I understand that people don't want to think about it. It is scary. It makes people uncomfortable.

[Atticus]

We have seen people in other nations engage in widespread civil violence. We have seen citizens attack their government. We have seen governments attack their citizens. We have seen citizens attack citizens.

I also understand that, simply because it does make people uncomfortable, many will instinctively default to "that could never happen here!" I don't know if it will happen, but I believe it definitely could.

We have watched and listened as literally millions of racists, misogynists and bigots have crawled out from under their rocks and into the warm sunlight of Trump's approval and encouragement. They have openly carried firearms to public protests. They have pointed rifles at federal officers. They have physically assaulted people whose only "crime" was openly opposing Donald Trump. And, Trump has cheered them on.

If Trump is indicted or impeached or even thoroughly investigated by a Democratic House, is it unreasonable to predict that Trump's disciples will start shooting, beating, stomping and running over some of us?

I will not suggest what others should do beyond urging that we all be vocal in condemning each small instance of intimidation we might witness AS IT HAPPENS. Bullies should not be allowed to separate out the weak or the "different" and threaten them. Let's stand together against these idiots before they form a mob.

But, I do think mobs are a real possibility. Have a plan of reaction just in case you need one.

The usual crew can now explain how ridiculous this OP is.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. I was just thinking about next year when abortion is illegal in red states, and gay marriage.

What will the country look like until the constitutional convention happens making it federal law.

In that in between time it will be real ugly, real bad.

[handmade34]

2. already there

just not fighting primarily with guns and violence... the civil war is being fought right now with cyber weapons... difficult to say where it goes from here...

[bigbrother05]

3. The Anti-War and Civil Rights activists stood against the power of government

Many of their tools were based in the legal system, but still risked much for the many.

If the Dotard is removed or loses, the cowards he incites will seek the shadows. Even now they are outnumbered on the streets and will only attack the weakest targets.

Their problem is that their hubris has now made them public and the shadows will be much smaller.

edit to correct grammar

[Eliot Rosewater]

8. Rump will have us all kill each other if he thinks it will benefit him, so we have to

realize who we are dealing with here.

He would standby and let that happen as if we were all having a picnic, he would not see a difference.

[haele]

4. I expect a few mobs - most likely in smaller communities where there's more resentment built up.

A few random acts of pure stupid by substance abusing individuals (including religious addicts) either going after local outsiders or "huntin' liberals" to punish those they thought they beat by worshipping Trump and the White Mammon.

[paragraph inserted in edit] However, I don't expect any actual violence to go on for long, because the Law, no matter how corrupt or complicit, doesn't like chaos and will clamp down. The people who will do that sort of thing are more like bluffing teenagers seething with adolescent resentment than actual mature, thinking adults. They'll still have their long-term bigotry and butt hurt - because they never grow up - but they won't act out unless they feel safe doing so.

I hate to say we (as in society) did this to ourselves, but yes - by being complacent, comfortable, "average middle class" American who regularly convince themselves it's better to be polite and keep one's head down ignoring that doesn't happen to them is what leads to this level of violence and political criminality.

If people truly wanted to live in "a golden age of American Exceptionalism", they needed to get off their asses and vote. They needed to stop looking for that friendly Big Daddy politician to handle the rest of the real world for them, while they carved out their own little niche. They needed to get involved with their communities and with the world around them, rather than retreat into some small community-centric echo chamber where everything is just so comfortably numb in a rose-colored hue...

Haele

[CrispyQ]

5. I don't think your post is ridiculous.

I have friends who say "It can't happen here," even as it's happening before their eyes. I told one friend, "We are still housing children like prisoners, so don't tell me it can't happen here."

Cult45 are angry, armed, & many of them are addled with religion. They believe that only white Christians are true Americans & they are on some kind of mission from God. I have three cousins who voted for Trump. The one who is religious is by far the worst. One cousin has actually sort of apologized, the other is silent, but the religious one is a total hateful loon. He has no idea how many people think that about him. That doesn't make his ilk any less dangerous, though.

[FSogol]

6. Sorry, but I don't see that happening except in small isolated cases. The deplorables are

inherently lazy.

[bearsfootball516]

7. I don't really see that.

Those people are powered, emboldened by Trump. When he's cut down, whether it be by impeachment, indictment or most likely, losing the 2020 election, they'll disappear into the shadows again.

[rownesheck]

9. there may be large "marches"

of rascal scooters we may have to contend with. Other than that, they'll be too busy fornicating with farm animals to do any real damage. Sorry if that's offensive, but i HATE trumpers with the heat of a thousand suns. Hell, Darth Vader would say i have an anger problem.