What can I actually do?
Scattered thoughts about acting against Trump’s regime
I know I’m not alone in feeling like the world I grew up in is in deep trouble. I feel so powerless and overwhelmed. I don’t know what to do, and the limited advice I’m finding feels hollow and meaningless. My local congressperson is fully in the bag for Trump, and while I hope we can vote him out in 2026, I am not counting on it. Should I call his office to complain? I’ve done it before and I’m hard pressed to feel like it will make a difference.
My head swims with images and thoughts that make me feel hopeless and full of despair, which sits physically in my gut like I ate too many chocolate-covered blueberries from Costco. Venezuela, Iran, Greenland, the Epstein files, ICE…
Seriously, I’m physically sick reviewing that list of very recent transgressions. The reputation of the United States has fallen so far so quickly in the eyes of everyone except MAGA folks, who continue to somehow justify the means through ignorance or intellectual dishonesty. It’s only vibes and lies that are left.
Trying Something, Anything
When I’m stuck or feeling overwhelmed by too many ideas bouncing around in my head, I find it helpful to make a list. I offload items from my brain into some repository that I can investigate and manipulate.
So today is an experiment for myself, and maybe for you. I’m trying to find ways to help that aren’t just performative. I’m giving myself permission to be wrong here. I’m usually hesitant to share things I’m uncertain about, or where I might be wrong, but that’s a weakness in its own right. I’m open to feedback, pushback, and suggestions, but I don’t have patience for bullshit.
Exactly how I feel: "I’m open to feedback, pushback, and suggestions, but I don’t have patience for bullshit." I would add, "...and/or ignorance."
We feel the same way Ben. We get a lot of comfort from following three people I would recommend. Heather Cox Richardson is a historian who teaches at a university somewhere on the East Coast. I don't remember what college. But she's very heavily followed and well known. She even interviewed President Biden. Another one is Rachel maddow. I'm sure you know her. She does a lot of coverage on the protests around the country and the world. And makes you realize that they do help. And the third one is Jessica craven. She gives you a lot of advice about steps you could take. And how they do help. Every Sunday. She makes a list of all the good things that has happened in the country which really helps. You can see that it's not all bad. There is good things happening and that bouys you up for the next week. For our part we do protest. I think John only missed one Friday at Garfield Park in the last year. We've also gone many times to lyndhurst at the Tesla dealer and the sheriff's office in Painesville. It helps when you're with like-minded people and there's lots of honking horns and thumbs up showing approval. I do call quite a bit. Even though you don't feel like it's helping because most the time you get a voicemail but they do listen to them and they tally the results.. If you don't call with your displeasure all they hear is the MAGA'S goading them on. I've understood that the Republicans call their representatives way more than the Democrats. There's an app called five calls that lists your representatives and subjects to call about and gives you a script you could follow exactly or loosely. Then you can tally at the end whether you reach them or not.