by a Refuse Fascism volunteer
Donald Trump is a reactionary idiot, but we cannot take a single word that he speaks lightly. He has always made good on his word. He incites nuclear war. He pushes and pushes to pass travel bans and healthcare cuts. He is able to transform a single tweet into discriminatory policy. When he spoke recently on his desire to push for the border wall to be built he had this to say, “If we have to close down our government we’re building that wall.”
The visceral horror of this statement should be immediately felt by us all. He is a mad man. His xenophobia and racism are so strong he would threaten to shut down the government. To even suggest the idea, regardless of if he can do it, should terrify us. And the fact that he said that publicly and was met with applause is enough for alarm. The fact that he sees his power in such totalizing ways, the fact that he sees his reach over the government to be so consolidated should show us of his intentions and the level to which he will extend his power to ensure that his racist policies are upheld. And to say this in public, to be so unafraid as to threaten to shut down the government, should be a sign of his confidence and conviction, that he feels so safe and empowered to make those statements.
And for the world to hear that will likely embolden hundreds and thousands of racist white supremacists; validating and confirming their own totalizing and racist views. It will lead to reactionary actions from his foot soldiers who feel that same confidence. If their leader can obliquely threaten to dismantle the government over a racist project such as this, imagine what actions will become valid in their mind.
We also cannot treat this statement lightly, at every turn Trump and his regime have profited from the tendency to see his words as hollow rhetoric. We cannot afford to take him lightly, because he certainly is not just talking, he is already planning and so is Pence. And if he somehow succeeds in shutting down the government, imagine how fast his regime will work to make use of that gap in oversight. With no government he will experience an ease and fluidity in reach that will allow him to carry out numerous atrocities without any potential resistance from the limited structures put in place to “stop him”.
Trump’s fascist regime is hell bent on realizing their genocidal goals, and this statement cannot be underplayed. He intends to at some point utilize an absolute consolidation of power.
Even if action is never taken on this threat, the words being uttered alone could incite violence in the streets, and is a sign of Trump’s fascist intent.
This nightmare must end.
The masses have to unite against this fascist regime. And on November 4 they must flood the streets and remain there until our demand is met; the Trump/Pence regime must go!