Happy New Year political stonecutters, and welcome to 2025, all signs point to big changes ahead, and, given the state of play left over from last year, many of these changes will be distressing and dangerous for the majority of people. On the national scale, we are poised to usher one of the least democratically representative administrations in modern history. Quite a feat considering the competition over the last 20-30 years.
The elites who are tightening their grip on power in this country desperately want us to stay distracted and divided rather than uniting to challenge them politically and economically. In response to this rising tide of authoritarianism DSOT is looking to expand our activity in 2025.
We will be growing our fantastic Zoomchat series with fellow activists, politicians, and organizers. We published 15 chats last year, with many more on the horizon.
To help build community, we will be holding a monthly virtual member meeting where fellow activists can talk shop, share their success stories and struggles, offer advice, and make connections with other activists across the country. (stay tuned for more details)
One of our great strengths is as a connector between different activists and issues. We will be updating our website to include a page to give aid to our allied organizations.
Local issues, local power. We at DSOT will be drilling down into more local issues, where smaller scale organizing can have bigger impacts faster.
To accomplish this we are looking to expand our core volunteer group to help with the logistics of a growing movement. We are looking for web developers, financial and policy experts, and general organizers.
We know the Trump administration will accelerate the already wildly out of control trend of bending our government apparatuses and power structures to benefit the most fortunate on the backs of the most helpless and marginalized. Just look at the deals already being cut by Trump and Musk enriching themselves, and the genuflection of the other elites. This looting and pillaging of resources will likely be accompanied by a horrifying amount of depersonalization, atomization, and violence all designed to distract and quell any meaningful forms of resistance that might act on behalf of the people.
On the international stage, the pernicious issues of escalating violent conflicts, growing food insecurity, and a deepening climate crisis look likely to worsen. The prospects for international collaboration on big thorny issues like the climate crisis seem to have dimmed. The scale of it all crashing down can be overwhelming, especially when we try to consider what can one person do in the face of such horror?
That right there though, is the first mistake. It is not about with one person can do but what many of us, organized and acting together, can do. Anyone individual is likely powerless to stop, or even divert, this unrepresentative future, but many of us together can grow and wield such power. That is our task: to be focused and motivated, not distracted and depleted by the outrages ahead. To build solidarity with those facing the same struggles, create community with those around us, to foster connection between those who share our passions and values, and practice respect and mutual aid, seeing everyone as fully human.
So, reach out to those around, find common cause on an issue you’re passionate about, and then join us each Tuesday in growing solidarity. Together, we can build the political and economic power to make our government work for the people again! The plans above are only the beginning, can’t wait to see you out there!
Don't Shop on Tuesday!
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