Late night election thoughts
I’m writing this after midnight on election day, after they have called Pennsylvania for Trump and it looks very likely, if not certain, that he will win. I drank too much, too early on election night, so now I’m awake and sober.
If he goes on to win, I fear that we are in for some very bad times. Week after week of saying “he can’t do that!” when in fact, he will have already done that. Increased violence in the USA and abroad, with the US looking more and more like Russia. Obliteration of rights and protections, and, for many people, simple safety and security. Hastening of environmental catastrophe, ransacking of the country for the benefit of American oligarchs.
Even if he doesn’t win, we have to live with the fact that tens of millions of people voted for the person who tried to overthrow the last presidential election, and who is promising revenge and authoritarianism this time around. Voters who saw the chaos, the fear, and the violence of his first term and thought they wanted more of that.
And the thing is, it’s not like we are in for smooth sailing if Harris somehow wins, given the scale of the problems we face. She’s just less likely to pour gasoline on the fires.
None of what I’m saying is new or original; believe me, I know.
I’m not sure what to do. The authoritarian trend is global, so even if it were possible to move out of the country it might not help. The Revolution seems as distant and dubious as ever.
Last time around, I spent way too much time and energy thinking about Trump and all the cruel, stupid things he said and did. I want to try and resist that this time around, though I know I’ll still find myself obsessing over him as I am tonight. I have been slowly reading Kelly Hays and Mariame Kaba’s book, Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care which is about working with other people for support and political change. The e-book is two bucks at that link, if you are interested. I’m going to try and practice more care for other people, including and especially you, dear reader. Everyone who reads this little newsletter is my real-life friend. I care about you and I want you to be safe and happy, and I’m going to find ways to connect with people to help ensure that you are.
Keep in touch.
9 responses to “Awake and sober”
I’m grateful for your words, and reminded again why I refer to you as the best of the Steve Lawsons. Love you. Will go buy that book x
Love you too, brother.
I awoke today, opened the news app on my phone and then switched it straight back off again. It’s unbelievable. My colleagues and I are all depressed today for what this will mean for the world. I’m so sad and sorry about it. I hope it’s not as bad for you in the USA as it seems it could be.
Yes, I will be avoiding news for a while. Let’s stay hopeful.
I apparently did not drink enough…I was just thinking last week about things I could do to make the world a better place and I think your book is a good place to start. My work is closed today (snow day) so I’ll try to spend the day avoiding everything but my family, a book, some Champions League, and maybe some Magic.
It’s important to have things that make us happy, or, in the case of soccer, things that drive us to utter distraction.
Since your dad and I have reached 80 (ouch) my concern, of course, is more for you and your family especially, and all of those who will have to live with the results of this for many years. It is so disheartening that a majority of our countrymen support this evilness. Can’t even take comfort that he probably won’t survive a full term, considering who will step in. This is a sad day.
Very sad and disheartening.
Thank you for writing this. It is very hard, today, to feel that there’s hope, that there’s a way forward . . . but each person who (like you) makes an effort to connect and to care gives me a little bit of hope.