This Week in Life Under Trump 2.0
I’ve been vacillating between feeling overwhelmed and mortified and feeling surprisingly optimistic. (Usually, I would advocate for “hope” over “optimism” for reasons that, at the end of the day, are kinda semantics.)
Good news! Reading many sources, it seems evident we, in the U.S., are still rather far from living under fascism or totalitarianism. That being said, our system is being gutted. It has not taken long to create a lot of work in a future rebuilding process.
I actually do think we can build back better.
In some respects, I believe we were a bit starry-eyed about how progressive our society really was… I’m thinking, in part, about Anand Giridharadas has said about India’s government making central decisions that the rest of the country was (a) not ready for (b) not ready or willing to apply to their everyday lives. Similarly, as has become evident, a large percentage of Americans are not at all in the same place with regards to social issues. At the federal level, a large population of “The People” want something that is not what establishment Democrats have been offering. It’s been clear though, at the state and local level, that Democrat policies are very popular. But not everywhere. And we need to accept this. The American experiment continues.
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Looking for something actionable?
Tomorrow is The Ides of March (3/15).
Consider sending Dear President a postcard (specifically on the 15th).
The Goal: a statement. The hope is that USPS will flood The White House with a record number of daily “fan mail”— in this case, nothing complimentary.
Something to keep in mind. Donald Trump is, in fact, the President. So, if you do write a postcard, keep in mind it is illegal to threaten a sitting President (or make statements that can be construed as threats).
You can follow how it goes on social media: #TheIdesOfTrump
Here’s some info that was shared with me about the concept:
On March 15th, mail your postcard notes to:
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
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Coming Soon:
Saturday, April 5.
50 Protests. 50 states. 1 movement.
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Your thoughts?
I have a hard time with optimism/hope in this climate. And not being an immigrant, LGBTQ, a Palestinian activist, a resident of Gaza or Ukraine WOULD make it easier to feel a glimmer of "things will be OK" but for many they are already horrific. And, the gutting of the federal workforce is not only tragic of federal workers, it will hit all of us when our social security/medicare processing goes awry, when our drinking water goes bad, when food production is tainted, when when when. is The oligarchs thrive on chaos and it seems that maximum chaos is this regime's MO.
Like you, my feelings waver. When I watch Rachel Maddow (my daily dose of TV news), I feel encouraged that Trump is constantly backing down, that he is, in fact, insane or demented or both, that he is not the monolith he seems but just a bloated blimp.
But when I try to go to political action meetings (last night it was Greenpeace) the sheer universality of this death-centered garbage going on all over the world reduces me to tears and panic, paralyzes me.
Meanwhile, I have been observing quietly for years that the things I love, which sustain me, are disappearing: the libraries, the arts, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, universities, shopping at Daedalus books and discount stores, consignment stores. I learned Daedalus had closed. And that the libraries where I live are beginning to ban books.
Some of those discount outlets online especially have been taken over by MAGA affiliated forces and the prices raised exponentially. The others have just closed. Food as well, as you no doubt have noticed.
I am not at all sure whether or how I will be able to survive in what is left of this country but I don't know where to go where it is not happening.