• hallettj@leminal.space
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    14 hours ago

    Deporting people for activism would be illegal as it violates the first amendment. Most of the recent orders are illegal - it’s important remind each other of that to avoid falling into the trap that we’re supposed to fall for of thinking that these are things a president can do.

    • davel [he/him]@lemmy.mlOP
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      15 hours ago

      The trap we need to avoid falling into is believing that what the law says a president can do is the limit of what they can get away with. The list of illegal things that presidents have done is longer than both of my arms.

      • hallettj@leminal.space
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        14 hours ago

        I’m not saying he won’t get away with stuff he lawfully can’t do. I’m saying that it’s easier to get away with it if too many people think it’s legal or normal.

      • davel [he/him]@lemmy.mlOP
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        14 hours ago

        Skill issue. I would simply recite the magic spell relevant Constitutional clause, and the President would be compelled to immediately cease and desist.

      • hallettj@leminal.space
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        14 hours ago

        I’m thinking about protesting and maybe a tax strike, particularly if the Supreme Court says that actually a president can withhold federal funding despite earlier courts repeatedly blocking previous presidents from trying the same crap.

        But it’s not about me specifically. I know it’s cliché, but the guy in power only has power to the extent that people accept it. Right now there are lots of people out there who hate these orders, but are confused about whether they are legal, or assume they are legal, and are therefore less likely to resist. Public outrage is a real force that many governments have found themselves unable to simply shrug off.