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this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2026
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Late Stage Capitalism
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Downvoting on principle, as this is the same shit centrists say when Democrats have power, and Donald and Mitch demonstrated for years now that possession of power or lack thereof isn't the problem, it's the will to act that matters.
They were "powerless" to stop Joe Manchin, whose daughter was price gouging people for pharmaceuticals and could have been the subject of a DOJ investigation if Dems gave a shit. They were "powerless" against Kyrsten Sinema, but could have stripped all her committee assignments and given her zero value as a lobbyist, diminishing her ability to monetize her seat significantly.
And what I think they should do is, I think, quite simple.
Expose the dirty secrets of every fascist motherfucker in Washington that supports this, en masse, as a unit, and fucking dare them to react. These people have the Epstein Files, security clearances, oppo firms, etc. Fuck, they can probably get their hands on Donald's medical records and taxes.
They don't need voting power in order to create consequences for fascists.
But that can't happen because the supposed opposition is dirty too, and pretending they're not acting because they're oh-so-powerless is, I think, generous to a silly extent after watching the last 20 years of supposed 'progressive' politics on the part of Dems.
Besides typing on a keyboard, how are you personally resisting? Just curious.
Unless you're a billionaire, you don't have significant power to change anything outside your local zip code, so that's generally where I focus my efforts. I pick up trash around the neighborhood, help my neighbors when they need something, go to city council meetings and testify, attend protests, that sort of thing.
Maybe the most effectual thing I do is that I have a YouTube channel where I create videos to raise awareness of topics around intrusive tech and privacy, and intentionally choose stories that are under-reported, like the recent crusade against Samuel Tunick.
That's good that you're helping directly support your neighborhood. Much of Western politics starts local and ladders up from there.
I do find your perspective to be interesting, though. The statement "I have no power" appears disjoint with the notion of the government existing via the consent of the governed. You're also quick to give yourself a pass, but a senator with generally the same amount of hard/concrete power as you have using their greater influence area for similar activities (awareness, rallying support, etc.) don't get a pass.
It's not like Senators have direct access to the Epstein files. They're even being rejected their legal authority to inspect ICE facilities and getting arrested by the regime for "trespassing" when they attempt to exercise that authority. The DOJ is routinely rejecting their requests for information they legally are entitled to, as is the DoD and other executive branch governments. As the Congress has no enforcement arm, I'm not sure what you anticipate them to do other than attempt to educate the voter base as to the illegal things that are happening.
lmao. Are you in third grade?
I think the notion that a US senator has the same power as an average citizen is, frankly, absurd.
Bernie Sanders got living wage increases for Disney and Amazon workers not via a vote, but traveling out of his way, showing up at their doorsteps, and giving public speeches about their labor practices. Mitch McConnell changed the entire course of US history, even when his party didn't have any voting power.
As for government existing at the consent of the governed, it sounds nice in principle but it doesn't and never has existed here. The US government has always existed and acted at the consent of the rich and established itself based on violence. You'll recall that originally only wealthy landowning white men could vote, and even Washington himself turned the US military against a group of petulant farmers after becoming president, because they had the balls to oppose a whiskey tax. Most of our founding fathers were rich dudes who abused their slaves in various ways.
I'm not giving myself a pass. I'm just acknowledging reality. Outside of your local zip code you are powerless if you don't have a massive fortune with which to bribe people, but I do firmly believe people should be active in their local sphere and do the good they can.
And I'm pretty clear on what I expect them to do. Use the resources they do have and play dirty. Problem is the Dems are dirty too.
In terms of hard power/concrete power, a minority senator with no executive backing or judicial backing is severely limited. They must request records from executive branch departments. They have no enforcement arm. They have limited ability to limit legislation. They cannot pass recall legislation of any kind. They cannot exercise their legally granted authorities.
Your example about Bernie actually proves my point - he rallied the base and got the citizens to apply pressure. He took no concrete actions but used influence to rally support. This democrat party letter is the same thing at the same scope. AOC and Co traveling around to various town halls is that same thing. Every "too weak" statement they put out is the attempted use of influence and soft power. You're only happy about that from Bernie because you like Bernie. What's Bernie done to get Epstein files released? Is he "dirty" too? All he does is tweet about it and write letters and broadcast his message.
I'm left wondering if you genuinely think any US senator can go on their computer and open epstein_files.pdf any time they wish, and they're simply choosing not to do so. They literally passed a law to force the disclosure of the full files and the DoJ just said "nah". The lawsuit to attempt to force compliance is working its way through the courts, but Congress' only enforcement mechanism is recall legislation which requires a supermajority which they do not have.
You've totally convinced me.
Senators are powerless.
Thank you for the discussion. Have a great day.
You as well
I stole some stuff from the hardware store to help build a bicycle trailer that will reduce my dependence on cars and gasoline.
Now what are you doing?
Also based if you stole from a chain but less based if it was a local mom and pop shop. I also haven't driven my car more than 3 times since March as I'm lucky to live in a bikeable area.
Well I'm not in the US, so... living my life?
E: I guess if you want the full list, I did policy research for a local mayoral candidate's campaign. I lend my ebike to as many friends as possible in hopes they drive less. I put up "end parking mandates" and "excess parking kills cities" stickers around my city hall and on surface parking lots. I buy my beef from a local cattle farmer and vegetables from a CSA where possible. I bought a single American product in the past 6 or so months, only when a domestically produced alternative was not available. I've called and emailed my local constituency offices 10+ times over the past 6 months for my representatives for multiple levels of government. I attend and participate in public engagement sessions for public transit and energy infrastructure. I volunteered at a local soup kitchen preparing and packaging hundreds of meals for unhoused people on my city. And I type on a keyboard to spread the message.