David J. Atkinson<p><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@clintruin" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>clintruin</span></a></span> <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://bsky.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/emptywheel.bsky.social" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>emptywheel.bsky.social</span></a></span> Since you asked, it is not yet curtains. Really really close, but not yet. It is true that the rule of <a href="https://c.im/tags/law" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>law</span></a> is hanging on by a slender thread. It is true that <a href="https://c.im/tags/Congress" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Congress</span></a> is fully subverted. It is true that the institutions of federal government that provide essential services to us are being systematically erased. Very hard times are ahead.</p><p>But… I keep returning to the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence. <a href="https://c.im/tags/Patriots" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Patriots</span></a> sacrificed, fought, died, and ultimately prevailed to achieve what it says. Please read the brief document (link below) because this is why I believe our situation not yet checkmate: the power of the people to consent or not.</p><p>“[…] when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute <a href="https://c.im/tags/Despotism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Despotism</span></a>, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”</p><p>I have no idea how this will be done, or when, or how long it will take. Nevertheless, I place my ultimate <a href="https://c.im/tags/trust" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>trust</span></a>, my <a href="https://c.im/tags/hope" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>hope</span></a>, in the power, right and duty of people to choose. </p><p><a href="https://www.gilderlehrman.org/sites/default/files/inline-pdfs/Preamble%20to%20The%20Declaration%20of%20Independence.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">gilderlehrman.org/sites/defaul</span><span class="invisible">t/files/inline-pdfs/Preamble%20to%20The%20Declaration%20of%20Independence.pdf</span></a></p><p><a href="https://c.im/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Resistence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Resistence</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/democracy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>democracy</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Trump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Trump</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Dictators" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Dictators</span></a></p>