Buried deep down in this Atlantic article is some absolutely fucking terrifying information, summed up here by Forbes: “The push to appoint electors would be framed in terms of protecting the people’s will,” an unnamed Trump-campaign legal adviser tells The Atlantic, adding, “The state legislatures will say, ‘All right, we’ve been given this constitutional power. We don’t think the results of our own state are accurate, so here’s our slate of electors that we think properly reflect the results of our state.’” The chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party says, on the record, that he has discussed appointing loyal electors with the Trump campaign: "It is one of the available legal options set forth in the Constitution.” The actions of Trump don't surprise me. The actions of so many others willing to shred democracy and usher in tyranny, just so that they maintain power? That continues to surprise me. Also, thanks, rrrrr, for trying to stay vigilant. I think many hubskiers feel like this content is polluting what they wish was a Trump-free safe space. And I get it, outrage fatigue set in probably a few years ago for most of us, but any aversion to this dismantling of American democracy plays right into Trump's hands. So get mad, Hubski! Mad at Trump. Mad at me for posting and promoting this shit. Get mad that I feel like you should be mad! And then get ready to mask the fuck up, because we've probably got some shit to do in January. Edit: To be very clear, I am only advocating for peaceful assembly. Strictly non-violent demonstrations. But probably outside the White House, and it's going to be hell to get there, and hell to stay for a while.The Atlantic report claims that sources in the Republican Party at the local and national levels confirm “the Trump campaign is discussing contingency plans to bypass election results and appoint loyal electors” in red battleground states.
Frankly, I don't mind the Trump bashing, but I just don't have the energy for it most of the time. We all should stay informed about what our government is doing even in the best of times. And we should all be self-critical, too. Rah-Rah-ing is part of what got us into this mess, and we need to reflect on what went wrong when it's all over (it will be one day...the US has seen dark times before, too). I hope we all remember that we all need each other, and we can't hate 50% of the voters of the country. If Trump brings us anything good it will be that he gives us an opportunity to reset the broken bone that was America pre-Trump. Continuing the Trump bashing by all means, but keep in mind that he's as much of a symptom than a disease.
I think it's finally happening. Enough scientists are looking around and saying "Maybe I can afford to skip this grant cycle to help guarantee future grant cycles still exist". It's time to show people why they should trust science and scientists. Bumrushing them from a moral high ground standpoint is obviously not going to work. Cold logic? Doubtful. Not engaging enough. Personally, I'm going for comedy. It could be too late, of course, but exactly like you're saying, it's not like if Biden actually manages to move into the White House, the cultural rot is washed away overnight. If I don't really try, I'm going to a) go crazy and b) hate myself forever. Sorry if if this overlaps a bit too much with other recent content I've posted. So I've started an influence operation / social movement with another grad student. But I'm gonna be the one exclusively on camera because they're dating an international grad student, and are thus worried about work visa renewal if we're implicated in political dissidence. Hence, y'know, yet another reason to launch an influence operation craftily (I hope) denouncing fascism.