Laugh all you want, Brits. We had it coming. We got fat, lazy, and stupid. Too few people, and I count myself, did enough to stem the rising tide of fascism. Too many of the rest of Americans fell for the propaganda.

I have felt for decades that the trap was being set, that our collective frogs were being boiled. That feeling was absolutely correct (see: “Evil Geniuses,” Kurt Anderson). Now the trap is closing. It’s almost all over but the crying.

My glimmer of hope in all this mess is that masses are finally galvanized. The Hands-Off and latest 50501 protests brought out over 5000 people in my small town of 9000. Maybe I’m still being naive in my belief that many now see what’s going on and are now spurred to positive action. But I hope I’m wrong about that bit.

It’s gonna get ugly. The unprecedented level of financial and social violence (in most of our lifetimes) getting unleashed is historically too much for we serfs to bear. The less people have to lose, the more violent uprisings become probable.

Shore up your communities. Stop tearing each other down. Look for what you have in common with people, rather than what sets you apart. Start or join your local timebank. Volunteer at your food bank. Start a garden, however tiny. Guerilla-seed edible plants where you can. Shop local, or at least stop using Amazon. There are so many little things we can do in protest of what’s happening, with minimal disruption to that which we must still get done every day. And if you’re in a position to disrupt your life more… well, Imma guess you already are.

And have a laugh at where we arrived while rolling up the sleeves.