Naomi Klein has just published a new book “No is not Enough” arguing for a metamorphosis in traditional leftist strategies to oppose the excesses of the current administration because of the immanent risk of a massive “Shock Event” [my term] used as a political windfall by the Trump administration.

Click here to see a video summarizing her thinking in the book.

Naomi uses her wisdom developed from two decades studying political shocks, climate change, and “brand bullies” to suggest that we prepare for a coming nightmare – a serious national crisis, such as a major terrorist incident, massive Wall Street failure, or international war. This trauma may be initiated by external agents, like the terrorist incident, but it will be sized on, and shaped by the Trump administration to create a massive “Shock Event” opportunity used to justify a transformation to the US political and economic order. They will shape it into a 21^st Century Reichstag  incident used to change the structure of our civil society by increasing mass fear and hatred, then… perhaps, declaring national martial law, perhaps constraining  the centers of civil society such as the press or the courts or limiting the electoral process, or perhaps removing all entitlement processing by the federal government – to save money for the war effort.

Naomi is suggesting that we wake up now to confront this nightmare, and she proposes a five part plan to prepare for the coming “Shock Event”:

1. Know what is coming – the possibility of the Shock Event – and its shaping by the administration.
2. Immediate mass civil disobedience to administration edicts.
3. Know the history of how similar Shock Events were used in the past to disenfranchise and impoverish sectors of the population.
4. Follow the money. Watch the economic, and class interests of the one percent are furthered by the official response to the crisis.
5. Have a counter plan – the official response to the “Shock Event” will be framed as compelling, unchallengeable, inevitable. We need to be prepared to provide a counter narrative that is humanist, inspiring, and can be taken seriously as an alternative roadmap.

In summary, we need to wake up now so that we are not caught by this nightmare in a dream like stupor. A semi-conscious “Just say No” will not be adequate. We need a big movement with depth and vision, so that we can say No, and at the same time, point to Yes.

Click here to go to the web site for the book “No is not enough”.