The Invisible Gate and the Illusion of Power

A tall, curly-haired dog stands behind an invisible electronic fence, gazing out with large, lonely eyes.

He looks gentle, almost inviting. But when I reach through the unseen barrier to scratch his head, his teeth snap shut—hard, fast, relentless. I try again. Snap. Missed me, but just barely. After enough attempts, I learn not to reach in. Others try and lose fingers. Soon, no one dares approach. The dog hasn’t changed—he’s just trained us to stop pushing.

Now imagine this invisible gate as the barrier around a figure like Trump—an aura of power fed by constant provocation. Each outrageous act is a hand reaching through, and every attempt to hold him accountable is met with a bite: an attack on the media, a lawsuit, a deflection.

Over time, opponents learn to hesitate.

The circle around him grows, not because he is stronger, but because fewer people are willing to get bitten. His power is the illusion of untouchability, built by those who have stopped reaching.

So how do we turn the gate around? The key isn’t to keep poking at the dog but to change the rules of engagement. His power thrives on reaction—so stop playing that game. Instead, take control of the fence. Shift the conversation away from his provocations and toward a greater vision.

Build movements that are proactive, not just reactive. Here’s how:

1. Protect Democracy and Voting Rights

>> Register and Mobilize Voters: Volunteer with Indivisible or League of Women Voters to register voters and combat voter suppression.

>> Monitor and Challenge Election Interference: Groups like Democracy Docket are challenging laws that could disenfranchise voters.

>> Call Your Representatives: Demand that they oppose voter suppression measures and support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

2. Take Direct Action

>> Become a Poll Worker: Ensure fair elections by volunteering with Power the Polls.

>> Attend Rallies and Public Meetings: Groups like MoveOn organize protests and advocacy campaigns to counter authoritarian policies.

>> Support Legal Defense Funds: Donate to organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund that challenge voter suppression in court.

Trump’s greatest weapon is making people believe resistance is futile. The moment we stop fearing the bite and start dismantling the fence, the illusion of power collapses. The dog, after all, was only ever as powerful as we allowed him to be.

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