I’ve wondered about whether something like this was even possible; the moment you suggest going on a tax strike, wouldn’t you get arrested on the spot along with everyone who agrees? Getting people to agree to a tax strike would be difficult enough, but sticking around long enough to drum up support would be the real issue.

Yes, that’s exactly correct, but the fact that this would be seen as the best outcome by the vast majority of the same people who say they distrust the government is why I say the situation is so bleak. Same thing with all the people who “agree” with climate protesters’ intentions, but disavow their methods. The working classes of the imperial core are lulled into inaction by the subtle trick of being convinced their fruitless beliefs matter in a world where their masters have already preempted those beliefs from crystallizing into change.