# Are you doing anything in your life differently because of the new President? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126 "2017-01-25T07:14:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/1 "2017-01-25T07:14:55Z")
Not in reaction to what he does, necessarily, just the fact of his presidency to begin with. Part of the reason I ask is that I’m curious about some of the (sometimes at least half joking) reactions like moving to another country or investing in bomb shelter stocks or whatever. And yes, I’m curious because quite a few people here seem to have decided that there’s little or no hope for the future, and I wonder if they’ve done concrete anything as a result (even just giving up on job advancement or saving money or having a family or whatever would be examples), or if it’s just a form of venting. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/2 "2017-01-25T10:45:24Z")
I am trying to read the news more carefully, so that I stay in command of the facts. And I try to have polite discussions about current affairs with people who disagree with me politically (and do at least as much listening to them as I do talking). ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/3 "2017-01-25T11:37:41Z")
I’ve stated this before, we plan and live our lives to insulate ourselves from the political and economic winds. Things change, regimes change, economies go up and down. These changes are as certain as the sunrise. I think it’s foolish to become so involved or tied to particular groups that your life is being buffeted by the actions of either politicians, preachers, pop-stars, or businesses leaders. On election night, we chuckled and predicted “the corrupt asshole” would likely be the winner and went to bed. We were certain to be correct, but didn’t find out which asshole until Wed morning. So, other than slight investment changes, nothing’s different. We’re living the same way, doing the same things as before. Just as we would’ve had the other side won. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/4 "2017-01-25T12:13:11Z")
I’ve had to increase my blood-pressure meds. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/5 "2017-01-25T13:10:53Z")
Just back from our yearly winter Caribbean respite in St Martin. I avoided _any_ mention of politics/nationality/world affairs, and it seemed most people behaved similarly. If a TV was on, tuned to the inauguration news, the volume was turned down. Contrast that with our trip (same week) in '09. Islanders were excited about Obama’s inauguration, would fist-pump, smile, and say, “go USA!!” Politics was a part of every discussion, all positive. There was a party atmosphere. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/6 "2017-01-25T13:20:25Z")
I plan on watching more C-SPAN. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/7 "2017-01-25T13:28:49Z")
I don’t go on Facebook as much. Other than that, I’m not really sure what, if anything, I’m supposed to actually “do”. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/8 "2017-01-25T13:38:45Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’ve had to increase my blood-pressure meds. I have a perpetual stomach ache and have an appointment with a G.I. doc in a couple of weeks. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/9 "2017-01-25T13:40:22Z")
## I don’t listen to the president speak anymore since it’s mostly cheap political theatrics and other propaganda/bullshit–a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/10 "2017-01-25T14:26:18Z")
Since the election, it’s been a lot harder to go back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night. But in terms of actions, I’ve been calling my Congresscritters a lot more. I think one of Sen. Van Hollen’s staffers recognizes my voice. In terms of my own life, nothing yet. But if the ACA bites the dust, it will make the difference between my wife (nearly 11 years younger than me, but in iffy health) being able to retire sometime around when I do, or having to work until she’s 65 and can go on Medicare just to maintain her job-related health insurance. And if they make Medicare a ‘premium support’ program…well, that’s too horrible to contemplate. She’d have to work forever, just to keep her health insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/11 "2017-01-25T14:30:29Z")
When Trump was elected, I couldn’t do my morning Sudoku puzzle for two days. I couldn’t complete the puzzle on the morning of his inauguration either. Screwing up my morning Sudoku puzzle is a bad omen for my day. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/12 "2017-01-25T14:34:59Z")
I’m borderline ashamed to admit it, but the main effect it has had on me is to sour me on politics as a topic of interest. I don’t want to watch the carnage as it takes place. I don’t want to know the day to day details. I’m tuning out as much as I can. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/13 "2017-01-25T14:44:58Z")
After watching them elect Trump, I’ve become a lot more wary and generally distrusting of anyone that defines politics as conservative. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/14 "2017-01-25T14:52:58Z")
I killed my Facebook account, locked my Twitter account and I’m trying very hard to stop discussing anything of importance online. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/15 "2017-01-25T14:57:59Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I’m borderline ashamed to admit it, but the main effect it has had on me is to sour me on politics as a topic of interest. I don’t want to watch the carnage as it takes place. I don’t want to know the day to day details. I’m tuning out as much as I can. Me too. I’ll probably re-engage for thew 2018 elections. And, I’m giving more to the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, etc, and other groups that will keep up the fight. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/16 "2017-01-25T15:15:31Z")
We prepared to go a month without electricity or access to stores. We live in a place where natural disasters that are middling-likely could easily cut us off from all the established transportation routes, and we don’t have much faith in this administration to administer aid quickly if that happens. So, shelf-stable food, oil lamps and kerosene, things like that. I’m more likely to buy physical copies of books, because without power, my Kindle won’t last long. Emotionally, it’s been a roller coaster. I’m having to remove myself from a lot of the internet interaction I used to do. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/17 "2017-01-25T15:20:00Z")
My wife has always had a pantry stockpiled with food (not in a weird prepper way), even back when I was making a six-figure salary. She feels good having a pantry with shelves and shelves of food and water and juices, etc. It actually helped us get through the year and a half I was out of work a few years ago. Well, she’s begun stocking up on the basics (beans, rice, water, canned protein, etc) with a renewed vigor. We’re also getting some chickens in the spring (which was something my wife’s been kicking around for a couple years anyway). Nothing we don’t eat a shit-ton of anyways. We also lost our power a couple weeks ago (first time since moving to the country), and it reminded us that our well doesn’t do us any good without electricity, so we’re adding a hand pump. Prior to the election, a power outage wouldn’t have given us any real concern, but with this unhinged manchild in the WH, and outside forces gunning for us (successfully), food supply and power supply don’t feel as “safe” as they once did. So we’re not actually doing anything that we hadn’t done in the past, or rigging our home in some spectacularly insane off-the-grid fashion, we’re just feeling the need to not be so reliant on an increasingly-damaged society for our daily needs. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/18 "2017-01-25T16:37:34Z")
I advised my dad to postpone the selling of some stocks untill after the election. I cover pictures of Trump in the newspaper with whatever I have nearby: a cup, a piece of paper, or my hand. Don’t want to see that mug. I installed that [Change Trump pics to kittens- app on my pc and Ipad.](http://www.businessinsider.com/make-america-kittens-again-google-chrome-extension-replaces-donald-trump-with-kittens-2016-12?international=true&r=US&IR=T) I became an obsessive news watcher. Now again trying to stop that bad habit. I occasionally still look up right wing sites like Fox to see their take on Trump, though. I never checked out those site before the election. I donated a little money to independent investigative journalism in the US, [like Mother Jones.](http://www.motherjones.com/about/support) ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/19 "2017-01-25T16:43:44Z")
Brought down the privacy hammer on my social media accounts. If you are not a friend, you don’t get to see what I post. I am a federal employee, so there isn’t much political talk around the office, but I have stopped it entirely. When it comes up, I just leave. ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126/20 "2017-01-25T16:48:30Z")
I find myself avoiding the news even more than usual. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-doing-anything-in-your-life-differently-because-of-the-new-president/778126.md?page=2)