Apologies that after a late night and little sleep this is more disjointed than it could be. Would anyone be interested in sharing practical ideas for how they are going to deal with the immediate outcome of the election and the next four (8?) years? Are you planning any coping strategies, or are you just going to deal with situations as they arise? I’m hoping for something other than a communal moaning and gnashing of teeth, but instead, discussion of any specific steps you intend to take.
How do you anticipate responding to social queries - either from folk pleased with the outcome, folk wishing to commiserate, or folk trying to goad you? When anticipating unpleasant interactions, I often like to come up with stock phrases I will be able to say, rather than shouting “Fuck you!” or bursting into tears… :o Best I’ve come up with was something like, “Well, the electorate has spoken. I’m glad the election is over - I found all the antagonism disturbing.” And then change the subject
Any thoughts on how you’ll attempt to form as positive a mental mindset as possible? Personally, I have to find ways to actively turn my mind to other things, or I suspect it will keep returning to unpleasant variations on a theme. Can’t have every night in bed like last one.
Any activities/groups you expect to forego? I don’t see myself wanting to read or watch much about it. Will be a while before I can find Samantha Bea or Trevor Noah entertaining. I imagine I’ll be listening to more music and less NPR. Sure don’t see hanging the flag any time soon. After W invaded Iraq, I found myself retreating into myself, my home, and my family tremendously. I imagine a similar reaction again.
Any activities you expect to pursue? I don’t anticipate becoming more of a political activist than I have been. Instead, I see myself looking for distractions. Music will likely be a big one. Maybe I’ll finally develop some chops on mandolin! Hopefully exercise. And more reading of science and fiction.
Also, any thoughts on how you want to present yourselves towards friends/family who are similarly distraught. If your children are similarly liberal, what type of behavior would you like to model?
After decompressing and doing a post-mortem on this election for a few days, I intend to go cold turkey and become like a vegan (if politics is meat). Just become one of those people who doesn’t even know who is running for anything or any of it. Complete disengagement, except for donating and voting every two years, and picking someone to vote for in the presidential primaries every four years. A quick check to see who won after every election day and then back into the decontamination chamber.
Yeah, that’s pretty much how I feel. Hard to see how engagement helps. Especially living in a heavily blue state. And, as a middle-aged , financially comfortable, white suburban male, I can imagine the practical day-to-day impact on my lifestyle being little. My job is secure, but it is created by federal statute. So - worst case for me would be that statute gets changed, and I’m out of my job. But SOMEONE will have to do the sort of thing I do for some time to come, so even if I don’t have THIS job, I imagine I could have something similar.
A slight ray of sunshine I discovered this morning was uttered at the UK House of Lords’ EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee. It’s currently inquiring into what the UK’s ambitions should be for Brexit vis-a-vis environment and climate change, but the Chairman (Lord Teverson) right at the end threw a question about Trump’s impact on the Paris Agreement.
Surprisingly, the two witnesses (from Greenpeace and the Institute for Public Policy Research) were somewhat chipper about it. They pointed out there’s a four-year notice period from announcement of withdrawal and actual withdrawal - ‘that’s not accidental’, I think they said. But also that they see a US withdrawal as not impacting the effect of Paris for the rest of the world and that it is highly likely to drive much of the world to push for much more ambitious targets.
I’ve also heard separately that China was dragged kicking and screaming into the Paris Agreement but has come out converted like a born-again, and could become a genuine positive climate change leader.
They also point out much climate control stuff in the US is in the hands of the States, and many Republican states - Texas, for example - are pushing green energy because it’s cheaper and better for business. Trump’s backing of coal is just weird.
So…that’s something I guess. You can see it here. The Chairman asks his question at 12:37:00
I feel like I assume gay people felt after 2004 when all the anti gay laws were passed. I realized the country I live in is totally different than I one I thought I lived in.
I guess my response will be to withdraw from civics a bit because I realize my values are not as popular as I though they were.
Yeah I might drown my sorrows in a new guitar. My musician daughter is grumbling about her present one so I just might have to get us an upgrade.
I have twin 13 year old daughters. Already I feel like I’m almost defending Trump, who I didn’t vote for, because one of them is saying some pretty wacked out stuff and wants to move to Canada. I try to steer the conversation in the direction of what is known and away from wild speculation.
I dismissed her fears about Trump winning when all this started, thinking he was just going to run his mouth until people turned away in disgust, which would take a few weeks, so I don’t know how much currency my opinion holds now. I guess my general theme is I’m still here, her sister’s still here, Mommy’s still here, the cat is still here, she has us, and we’ll be ok.
I’m feeling better and better about approaching this almost as a New Years (even tho I never make resolutions!) An opportunity for self improvement.
I play bluegrass upright bass, and have been trying to improve on my bowing, music reading, and music theory. Have been trying to pick up mando to have an alternative/travel instrument. And that piano has been sitting downstairs untouched for too long. This time of year x-mas carols would be an easy thing to work on. The mando and piano are things I have readily at my disposal, which would be positive areas to expend my energies.
I’m in pretty decent health for a 55 yrs old - but could be better. So at the least, I’ll try to do my push-ups/sit-ups more regularly, maybe add in another weekly swim/bike or 2.
My kids (2 girls, 1 boy) are 25-28. All HUGELY liberal. And a 1.5 yr old granddaughter. My biggest concern is for my youngest, who is discussing leaving a good job to travel to another state to be w/ BF and seek employment. While she should be somewhat marketable, I would think this a difficult time for a young person - especially a woman receiving some ongoing care - to give up a decent job with benefits before obtaining a new one. The young people are going to be dealing with whatever today brings moreso than has-beens (or never-wases) like me! I’m trying to figure out how to be the best role model for my kids. Don’t want to just invite them all to cower in a bunker with mom and dad! :rolleyes:
An old classmate got elected to Congress as the first (East) Indian-American woman, out of Seattle. I was friendly with her in school, but haven’t kept in touch, but am so happy for her.
That’s about it. Trying to talk with my teenage daughter and first-time-voter son. No clue what to say.
Hey… I was the one shouted down for suggesting a one-month voluntary hiatus on politalk here.
But yeah, right down to the local stuff, here in a blue-blue state: a complete turd of a local representative, a guy whose entire accomplishment so far is to vote no on every single spending proposal, was re-elected by 40 votes… out of 13,000. A guy so stupid he once went on for five minutes making a hilariously obscene argument in the Town Council, utterly unaware that calling someone a “big but” might be heard two ways. (And then went on to being elected to state office the first time…)
I thought local politics was worth some effort, but both the Mrs. and I are out. The stupid just runs all the way down. As white/northern euro, upper-income homeowners whose last two kids are about to start college, we’re pretty insulated from the impacts the next couple of years will bring. The only change will come from the DT administration provoking a horrific backlash in '18 or '20… so we’ll just step outside and tend to more immediate things for a while.
And look into Costa Rica again for late career/early retirement. We almost went five years ago, for utterly unpolitical reasons.
I know how you feel, and taking a break is probably a good idea. I’m probably going to stop following the Elections forum for a while, and go on a media blackout. But we can’t give up. Take some time to mourn if you need, Lord knows I do. But liberals and moderates need to stay involved. We’re a check on the extremists, and giving up will only make things worse.
Trump squeaked by in several swing states. He barely won. It’s horrible that he got more than 5% of the vote, it’s horrible that so many people in the country were willing to hand the reins to him. But this was very close. Half of the country is on our side. We can’t give up.
After W was re-elected, I thought I’d direct my attention more locally. Several school board actions were SO anti-rational, not even acknowledging any obligation to - say - suggest general planned expenditures for their proposed bond referenda! And so many local decisions seemed to have been pre-determined by some insider minority (which clearly didn’t include me - and didn’t want to.) So I became greatly apolitical and apathetic about anything beyond my family and my home. Took Obama to drag me out of that. At that time I was pretty pre-occupied with raising 3 teenagers. Now I have the resources and leisure to focus my attention and efforts elsewhere. Hope I can follow through.
Thanks everyone for participating in this thread in the manner I had hoped. I suspect there are countless other venues for commiserating, arguing, etc.
And so many local decisions seemed to have been pre-determined by some insider minority (which clearly didn’t include me - and didn’t want to.) So I became greatly apolitical and apathetic about anything beyond my family and my home. Took Obama to drag me out of that. At that time I was pretty pre-occupied with raising 3 teenagers. Now I have the resources and leisure to focus my attention and efforts elsewhere. Hope I can follow through.