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You're absolutely right to draw the distinction between criticizing systems of power and recognizing the ways those systems shape and limit ordinary people. The U.S. government, as it exists, is undeniably an imperial and extractive entity, and its global reach is felt through violence, finance, media, and tech alike. But that same system also crushes many of the people within its own borders—economically, intellectually, and spiritually.
The analogy to rabies is powerful but tricky. Yes, propaganda can infect people with hate, fear, and delusion. But if we begin to see our neighbors only as rabid dogs, we risk becoming cynical and cruel ourselves. A QAnon believer isn’t the same as a policymaker at the Fed or a war planner at the Pentagon. One is sickened by ideology; the other wields it with intent.
I fully agree that material conditions can break the spell—and that crises can clarify things. But that clarity won’t lead to solidarity unless we create the groundwork now. The far-right is already doing this—they’re building networks, feeding people, offering meaning. If we wait for collapse to act, we’re just ceding more ground.
The real task isn’t just to oppose the empire—it’s to build a counter-power that can replace it. That starts by reaching out to the people closest to us, even the ones we’re tempted to write off, and giving them something stronger than fear and conspiracy: a vision, a purpose, a role in something bigger.
We need to organize not just against, but for—for community, for care, for justice. And yeah, maybe even for a future where nobody needs to grow up inside a machine that trains them to be obedient or cruel. That’s a future worth fighting for
If we see them as misguided innocents, we're going to be in for a rude awakening when they rat us out to the El Salvadorian kidnap vans. At some point, liberals need to recognize this isn't a coffee-shop debate. It's a matter of self-defense. Organizing means building networks of trust and support. That means taking people into confidence when they tell you their views on Palestine. That means locking arms with people who may not express the gender printed on their birth certificates. That may eventually extend to having a neighbor hide in your attic while you stare down the police. And if you've opened your front door to "I'm just following the law" / "They shouldn't be here anyway" fash-curious centrists and conservatives, what kind of organization do you think you're building?
A counter-power that rises to the point of defiance of authority. That level of opposition requires real material support and genuine sincere trust. You don't get that without some degree of ideological orthodoxy.
There's a test I've discovered as a standard issue when a retail establishment is hiring. One of the questions you get asked is some variation of "Would it be wrong to take a single penny from the cash register if ?" And if you answer "Yes", you're immediately disqualified for the job. This kind of ideological rigidity is common in the commercial sector because acknowledging certain fundamental standards is central to trusting the people you put in charge of your business resources. Expecting any less from an activist political organization is foolhardy.