You’re absolutely right to draw the distinction between criticizing systems of power and recognizing the ways those systems shape and limit ordinary people. The U.S. government, as it exists, is undeniably an imperial and extractive entity, and its global reach is felt through violence, finance, media, and tech alike. But that same system also crushes many of the people within its own borders—economically, intellectually, and spiritually.

The analogy to rabies is powerful but tricky. Yes, propaganda can infect people with hate, fear, and delusion. But if we begin to see our neighbors only as rabid dogs, we risk becoming cynical and cruel ourselves. A QAnon believer isn’t the same as a policymaker at the Fed or a war planner at the Pentagon. One is sickened by ideology; the other wields it with intent.

I fully agree that material conditions can break the spell—and that crises can clarify things. But that clarity won’t lead to solidarity unless we create the groundwork now. The far-right is already doing this—they’re building networks, feeding people, offering meaning. If we wait for collapse to act, we’re just ceding more ground.

The real task isn’t just to oppose the empire—it’s to build a counter-power that can replace it. That starts by reaching out to the people closest to us, even the ones we’re tempted to write off, and giving them something stronger than fear and conspiracy: a vision, a purpose, a role in something bigger.

We need to organize not just against, but for—for community, for care, for justice. And yeah, maybe even for a future where nobody needs to grow up inside a machine that trains them to be obedient or cruel. That’s a future worth fighting for

If the goal is to simply build towards protests and riots then that is a foolish goal because protests and riots are insufficient

If the goal is to build something larger than that, then different methods are required

The U.S. government is one thing. The people who live here are another.

We should never judge someone just because they were born in a certain country. Blaming people for where they come from is prejudice, plain and simple.

Yes, Americans can be frustrating. Many seem unaware of what their country does beyond its borders. Many have failed to demand change. But instead of writing them off, we should ask why that is.

The truth is, they’ve grown up inside one of the most powerful propaganda systems in history. From the moment they’re born, they’re fed myths about freedom, greatness, and endless growth—while being isolated, overworked, and misled. Their ignorance isn’t always a choice. Often, it’s something that’s been done to them.

So instead of condemning them, let’s choose compassion. Let’s challenge the system that raised them this way—and reach out to those willing to see through the lies.

Real change means building solidarity, not more division. Speak the truth. Share knowledge. Offer empathy. That’s how we turn a misled population into a powerful force for transformation.

When people rise up without a clear plan or shared vision, they often end up reinforcing the very system they’re trying to challenge. That’s because the people in power already control the tools that shape our thinking—like the media, schools, and pop culture.

If we want real change, we need more than just passion. We need a shared understanding of what kind of world we’re trying to build. Otherwise, we risk repeating the same mistakes and rebuilding the same broken system in a different costume.

Capitalist ideas have had centuries to take root and evolve. They’ve got a head start and powerful platforms to keep spreading—TV, textbooks, social media, movies, everything. To challenge that, we need a complete shift in how we think about power, community, and freedom.

So here’s the big question: Is this shift happening? Can we see it in the protests, mutual aid networks, labor strikes, and grassroots organizing across the country?

If we believe it’s possible, then now’s the time to act—together, intentionally, and with clarity. Let’s build a new vision of society—one not handed down by the powerful, but created by us. Start by asking: What do you really want the future to look like? And who’s with you in building it?

An entirely spontaneous movement will end up reproducing the dominant ideology in a given society, because the dominant class has the means at its disposal to propagate and reproduce the dominant ideology.

So a revolutionary movement must know in advance what its revolutionary theory is; it must be united around a particular vision of society, a particular theory of revolutionary change, or it will simply reproduce the society that it is acting against.

Ideas that support capitalism have been around much longer than alternative ones, are more refined, and have way more tools to spread themselves—like the media, schools, and culture. A drastic change in structural thought is necessary.

Where is the evidence that this change in structural thought is actually occurring in the United States? How is this present in the dissent that has manifested thus far?

Yes, but an entirely spontaneous movement will end up reproducing the dominant ideology in a given society, because the dominant class has the means at its disposal to propagate and reproduce the dominant ideology.

So a revolutionary movement must know in advance what its revolutionary theory is; it must be united around a particular vision of society, a particular theory of revolutionary change, or it will simply reproduce the society that it is acting against.

There is no evidence that this is what is occurring in the United States. Replacing the bad king with a good king will not solve our problems; our problem is that we are ruled by kings in the first place

If the conclusion is that a revolution is necessary then protests and riots are obviously insufficient. Which means that posting is not the correct path, particularly because it seems to be very lacking in building irl community, though it is effective at convincing posters that their engagement is “doing something”. It isn’t, aside from enriching tech oligarchs through their attentional engagement

Agreed that it’s insider trading.

But how will this contribute to monopolization of the corporate sector and harm small/medium businesses? Why would all of this increase their corporate control of other large corporations?

I’m not saying that isn’t their goal, because it clearly is. But I don’t see how pump and dumps necessarily help them achieve that. Especially now that everyone with a brain knows this is what they’re going to keep doing