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The General Election Anxiety Thread (And Positive Change)
EmperorSeth
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I'm not sure if everyone noticed, but here in the good ol' U.S. of A., it's an election year. It's come up a couple of times on the other subforums. Apparently, it's a pretty big deal!
In all seriousness, this election has given me some pretty severe anxiety. Some days are okay, and some days, I have a big doom pit in my stomach, terrified that this is the last year of my life that I'll be living in a democracy. It hasn't been great.
Now, I posted this in the Help Advice thread for a reason. I don't want this to be a place to argue about who we should vote for (I'm pretty sure everyone here already knows who NOT to vote for, but it gets tricky after that,) and God forbid it become a place to debate the 2016 or any earlier elections. It's more about sharing how we feel and the ways we try to move on in our lives without panic setting in. Not just getting up and working, but enjoying your regular things, having plans for the future, whatever it is that motivates you.
I also would like to know how people are enacting positive change. Where are you protesting or volunteering? Is anyone actively working in an election, and not just the Presidential one? Are there good groups you've been donating to when you want to feel like you're making at least a little difference in Ukraine, Palestine, or with endangered groups like the LGBTQ+ community, and, well, women in general? I'm hoping that, maybe together, we can shrink our doom pits a bit.
In all seriousness, this election has given me some pretty severe anxiety. Some days are okay, and some days, I have a big doom pit in my stomach, terrified that this is the last year of my life that I'll be living in a democracy. It hasn't been great.
Now, I posted this in the Help Advice thread for a reason. I don't want this to be a place to argue about who we should vote for (I'm pretty sure everyone here already knows who NOT to vote for, but it gets tricky after that,) and God forbid it become a place to debate the 2016 or any earlier elections. It's more about sharing how we feel and the ways we try to move on in our lives without panic setting in. Not just getting up and working, but enjoying your regular things, having plans for the future, whatever it is that motivates you.
I also would like to know how people are enacting positive change. Where are you protesting or volunteering? Is anyone actively working in an election, and not just the Presidential one? Are there good groups you've been donating to when you want to feel like you're making at least a little difference in Ukraine, Palestine, or with endangered groups like the LGBTQ+ community, and, well, women in general? I'm hoping that, maybe together, we can shrink our doom pits a bit.
You know what? Nanowrimo's cancelled on account of the world is stupid.
+1
Posts
PSN:Furlion
It is a big World and while not something done in an instant, it is possible to migrate to where things are different or maybe even better in many ways ie. where people aren't split apart by elections, morale, values and more.
Like for example look at the Nordic countries.
https://euronews.com/health/2024/03/23/why-do-people-in-nordic-countries-consistently-rank-as-the-happiest-and-what-can-we-learn-
Also worth taking note of when looking at the Nordic countries, is that people there almost all speak English and that they have low unemployment rates - meaning landing a job there and getting a work permit is not impossible.
I think even when things are bad, we can do so much with what we've been dealt in life. I think about her when I get ovewhelmed.
I don't want to make this thread about the Nordic countries, but right-wing is not just one thing and really it is very relative - like for example I am sure lots of what is considered right-wing in the Nordic countries would called leftist in the US. So really some closer observation is needed. Also money doesn't rule in politics, votes does and there is no winner takes all system so compromising is the norm.
As for weather, not only does it vary with the season so does the amount of daylight as the Nordic countries are of course "close" to the north pole. Generally weather here is nice, no extremes for the most part ie. summers are not to hos and winter not crazy cold unless you go close to the arctic circle.
Finally on the standoffish, that sounds odd to me but again everything is relative. People in the service industry don't need tips to live, so they won't be fake friendly that is true. However generally I'd say you get what you give, be friendly and people respond in kind.
Not to dismiss this, but i refuse to leave. I have just a much right to live here as the shitheads and i refuse to let them win by just up and leaving. I don't blame the people who do, but i refuse.
PSN:Furlion
Totally reasonable. Just know, that there is an option if needed.
(Somehow I am unable to directly quote a post, so the above is me doing cut&paste)
Quoting on the page hasn't worked for a while.
For the record, I still think Biden will probably win. Maybe that's just denial, maybe it's not obsessing over an election five months from now, maybe I'm hopeful that polls aren't accounting for groups strong on Biden, like union members and women in general, and maybe it's sure incredulity that a sufficient number of voters would actually vote for the convicted rapist with 90 felonies that he's sleeping during (and possibly shitting himself.) Voters just aren't noticing the details yet. Regardless, it's easy to get the doom pit when people talk about it, especially those convinced that Trump would likely win somehow already.
Volunteering I can help, but I'm not only an extreme introvert with anxiety about talking to strangers, I'm recovering from a broken shoulder. Plus, let's face it. I pretty much delete all political emails myself, and texts go right to my spam filter. If I ignore all of them, why would I assume other strangers don't?
So, I guess my immediate questions on how to help are a) how can I find the right people and causes to volunteer to, and b) what's the best way for the socially anxious to help? I don't feel entirely comfortable campaigning directly for Biden right now. At the moment, I'm less voting for him and more voting against Trump, and for the chance to vote in primaries and general elections in 2028 and on without the fear of Project 25 removing that chance.
As has been illustrated in many countries all over, democracy is a fragile thing we can not take for granted!
Trump may not be able to end it as such, but should he win then this time round it is clear, there will be less if any people around him wanting to protect democracy. Gerrymandering, corruption weaponizing of the justice system and more, putting even more dirty judges in key spots, taking the US out of international treaties, embracing dictators... and maybe even assassinating political enemies (as you know Trump has people that suggest that is legal for a president).
And it is not Trump as can be clearly seen when looking at the GOP, his backers from all over and that includes those that control a number of states like f.x. Texas and Florida.
As for one can do with regards to help supporting the sane guy, there is bound to be roles in campaign offices that are not about going out and meeting people. However I do know saying so is easy, but try reaching out https://joebiden.com/work-with-us/. If I was in the US it is a given I would, as a European I hope Biden gets four more years since all of us with the exception of a few dictators, is better off with a rational and sane administration in the US.
I’m a socially anxious introvert. I volunteered last time anyway. It’s the most effective thing you can do. Phone volunteering can be the most effective. I hope to volunteer this time too, probably in person nearer the time.
Phone volunteering comes with a script. You don’t have to persuade people to vote. The volunteering I did was to remind registered Democrats to register to vote. There was only one mean, angry person in the whole bunch. It wasn’t easy but I did it to fight fascism.
I appreciate the concept, but my job already involves talking to people on the phone, and I am usually fully out of those spoons by the time I'm done.
That said, I would like to know how to get organized in the first place. If I wanted to volunteer, who would I talk with? Where to start? I'm trying to get a response from my local representative, but haven't seen much on her website. I don't know how actively she's campaigning yet.
I used this website
https://www.votesaveamerica.com/volunteer/