Four Things You Can Do That Are As Important As Voting
A very timely article
To my great horror, I have not yet awoken from the post-election fever dream and I’m beginning to accept that the fever dream will be our new reality. As far as I can tell, there is no Hail Mary, and the party of the Lesser Of Two Evils will continue to demonstrate their lack of courage and inability to truly resist authoritarianism. Biden will not use his presidential immunity to prevent the danger of a Trump admin, the heavily indebted Harris campaign will not challenge states to do a recount despite noted irregularities, and the Democrats will continue to demonstrate their complete and utter uselesness and inability to form any kind of resistance. If we are so lucky as to have legitimate elections in 2026 or 2028, perhaps we can get out of this cycle, take back congress, and eventualy take back the presidency from the wreckage of the Trump admin.
Even if 2026 and 2028 afford us the opportunity to vote again, many people may be less than enthused about doing so. People may rightfully ask what the point is of standing in line for hours, campaigning, phone banking, and donating to a party that does not bother to mount a meaningful resistance against fascism even while they are in power? What would be the point of voting in these circumstances-is it not a misdirected use of energy?
I will leave that up to individuals to decide. I remain as jaded as I ever have about the democratic party’s ability to truly resist fascism except in particular cases, and unless the democrats truly change direction and begin to stand by their principles, I continue to believe the majority of people’s political energy is best spent elsewhere. But don’t fret, because as I outlined in a previous piece, you don’t have to vote or campaign to be an effective political actor who is capable of making a difference. Here are 10 ways you can focus your energy moving forward to allow you to contribute meaningfully to the fight for justice, equality, and liberation. Engaging in these activities will allow you to assert your voice and will and contribute to shifting collective outcomes. Even in times when electoral or political power is thwarted or limited, the spirit of democracy lives on and can never be extinguished as long as people are willing to participate in society consciously and use their voices:
Boycotts:
The Pro-Palestine movement has recently brought boycotts back into the political consciousness, and with very good reason. Boycotting companies and institutions that were invested in South African apartheid proved to be an effective strategy for eventually lifting apartheid will hopefully produce a similar outcome in confrontng Israeli apartheid.Similarly, many Canadians are working together to combat price gouging by boycotting Loblaws and their exorbitant, inflationary grocery prices. In the wake of the incoming Trump administration, millions of people are leaving Twitter (“X”) to avoid reinforcing or provding profit to the likes of Elon Musk, because doing so will only strengthen the power that Trump’s band of nationalist, reactionary oligarchs have over the world’s economy.
The great thing about boycotting is that it requires very little additional effort other than to avoid a certain product, website, or service. Boycotting is the embodiment of the phrase “think locally, act globally.” Apps such as Boycat and Goods Unite Us allow consumers to find out more about the donations and politcal ties of their favorite brands and products, allowing them to make more conscious decisions. Removing capital from problematic companies has a cumulative effect, weakening their power and strengthening the power of companies and services more aligned with a positive vision of democracy.
Express yourself! If you do choose to remain on X, snarky replies to Elon and other Trump associates are not yet illegal. Wearing a kuffiya in public is not yet illegal. Wearing a trans flag pin is not yet illegal. Writing a letter to the editor, posting a sign, or attending a protest is not yet illegal. The time to push back and express dissent is now, because obeying in advance makes it that much easier for the authoritarians to consoldate power and control. Pushing back, on the other hand, provides an obstacle for them to overcome, and it also empowers other voices who may feel similarly to speak out. There is strength in numbers, and they can’t go after every voice that expresses consent if the numbers are too large to stop. Speaking out and expressing dissent at this stage is essential-it contradicts the idea that the Republicans have an overwhelming mandate and shatters the illusion of widespread accpetance that is needed to uphold an Authoritarian regime.
Prepare in small networks: The economy will be weakened by Trump’s tarrifs, prices are likcly to go up, not down, and items are likely to be less affordable or less available. Ensure that you and your loved ones have access to food, whether it be through your pantry or stockpile, a local food pantry, a community garden, a relationship with a local farmer, or more. Take self defense classes or rifle classes in case it ever becomes necessary to defend yourself against some of the violent supporters of the current regime. Ensure your passport and other documents are up to date. Become aware of alternative ways of gaining access to needed medical treatment. Many of these treatments may become outlawed or much harder to access during the Trump regime. If you can find more ways to be self-sufficient and not depend on the state for your needs, you will become more insulated and protected from the harms that the state is able to do.
Join a union or find a way to unionize your workplace. Unions are a form of workplace democracy. With unions, workers form a collective that democratically elects leaders and prioritizes the demands it will make towards management at work. When managements do not respect these demands, unions have many tactics that include negotiations, campaigns, and strikes. In a world where electoral paths to democracy are likely to be hindered and blocked, a union may be one of the healthiest, most robust, and most democratic ways for ordinary people to have a voice on issues that impact them directly-wages, healthcare, and benefits-and it will likely prove to be a much more dependable way to get material gains directly in the hands of the people than depending on the kindness and goodwill of the Democratic party. (Sidebar-did you know that tenants’ unions are also a thing?)
Bonus: For more concrete, non-electoral ways to usefully resist the Trump administration, I highly recommend this excellent interview with Daniel Hunter, the author of 10 Ways To Be Grounded and Prepared Now That Trump Has Won.