Some eerie similarities.
Many U.S. states are acting like the early 1980’s and the imposition of Martial law in Poland to target the Solidarity movement. Subsequently I wrote about it on a Twitter thread, because the parallels were really quite remarkable.
Both Poland circa 1980 and the U.S. friction in 2020, center around fragile economic issues. Both were an outcome of state control; and the key connection is government targeting control over the workers.
In both examples the state took exclusive control of the economic and social state of the citizens, and the courts provided no option for redress. In both examples the state locked down the citizens and would not permit them to interact with each other.
In 1981 the government in Poland initiated Martial Law and citizens were forced to communicate underground. In 2020 a considerable number of U.S. state governments locked-down citizens in similar fashion and banned citizen assembly.
In 1981 in Poland the communist regime used economic psychological pressure, selecting workers permitted to earn wages. Those workers identified as “essential” to the state. In 2020 many State governors selected workers to earn an income by designating them “essential” to the state.
Isn’t it funny how ALL government employees always seem to be “essential”?
In 1981 Polish authorities arrested anyone organizing protests against the authoritarian state. In 2020 numerous authoritarian officials arrested citizens for non-compliance with unilateral dictates. From a New Jersey governor arresting a woman for organizing a protect; to an Idaho mother arrested for allowing her children to play at a park; to a Texas salon owner arrested for operating her business.
In 1981 Polish authorities had a program for citizens to report subversive activity against the state. Snitching. In 2020 New York City, LA and numerous state and local officials started programs for citizens to report non-compliant activity against the state. Similar snitching.
In both 1981 Poland and 2020 USA we also see media exclusively creating ideological content as propaganda for the interests of the authoritarian state (controlling citizens).
So where is the American Lech Walesa, anyway? Sundance finds reason for hope nonetheless:
Just before the authoritarian state in Poland collapsed there was a rapid movement for the citizens to take to the streets in defiance of state control. I remember watching with great enthusiasm as I saw a very determined pole shout on television:
…”we take to the streets and today we realize, there are more of us than them”…
If one person refuses to comply, government can and as we have witnessed arrest them. However, if tens of thousands rebuke these unconstitutional decrees, there isn’t a damn thing government can do to stop it…. and they know it.
If one barber shop opens, the owner becomes a target. However, if every barber shop and beauty salon in town opens… there is absolutely nothing the government can do about it.
If one restaurant and/or bar opens, the state can target the owner. But if every bar and restaurant in town opens; and if everyone ignores and dispatches the silly dictates of the local, regional or state officials… there isn’t a damned thing they can do about it.
Even more to the point, a commenter notes this insightful quote:
While I’m by no means as hopeful as Sundance (or Douglass, for that matter), that one is going straight into the Notable Quotes section in the sidebar, I believe.
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I keep seeing hopeful signs of non compliance. I had just read the Sundance article cited, and found the “closed” Virginia Beach picture educational…
https://www.pilotonline.com/business/consumer/vp-bz-coronavirus-saturday-reopening-20200516-bwnano4lhrhhhmjc6iw35d6t6m-story.html
May an Army of Lech Walesas, from the beaches to the internet, rise up to Defy!
“If one barber shop opens, the owner becomes a target. However, if every barber shop and beauty salon in town opens… there is absolutely nothing the government can do about it.
If one restaurant and/or bar opens, the state can target the owner. But if every bar and restaurant in town opens; and if everyone ignores and dispatches the silly dictates of the local, regional or state officials… there isn’t a damned thing they can do about it.”
I would love to see it because it is spot on…if the shutdowns continue, there will be a lot of unrest. The unrest will actually be apolitical as well. Everyone will revolt.
Imagine a shelter in place order during the summer in the slums of St. Louis, the Bronx or South side Chicago….
The ruling party sees it coming…this is actually a good opportunity but as you say…there is no Lech Walesa
Laws do not apply in such places, and the locals know it. They are not the targets of the lockdowns anyway. Working, tax-paying, law-abiding citizens are.
Besides, the locals in such places already vote overwhelmingly democrat. It is the deplorables who are to be crushed into compliance via fear.
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