Global Comment

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6 ways to stop Trump

Donald Trump screaming at an event.

Last night, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump formally accepted his party’s nomination in an interminable speech that incorporated fascist demagoguery and outright lies. It far surpassed even the worst imaginings of those who had been dreading the event — and it was made all the more chilling by the lusty cheers from the convention floor and the awareness that millions of Americans were watching the speech and finding it inspirational, and aspirational. Donald Trump has motivated a terrifyingly large chunk of the electorate in an election year that has turned out to be extremely contentious and marred repeatedly by violence, harassment, and abuse from Trump supporters, and this speech was like a presentation of his greatest hits.

Donald Trump has cultivated a dangerous and horrifying climate, and last night’s speech illustrated how — largely filled with empty promises and delusions of grandeur, it also managed to play upon the deepest fears of white America. He repeatedly evoked images of immigrants threatening to tear apart the very fabric of America, made appeals to religious extremism and nationalism, and evoked minority communities as tools when it suited him, as when he attributed the 49 deaths in Orlando at Pulse to a ‘hateful, foreign ideology.’ He conjured up an image of ‘big government’ interfering in the lives of ordinary Americans, and practically used lines straight out of Hitler’s playbook.

Throughout the run of the Trump campaign, people have been drawing comparisons between the style, approach, and tenor of his campaign and the rise of Hitler in Germany. These comparisons aren’t idle or hyperbolic: Donald Trump’s ‘alt right’ supporters are Nazis, and he’s accepted endorsements and support from numerous Nazi and white supremacist organisations. Like Trump, they understand that fear is a powerful motivator, and it is fear that we must fight to take Trump down in November. This is a candidate who cannot be allowed to win, who must in fact lose by a landslide. Participation is no longer optional, and here are six things you can do to keep Trump out of the White House.

1) Vote

It seems obvious, but voter turnout in the United States is often depressingly low. Roughly 60 percent of eligible voters turn out in election years. This is unacceptable. You can register to vote, change your registration, or confirm your registration at vote.usa.gov. Make sure your registration is current. If you haven’t voted recently, you may have been purged from the rolls. Encourage your friends to do the same, and help them if they have difficulty navigating the system.

2) Don’t just vote the top of the ticket

Clinton versus Trump is the big headliner, but the White House isn’t the only thing at stake. 34 Senate seats and every single seat in the House are up for grabs. That is a substantial percentage of Congress, and it is Congress that makes (or, as we’ve seen lately, doesn’t make) the laws. Congress will be drafting and enacting policy, the Senate will be confirming Supreme Court justices and other presidential appointments, and it is Congress that will have a tremendous impact on America’s future. If you turn out for the president but nothing else, you could be handing Congress to the Republicans for another round of obstructionism.

Furthermore, your state Assembly and Senate are also experiencing turnover, as are local offices like city councils, boards of supervisors, and even the bench at your court house. And numerous states have substantial numbers of propositions on the ballot, which also have a profound effect on policy. Do your research. Vote the entire ballot. Remember: People like Donald Trump and Mike Pence don’t spring fully-formed from the brow of Lady Liberty. They rise to power because people don’t turn out to vote for better candidates.

3) Donate to Hillary Clinton

Regardless as to your personal feelings about Hillary Clinton, it’s clear that Donald Trump cannot be allowed to win in November, and she is the most viable opposing candidate. It would be great to have a conversation about the flaws of the nominating process, the ‘lesser of two evils’ approach to politics, and the laziness on the part of both parties that results in an endless retrenchment of the two-party system, but now is not the time. If we elect Donald Trump, much of that conversation is going to become moot, and you will be punishing millions of vulnerable Americans in the pursuit of a political point. Whether you have $10, $20, or $100, put it towards her campaign. Consider doing the same for progressive candidates further down the ticket.

4) Volunteer

The Clinton campaign certainly needs people on the ground, especially in swing states, but you don’t have to volunteer for Hillary Clinton. Find a local, regional, or state progressive candidate that you like and volunteer. Consider working on campaigns for or against ballot measures. A lot of volunteering can be done from home and on your own time — phonebanking, for example, is a snap to do at home, and campaigns provide easy scripts for you to use. On election day, if you’re not up for phonebanking and doorknocking, consider volunteering as a poll worker. Poll workers play a vital role in ensuring that everyone is able to exercise their right to vote, and helping voters can be a useful distraction from following exit polls all day.

5) Speak up

Election years can make for contentious ground, especially on Facebook. Some people are reticent to talk politics with friends, neighbours, coworkers, and family in person, though. This year, that needs to stop. Lay out the case against Trump. Explain why he would be bad for America — this is not just a liberal issue, but also a conservative one, with many conservatives fearing that he will be highly destructive. If someone is planning to vote for Trump, find out why, because their reasoning might not be consistent with what would actually happen were he to be elected (‘I want my taxes to go down’) — and if their reasoning is bigoted (‘I hate Muslims’), then it’s probably time to cut them out of your life anyway.

This isn’t just about a political context. The Trump campaign is stirring up tremendous amounts of racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and hatred. If you see any of these activities, speak up. Stand in solidarity with vulnerable Americans and make it clear that hateful behaviour will not be tolerated in your home, workplace, social circles, or anywhere else.

6) Defend voting rights

Exercising your right to vote is important, but it doesn’t stop there. Across the United States, voter suppression tactics will be in full force, and the Department of Justice just announced that it will be removing most of its federal election monitors. That means we’re relying on voters to protect themselves and each other. Keep Election Protection, a major third-party organisation that takes complaints about violations at the polls, on speed dial. If poll workers attempt to block you, or another voter, do not leave the area until you have been permitted to cast a ballot, and accept a provisional ballot if necessary. Document everything that happens and everyone you talk to for the purpose of filing a complaint. Whether you can’t vote because the accessible voting machine is broken or are denied because your ID isn’t a perfect match for the rolls, don’t take it lying down.

Photo: Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons

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