Economy for Everyone
Economic blackout as a pause button: rule of law vs. intimidation
guardrails | 2026-01-30 | facebook
Why economic protest works best as disciplined civic pressure when court compliance and rule-of-law norms are under strain.
When courts say “follow the law” and an agency shrugs, the tools left to regular people are witness, protest, and persistence. The goal isn’t rage. It’s rights that still work in real life.
What’s happening
There’s been another “economic blackout” / buy-nothing day.
I’m using it as a pause button: buy nothing I don’t need, keep it local, and reflect on why protest now.
People keep asking: “Other presidents deported more people - where were the protests then?”
Why it matters (plain language)
Numbers alone don’t capture category differences.
From where I’m standing, the concern isn’t “immigration enforcement exists.” It’s open contempt for the rule of law and intimidation as a tactic.
When court orders pile up and compliance becomes optional, that’s not normal politics. That’s a guardrails problem.
What good looks like
- Courts that can set fast, real boundaries
- Enforcement that complies promptly and transparently
- The public’s right to observe and protest without retaliation
- Local institutions that document and enforce the boring rules
One small action
Pick one:
- Keep one day of spending local and intentional
- Support legal aid and local reporting that publishes documents
- Show up calmly to one local meeting/action as a witness
Notes
Build the canonical version with careful claims language and primary sources.