THE FIGHT WE'RE IN: Organizing for Power and Change
Authoritarianism does not arrive like a storm. It seeps in like water through a cracked foundation. And right now, the alarm bells are ringing.
In 2026, America faces the most dangerous moment for its democracy since the Civil War. The authoritarian playbook is being executed in plain sight. Billionaires are buying influence. Algorithms are dividing neighbors. The patient is in the emergency room.
But we have the power to fight back.
The Fight We're In is a rallying cry and practical organizing guide for everyday citizens ready to act. Written by a writer, organizer, union leader, and grandfather who has knocked on doors in Iowa and packed boxes at the food pantry every week in Oregon, this book speaks directly to what it takes to save a democracy.
Ordinary people have always been the ones who saved democracy. Not the famous ones. The ones who showed up.
The most powerful force in a democracy is not a president, a mob, or a court. It is an organized, determined, connected group of ordinary people who have decided the fight is worth it.
This is not just a book about what is broken. It is a complete toolkit for how to fix it.
Inside you will find One Hundred Ways to Fight with specific organizing actions anyone can take today, a Discussion Guide with eight questions designed to turn any gathering into an organizing meeting, a Conversation with the Author, Notes and Resources, and three appendices including The Ten Rules of Trump's Authoritarian Playbook, The Declaration of Independence, and The Constitution of the United States.
You do not need to be a politician or a pundit. You only need to be a neighbor willing to step off the sidelines.
The third book in Kacey Carpenter's organizing series, building on My Journey with Bernie and Ready Set Go! Playbook for Campaigns, Candidates, and Causes.
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.
The revolution starts with us. It always has. Now it starts with you.
Kacey Carpenter is a writer, organizer, and educator focused on storytelling, community engagement, and public service. He is the author of The Fight We're In: Organizing for Power and Change, READY, SET, GO! Playbook for Campaigns, Candidates, and Causes, and My Journey with Bernie, and writes the National Park Mystery Thriller series. He teaches writing and communication at Portland Community College and has been recognized by UCLA for Civic Excellence. He holds degrees from UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania and brings extensive experience in technology leadership at Cisco. He leads community organizing through the National Writers Union Oregon chapter and the Sierra Club in Oregon. lifeisajourney.substack.com
