A Masterclass in Futile Resistance

There’s a misguided idea simmering on X/Twitter by a so-called resistance fighter and it’s about as brilliant as starving yourself to hurt the grocery store. The idea? Crash the economy by refusing to participate in it. Yep, this economic flat-liner says we can defeat the Republicans’ anointed messiah by hoarding money under the mattress.

Look, when I say simmering, I mean the original post’s got 1.1M views and 10K replies of varied pros and cons. But if you’re suddenly thinking, “Hey, not bad…” then puh-leeze let me walk you through this crown jewel of bad plans:

• First off, the idea is to skip all non-essential spending, perceived or otherwise, because Bezos and Amazon’s S-Team (key senior executives) will definitely notice when you try to cancel your Amazon Prime membership. Well, sure, they might, but that’s another discussion entirely.
• What else can you do without? No new underwear? Eww. No cheap matinee at the movies with your significant other? You can even forget about replacing that couch you’ve been duct-taping together since the Obama administration.
• Wait, wait! Here’s another good one! You should boycott the news media and anything else that might help you stay informed, as suggested by others. Because being willfully ignorant, like the bad guys, is definitely how democracy wins. Yeah, sure. Got it.

Apparently, nothing says effective resistance like eating cold canned beans in the dark and wearing tattered boxers while the billionaires you’re protesting laugh uproariously from their yachts.

If it all sounds a tad farcical and mostly unachievable, well, it is. But more like, it smells of performative, virtue signaling.

The Republicans Won’t Feel It, but You Will

Economic boycotts can work—if they’re targeted. But withholding spending across the board? That’s not sticking it to Disaster Don or his cronies; that’s sticking it to everyone else. The financial elite won’t lose a wink of sleep over your four-year-old smartphone and your vow to eat grocery store ramen until 2028. Spoiler: they’ll be fine.

Remember this doozy? In a 2008 interview with Barbara Walters, the late Rush Limbaugh famously remarked, “I just choose not to participate”—referring to the Great Recession (2007–2009). Limbaugh’s comment reflected his confidence in his financial security and his dismissive attitude toward the widespread economic struggles of that time.

If a recession is your goal, congrats, Einstein. Refusing to spend a dime is certainly one way to get there. But who actually suffers most in a recession? Come on! I know you know this!

Recessions hurt the vulnerable, not the wealthy. Recessions hurt the middle and working class. Your friends and family. Your neighbors. The local small business owners you claim to care about. And then, there are those already living in poverty. Meanwhile, the Teflon Tyrant and his bros are enjoying “the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you’ve ever seen” dining at Mar-a-Lago, laughing at how easy it is to make liberals self-own.

And if you’re hoping for political fall-out if the economy takes a nosedive, you know the Republicans won’t blame their dubious leader. They’ll blame you. “See? Libtards sabotaged the economy because they hate America!” The Republicans spent decades painting Democrats as fiscally irresponsible and now you’re handing them the perfect soundbite.

Focus Where It Matters

If you truly want to fight back, here’s a revolutionary idea: put your money and energy in the right places.

• Spend Strategically: Invest in your community, as the OP (original poster) suggests. Support local small businesses and others that align with your values.
• Donate and Volunteer: Invest in grassroots and mutual aid organizations. Real change comes from building infrastructure, not tearing it down.
• Organize and Advocate: Build both public and private networks to counter Trump’s ridiculous agenda with actual solutions.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good Night

If you still plan to tweet enthusiastically in favor of that original clueless idea on X/Twitter, you’re losing your mind, dude. Delete your damn account. Plain and simple. Come to think of it, that idea already has legs.

Now let’s wrap this up…

Real resistance isn’t about grand, self-destructive gestures. It’s about strategy, focus, and building the kind of power that outlasts a dictator’s antics. Resistance means hitting MAGA weirdos when and where they’re weakest. Make sure your political activism hurts them more than it hurts you.

So, keep your sanity, spend smart, and resist in ways that actually move the needle toward a better tomorrow. Real power isn’t in destroying what we already have—it’s in building what we truly need. Resist smarter. Resist better. Make it count.