Putting struggle to words.
One quick note on my last post, The People’s Declaration of Unity. This was created as both a culmination of what I’d been thinking about the last several years as I’ve learned more and more history while also paying attention to the needs of the moment. It’s not a perfect thing that covers all items – specifically left out were items that fuel the culture war that benefits both the parasites and pretty much anyone who has no interest in real change that works for everyone (LGBTQ rights, racial equality, immigration) with the thought that addressing underlying issues that allow people to be “othered”
would create a space to address issues that are simply science and society catching up to each other. I hope that makes sense, and I’d love input on it.
So what about now? I have the hardest time going in to my boring day job (who just recently announced a return to the office 5x per week at the request of no employees). I assume everyone does, to some extent. Different reasons will exist for every person, and every different job. I speak from a place of having a bullshit job (as defined by David Graeber) – meaning it has no social value and simply exists to keep the economy moving by providing a peon (yours truly, and countless others) with money to spend on products and services. It has nothing to do with what we (individually or the royal we as a society) want to do. Even worse, when we look around – why would we even want to participate in furthering this society? When the notices went out about returning 5x per week for myself and I started brushing up my resume, I just had this awful feeling of continuing this bullshit. Then I saw a comic on Bluesky yesterday by @amiiillustrates.bsky.social that just summed up what I was thinking:
So what do we do?
Well, I like the advice coming from people like Robert Evans’ piece We Failed To Stop The Rise Of Fascism – try something new. I’ve generally been of the mind that protesting in the US doesn’t work after the Occupy movement. It always seemed as though there was a higher likelihood of being injured or arrested than any change happening. What does that mean, though? “Try something new” could just become a new platitude if there isn’t substance behind it. Like when people say “help out locally” “find where to help in your community” – without giving people who are completely inexperienced in organizing and finding groups/individuals, those statements do little, if any, good.
So what is something… new?
Well, we’re in unprecedented territory and it’s going to be about meeting various moments and being creative.
- Do less. It sounds silly, but literally do less stuff. Don’t be so busy. This is the least we can all do. Give yourself time to think and breathe. Stop feeling like you need to produce or perform all the time—it’s not just exhausting; it’s exactly what the system wants. Rest is resistance, and slowing down gives you room to notice what’s really happening around you. Doing less isn’t just about personal rest—though that’s important. It’s also about stepping back from the grind that feeds capitalism and consumerism. Every hour you’re not grinding for someone else’s profit is an hour spent imagining something better.
- If you’re so inclined, do your best to find like-minded groups who are trying to work toward a better future. It could be in person or virtual—try for the former if you can. Being with people in your community makes organizing stronger and builds trust that’s hard to replicate online. Every place will be different in what’s possible, so start small if you have to. A few neighbors sharing ideas can be the start of something much bigger. Go to council/town/whatever meetings if where you are has those. Often you’ll be able to hear representatives from groups speak who are actively fighting the awful policies and that could be a way to network.
- Maliciously comply. Seriously, find the rules and follow them exactly as written—but in a way that gums up the system. It’s the kind of resistance that looks like obedience on the surface but exposes how absurd or broken a system really is. Think of it as nonviolent sabotage. The bureaucracy is already bloated; you’re just giving it more snacks under the table.
- Build informal networks wherever you are. Whether it’s coworkers, neighbors, or people you meet through shared interests, relationships are the foundation of real change. It doesn’t have to start with a protest or a rally—sometimes it’s just a group chat that evolves into something stronger when the moment demands it. The key is being ready to act when things start to shift. Informal networks don’t just help you act—they help you weather the storms. In crises, knowing who has tools, skills, or resources in your community can make all the difference. Start building those connections now.
- Look for ways to support people directly. Mutual aid isn’t just about helping—it’s about building solidarity. Start small: share food, help someone navigate a crisis, or donate to a local fund if you can. These acts not only strengthen your community but also reduce reliance on systems that often fail or exploit us.
- Practice egolessness and forget purity tests. This part’s hard and comes with SO MUCH nuance. Ego seems to get in the way a lot, so don’t worry if a grand idea you may have gets whittled down to a tiny nugget, or not used at all. The point is making it to a finish line and not what one idea got us there. Chances are the ideas are not original but moreso right place, right time. Purity tests are in a similar vein – society has gone through growth that’s unprecedented and some people took time to catch up – they may have a ten year old bad take, but pay attention to what they’ve done after and are doing before any knee-jerk reactions.
You’re not in this alone. Use what others have put online and your own personal perspective. Understand other perspectives and then find what underlying issues we as a society need to address. And don’t be afraid to start and have really, really awkward conversations because we do not know how to engage with random people about such serious topics. It’s difficult, but be prepared to have a lot of grace when working with someone in good faith. Understand differences could be (and likely are) semantic.
What am I doing right now?
Well, writing this! Along with that, I’m doing some other work I’ll keep out of writing (it’s not as cool as that sounds, just a CYA move). I want to do more, but it does feel like there’s no leadership because anyone in power within the system seems to continue to want to reform the system. I think it can be, to an extent, but that reform will have to be greater than the new deal with locks in place that both allow change over time but locks in place to avoid complacency by the people and a dismantling by whoever the awful people of that day are.
Otherwise, I’m just continuing to learn/read, keep an eye open for other opportunities and just want to bring good to the world. There’s a new subreddit, r/humanrights2026/ with a small group coming out of nothing really that could grow or combine with other groups. Who knows. Don’t bury your head in the sand. Pay attention to the big picture and not each little thing that’s meant to outrage you. Set small goals. Meet those and set more. Maybe you never move up to big goals – that’s fine!
Remember, this is just my perspective and the problem with advocating for trying new things or less used options is that my imagination is my limit, as well as my desire to stay off of certain lists, so I will not advocate for destroying fracking equipment, recreating Luigi’s actions (mama mia!), or targeting symbols (or anyone) of incredible wealth in a time of horrendous inequality in the states. That would simply be irresponsible.
