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How can ordinary people respond to Trump’s efforts to destroy everything good in our country? How do we stop his assumption of dictatorial powers to impose his fascist agenda?

In 2017, we hoped that Trumpism was a fluke and would self-destruct. We hoped his ignorance, incompetence and harmful policies would turn even conservative Republicans against him. But 2024 proved this notion wrong.

Last week I said people must join together, despite our differences, to respond to current situation. I quoted conservative commentator David Brooks who said, “It’s time for a comprehensive national civic uprising...” 

As I wrote in the past, all the usual democratic guardrails – the checks and balances on executive abuse of power – are failing. The only hope is enough people banding together to resist and refuse accept Trump’s fascist actions.

How do we do this? What actions are needed? Will they work? I don’t know. But I do know that doing nothing will result in Trump succeeding.

There are many ways to resist. In the past people have protested, signed online petitions, contacted their representatives, wrote letters, posted on social media, gotten arrested, sued and organized to vote the bums out. 

But the Trumplicans don’t care about public opinion or normal legal and political processes. They control both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court. We are in for a long, hard struggle.

Robert Reich, always the optimist, has done a short video with his suggestions for taking action (“Five ways to fight Trump’s Fascism”). His five suggestions are: 

•nCall your elected officials frequently. Don’t be shy! Bug them.

• Join local activist groups. Show up to help the cause.

• Boycott and vote with your dollars. Don’t buy from companies that support Trump.

• Go to town halls and ask direct, specific questions. Get in their face!

• Do what you can to protect the vulnerable who are being hurt.

Robert Reich encourages us by declaring, “We are the leaders we have been waiting for...I know things seem dire – and they are – but you are not alone. Together we will stand up for democracy and to together we will win.“

I would add that another essential action is to get more people taking action. Invite your friends and relatives to get involved. Don’t think it is impolite to talk about politics. The stakes are too high to be hesitant. 

If you recruit just 2 people who each recruit two more, who do the same, before long there are significant numbers of people joining the effort. 

People’s apathy and non-participation is a primary reason Trump got elected.

Another very strong tool is our consumer spending. About 70% of the economy depends on consumer spending. This gives people power if they would collectively use it. What we buy and use – or do not buy and do not use – can have an impact. 

If enough people would reduce their spending, get off the social media platforms and stop buying from businesses that supported Trump things might change (see “Now what? Tactics for resistance,” The Reader, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024).

We need to make sure the well off Trump supporters – the business owners, stock market speculators and upper classes – feel the pain. Both local small businesses and the nationwide corporate giants need to see a drop in customers and profits. They need realize that fascist dictatorships are not good for business

The advantage of economic action is that everyone can participate. Many people will actually be better off financially for doing so. Many of us can easily reduce or shift our spending. Plus the government can’t stop people from altering their spending with intimidation, arrests and police violence.

Economic actions can start small and grow as more people get involved. But they also need to be visible. There must be no ambiguity as to why spending is off and business is down. 

To accomplish this I would suggest “Family Values Weekends.” On the first weekend of every month simply stay home. Don’t go anywhere or buy anything. As more people stay home, as the mall becomes less crowded and as the traffic is less congested maybe the business community will get a clue.

Trump’s chaotic tariff policies, federal funding cuts and firing of federal employees are already hurting the economy and many people (especially his poor and rural supporters) are feeling the pain. 

Bill Clinton’s motto was “Its the economy stupid.” and an economic crash may be the only way to defeat Trump and take back the House and Senate in 2026.

Ending Republican control of the legislative branch is also essential for stopping the Trump fascist takeover. A democratic Congress is essential for ending the illegal, unconstitutional actions of the current administration (note the use of the small “d.”). 

This is essential for ending Trump’s blatant corruption and profiting from the presidency. It is essential for impeaching our first elected dictator.

Ultimately impeachment is the only way to restore democracy and ending the Trump era. 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. A multi-partisan mix would be better. We are in extraordinary times that require extraordinary action and cooperation by many people.

For this reason moderate, sensible Republicans need to be “primarying” the MAGA incumbents. As more rural and small town people are hurt by Trump’s destructive polices, they may get a clue. But they may not be ready to vote for a Democrat. Moderate Republicans are more likely to defeat a Pete Stauber or a Tom Tiffany than any Democratic challenger.

This brings up another important point. Ending  the Trump dictatorship requires people who don’t agree on all issues joining together. We need a truly “big tent” effort. We can’t let our differences get in the way of the more important task of deposing King Donald.

We should remember that another major reason for Trump’s 2024 victory was too many people refused to “hold their nose” and vote for Harris. Polls indicate some 20 million people who voted for Biden in 2020 did not vote in 2024. Whatever their reasoning, these people elected Donald Trump. 

This dividing and conquering of ourselves can not happen again in 2026.

Reasonable people of all political persuasions must come together now to create a “national civic upraising” and to organize across party lines to elect a new Congress in 2026.