My mom and I are concerned, less about Dump than the cronies and bigots he’ll bring in with him. The concern is that we are descending into fascism by degrees, and that Dump’s election last night will accelerate a process that would only have been slowed, but not reversed under a Harris administration. If Dump is sincere, and we have no reason to doubt his sincerity, in his promise to mobilize the armed forces against citizens, moving to a “safe” city like Seattle is not an option because of the naval base a stone’s throw away. It feels very much like remaining in this country is untenable.
@ejep5 It’s understandable to feel this way, especially if you’re watching Trump’s return to power as something that might mirror how authoritarianism has taken root in other countries, like Russia. When we look at how Trump could reshape the U.S., it’s not just him that’s a concern, but the influential, often extreme, people around him who would have significant power over government policies. The fear that we’re sliding into a form of fascism isn’t unfounded; there are warning signs, particularly in the way Trump and his supporters have openly talked about using the military and police forces in ways that go beyond public safety and could become tools of political repression.
It’s also valid to feel unsettled about moving somewhere like Seattle, given its military presence. Some people think that moving to a liberal city or state will provide a safety buffer, but if federal control becomes increasingly militarized, no city is truly immune from this influence. The reality is that no one really knows how severe things could get or what cities, if any, would truly feel “safe.” For those of us who are concerned about sliding into a less democratic, more oligarchic system, it does feel bleak and even disheartening to consider staying in the U.S. under these circumstances.
Still, keep in mind that democratic institutions are resilient, and many leaders and citizens are deeply committed to preserving those freedoms. While it’s tempting to think there’s no hope, history shows that people can organize and push back against authoritarianism. It’s hard to say you’re mistaken, but you’re certainly not alone in feeling this way.
My two cents: unless you are directly at odds with Trump or a senior Repub leader, I wouldn’t worry about it for a year. BUT it would be a good idea to start planning for an exit going forward.
We’re probably going to have a sugar cocaine high in the economy; then when it hits the wall with reality in 1-2 years (and note: IT HAS ALWAYS HIT THE WALL IN ALL OF TRUMP’S BUSINESSES…), there will be destructive chaos in the country. For some good insights on this, read narratives of employees inside each Trump business in its final days (a book focusing on this would be extremely relevant right now!)
I could elaborate on the pros and cons of each of a few major countries to flee to, but I think that would be counter to the intentions of this site and forum (repairing political representation in the United States…) Search for “expat”, and I think you will find lots of sites with discussions on this. You will want to consider how closely tied each country is with the US (can they fare well if the US’s economy tanks?), climate warming, plastic pollution, water and power resources, serious commitment to a rule of law, civil liberties, privacy, etc.
One thing I would look closely at is the amount of money each country spends on educating its populace. That is exactly how we got into the MAGA mess we did! (started with Reagan cutting financial aid for higher ed…) Jefferson realized that a Democracy will not work unless you have educated voters. He founded the University of Virginia as an experiment in a program for civic-organized higher education. [Alas, it did not work out great; but many countries have succeeded at doing this, excepting ones where class division crept into the options for education programs…]
I’ll share an anecdote: Sweden was looking pretty good to me. Then in the news the other day, they said they are getting rid of a tax on plastic bags. Now that taxation policy happens to be a great idea -so are they now also going down the road of Stoopid??
As someone who has organized with DSA and been registered with the PSL, I am planning to move out by end of 2025 to protect myself. I’m terrified of being deported or jailed for my political beliefs and being critical of conservatives. I hope to be in Barcelona by Jan 2026.
