SF short story, told from the viewpoint of alien conquerors who are trying to pacify an occupied Earth. The theme of the story is that the aliens overlook several clues that the humans are clandestinely organizing a resistance. For instance, the aliens are quite pleased that distribution of addictive drugs is high, usually a sign of a beaten population, until an aide points out that the figures quoted would amount to several tons per human per year. Or that there are ubiquitous “hobby” groups with names like the Ladies Sewing Circle and Auxilliary Paratroops.
This makes me think of Christopher Anvil, whose “Pandora’s Planet” is about aliens with difficulties involving pacifying Earth, but it doesn’t quite fit. However, Anvil wrote about that kind of thing often, so it’s possible that this is an Anvil story I haven’t seen (or a variant version of “Pandora’s Planet”)
I have to add that the example you gave involving the Ladies Sewing Circle irresistibly reminds me of Katherine MacLean’s “Snowball Effect” about a sewing circle that assumes ominous proportions.
I don’t have an answer, but it sounds like an interesting read. Will add it to my To Read List, if anyone comes up with the title.
(also, free bump!) 