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submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by notsosure@sh.itjust.works to c/usa@lemmy.ml
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[-] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 36 points 6 days ago

The Trump and his cult of personality have. The majority of the US doesn’t want any of this and think this is bonkers.

https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/52879-few-americans-want-to-take-over-greenland-most-oppose-covert-operations-military-action-poll

[-] notsosure@sh.itjust.works 29 points 6 days ago

So where’s the general strike? Where are the blockades, the sit-downs? Sorry, from over here it looks as if the USA is pretttty complacent!

[-] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 34 points 6 days ago

Speaking for the general strike, there are arguably a number of reasons why that’s a lot harder to get rolling in the states. Social safety nets are laughable, worker protections are shittier and union busting is greater than a lot of other nations. A lot of people keep their heads down and don’t act up for fear of loosing what they have.

IMHO complacency oversimplifies and ignores the root causes behind collective action or inaction.

And that said, when it came to shit like ICE, and communities literally have nothing left to lose, that shit gets fucking LOUD in a city. Block by block citizen patrols, lots of organization, etc. But that doesn’t seem to get a lot of press in the news, and people assume Americans are just taking it lying down.

[-] plateee@piefed.social 23 points 6 days ago

Social safety nets are laughable...

I think this is probably the #1, or close to the top reason why we don't see more from Americans (including myself and my family).

I have medical conditions that would bankrupt me in a year if it weren't for the shitty health insurance I get through work. I'm not quite living paycheck to paycheck, but it's fucking close.

If I stop working, I'll get fired (for cause) lose my health insurance and income and be SOL. My family will get fucked over. Heck, even my life insurance will stop existing because that's through work too.

So what's left? Weekend protests? Let me look up the next "No Kings" in this podunk town...

When your country is the size of Texas, a general strike or mass protest makes sense. When your country's landmass is a bit smaller than all of Europe, but its population is less than half (and arguably 30% of that population thinks Trump is doing fine) - general strikes and mass protests don't work well.

I'm not saying we shouldn't protest, but you've gotta curb expectations and know the dynamic here is much, much less friendly for those activities. (It's a big reason why I'm constantly on edge and having daily panic attacks.)

[-] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Yeah look distance isn’t the issue, it’s unity among a large population.

Australia doesn’t struggle holding decent protests and it’s not much smaller in size, with a much smaller population.

Lack of unity, combined with the lack of social safety net, plus individualism, all of which are pretty valid are the bigger reasons. If they were all on the same page or had some unity, the distance wouldn’t matter.

I’ll say this as well; it seems US citizens aren’t willing to do hardship to get what they want. All of these probably make the easy way out, voting, an attractive option but selfishness stops that one.

[-] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 days ago

I’m hoping that people like me that can’t afford healthcare this year will be more willing to strike. Since we don’t have a social safety net or universal healthcare like France or wherever.

When we had that brief social reinforcement during the pandemic BLM happened.

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 days ago

So where’s the general strike? Where are the blockades, the sit-downs?

Europeans don't understand how militarized the US is. They have FBI, CIA, ICE, DHS, Army, National Guard and a few I forget, all with tanks and guns and ready to kill any form of protest. They literally mass murdered singing students in 1970 and no one really cared.

Everyone talks about the right the bear arms against oppressive government...but it's really just fear of visible minorities.

They will just take it because the whole country is afraid.

[-] Vertelleus@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 6 days ago

It's because they have us right where they want us as wage slaves, scraping by to maintain your lifestyle picking up a second job so you can afford higher prices of food and the cheapest health insurance. It's hard to look around when you're just trying to make ends meet for your family.

[-] Lenins_Dumbbell@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 6 days ago

Unfortunately, things will only get progressively worse if nothing is done. I hope you guys figure it out, but even if you don't, the collapse of the US is enough for the rest of the world.

[-] notsosure@sh.itjust.works -5 points 6 days ago

I guess the best thing to do is join a union, and make sure to always make use of your opportunity to vote.

[-] BrainInABox@lemmy.ml 8 points 6 days ago
[-] SparkyBauer44@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

Don't you wish there was some kind of committee that countries from all around the world can meet and discuss possible remedies to an out of control figure head?

Today showed we get 3 shots for blockades. Arrested for sit downs, and general strike? Yeah, who needs money for resources to take it to the system?!

[-] LadyMeow@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 6 days ago

Apparently, the majority of people ‘in charge’ are just fine and want to continue…

[-] BrainInABox@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 days ago

One Day everyone will have been against this. And for a lot of American liberals, that day has come

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca -4 points 4 days ago

he majority of the US doesn’t want any of this and think this is bonkers.

Nah. You don't get a pass, 77 million voted for this cunt, and 90 million didn't care about democracy at all. Now you're all like...

[-] PostaL@lemmy.world 0 points 5 days ago

Didn't the majority of US vote for Trump?

[-] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

Roughly 1/3rd voted for him, 1/3rd voted for Harris, and 1/3 of eligible voters didn’t show up at all.

And he didn’t run on invading Greenland or Venezuela. He famously ran on “America First,” and constantly shit on foreign conflicts / nation building. So this literally the exact opposite of what his voters signed up for… which is why some of the big MAGA people are super pissed right now.

[-] jerkface@lemmy.ca 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Voters have more than just the things a candidate says to base their decisions on. You had to want to be lied to, to believe the things he says.

[-] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

One might think that... but no. Unfortunately, most voters get their information from cable news sound bites. It's also worth remembering that the average American can't read above a 6th grade level. Critical analysis is not a skill they are well-versed in.

I base who I vote for on personal research into the background (and often voting records) of every person that I expect to see on my ballot. I get nervous about city elections because I usually only have a single newspaper article to summarize all of the candidates to go on and it's not enough. I'm an extreme minority in this case. Most educated people may do a little research over big-time candidates but almost nobody looks very deep. Hell, I find myself inadvertently bashing the former president Joe Biden specifically because he never would have won if his constituency were more familiar with his voting record as a senator. They just mark down whichever candidate has the correct team designation next to their name.

Go! Team! Win! Dems are gonna win Super Bowl LXII!

this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2026
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United States | News & Politics

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