this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2024
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[–] [email protected] 61 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (7 children)

tuesday was the last hope. we are living the worst-case scenario and it's not going to get better. figure out what you need to do to get out of the country NOW. you have a little less than 2 months

[–] [email protected] 73 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Not everyone will have the resources to do so. Don't throw these people to the wolves.

In order to help everyone: Start mutual aid networks. Help your siblings and build dual power from the ground up.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 weeks ago

agreed. if you can't leave, then you really need to start organizing. covertly

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I am having this conversation with my wife. I'm 16 years into a military career (so 4 years from retirement), and she was talking about moving to Canada. So for a thought exercise, I looked it up, and with my skill set it would be pretty doable.

But I reminded her that we aren't the ones in danger. A cis-het white family of natively-born Americans in the military with the economic stability to fly to Canada on a moments notice for an abortion (she was worried about our daughter) is not in particular danger. But us leaving means we can't fight against this, and makes it worse for those who can't just leave.

We'll see how it is in 2029 when I'm due to retire, if the country can pull its head out of its ass or if Project 2025 goes full swing followed by no legitimate election. But for now, we'll stay and push back.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Genuine question: AFAIK the Republicans would like to use the US Military against its own people, as well as disband institutions like the FBI. What would you do if they actually went ahead with that?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

I am not in the part of the military they would send for that. But if it were to happen in general? I am not going to pretend to know what I would do until the event actually came up.

Incidentally, when I joined the branch I did, one of the recruiters asked me why I specifically wanted the Coast Guard. I told him if I decide to join something, and doing that put me in a position where I had to do something morally reprehensible to survive (like shoot a 12-year-old protecting his home in some far off country), the fact I had no choice in the moment would be irrelevant, as my choices put me in that position. There's nothing morally ambiguous about saving a person from drowning. (Side note, he thought that was a terrible reason, and I think that guy can fuck himself). So not being put in a position to be used against my own country can be added to that as well (except enforcing boating safety, PUT A LIFE JACKET ON YOUR KID GODDAMMIT).

Oh, and all that was before I learned about the migrant and drug interdiction missions in the Coast Guard, so now I just try to avoid Florida and Southern California for where I get stationed.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 weeks ago

You're right that leaving is your best bet. That isn't a reality for millions of queer people, however. Leaving isn't always feasible, or many of the queer people still in deep red states would already be gone.

It's time for us to make moves to prepare ourselves to contend with this administration and political agenda. Networks need to be made, connections between suppliers of DIY hormones and communities at risk of losing Healthcare need to be established.

As much as we need to help people get out, we also need to confront the fact that not everyone can, and this is the reality we live in now. I'm just saying, "Get out while you still can" isn't enough. We need to ready ourselves for a much more long-term fight against this system. Everyone who can should be getting involved.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Disagree, the most vulnerable who can't leave need our help. Stay.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've been instructing LGBTQ acquaintances to use encrypted messaging services like signal and to get a VPN that doesn't log like mullvad and that your phone company can track your location without gps on but you should still turn off gps/bt/WiFi/mobile data when you're not using them.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (3 children)

That's good advice, though I may have heard concerning stuff about Signal recently? Maybe not, kinda hard to keep up with everything.

By and large though I think it's wise for folks who could end up targets to do what you're saying, and to get safe communications operational at a minimum, now, while it's still easy to do.

I have some skepticism about whether the worst will come to pass, but it's wise to prepare in ways like this.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Every time people find a supposed security flaws with signal it turns out to be nothing, so signal is probably fine.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Good enough for me, and ultimately "good enough" is about as good as anything is gonna get.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I have some skepticism about whether the worst will come to pass.

Homosexuality has been illegal in the not too distant past as has "sodomy"

I thought I also saw something about signal being an issue as well but I didn't remember what the problem was. They did recently introduce usernames and the ability to keep your phone number secret. You still have to use a phone number to create an account. It's also the app that is targeted the most by nation-states trying to decrypt it. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it has been decrypted but they wouldn't use that to go after the average person and only use it to spy on other countries.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it has been decrypted

I don't think we need this sort of fear-mongering. Signal's encryption is fully open source, it has been vetted by cryptographers far more experienced with this stuff than you or I. They even introduced, a few years back, an encryption algorithm that's future-proof against quantum computing.

All you are doing is potentially pushing people away from one of the few known-safe options. That's the opposite of helpful.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Thanks for the info on Signal. I'm under no illusions about the severity of our situation, truly. I know our history, and I know the history of fascism elsewhere. And I see what's happening in front of us.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have some skepticism about whether the worst will come to pass,

saving this

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

I just mean the literal very worst. I'm not downplaying the situation.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

i mean.. I don't want us. can you blame them?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

If it's someone who wants to leave, they're obviously not part of the shitheads that voted in fascism.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago

Also, the US is one of the easiest countries to immigrate to. Canada, most of the EU, and much the Western world at large will really only let you immigrate permanently if you have an ancestral claim that you can directly prove, or if you have certain degrees or skills.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Pick countries that are geographically distant from maga land.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Australia could use more Greens/Labor voters. Please come dilute the LibNat vote.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

The same issue still arises, that the people who need to immigrate most, cannot afford to and won't be allowed into our country. If you want to change that, get your arse down to your local MPs office and push for asylum status for trans americans.