Inspired by “Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink” (Read more here)
Democracy in the United States is at a breaking point—but it is not broken. That’s the urgent message of Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink, a fierce and clear-eyed organizing manual for a country under threat. At Indivisible Bangor, we see this guide not only as a national rallying cry but as a blueprint for local action. It’s a reminder that power lives not only in Washington but in every neighborhood, town hall, and community meeting—if we choose to use it.
The guide confronts the cold reality: Trump 2.0 is here, installed by a narrow electoral victory amidst economic anxiety and frustration with the status quo. It is not a mandate. It is not a coronation. It is a danger—but one we can resist. Project 2025, his administration’s radical blueprint for authoritarian rule, does not become law by default. We have tools—our voices, our communities, our votes—and the time to act is now.
The authors outline three core “plays” that together form a comprehensive resistance strategy: (1) Say no to Project 2025 by organizing strategic opposition to Trump’s harmful policies; (2) Push Democrats at every level to play hardball and block MAGA’s agenda; and (3) Protect and win elections, especially in 2026, to safeguard democracy heading into 2028. These plays aren’t abstract—they’re grounded in the real power of constituents to shape outcomes. When local pressure builds, even the most insulated elected officials take notice.
For blue cities and states like ours, the guide issues a direct challenge: use our progressive majorities and economic influence to protect vulnerable communities, model compassionate governance, and pick visible fights that expose the cruelty of MAGA rule. From enacting sanctuary laws to passing state-level protections for reproductive healthcare and trans rights, there is no shortage of action we can demand from our electeds. But they won’t act unless we push them.
The document also emphasizes the value of “constituent power”—the idea that elected officials, even in this perilous moment, still rely on the people they represent to remain in office. Through organized, persistent engagement—calls, protests, media, and moral pressure—we can bend the arc. Our role isn’t just to resist, it’s to insist: on accountability, on justice, and on real representation.
Crucially, the guide recognizes the emotional toll this moment takes. Many of us are tired. Many of us are scared. But despair is a tool of the authoritarian, and isolation is a prerequisite for oppression. The antidote? Community. Organizing. Showing up. Whether by forming new Indivisible groups or strengthening existing ones, we grow our collective power every time we gather in resistance.
This isn’t just about policy—it’s about people. The guide devotes an entire chapter to protecting communities under threat: immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, racial justice advocates, disabled Americans, and more. It calls for direct support, mutual aid, storytelling, and solidarity. At Indivisible Bangor, we echo this call: when they come for one of us, they come for all of us.
We also heed the call to prepare for authoritarian creep. Trump’s inner circle is openly planning mass firings, politically motivated prosecutions, and rollbacks of civil rights. But widespread resistance—loud, visible, and organized—makes repression harder and more costly. It is not naïve to prepare; it is necessary.
In closing, the guide is more than a manual—it’s a manifesto. A declaration that the fight is not over, that defeat is not inevitable, and that our communities can still rise to meet this moment. Indivisible Bangor urges all Mainers to read this guide, reflect on its strategies, and take action. We cannot afford to wait. The battle for democracy is not just in D.C.—it’s here. It’s now. And it starts with us.
We are indivisible. And we will win.
