How To Survive In the New America
One thing that can be said about the outcome of the 2024 election for certain, is that things are uncertain. The spectrum of thought runs from nothing will be different, to this is the end of democracy and the world. The range of emotions follows the same pattern, either people are ecstatic or in a state of depression and fear, or somewhere in between.
There are many questions yet to be answered. Is Project 2025 really the playbook? Are there going to be mass deportations? Is there any hope of checks and balances to keep our democracy from crashing? How soon will Trump step out of the way so Vance can take over? Will the price of eggs really go down?
If you voted for Trump and are behind what may be his agenda, then I can only hope you won’t regret that decision. For the rest of us, the question is, how are we going to survive? The following are five steps that may help
First, we need to all step back, take a breath, and take a break from all the rhetoric. Staying off social media for a time would help. Having a hiatus from the news might be a good idea.
Second, yes the playbook has been laid out and things could turn ugly but there is a couple of months before the official turnover takes place. In the meantime, re-examine your own beliefs, your thoughts, the way you interact with others. What do you think about all day? Are you picturing doom and gloom or are you still hopeful? Your attitude will affect more of the future than you might think! What you imagine will become your reality!
Third, stop and look around you. Look at your immediate environment, your family if you have one, your house or apartment, the place you live in. What are your interests? What do you do besides work? What do you read? What do you watch on TV? How much time do you spend taking care of yourself? If you are like most you have been in a routine, a rut if you will, a place of complacency. Start looking for new things to do. Read outside of your normal genres. Watch documentaries on TV. Get out and walk or take up some form of exercise. Stimulate both your body and your brain.
Fourth, there are many marginalized groups that are going to be under attack. If you know anyone; gay, trans, immigrant, even woman needing an abortion, or any other person who may be in danger of persecution and racism- let them know they have a friend, an allay and supporter.
Fifth, don’t just sit on the sidelines and watch things unfold. Write letters, speak out, refuse to be kowtowed by anyone. What strikes me most about this last election is about 43% of registered voters did not vote. Some of this could be voter suppression or many other legitimate reasons, but that is still a large amount of voters not voting. In two years there will be another chance to speak out and vote, do all you can to rally as many people as you can to vote. Engage in conversations with those whom you might disagree, as hard as that might be. Just don’t belittle anyone for how they think.
The main point is no matter what is going to happen, we cannot let fear and despair overtake us. This country is better than anyone or anything that tries to bring us down!