This is the reality of what happened yesterday, and where we can go from here.

881

•

The Problem

What we saw on January 6th wasn't an isolated event. It follows a very common playbook involving the following factors:

A massive, unprecedented protest...
that openly stands for conservative or right-wing values...
with no vetting...
without clear, direct leadership...
without defined, universally agreed-upon goals...
in a city known for its left-leaning demographics...
in a municipality with radically left-wing governors and leaders.

This is exactly what happened in 2017 in , a city just hours away from DC. It's also exactly what happened in 2018 in .

What inevitably occurs is that the vast majority of attendees obey the law and stand for whatever they believe in - usually something popular, like opposing historic monument removals, criticizing mass migration, or supporting their President.

However, a tiny handful of agitators get out of hand and commit crimes. The agitators are enabled by a police force that intentionally stands down (as we saw in Charlottesville and DC). The agitators are then portrayed by the media as the entire event and used to smear the original belief.

After every one of these events, there is universal condemndation of the protest and the beliefs that inspired it from both sides of the political aisle. This is crucial, because an event only criticized from the left would be defensible. But as we've seen, both liberal AND conservative media + politicians will rush to condemn the protest and all who attended it.

This results in a massive, palpable feeling of demoralization among conservatives. Moderates and apoliticals are turned against conservative beliefs. Leftists are energized and vindicated. Even though the media spins it as a "win" for the "far-right", everyone knows that the right has visibly gone too far and thus lost cultural power.

Look back through history, and tell me that you haven't seen this exact pattern repeat again and again.

What causes this?

Events like this are the result of sheer disorganization and bad incentives on the Right, and Machiavellian tactics from the Left.

On the Left, this scenario is like a symbiotic relationship. Leftists thrive when Rightists look radical or insane. Thus, Leftists often choose to goad on the worst elements of the Right in order to make the Left look better in comparison. In a protest situation, this results in Leftist city officials telling police to stand down so that radical idiots can run rampant. This gives the Left-aligned media plenty of footage that puts conservatives in the worst possible light, demoralizing them and turning the popular will against them.

On the Right, I lay blame on everyone who posted terrible news, day in and day out, without providing any positive and constructive solutions. This blame goes especially to pundits and grifters who made a business of telling people the world was going to end, but giving them no way out. Doomposting and blackpilling are like increasing the pressure in a balloon more, and more, and more, and giving it no exit. Sooner or later, that balloon is going to pop, and it will result in the sort of retardation we saw on Jan 6.

We need to start offering people productive solutions and real hope for the future. There are many constructive solutions that are all-reward and zero-risk, for example: , , and . These are strategies that work and that the successful Left has used for decades. Conservatives desperately need to start emulating peaceful strategies that work, rather than harebrained schemes and fantasies that don't.

Where do we go from here?

If conservatives don't learn lessons from these events and change our behavior, then we are surely doomed. Here are some ways forward:

Conservatives need to communicate with one another and take some time to reflect on our values and goals. Levelheaded communication is key. Please, for the love of God, stop with the "news" and doomposting for a few days or weeks and let those on the Right actually talk with one another. We need to understand our position in the world and think about where we want to go, and what ways can actually work. If we cannot learn lessons, we will always lose.
Opt for small-scale, localized, low-risk high-reward solutions. Control what you can, ignore what you can't. Don't invest yourself in nationwide political causes that you have no control over. Focus first on yourself, your family, and your community.
Vote with your dollar. This is the one great power that everyone holds. YOU can choose whether you want to fund far-left companies, or patriotic conservative ones.
Vote with your feet. If you live in California, please move, unless you absolutely need to be there for career or family reasons. Don't live in places where you fund a far-left political machine with your tax dollars. Move somewhere where your taxes are used for beneficial purposes.
Reconsider the utility of protests and rallies in 2021. So far, the track record of right-wing rallies seems high-risk, low-reward. Keep in mind that the Left controls the media and almost all city governments. In order words, they control how a right-wing rally would be managed, and how it will be portrayed to the masses. The entire point of a rally is to reach the masses, and without control of the media, many conservative rallies merely provide negative propaganda against themselves.
Never hold a rally or protest without clear objectives, a defined goal, and direct leadership. Vet everyone if possible, and don't hold events in far-left cities. Getting a bunch of people together in one place and letting them do whatever they want is a recipe for disaster. This goes double if it's in hostile territory. Love Trump or hate him, you have to admit he failed epically by not directing the crowd on Jan 6. There was no plan, no mission, no start or end time for the rally - failure was inevitable.
Rally around POPULAR issues that the majority of people agree with. The entire point of a protest or rally is to win the hearts and minds of the people. It is NOT to satisfy yourself or your own side. This is crucially important. Imagine the difference between "Trump supporters demand $2000 checks for all Americans from Congress" and "Trump supporters demand Trump stay President". The former is charitable and would turn the opinion in favor of Trump supporters. The latter seems entitled and self-serving.
Build bridges, make a big tent, and win over the majority of people. I sincerely don't believe that conservative causes are unpopular ones. Explained rationally, almost everyone in the world can agree with at least some of them. The objective must not be to set 50% against the other 50%, but to unite the 99% of honest people against the 1% of elites.
Don't encourage violence or other flagrant and illegal behavior. As we all saw, what happened on Jan 6 didn't work. It demoralized conservatives and turned popular will against them. The future of this movement, like every non-establishment movement that finds itself out of power, must be like Gandhi or the early Christians. It must be nonviolent, and seek to win hearts and minds with a more appealing message, rather than crazy threats.
Remember that REAL change is very slow, but you can see it working. Don't trust anyone who tries to sell you the idea of lightning-fast overnight change. This includes anyone telling you a revolution, civil war, or collapse is right around the corner. We're in the position we're in because people wanted quick magical fixes rather than decades of boring hard work. It will take years and years of raising families, creating a culture, and building institutions to get out of this hole. But the real solution will always be the slow-growing natural orchard, not the lie of magic beans that blossom overnight.

**The Problem** What we saw on January 6th wasn't an isolated event. It follows a very common playbook involving the following factors: * A massive, unprecedented protest... * that openly stands for conservative or right-wing values... * with no vetting... * without clear, direct leadership... * without defined, universally agreed-upon goals... * in a city known for its left-leaning demographics... * in a municipality with radically left-wing governors and leaders. This is *exactly* what happened in 2017 in [Charlottesville, Virginia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unite_the_Right_rally), a city just hours away from DC. It's also exactly what happened in 2018 in [Chemnitz, Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Chemnitz_protests). What inevitably occurs is that the vast majority of attendees obey the law and stand for whatever they believe in - usually something popular, like opposing historic monument removals, criticizing mass migration, or supporting their President. However, a tiny handful of agitators get out of hand and commit crimes. The agitators are enabled by a police force that intentionally stands down (as we saw in Charlottesville and DC). The agitators are then portrayed by the media as the entire event and used to smear the original belief. After every one of these events, there is universal condemndation of the protest and the beliefs that inspired it from *both sides* of the political aisle. This is crucial, because an event only criticized from the left would be defensible. But as we've seen, both liberal AND conservative media + politicians will rush to condemn the protest and all who attended it. This results in a massive, palpable feeling of demoralization among conservatives. Moderates and apoliticals are turned against conservative beliefs. Leftists are energized and vindicated. Even though the media spins it as a "win" for the "far-right", everyone knows that the right has visibly gone too far and thus lost cultural power. Look back through history, and tell me that you haven't seen this exact pattern repeat again and again. **What causes this?** Events like this are the result of sheer disorganization and bad incentives on the Right, and Machiavellian tactics from the Left. On the Left, this scenario is like a symbiotic relationship. Leftists thrive when Rightists look radical or insane. Thus, Leftists often choose to *goad on* the worst elements of the Right in order to make the Left look better in comparison. In a protest situation, this results in Leftist city officials telling police to *stand down* so that radical idiots can run rampant. This gives the Left-aligned media plenty of footage that puts conservatives in the worst possible light, demoralizing them and turning the popular will against them. On the Right, I lay blame on everyone who posted terrible news, day in and day out, without providing any positive and constructive solutions. This blame goes especially to pundits and grifters who made a business of telling people the world was going to end, but giving them no way out. Doomposting and blackpilling are like increasing the pressure in a balloon more, and more, and more, and giving it no exit. Sooner or later, that balloon is going to pop, and it will result in the sort of retardation we saw on Jan 6. We need to start offering people *productive solutions* and *real hope for the future*. There are many constructive solutions that are all-reward and zero-risk, for example: [boycotting woke companies](https://saidit.net/s/politics/comments/59s0/the_great_boycott_a_megathread_on_woke_companies/), [peaceful grassroots organizing](https://status451.com/2017/11/11/radical-book-club-what-righties-can-do/), and [building self-sufficiency](https://saidit.net/s/conspiracy/comments/3hqr/if_you_arent_starting_a_garden_you_arent/). These are strategies that *work* and that the successful Left has used for decades. Conservatives desperately need to start emulating peaceful strategies that work, rather than harebrained schemes and fantasies that don't. **Where do we go from here?** If conservatives don't learn lessons from these events and change our behavior, then we are surely doomed. Here are some ways forward: * **Conservatives need to communicate with one another and take some time to reflect on our values and goals.** Levelheaded communication is key. Please, for the love of God, stop with the "news" and doomposting for a few days or weeks and let those on the Right actually talk with one another. We need to understand our position in the world and *think* about where we want to go, and what ways can actually work. If we cannot learn lessons, we will always lose. * **Opt for small-scale, localized, low-risk high-reward solutions.** Control what you can, ignore what you can't. Don't invest yourself in nationwide political causes that you have no control over. Focus first on yourself, your family, and your community. [Here are some excellent life lessons for the 2020s.](https://saidit.net/s/AskSaidIt/comments/54tl/what_life_lessons_are_important_for_the_2020s/) * **Vote with your dollar.** This is the one great power that everyone holds. YOU can choose whether you want to fund far-left companies, or patriotic conservative ones. [Here are some ideas to get started with boycotting and buy-cotting.](https://saidit.net/s/politics/comments/59s0/the_great_boycott_a_megathread_on_woke_companies/) * **Vote with your feet.** If you live in California, please move, unless you absolutely need to be there for career or family reasons. Don't live in places where you fund a far-left political machine with your tax dollars. Move somewhere where your taxes are used for beneficial purposes. * **Reconsider the utility of protests and rallies in 2021.** So far, the track record of right-wing rallies seems high-risk, low-reward. Keep in mind that the Left controls the media and almost all city governments. In order words, they control how a right-wing rally would be managed, and how it will be portrayed to the masses. The entire point of a rally is to reach the masses, and without control of the media, many conservative rallies merely provide negative propaganda against themselves. * **Never hold a rally or protest without clear objectives, a defined goal, and direct leadership. Vet everyone if possible, and don't hold events in far-left cities.** Getting a bunch of people together in one place and letting them do whatever they want is a recipe for disaster. This goes double if it's in hostile territory. Love Trump or hate him, you have to admit he failed epically by not directing the crowd on Jan 6. There was no plan, no mission, no start or end time for the rally - failure was inevitable. * **Rally around POPULAR issues that the majority of people agree with.** The entire point of a protest or rally is to *win the hearts and minds of the people*. It is NOT to satisfy yourself or your own side. This is crucially important. Imagine the difference between "Trump supporters demand $2000 checks for all Americans from Congress" and "Trump supporters demand Trump stay President". The former is charitable and would turn the opinion in favor of Trump supporters. The latter seems entitled and self-serving. * **Build bridges, make a big tent, and win over the majority of people.** I sincerely don't believe that conservative causes are unpopular ones. Explained rationally, almost everyone in the world can agree with at least some of them. The objective must not be to set 50% against the other 50%, but to unite the 99% of honest people against the 1% of elites. * **Don't encourage violence or other flagrant and illegal behavior.** As we all saw, what happened on Jan 6 didn't work. It demoralized conservatives and turned popular will against them. The future of this movement, like every non-establishment movement that finds itself out of power, must be like Gandhi or the early Christians. It must be nonviolent, and seek to win hearts and minds with a more appealing message, rather than crazy threats. * **Remember that REAL change is very slow, but you can see it working.** Don't trust anyone who tries to sell you the idea of lightning-fast overnight change. This includes anyone telling you a revolution, civil war, or collapse is right around the corner. We're in the position we're in because people wanted quick magical fixes rather than decades of boring hard work. It will take years and years of raising families, creating a culture, and building institutions to get out of this hole. But the real solution will always be the slow-growing natural orchard, not the lie of magic beans that blossom overnight.

[–] • 2 pts

The media use their influence to wedge any popular movement away from the general public that won't play within the permitted two party system. Doesn't matter if it';s left or right flavored. Let me give you an example from 2011-3 OWS which questioned income inequality challenging the core of the economic system. Part of the OWS strategy included many of the points raised in your opening discussion, large movement, leaderless, without fixed goals, confronting an extremely hostile NYPD and city govt. They asked for permission to install porta potties at Zucotti, and the city said fuck off. Then the press follows the protesters around with their cameras and calls them "animals" for doing their dooty in the streets. Same with the takeover at Maheur BLM buildings in support of Clive Bundy. They asked for supplies and the press goes crazy with the idea to send them lube and then mocks the well lubricated occupiers until Finnicum is killed.

Now, what to do about it is another thing. First, you have to get control of your media, so parler, gab, etc. In OWS days, the script kiddies at Anonymous were helpful in publicizing issues as they came up. Now it's harder because in order to build a large coalition to actually fix the roots of the problem, it's going to take all of us together, and not just the skin heads and Nunes on parler. Boycotts are not really effective any more. For example, how do you target Soros or Koch when they don't actually produce any labeled product? Why move? There are coalition members in the People's Republic of Santa Monica too. Find them and talk to them. Find common ground. I like the misnamed Patriot Act that all the pols keep reauthorizing that we can all hate on. But you can think of others. Put down the obviously divisive issues that they use to drive us apart. I'll trade you gun control for abortion restrictions, okay?

Violence is a tough issue. The neo libs have spent large trying to make any violence, even property damage illegitimate tactics for social change. There is a writer who is a whole lot smarter than I who believes that non-violence supports the state. https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-how-nonviolence-protects-the-state When I have been at protests, I have seen how a diversity of tactics (some militant types) protect the main group of protesters by drawing the attention of the po away from the moms with their kids. Thanks for your service. An example that Mr. Gelderloos uses is to think back to the origins of this country and the property damage done to a whole bunch of innocent tea in the Boston harbor. So I won't tsk-tsk when you break some windows, just don't endanger the peaceful types by hiding among them, and take your lumps for the team gracefully that you can expect will come from the police state.

Finally, this is a movement, not a moment; a marathon, not a sprint. I know we are all used to a news feed that changes every 2 hours, but we can't lose focus on our to do.

The media use their influence to wedge *any* popular movement away from the general public that won't play within the permitted two party system. Doesn't matter if it';s left or right flavored. Let me give you an example from 2011-3 OWS which questioned income inequality challenging the core of the economic system. Part of the OWS strategy included many of the points raised in your opening discussion, large movement, leaderless, without fixed goals, confronting an extremely hostile NYPD and city govt. They asked for permission to install porta potties at Zucotti, and the city said fuck off. Then the press follows the protesters around with their cameras and calls them "animals" for doing their dooty in the streets. Same with the takeover at Maheur BLM buildings in support of Clive Bundy. They asked for supplies and the press goes crazy with the idea to send them lube and then mocks the well lubricated occupiers until Finnicum is killed. Now, what to do about it is another thing. First, you have to get control of your media, so parler, gab, etc. In OWS days, the script kiddies at Anonymous were helpful in publicizing issues as they came up. Now it's harder because in order to build a large coalition to actually fix the roots of the problem, it's going to take all of us together, and not just the skin heads and Nunes on parler. Boycotts are not really effective any more. For example, how do you target Soros or Koch when they don't actually produce any labeled product? Why move? There are coalition members in the People's Republic of Santa Monica too. Find them and talk to them. Find common ground. I like the misnamed Patriot Act that all the pols keep reauthorizing that we can all hate on. But you can think of others. Put down the obviously divisive issues that they use to drive us apart. I'll trade you gun control for abortion restrictions, okay? Violence is a tough issue. The neo libs have spent large trying to make any violence, even property damage illegitimate tactics for social change. There is a writer who is a whole lot smarter than I who believes that non-violence supports the state. https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/peter-gelderloos-how-nonviolence-protects-the-state When I have been at protests, I have seen how a diversity of tactics (some militant types) protect the main group of protesters by drawing the attention of the po away from the moms with their kids. Thanks for your service. An example that Mr. Gelderloos uses is to think back to the origins of this country and the property damage done to a whole bunch of innocent tea in the Boston harbor. So I won't tsk-tsk when you break some windows, just don't endanger the peaceful types by hiding among them, and take your lumps for the team gracefully that you can expect will come from the police state. Finally, this is a movement, not a moment; a marathon, not a sprint. I know we are all used to a news feed that changes every 2 hours, but we can't lose focus on our to do.

link

[–] • 3 pts

Its a losing battle. You're assessment is correct but your prescribed course will be ineffectual. There are radical leftists controlling integral institutions. The only solution is to hurt them, financially or physically. There is no other solution. The right will never be able to out-organize the left when the left has big tech, deep state, media, and even "right wing" party members on their side. The time for hand-wringing and pearl clutching is over. Nobody has changed the world without getting their hands dirty.

[–] • 0 pt

Exactly.

At least when Q folx say Do Nothing they are entertaining. You sound like a stuffy can't do teacher. Cool thesis prof.

it's called gaslighting, the left is gaslighting the right and white people.

The problem is that we’re not allowed to raise our families, build a culture, form institutions. We are hindered every step of the way. Ridiculed, shamed, shunned-and now, deplatformed, demonetized, fired, demonized, jailed or outright killed for trying to make any changes.

Good ideas, but don't use the words "conservative" or "traditional". I mean what are you conserving anyway? Instead, of "conservative" ideals, it should be natural ideals. Afterall, they are indeed NATURAL, no? Instead of a "traditional" family, it should be a natural family.

I only say this because gender is not based on "conservative" ideals or "traditional" ideas. It is based on what is natural and what comes from nature.

[–] • 1 pt

Spoken like a true conservative. "Don't rock the boat too hard, goy! Peaceful protest will solve your problems."

I do agree with the part about having clearly defined leadership, plans, and goals, though.

There is no political solution.

Only a violent one.

So many problems, so many suggestions of what to do.

We all think we know the right way. We are now, in essence, insurrectionists. How best do we manage?

Do we go for hearts and minds? Do we declare war? Do we attack overtly? Do we engage in guerrilla tactics? Do we use propaganda? Do we use facts?

I don’t have the answers. Right now, none of us do. Most are in a state of shock and grieving right now. Unfortunately, time is of the essence, and a luxury we lack.

At this moment, the best course of action is one followed by change agents of the past: be seen as the good guys by the right people, not because we tell them we are, and not because we aren’t willing to do the dirty work when necessary, but because they see it as we provide care and help to our neighbors. It’s hard to back a government that demonizes the people who helped you cut firewood before winter, prepared meals for that sick family down the street, or helped when your car broke down.

At the same time, pacifism is no longer the answer, either. There is an enemy that wants us broke, disenfranchised, and dead - and wants worse for our children. There is no mistaking their aims, and they have demonstrated they will stop at nothing to get it.

The good news is that they’re greedy, grasping, short-sighted children, by and large. They understand manipulation to an extent, but they aren’t as good at it as they think they are.

They can’t overcome personal bonds - only we can tear down our friendships and families and relationships through our words and actions. Uplift the people in our lives with whom we are close and be positive and caring toward them, and it doesn’t matter what some bureaucrat or celebrity says, because they’ll have someone real and tangible already filling their needs.

Again, this isn’t a full answer. It isn’t an end of itself. It’s just something I have been considering as I try to figure out a bigger, long term plan.

My best suggestion would be to assemble your neighbors and community members and form ranks. Begin group training, learn to shoot straight. Veterans, now is your chance to stand very tall in your communities. We civilians need your experience and expertise here.

Thank you for condemning tallest_skil

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