“It is with your aid, as the people, that I think we shall be able to preserve – not the country, for the country will preserve itself, but the institutions of the country – those institutions which have made us free…” Abraham Lincoln.

Last night I engaged in a spirited, but very civil Twitter exchange with Tom Nichols who is a professor of national security affairs at the United States Naval War College. I am certain that Mr. Nichols and I would agree on little when it comes to policy. I’m a liberal Democrat, he’s an old-style Republican, the kind my dad used to call “country club Republicans”. Given Mr. Nichols area of expertise I honestly wanted his advice on how to handle the news that Trump, and Bill Barr were deploying unidentified federal (we think, I mean, honestly they could be Black Water goons or militia members) agents to Albuquerque New Mexico.

It is not uncommon for local police forces to request aid from the federal government on various initiatives. Emphasis on request, but these task forces are not dressed like an invading army, or what has become known as “little green men” when used by Vladimir Putin to put down dissent in his country, nor are they armed in a manner more appropriate for war than law enforcement.

My burning question was whether to go into the street knowing that by doing so we risked giving Trump the photo op he so desperately desires or stay away. My concern there was that if I did not protest, I would be emulating the good citizens of Berlin or Munich or Heidelberg in 1933 who thought the Little Corporal was a joke and really, how much trouble could a house painter from Austria really cause?

Mr. Nichols suggested “Say hi to them on your way to the store or while you you’re walking down the street. Don’t yell at them at 1 am while throwing water bottles at them. How hard is this?”

As our discussion continued, he concluded with “… Vote. Vote. Vote. Let the lawyers handle the play-acting GI Joes.” (By the way, Play-acting GI Joes was a phraseology that I particularly admired.)

I spent a lot of time thinking about this last night and this morning while I did the mundane chores of life – making breakfast, washing dishes, taking the trash to the transfer station, and I reached some conclusions at least for myself.

I’m an institutionalist. I have a law degree. While in law school I focused on Constitutional Law. I revere our legal institutions because without them we are Mogadishu. Of course, our system of justice is flawed, racism twines through it in terms of both policing and the courts. The concept of for-profit prisons is vile and needs to be stopped.

And yes, Trump has been doing his damndest to undermine and destroy our institutions, but to some degree our court system has held the breach, pushed back and defended the rule of law.

So, here is the decision I have reached. I’m not going into the streets. At least not yet.

Instead I’m going to continue to donate to the ACLU and donate to organizations that help people get registered to vote. And I’m going to work the election. I’m nervous because I’m at high risk for this virus, but we need poll workers. I’m self-employed, so I can do that.

We need to ensure that people can vote by mail and because Trump and the Republicans are attempting to destroy the post office at this critical juncture in history. I want to see if there is some way to fund absentee ballot drop off boxes in multiple locations in cities and all around states. Perhaps mount cameras on them because yes, I’m just that paranoid.

On election day there may be these faceless goons in camo stationed at polling places. Let’s be willing to accompany voters who might be afraid and help their voices to be heard at the ballot box.

Let us see if our institutions can withstand this vile man with authoritarian ambitions and the equally vile people who are enabling him. As I write this we have to hang on, stand strong, prepare for 103 days until November 3rd 2020.

Now, if Trump declares martial law and “postpones” the election – We go into the streets in the millions, and I’ll be right there with them.

If Trump refuses to accept the outcome of the election, (and remember it may take up to a week to know the final result because of the number of mail in ballots that will have to be counted) and declares martial law – We take to the streets in the millions.

If others do go into the streets remember the strategies and techniques practiced and perfected by the civil rights leaders who came before us – MLK, John Lewis, Diane Nash, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks and so many more. Do not allow the little green men to incite the violence and then be perceived as victims. Let’s not give nervous white people any excuse to vote for Trump. The wall of moms in Portland, and retired Navy Veteran Christopher David are examples of how to do this right.

I know others may argue that our institutions are broken and can’t be trusted. But with overwhelming turnout we can overcome whatever the fascists and authoritarians might throw at us. And once we win, we can start to repair the frayed fabric of our republic and strengthen those institutions now that we understand we can no longer trust to the good intensions and honor of elected officials to abide by institutional norms.