SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
What you are likely experiencing is an understandable reaction to a terrible reality. But please don't stay there. The 'peaceful resistance army' needs you now.
The 4 Syndromes of Passivity in the Face of Pending Tyranny
As the era of Trump approaches, some of you are succumbing to the follow four syndromes:
"Millions of others feel equally powerless. But taking action--demonstrating, resisting, objecting, demanding, speaking truth, joining with others, making a ruckus, and never ceasing to fight Trump's pending tyranny--will empower you."1. Normalizer Syndrome. You want to believe Trump will be just another president - more conservative and pompous than most, but one who will make rational decisions once in office.
Dec 15, 2016
As the era of Trump approaches, some of you are succumbing to the follow four syndromes:
"Millions of others feel equally powerless. But taking action--demonstrating, resisting, objecting, demanding, speaking truth, joining with others, making a ruckus, and never ceasing to fight Trump's pending tyranny--will empower you."1. Normalizer Syndrome. You want to believe Trump will be just another president - more conservative and pompous than most, but one who will make rational decisions once in office.
You are under a grave delusion. Trump has a serious personality disorder and will pose a clear and present danger to America and the world.
2. Outrage Numbness Syndrome. You are no longer outraged by what Trump says or what he does--his incessant lies, his cabinet picks, his bullying, his hatefulness--because you've gone numb. You can't conceive that someone like this is becoming President of the United States, so you've shut down emotionally. Maybe you've even stopped reading the news.
You need to get back in touch with your emotions and reengage with what's happening.
3. Cynical Syndrome. You've become so cynical about the whole system--the Democrats who gave up on the working class and thereby opened the way for Trump, the Republicans who suppressed votes around the country, the media that gave Trump all the free time he wanted, the establishment that rigged the system--that you say the hell with it. Let Trump do his worst. How much worse can it get?
You need to wake up. It can get a lot worse.
4. Helpless Syndrome. You aren't in denial. You know that nothing about this is normal; you haven't become numb or stopped reading the news; you haven't succumbed to cynicism. You desperately want to do something to prevent what's about to occur.
But you don't know what to do. You feel utterly powerless and immobilized.
Millions of others feel equally powerless. But taking action--demonstrating, resisting, objecting, demanding, speaking truth, joining with others, making a ruckus, and never ceasing to fight Trump's pending tyranny--will empower you. And with that power you will not only to minimize the damage that is about to occur, but also get this nation and the world back on the course it must be on.
If you find yourself falling into one or more of these syndromes, that's understandable. Normalizing, numbing, becoming cynical, and feeling powerless are natural human responses to the gross absurdity and genuine peril posed by Trump.
But I urge you to pull yourself out. We need you in the peaceful resistance army, starting January 20.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.
Robert Reich
Robert Reich, is the Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and a senior fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies. He served as secretary of labor in the Clinton administration, for which Time magazine named him one of the 10 most effective cabinet secretaries of the twentieth century. His book include: "Aftershock" (2011), "The Work of Nations" (1992), "Beyond Outrage" (2012) and, "Saving Capitalism" (2016). He is also a founding editor of The American Prospect magazine, former chairman of Common Cause, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and co-creator of the award-winning documentary, "Inequality For All." Reich's newest book is "The Common Good" (2019). He's co-creator of the Netflix original documentary "Saving Capitalism," which is streaming now.
As the era of Trump approaches, some of you are succumbing to the follow four syndromes:
"Millions of others feel equally powerless. But taking action--demonstrating, resisting, objecting, demanding, speaking truth, joining with others, making a ruckus, and never ceasing to fight Trump's pending tyranny--will empower you."1. Normalizer Syndrome. You want to believe Trump will be just another president - more conservative and pompous than most, but one who will make rational decisions once in office.
You are under a grave delusion. Trump has a serious personality disorder and will pose a clear and present danger to America and the world.
2. Outrage Numbness Syndrome. You are no longer outraged by what Trump says or what he does--his incessant lies, his cabinet picks, his bullying, his hatefulness--because you've gone numb. You can't conceive that someone like this is becoming President of the United States, so you've shut down emotionally. Maybe you've even stopped reading the news.
You need to get back in touch with your emotions and reengage with what's happening.
3. Cynical Syndrome. You've become so cynical about the whole system--the Democrats who gave up on the working class and thereby opened the way for Trump, the Republicans who suppressed votes around the country, the media that gave Trump all the free time he wanted, the establishment that rigged the system--that you say the hell with it. Let Trump do his worst. How much worse can it get?
You need to wake up. It can get a lot worse.
4. Helpless Syndrome. You aren't in denial. You know that nothing about this is normal; you haven't become numb or stopped reading the news; you haven't succumbed to cynicism. You desperately want to do something to prevent what's about to occur.
But you don't know what to do. You feel utterly powerless and immobilized.
Millions of others feel equally powerless. But taking action--demonstrating, resisting, objecting, demanding, speaking truth, joining with others, making a ruckus, and never ceasing to fight Trump's pending tyranny--will empower you. And with that power you will not only to minimize the damage that is about to occur, but also get this nation and the world back on the course it must be on.
If you find yourself falling into one or more of these syndromes, that's understandable. Normalizing, numbing, becoming cynical, and feeling powerless are natural human responses to the gross absurdity and genuine peril posed by Trump.
But I urge you to pull yourself out. We need you in the peaceful resistance army, starting January 20.
Robert Reich
Robert Reich, is the Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and a senior fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies. He served as secretary of labor in the Clinton administration, for which Time magazine named him one of the 10 most effective cabinet secretaries of the twentieth century. His book include: "Aftershock" (2011), "The Work of Nations" (1992), "Beyond Outrage" (2012) and, "Saving Capitalism" (2016). He is also a founding editor of The American Prospect magazine, former chairman of Common Cause, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and co-creator of the award-winning documentary, "Inequality For All." Reich's newest book is "The Common Good" (2019). He's co-creator of the Netflix original documentary "Saving Capitalism," which is streaming now.
As the era of Trump approaches, some of you are succumbing to the follow four syndromes:
"Millions of others feel equally powerless. But taking action--demonstrating, resisting, objecting, demanding, speaking truth, joining with others, making a ruckus, and never ceasing to fight Trump's pending tyranny--will empower you."1. Normalizer Syndrome. You want to believe Trump will be just another president - more conservative and pompous than most, but one who will make rational decisions once in office.
You are under a grave delusion. Trump has a serious personality disorder and will pose a clear and present danger to America and the world.
2. Outrage Numbness Syndrome. You are no longer outraged by what Trump says or what he does--his incessant lies, his cabinet picks, his bullying, his hatefulness--because you've gone numb. You can't conceive that someone like this is becoming President of the United States, so you've shut down emotionally. Maybe you've even stopped reading the news.
You need to get back in touch with your emotions and reengage with what's happening.
3. Cynical Syndrome. You've become so cynical about the whole system--the Democrats who gave up on the working class and thereby opened the way for Trump, the Republicans who suppressed votes around the country, the media that gave Trump all the free time he wanted, the establishment that rigged the system--that you say the hell with it. Let Trump do his worst. How much worse can it get?
You need to wake up. It can get a lot worse.
4. Helpless Syndrome. You aren't in denial. You know that nothing about this is normal; you haven't become numb or stopped reading the news; you haven't succumbed to cynicism. You desperately want to do something to prevent what's about to occur.
But you don't know what to do. You feel utterly powerless and immobilized.
Millions of others feel equally powerless. But taking action--demonstrating, resisting, objecting, demanding, speaking truth, joining with others, making a ruckus, and never ceasing to fight Trump's pending tyranny--will empower you. And with that power you will not only to minimize the damage that is about to occur, but also get this nation and the world back on the course it must be on.
If you find yourself falling into one or more of these syndromes, that's understandable. Normalizing, numbing, becoming cynical, and feeling powerless are natural human responses to the gross absurdity and genuine peril posed by Trump.
But I urge you to pull yourself out. We need you in the peaceful resistance army, starting January 20.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.