You should know by now that the reason why Russians drink so heavily … Putin. You should also know by now that the reason the USA is in such dire straights … Trumpstein. You may not know, however, that the reason for hope these days … Pussy Riot and all that’s going in that antifascist direction.
Now say it with me. Pussy Riot! They are a punky-style gurl band from Russia whose mere name makes Rachel Maddow blush. They asked her, Why won’t the Americans wake-up?
To be sure, they’re referring to the GOP-MAGA cult, primarily, but they’re also referring to the rest of us Americans. There were only 8 million at No Kings III? That was 8 million out of 348 million Americans, the largest protest in American history yet less than one percent of us participated? Not good.
I agree with Pussy Riot. They are brave Russians. And, like them, I’m starting to say, It’s beginning to look a lot like Russia. The dear leader puts his image up everywhere, gold all over the place, increasingly poor qualify of life for his people, corruption all over government bodies, and bold steps to squash all dissenters and perceived enemies everywhere, including killing people.
A few years ago, Pussy Riot published a video called Putin’s Ashes, which Putin apparently watched. As you might guess, lil Vlad despises them with all of his black heart, whilst Trumpstein has no idea who they are. They speak, sing and punk-out in truth to power, and they’ve announced that they are at war with him.
They came to the USA earlier in the year. For the most part, the press ignored them. But they truly are the most cultural force to come out of Russia in a long time.
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Pussy Riot understood something many people ignore: authoritarianism grows when people stop paying attention. Artists, activists, and ordinary citizens speaking out still matter. History shows democracies erode gradually — but resistance grows gradually too.
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You so right! Resistance, though, is growing way too gradually, especially when the USA is in the throws of an authoritarian takeover of our democracy. It’s not just starting. It’s been going on for over a year now. We’ve been in a Nazi regime since 1/20/25. What will it take to wake Americans?
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Indivisible claims 2.3%. I have to say that when I saw the numbers, 2.3% and 8 million people, I was disappointed. Especially in light of the fact that it was only one million more than the previous No Kings. It’s also disappointing because Trump had just one month prior, launched his illegal war, gas prices were already on the rise, and it was predicted that gas prices would continue to rise along with everything else.
Indivisible’s magic number is 12 million, or 3.5%, gleaned from Erica Chenoweth’s theory an authoritarian regime can’t withstand a mobilization of 3.5% of the population. I’m doubtful. And that number has to be a sustained number, not just a one off.
Why won’t the Americans wake up? During Trump 1.0, I predicted that Americans wouldn’t show out. They just don’t. As long as they can get their lattes and take the kiddos to Saturday soccer they blithely ignore what can change the nation and their own lives. We should learn from the French.
I have quite frankly given up hope. The race to gerrymander every state, whether blue or red, is the death nell of whatever this country ever had that resembled a democracy.
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Thank you for your corrected information. I too am disappointed, sometimes feeling like I’m about to just give up, but I can’t. I won’t. That’s what this regime wants: for those who care to give up and for those who don’t? That they continue their stupidities and idleness on civic duties. That they go to their kiddies’ soccer games, church potlucks, and gun range get-togethers. Anything ad nauseum, anything to ignore what is going on around them. I now understand how once-intelligent civilizations perished throughout human history.
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