Mastodawn

Over a decade into the Trump experience, how could there not be a sense of fatigue and exhaustion? American politics has been a shitshow for so long that it is hard to remember it was ever different - a draining combination of bizarre and threatening, of deranged and terrifying.

There is, as an aggravating factor, the media and information landscape through which we have to experience it all. The media landscape has fractured. And as a result, the way we stay informed has fractured too.

As much as the desire to escape, to flee, is relatable, and as much as the temptation to resort to cynicism is understandable: Democracy relies on some form of active participation. A populace that has largely checked out only helps the authoritarians.

There is no magic solution here, and who am I to give out advice. But I do want to tell you: I am a big believer in airplane rules. In case of emergency, you pull that oxygen mask over your own face first – because no one is helped by you passing out trying to take care of others. Find refuge.

Don’t allow yourself to be bombarded with “Breaking News!” alerts constantly, don’t scroll news sites all day, reading hundreds of headlines… It only simulates staying informed. But it actually has the opposite effect: We are drowning. Look instead for clarity, perspective.

Another recurring theme: A general sense that explorations of how we got here are less valuable now – that the focus should firmly be on the question of how we get out of here, and what comes next. I get it. But I am also alarmed by this general “We don’t need more historical takes” sense.

1d ago

@tzimmer_history
A large part of how we got here was an exclusive focus on the future. To which I say, sarcasm very much intended, "thanks, Obama."

Crissa Kentavr 1d ago

@bruce @tzimmer_history
His actions wouldn't have changed this. The Occupy movement managed to democratically snag basically zero seats anywhere.

The blame is squarely upon those who decided they didn't need to vote anymore, especially in 2016 and 2024. If you aren't for something, those who are for something - even if it's a terrible something - will win elections.

Your 'non-sarcastically' answer is literally the problem pointed at in this post.

You want people held responsible? You need to lobby for laws that do that. You need judges who will rule that way. And you need to elect representatives - either ones that won't do the opposite or ones that will forward your ideal.

Campaigning against the team who you didn't get everything from is helping the someone who wants the opposite of you to win. Someone *will* win the election. Someone *did* win.

1d ago

@Crissa @tzimmer_history

Had there been an honest accounting of the war crimes committed during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, I think we'd be in a much better place today. Instead, we got someone like Trump who saw there was no accountability for presidential administrations and decided to run that football all the way to Iran. Along the way, he's destroying everything Americans once claimed to hold dear an enriching himself while he does it.

con't…

@Crissa @tzimmer_history

Now, maybe you're right. Certainly we could have had better turnout for the election in 2016. But I think if Trump had feared any consequences, he wouldn't have run for president.