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Is comparing crowd size at No Kings versus the pathetic military parade just pure pettiness?

❝No. Right now crowd sizes matter a lot because competitive authoritarianism rests largely on self-fulfilling expectations.❞

1/

paulkrugman.substack.com/p/tru

Paul Krugman · Trump’s parade flopped. No Kings Day was a hit.By Paul Krugman

Krugman continues:

❝While there is a cadre of Trumpist true believers who will obey the Leader under any circumstances, most of those doing the dirty work of undermining democracy and the rule of law are cowards and opportunists. They’re willing to participate in the destruction of America as we know it because they believe that many others will do the same. As a result, they believe that they are unlikely to face any personal consequences for their actions and may even be rewarded for their lawbreaking.

And what of those who oppose Trumpism? While there are heroes willing to take a stand against tyranny whatever the personal cost, most anti-Trumpists are reluctant to stick their necks out unless they believe that they are part of a widespread resistance that will grant them some measure of safety in numbers.

In other words, the victory or defeat of competitive authoritarianism will depend to a large extent on which side ordinary people believe will win. If Trump looks unstoppable, resistance will wither away and democracy will be lost. On the other hand, if he appears weak and stymied, resistance will grow and — just maybe — American democracy will survive.❞

2/

Gwen Snyder posted something on Saturday to the effect that “Fascists •need• the appearance of strength, and right now, Trump just looks weak.”

I think it’s easy for us evidence-hungry thinker types to underestimate just how much appearance matters. Massive rallies are not — •must• not be — the endpoint of resistance. However, neither are they purely symbolic. They have a real and concrete effect. They change perceptions, which change human behavior. Yes, they matter. They matter a lot.

/end

@inthehands Massive rallies are good. But I’d like to see way more small rallies in small towns, especially red ones (not hard to find). Let more people see for themselves that the resistance is everywhere, that it’s their neighbors and families.

@jlundell @inthehands I got some good news for you on that count. They may have been small, but groups came out in a lot of places you wouldn’t expect them. Do I want to see more of that? Absolutely! But it is a start.

Jona 🐳

@su_liam @inthehands
Yes, more, please. I hail from far NW MN, and the nearest listed rally was in Thief River Falls, an hour drive from my dinky home town.

In a group of photos of big rallies, I saw one of maybe a dozen people in Petrolia CA (pop 300-500 per Wikipedia). Like that.

@jlundell

Coming back from camping that morning, we saw maybe 100 in Lindstrom!

@su_liam