OPINION: Preparing for better, even as we anticipate the worse during the Trump years

Last week, we wrote about the terrible things that can be anticipated during the upcoming administration. We ended that article with a promise to write this week about how to prepare for that onslaught of destruction.

As a first step down that road, we must admit certain truths. 

(1) There is no sure-fire way to accurately predict all the things that will be forthcoming. After all, we are dealing with a man who has repeatedly shown himself to be unstable before and after he was declared so by hundreds of professional psychologists and psychiatrists and has no respect for laws to boot. 

(2) Trump is assembling an army of lieutenants appearing ready to carry-out his biddings, no matter how evil, destructive or illegal they may be. 

(3) He will have the power of the military and the blessing of the Supreme Court at his beck and call. 

(4) There is no telling how long he will act as president since he is already hinting that he plans to run again in 2028. He will apparently try to get his lawyers to argue that the 22nd Amendment applies only to two consecutive terms in office. Who knows, with his having stacked the Supreme Court, it may go along with that interpretation. 

(5) There is no “silver bullet” to rescue us from the threats and ravages of Trumpism at its worse. No god or super hero is going to step in and reverse what we have enabled to happen to this country. 

(6) It is up to us to preserve our human rights and to preserve what we have come to believe is democracy. (That is the whole point of this article; saving us must be the work of us.) 

As we come to realize the truths that stare us in the face, there are at least six things that must be done. 

(1) Issue by issue the administration has to be confronted and challenged through allies in Congress, the state legislatures, the courts, and the press, and through public protests. It needs to happen if and when there is a move against Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and other social welfare programs. It needs to happen if and when there are moves made against so-called enemies of Donald Trump. It needs to happen if and when there are attempts to destroy the Department of Education. We cannot wait for any clearly signaled civil war. The war will be waged every day, issue by issue. Similarly, we cannot decide to join the struggle only when it is our cherished issue, institution, or person threatened. To take that course will leave us to be picked off one by one; divide and conquer will have won the day. 

(2) In order to maximize our effectiveness, we need to build up through our increased donations to and active membership in civil rights and civil liberties organizations such as the NAACP, Southern Poverty Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible, People for the American Way, and Move On. In addition to the national organizations, well established local organizations dedicated to protecting democracy and human rights need to be supported. It is obvious that organizations are more powerful and likely to be heard than individuals. 

(3) When possible, these organizations should form coalitions or at least coordinate their strategies and public actions, liberally publicizing particular issues as they arise. They should not side-track or abandon their individual goals and actions because of their affiliation with the coalition. In the words of former St. Louis Representative William Clay, there should be no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests as we struggle. 

(4) Keep in close contact with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and members of the state’s legislative Black caucus in order to exchange ideas and to mutually support one another. 

(5) Keep informed through trusted and reliable sources rather than gossip, social media platforms, or right-wing political outlets. 

(6) Based upon what we know and can confirm, be prepared to summon the energy and courage to play whatever role that we can, given our location, status, and skills. This is where the rubber meets the road. You will know yourself and what you can do. While there is no silver bullet and nobody coming to the rescue, together we can be unbeatable. Keep in mind that if too many people “skate” or fail to join the struggle, the MAGA Republican Trumpers will come out on top and will turn this country upside down and inside out.