Which is why proactively seeking out progressives to vote for is so important. It's work. A lot of work. But it's the only non-violent tool the regular citizen has against fascism.

As someone who's lived in multiple midwest/flyover states, not really. The median American is a leftist. They want healthcare for all (genuinely ask any Oklahoman how jealous they are of Native Americans in the state). They want strong labor protections. They want cheaper rent and most want public housing back. Most all of them recognize that the wealthy (though many do limit it to 'some' of the wealthy) are responsible for how poorly their life has gone, and the main struggles they've found in life. They want to help their neighbors and in many small towns you'll find just straight up a Sharing Economy, which is a genuine possible path for post-socialist economics at the local level; and they recognize that the state should only exist for conflict disputes. Hell, until 2001 you could not find a single 'rural' or what would now be 'MAGA' voter that supported the existence of police or their ability to just stop people. Until 2009 it was hard to find any that actually supported immigration restrictions or 'anti-dei' or 'integration.' Like genuinely they were incredibly rare.

So there is hope. But because democrats chose neoliberalism and chose to make the singular difference between the parties 'who can tie populist ideas to their platform first,' many Americans went full conservative/MAGA, despite not knowing what those positions actually entail, and most Americans just because disillusioned with american democracy and chose to exclude themselves since both parties were genuinely the same exact platform in 1992-2000.

Which is why I think they’ll give us Schumer (again, its that defined 7 on a pair of 6 sided dice).

I encourage you and anyone else working class to read up on revolutions. The fellow who did the series Andor has. Tony Gillroy. Match it with historians. People who run governments do study it. They vent the people. Sometimes talking sideways is enough. Sometimes you have to throw a bone to release some of the pressure built up behind the hunger. Good odds Schumer will be the bone.

The difference is we do have a few more players. Not just Sanders and AOC. Even so, odds there are not in our favor.

I think after venting us they’re going to point to 2025 and use that fear come 2028 vs doing things to improve our lives.

One small example. Remember, NIOSH was gutted. These are our filters for all of construction and trades and all of healthcare, including prehospital, including firemen.

Every person in those professions is in danger because their safety gear regulators have been gutted. Even some random school teacher who likes to woodwork. Filters against that fine dust inhalation? Well. Maybe they’ll be ok? Whose to say? Lead remediation on your old house? Asbestos? Maybe. Sure. They surely wouldn’t roll back quality just because it’s not being regulated. Would they? /s

Bits like that crap deal could all be packed into a bill. A big beautiful bill, one that should already be written and ready to go. But is it?

They’ll vent us, they’ll have to. Just enough to prevent rioting. And then I think they’ll try to ease back into the usual. Just don’t be fooled by the venting. See it for what it is.

You got that right. Status quo being the Business Plotters.

American democracy relies on an engaged, educated populace, and the less personal, individual engagement there is the more fragile it becomes. The Founders knew this; we are now all very painfully having to relearn it.

The bare minimum that ANYONE can do, no matter their circumstances, is to self-inform and to engage with the business of democracy. Instead, you've given up and you're here to gloom on others that are engaged, so that they self-select out as well.

Again, here's what you actually wrote, which I will also note has sfa to do with the article or the thread and merely reacts to the headline:

Yes, because we have 2 political parties and they both suck (one more than the other). Neither represent the people (as is their job). They represent the billionars. The ship is going down and there are no life boats for us. Enjoy what is left.

Try engaging and self-educating. Stop wallowing in defeatist bullshit and mentally engage with what is before you. You didn't even read the article.

One thing you can do is generate within yourself a bit of hope, based on the fact you just saw your nation carry out the act of voting and it worked like it was supposed to.

That not all are who or what you want is down to primaries, but the vote worked. Double down next one.

Besides which what have you got to lose, as you say yourself it’s all fucked.