demonstrations and protests will get more effective as new coalitions form across the country, a nonpartisan resistance.
But there is an extremely powerful form of passive resistance as an alternative. It is anonymous and virtually impossible to track back to those who practice it. Known as noncooperation, it consists of not doing things, in particular not spending money unnecessarily, as an act of protest. We have seen this in the unorganized and spontaneous boycotting of Tesla EVs going on around the world.
I’m not speaking of those who have been defacing vehicles and dealerships. I am talking about consumers using the power of the purse to attack Elon Musk by buying other vehicles. This is a strategy that, when more organized, can mobilize millions, with no risk, and it will hit the emerging oligarchy right where it hurts, in the bottom line.
For example, given Jeff Bezos’ censorship of his newspaper, the venerated Washington Post, has led many, including myself, to cancel subscriptions and Amazon Prime memberships. The Post cancellations are more symbolic, given that it loses money but Bezos has no reason to care given his extreme wealth. But the majority of his wealth by far is from Amazon and will be felt.
But for these actions to be effective across the nation they need to be organized. As a fairly minimalist buyer, I am simply not going to buy anything from large corporations that I do not seriously need. That can easily build traction as we are already changing buying habits because of inflation and uncertainty. But it needs to become a movement.
There is an interesting dynamic in a national unnecessary buying boycott on everything. Consumer spending represents 67% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product, the top measure of how well the economy is doing). Economists consider a recession to be on the horizon if we experience two consecutive quarters of falling GDP. We have had one and it appears the next one is approaching. And politicians know that recessions are the primary reason voters turn on incumbent politicians seeking re-election.
The Trump administration listens to big business almost with religious fervor. They are demonstrating that they do not care anything about how their actions hit average Americans, despite his constant campaign lies claiming the opposite.
Our money is probably the most effective resistance tool we have. It cannot be tracked back to you and they cannot force us to buy if we do not want to.
I have three observations about resistance to this administration. First, hitting their billionaire contributors by boycotting their businesses is important. Second, politicians live by polling and if that polling turns against them, from bipartisan voter groups, they may finally find a backbone and fight back. Third, Trump lives by measures of his popularity, and even those Americans who supported him need to stand up and tell him they are pissed off.
He is the consummate narcissist and dropping popularity drives him even more crazy, but it also makes him change what he is doing and who he surrounds himself with. Even if you voted for him, if you don’t like what he is doing, speak out.
And do yourself a favor and stop buying stuff. You don’t really need most of it. And if you do, buy from local businesses, farm markets, and other local sellers when you can. It’s not just sensible, it will improve your life and your finances and it will help us resist.
A note about yesterday’s piece on tariffs. A leaked phone call between Trump and the CEOs of the three American automakers reveals him ordering them not to raise prices because of the tariffs. It’s an open admission that he knows those tariffs actually hurt American consumers. But the reality is that margins on autos are slim and there is no way they can or will not raise prices.
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Martin Edic