# How are you dealing w/ pre-election stress? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 1, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533 "2020-09-01T16:21:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2020, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/21 "2020-09-05T05:54:44Z")
I feel no stress. The vast majority of what happens at the political level doesn’t trickle down to me and my life. I work hard, save my pennies, reluctantly pay my taxes, and take care of myself and my loved ones. Sure, good presidents are better than bad ones, but by and large I am better off not stressing about it than letting it get to me. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/22 "2020-09-07T10:01:50Z")
This is my opinion as well. I will find out who won the next morning, unless I’m busy with something else and (like last time) my wife finds me and tells me. The actions of some far-flung politician back east might affect my life a fraction of one percent. My own actions account for the other 99.9%, so if I have a problem I’ll solve it myself. Depending on a politician to improve your life is a fool’s game. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/23 "2020-09-08T03:01:27Z")
At first I was planning on avoiding the news. I’ve given up on that plan. Instead I’m planning a project to get ready for election night. I’ll be making a list of all the states be EC vote count, including the Maine and Nebraska congressional districts, , Senate races, House races broken down by state and district, gubernatorial elections, state legislatures, and so on. I’m going to have the spreadsheet out for election night, sit down with it, and watch John King on CNN and some vote tracking websites on my laptop. I’ll have colored pens ready to circle winner’s names as they’re announced. I think writing all the races down on physical paper will take me several weeks if I only do a few a day, and will help me feel like I’m doing something productive even though I really wouldn’t be. I’m also thinking about what an appropriate election night song will be to listen to during stressful moments. I’m leaning in favor of Leonard Cohen’s Democracy. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/24 "2020-09-09T21:44:56Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I feel no stress. The vast majority of what happens at the political level doesn’t trickle down to me and my life. I work hard, save my pennies, reluctantly pay my taxes, and take care of myself and my loved ones. Sure, good presidents are better than bad ones, but by and large I am better off not stressing about it than letting it get to me . I don’t despise Trump because of what he’s done to me and my life. Like you, I’m doing fine. In fact, I’ve made more money in the last 3.5 years than in the previous 20 combined. My family is healthy, and my view is unobstructed. I care about my country, however, and I’m stressed about that. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/25 "2020-09-09T22:21:04Z")
I was very worried in 2016 and kept hoping that the many, many people who know politics far better than I were right. My sinking feeling began when Trump dissed POW’s and didn’t lose support, and no matter how often I checked the polls and pundits after that, I couldn’t shake the feeling. I’ve never wanted to be wrong so badly. I’m too nervous now to have any intuition. Until recently, I thought this would at least be over in early November. Now I realize we won’t know who won for days, quite possibly weeks after the election. Oddly, the only real distractions are calamities like the fires and family crises. They’re not exactly calming, but I can only focus on one thing at at time. > [@octopus](#): > > But while I might not be thrilled at who wins what politically in a democracy one has to be ok with the fact that one doesn’t always get one’s preferred outcome. It’s not a “preferred outcome”; it’s a crucial outcome. I’m 63. I’ve voted for presidential candidates who lost and until 2016, I squared my shoulders and prepared to become the loyal opposition, just like everyone else who voted for the losing candidate. I was secure in the knowledge that checks and balances worked, and that no matter how much I might disagree with the new president, he was a rational person who understood his responsibilities, took them seriously, and generally heeded the advice of experts. We’ve never had so much on the line. That being the case, it’s time to drop the obnoxious conceit that the only reason people are upset about Trump winning was because they’re sore losers. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/26 "2020-09-09T23:21:28Z")
I’m not sure how crucial it is. The now always seems tremendously important even if in the future it turns out not to be. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/27 "2020-09-09T23:27:01Z")
If you’re not sure how crucial it is, it’s because you haven’t been paying attention. If that’s how you avoid pre-election stress, that’s fine, but then you don’t get to dismiss the stress of those who are paying attention and who are gravely concerned about their country. And for the record, even at the time, I never thought any election was as critical as this one is, and I’ve always paid attention. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/28 "2020-09-09T23:30:58Z")
I’m paying attention. I just don’t think Trump is a danger. I think a backlash to global migration and trade is natural. I think people are too emotionally manipulated by the immediacy in time of the news. The civil war, wwi, wwii, the Cold War were all far more meaningful and dangerous times. IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/29 "2020-09-10T06:04:39Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I care about my country, however, and I’m stressed about that. I guess that’s why conservatives are generally happier people than liberals. We don’t feel the need to paternally stress over other peoples’ problems, as if they can’t handle it themselves without our benevolent intervention on their behalf. We trust that they are smart enough and competent enough to take care of their own lives, just like we take care of ours. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/30 "2020-09-10T07:51:12Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I care about my country, however, and I’m stressed about that. > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I guess that’s why conservatives are generally happier people than liberals. We don’t feel the need to paternally stress over other peoples’ problems, as if they can’t handle it themselves without our benevolent intervention on their behalf. We trust that they are smart enough and competent enough to take care of their own lives, just like we take care of ours What does that have to do with caring about what happens to your country? This doesn’t make any sense as a reply to the post you quoted. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/31 "2020-09-10T18:41:52Z")
“Natural” doesn’t mean harmless. And if we take the lethargic approach and decide we can’t assess the long-term threats to the country until decades later, we’re in trouble. (It’s curious that you think time emotionally manipulates us, as if time has intention.) Imagine if the Allies had said, “You know, we’re probably just alarmed about Hitler invading Poland because time has manipulated our emotions. Let’s give it 30 years or and reevaluate.” Watching events unfold through the filter of apathy and refusing to understand consequences both immediate and long-term does not constitute paying attention. The items on your list should all be capitalized: Civil War, WWI, WWII, and the Cold War. But kudos on getting up the energy to capitalize one of them. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/32 "2020-09-10T20:28:09Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I guess that’s why conservatives are generally happier people than liberals. We don’t feel the need to paternally stress over other peoples’ problems, as if they can’t handle it themselves without our benevolent intervention on their behalf. We trust that they are smart enough and competent enough to take care of their own lives, just like we take care of ours. That explains conservative laissez-faire attitudes and priorities with respect to things like abortions, gay marriage and mask wearing during a pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/33 "2020-09-10T23:34:59Z")
I’m on a tablet and if spell correct isn’t catching it, well, there are bigger things to worry about. Ultimately, each one of us is one out of 8 billion or so. Therefore, I expect a proportional impact from direct action. I expect even less from worry. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/34 "2020-09-10T23:43:06Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Ultimately, each one of us is one out of 8 billion or so. Therefore, I expect a proportional impact from direct action. Wow, what a messed-up view. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/35 "2020-09-10T23:49:01Z")
Why? Because I don’t think each and every one of us is special? It’s a big universe and eventually it will be in a state of maximum entropy. That said, I still follow things, do things and opine about things. I even worry about things. What I don’t do is take that worry to an irrational extreme. Look at this coming election as a good example. Regardless of what happens my life will go on as normal. I’ll wake up. We’ll pay 1/2 or more of our income in taxes. Repeat. If Biden wins we might be losing the 401k if he goes far left with nutty wealth taxes. If Trump wins our insurance premiums will probably increase to cover the costs of replacing burned down buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/36 "2020-09-10T23:52:27Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > I will find out who won the next morning Given all the potential problems with mailed ballots, we might not know the answer for days or even weeks. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533/37 "2020-09-11T00:08:31Z")
That’s not all that’s at stake, but I suspect you know that. And I’m done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-dealing-w-pre-election-stress/919533.md?page=1)