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This article highlights two actions we all can get behind to defend democracy and oppose what has been happening in our country since Jan. 20.

The 24-Hour Economic Blackout
Back in December I wrote about using our power as consumers to oppose the Trump wrecking crew. (“Now what? Tactics for resistance,” The Reader, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024).  In that article I suggested taking the fight to the wealthy Trump supporters by reducing our spending and not buying from companies that supported him. 

I am not the only one pushing this tactic. I recently got an email saying that comedian Jon Stewart has been calling for Friday, Feb. 28, to be a “24-hour Economic Blackout.” I have not found Jon’s post to verify his involvement, but I did find many posts sharing the information and a website that appears to have originated the action (The People’s Union USA). That website also has a list of future company specific boycotts and 24-Hour Economic Blackouts on its FAQ page.

Good ideas are good ideas regardless of who originates or promotes them. So I am writing this article to help spread the word and build the resistance. Here are the details from the email that I received in the same easy to copy and share format.

When: Friday, Feb. 28, from 12 am to 11:59 pm.

What not to do: 

Do not make any purchases. Do not shop online, or in-store, no Amazon, no Walmart, no Best Buy, do not spend money on fast food, gas, major retailers.

Do not use credit or debit cards for non-essential spending.

What you can do: 

Only buy necessary essentials (food, medicine, emergency supplies)

If you must spend, only support small, local businesses.

Spread the message, talk about it, post about it and document your actions that day. 
Why this matters:

Corporations and banks only care about their bottom line.

If we disrupt the economy for just one day, it sends a powerful message.

If they don’t listen (and they won’t) we make the next blackout longer (we will).

“The goal of the February 28th economic blackout is simple, to show that we the people, are the backbone of this economy,” John Schwarz, founder of The People’s Union USA .

Impeachment
There is little doubt that we are in the midst of an authoritarian take over of our country. The current president said (as did Hitler before him) he would be a “dictator on day one” and he meant it. All his actions since taking office are intended to seize unlimited presidential powers. It is very clear that a divided Congress will not stop this undemocratic coup. Given the Supreme Court’s makeup, it is unlikely the judiciary will act to stop Trump either. And he has made it clear he will not abide by any adverse court rulings. 

The only hope left is for people to take action. Below are my thoughts on organizing a peaceful people’s revolution to impeach the wannabee dictator.

Impeachment is the only way to restore democracy and stop the Trump wrecking crew. This will require electing a solid majority in the House and two thirds of the Senate. It is questionable whether the Democrats can achieve this in 2026. Even if they do, their past performance raises doubts about their ability, or willingness, to do what is needed to create a truly democratic system. We are in extraordinary times that require extraordinary action by  many people. 

It may seem hopeless at this time, but impeachment is the necessary remedy. We the people must take action to make impeachment happen. Obviously we cannot influence the current members of the House and Senate to make it happen. So we have to organize now to elect  pro-impeachment candidates in 2026. 

This election campaign must concentrate on one issue – and only one issue – impeaching the current authoritarians. No other issues can be allowed to muddy the waters or divide people. 

We need to organize to create a movement to support candidates pledged to vote for impeachment. This must be a nonpartisan, “big tent“ movement or coalition open to everyone. These candidates can be from any, all or none of the current political parties. 

I would suggest a unifying theme, banner or logo of “USA  – United for Sanity in  America.” 

This movement must be prepared to pass articles of impeachment for the president and vice president on day one of taking office. There is no reason to waste time investigating the current administration’s illegal and unconstitutional actions. They have blatantly and deliberately violated their constitutional duty “to faithfully execute the laws of the United States.” 

Immediately on taking office the House should pass articles of impeachment, the Senate should vote to impeach and the new Speaker of the House becomes president. 

The next step should be to pass legislation authorizing a special election to elect a new president and vice president. This legislation should mandate strict spending limits on all candidates, require equal publicity for all serious candidates, and institute ranked choice voting nationwide for the purpose of this special election. 

By allowing all parties an equal chance you reward them for participating in the movement to impeach and begin establishing real democracy in America.

Given the unusual circumstances surrounding this special election, a temporary, one time, overriding of state control of elections and prior Supreme Court rulings (Citizens United) should be possible. 
While the special election process is proceeding, the new Congress can pass legislation and propose constitutional amendments to establish a truly democratic, multi-party electoral system that abolishes the current system of big money corruption and undemocratic election procedures.

These are reforms that have long been needed, discussed and advocated for by many groups and individuals. These reforms have been ignored, or undermined, by both the Democratic and Republican parties. 

Given the historic record of third party failure, it is unreasonable to expect change to come from any of them. Again there must be an extraordinary, grassroots uprising by the people to demand and implement change. This is our nation’s unfortunate situation now. 

Will people rise to the occasion? Will they organize a peaceful revolution to overthrow the tyrant and to create real democracy? 

Either all people of good sense will come together for this effort – despite any and all ideological or party differences – or we will all lose any hope of making America what it should be.