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Timothy Patrick's avatar

After reading about Orbán's playbook and its influence on American politics, it's natural to feel concerned. I’m really concerned. But as a student of history, I want to remind fellow readers: We have weathered worse storms as a nation and emerged stronger.

Consider what our democracy has already survived: A Civil War that literally tore the country apart, followed by the assassination of a president. The Gilded Age's rampant corruption and monopolistic control of government. Jim Crow laws and widespread disenfranchisement. McCarthyism and the suspension of civil liberties.

After each crisis, the pendulum swung back toward democratic renewal through the organized efforts of ordinary Americans who refused to surrender their rights. The Progressive movement, led by journalists, labor organizers, and reform-minded politicians like Theodore Roosevelt, wrested power from Gilded Age monopolists. The Civil Rights movement, built through grassroots organizing in churches and communities, dismantled Jim Crow's legal framework. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union defended free speech during McCarthy's witch hunts and created legal precedents that became settled law via the Supreme Court. If you're feeling disheartened, I'd suggest reading about these movements—not just their victories, but how they organized despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Their stories aren't just inspiring, though. They're instruction manuals for democratic renewal that prove we've overcome challenges more daunting than what we face today.

The pendulum always swings back—but we don't have to wait passively for it to happen. In fact, history shows that pendulum swings occur only because everyday citizens organized and pushed for change.

Remember that the architects of Project 2025 and those adapting Orbán's methods are not superhuman geniuses. They're simply organized and focused. The difference between their effectiveness and ours comes down to coordination and clarity of purpose.

I want to be clear—I'm not an expert or someone with experience in organizing political movements. I'm just a concerned citizen like many of you. But I am aware of powerful technological tools that weren't available during those previous crises that could help us avoid Hungary's fate. Tools that can amplify voices, coordinate action, and spread information faster than the forces trying to control the narrative.

My goal is to make these tools accessible to average concerned citizens like us and then let them do the work. We don't need to be political strategists or constitutional scholars to make a difference. We just need to be organized, determined, and willing to use the advantages available to us.

If you're interested in learning more or sharing your own ideas, please reach out to me. Who knows, it might even be fun. Snacks will be provided (if you provide them ☺️).

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Ashley Archuleta's avatar

The part that breaks my heart the most is “we didn’t just talk about defeating liberals - we actually did it.” And I’m not heartbroken because I lean liberal, I’m heartbroken that so many believe new and different ideas must be defeated, quashed, humiliated. Freedom doesn’t exist without diversity of thought. What a devastating thought-process these Right-wing “leaders” have.

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