I only have 3 good friends who are on board with our collective thinking and actions. We are fully engaged in rallys, contacting our legislators and trying to do what we can. What bothers me the most is that other friends and family bury their heads in the sand, not wanting to know, as you say. Just going on with their lives like nothing has changed. It is extremely frustrating, as they think I am going overboard and will not entertain a simple conversation. My reply is, I will do everything I can to speak out, because when no one spoke out about Hitler, 6million people were murdered, including Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, those who were disabled, or what they called racially inferior. People were afraid and let it happen. I will not be a part of that "looking the other way" or have it on my conscience. Some days it gets exhausting and depressing, but then I pick myself up after putting away news/podcasts/ substacks for a time and get back into save democracy mode.
It would help motivate people if the Democratic Party reformed and led. The movements of Bernie, AOC, Mamdani, and a few other younger Democrats have been inspiring. Yet the DNC (and legacy media) tend to obstruct or minimize these movements. These movements need support to build and spread. The DNC desperately needs to acknowledge their failures, reform, and energize soon!
From my personal perspective, I submit that there is some portion of the population that is hugely concerned (not apathetic or ignorant) but simply doesn’t see a way to be effective. While I’m in complete support of protests and social media posts, I’m introverted and analytical (Myers Briggs INTP) and walking around with a sign and writing posts on social media is just not me (just writing this is a struggle). This is one reason that social media is not representative of our total population the introverted are onlookers - not to confused with apathetic . I’m very much engaged and want to be more effective.
Same here, Kevin. I'm very introverted too but I am active in the ways I'm able. And that's okay because everyone has a part to play. You don't have to be noisy to make a difference.
I'm also INTP (and ADHD), wanting to do something besides reading Substack and commenting here and there. I think visibility brigade (highway overpass or street corner) is maybe something I can do. Tiny connections with people you know, neighbors, family, to talk about what's going on... maybe plan actions you can do with people you know. My problem is, I don't have people like that. I am determined to find something, though.
I’m an introvert also. I never going by choice & During Covid, I discovered I had a bottomless capacity for quarantine.!
The fact is, there is a spectrum of things that each of us could pick from, starting with very low risk to a little more out of your comfort zone
There are a lot of grassroots groups involved right now, and if you join one of them, they’re so many kinds of ways that you can help!
I recommend indivisible because they’ve been around for eight years and are growing rapidly since the inauguration, 40 new chapters just in the past week
If you log onto mobilize.us, you can search for your location and dates when you’re available and see what kind of meetings and efforts are going on
You might think that postcard doesn’t matter, but it does bring a significant percentage of people out to the pulse, and we need all the tools at our disposal for this effort
There are so many wonderful people with integrity and vision, and a sense of priorities outside their own personal needs, a sense of being called to something greater than ourselves, a common purpose, a history making pivot point
As I’m sure all of us know, it’s not an introvert’s world, and so a lot of us have developed the skill to collaborate, brainstorm, sit around laughing warmly with other others, etc.
It’s not a bad capacity to have under your belt for trying times.
We need to be around each other now in a different way than during Covid. It’s not just humans who survival is on the line, it’s the planet itself.
Well, my cheerleading is over and you’ll do whatever you call to do, but I wouldn’t want you to sit on the sidelines ringing your hands, wishing you knew away to be helpful because there are, if you look for them, a lot of opportunities out there small and large. Everyone does what they can. Some people have family obligations , which are just as important as the “political” work we each do what we can and because we have the numbers we win if most of us step up.
I could easily move to a nearby neighboring country if I chose. But I return to 2 thoughts: am I willing to hand my nation over to fascism without a fight? It gets hard and we flee?
And do we really think if fascism blooms fully here we are safe anywhere? Do we think other nations are immune to this rightward drift? Nah. On both accounts.
Lately I’m working on a concept I’m calling “radical neighborliness”. Getting in there and showing how we repatriate to our common sense outside a bifurcated frame.
Three years ago my neighbor who is more conservative in her politics decided she was going to host dinner every Monday night to the neighbors. People brought side dishes, desserts, wine and beer. Initially it was a handful of folks and now it is often 20 plus. Also, others host to give her a break. The consistency-every Monday is a key. Offering a vegetarian main dish option was also helpful. We often play card or board games or just chat. Good luck.
I really appreciate #1) the care that goes into checking in on us that comes across as genuine #2) sharing sincerely the range of your (obviously well educated) thoughts and feelings. There truly is healing in that, for what it’s worth.
I appreciate you so very much. We need your voice, your kind mind, your introspection, your empathy even with those whose views are abhorrent to us. I watched you an Acosta together. A++ carry on m. Wish you and your family lived Nextdoor. I’ve been an activist since the mid ‘69’s, taught college lit 41 years. Young people always give me hope. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
You are nailing it. One of the challenges is that we have been precondition by the lack of action on climate change over the years despite all the talk about it being an existential crisis. And as of today, little has happened even as temperatures warm, droughts intensify, and wildfires increase. Here we are with another existential crisis or so politicians say and we are to believe them? They do nothing and make no changes, take no risks. They allowed the status quo to remain with climate changes and they are doing so now. It is a form of gaslighting.
YES!! I was going to say the same thing. Actually you can argue quite correctly that fighting about what kind of government we are going to have is a luxury that we don't have right now. If the environment that allows humans to survive on the Earth goes, NOTHING else is going to matter. NOTHING! But, as an environmental and public health professional, I've been saying that for my entire adult life along with countless others in these professions and look where we are. Hell, I wish we could be China for one day when it comes to climate change, and if we were heading towards an authoritarian government that was going to deal with climate change instead of deny it, I would still say that I don't want that long term, but to accomplish what needs to be done to overhaul our civilizations to exist in a more sustainable, less extractive way with our livable environment, yeah...I'd support that until we do what's necessary because I think the threat to our very existence is that dire. The scary thing is, I think that's exactly how the MAGA people feel about the threats they think are dire. We can't all be right. Much of these belief systems are quite simply incompatible, which is why I think the chance of civil violence is so great. One of my favorite quotes is, "Wars don't decide who's right, just who's left." The people fighting for the confederacy didn't change their minds on what they were fighting for, they were defeated, and the "Union" got its way. Same with WWII. Germany didn't all of a sudden "see the light" and realize the error of its ways...it was defeated. Those ways of seeing the world still exist and continue to raise their heads repeatedly.
Competitive Authoritarianism...at the end of the day, still Authoritarianism.
We must wake up the apathetic majority to realize that their freedoms are at stake...the freedom to decide if, when or how to start a family...the freedom to work and be paid a living wage, i.e., not to simply struggle to get by, but to be able to thrive...the freedom to afford healthcare and access preventative treatment so disease does not sentence you to an economic, if not actual, death...the freedom to laugh and speak your mind without fear of retaliation—whether that's losing a job, being doxxed or physically threatened, or worse...and ultimately, the freedom to love who you love, and be who you dream of being, without losing basic, fundamental rights of equality.
The majority, actually, the SUPER-majority of Americans want these things. We just have to show them how Tr*mp/MAGA want only to give those freedoms to a (white) wealthy, well-connected few, along with the power of minority rule, so they can further enrich themselves on the profits they gouge from us.
The racism, nativism, sexism, and LGBTQ-hatred is a distraction to divide us, to bully the 99.999999% into submission to the <1% who have not only consolidated so much wealth it's grotesque, but also want to eviscerate the government and commons on which we all rely.
I wonder if the people who are checked out would even care if they had media that wasn’t propaganda. I see their attitude is if my private life is okay I don’t care about artists who may be repressed.
I think Anand talked about this in an earlier essay - the kind of authoritarianism that doesn't prevent you from having a drink with friends at the end of the week or from going on a family holiday. And I was thinking that I could see that. I have friends in China and they live, for the most part, lives that look on the surface pretty much like mine EXCEPT, they know very well where the lines are, they self-censure, they don't allow themselves to get too passionate or angry, they put up with a lot - partly because they've seen in the recent past just how ugly authoritarianism can get. It's that 'boiling a frog' analogy - they've gotten used to living in water that's just a little too hot to be quite comfortable, but it's still bearable if they don't move around too much. In China I think the pot is just simmering at that 'optimal' temperature for the government. But in the US the authoritarian heat's only just been turned on - by a regime with very little 'culinary' experience! So, we're back to Anand, trying to wake people up before they're cooked!!
Great piece A.G. Thanks for the range of thoughts-on symbols (no jackboots at the moment, but how much more loss of speech, ICE kidnappings, Natl Guard deployments will it take for awakening?) on organizing, and on what authoritarianism looks like in other places in this moment-a certain amount of 'freedom' allowed and scrape the surface, none at all. Appreciated your pulling Liz on, the incident at the protest was telling-both people in the right place, absolutely, but unable to hear- that in no so small part having to do with the level of emotion for those of us awake and participating in the moment, and the usual messiness of human communication. Don't recall how it ended or if anyone stepped in to facilitate b/c we need that too, calmer voices are needed. I don't think it's apathy-I think it's FEAR, they are not the same thing. Many people are despondent and disgusted about politics, on both sides. I call, write, to my Senators and other reps-and I live in CA-and neither Senator is supporting no more weapons to Israel, public transportation is underfunded and affordable housing isn't being built either and it's NOT for lack of engagement.We are seeing real consequences to those with some power, voice, legitimacy and the arrests at the ICE building protests in NYC, removals of people like the CDC staff, and SCOTUS backing all this garbage up, continue with impunity. A general strike, yes, boycotting ABC/CBS etal. yes, AOC, Mamdani, Bernie, yes. And more great ideas/actions I'm sure.
I only have 3 good friends who are on board with our collective thinking and actions. We are fully engaged in rallys, contacting our legislators and trying to do what we can. What bothers me the most is that other friends and family bury their heads in the sand, not wanting to know, as you say. Just going on with their lives like nothing has changed. It is extremely frustrating, as they think I am going overboard and will not entertain a simple conversation. My reply is, I will do everything I can to speak out, because when no one spoke out about Hitler, 6million people were murdered, including Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, those who were disabled, or what they called racially inferior. People were afraid and let it happen. I will not be a part of that "looking the other way" or have it on my conscience. Some days it gets exhausting and depressing, but then I pick myself up after putting away news/podcasts/ substacks for a time and get back into save democracy mode.
It would help motivate people if the Democratic Party reformed and led. The movements of Bernie, AOC, Mamdani, and a few other younger Democrats have been inspiring. Yet the DNC (and legacy media) tend to obstruct or minimize these movements. These movements need support to build and spread. The DNC desperately needs to acknowledge their failures, reform, and energize soon!
Agreed They need to step up now and let the rising stars shine and lead.
From my personal perspective, I submit that there is some portion of the population that is hugely concerned (not apathetic or ignorant) but simply doesn’t see a way to be effective. While I’m in complete support of protests and social media posts, I’m introverted and analytical (Myers Briggs INTP) and walking around with a sign and writing posts on social media is just not me (just writing this is a struggle). This is one reason that social media is not representative of our total population the introverted are onlookers - not to confused with apathetic . I’m very much engaged and want to be more effective.
Same here, Kevin. I'm very introverted too but I am active in the ways I'm able. And that's okay because everyone has a part to play. You don't have to be noisy to make a difference.
I'm also INTP (and ADHD), wanting to do something besides reading Substack and commenting here and there. I think visibility brigade (highway overpass or street corner) is maybe something I can do. Tiny connections with people you know, neighbors, family, to talk about what's going on... maybe plan actions you can do with people you know. My problem is, I don't have people like that. I am determined to find something, though.
I’m an introvert also. I never going by choice & During Covid, I discovered I had a bottomless capacity for quarantine.!
The fact is, there is a spectrum of things that each of us could pick from, starting with very low risk to a little more out of your comfort zone
There are a lot of grassroots groups involved right now, and if you join one of them, they’re so many kinds of ways that you can help!
I recommend indivisible because they’ve been around for eight years and are growing rapidly since the inauguration, 40 new chapters just in the past week
If you log onto mobilize.us, you can search for your location and dates when you’re available and see what kind of meetings and efforts are going on
You might think that postcard doesn’t matter, but it does bring a significant percentage of people out to the pulse, and we need all the tools at our disposal for this effort
There are so many wonderful people with integrity and vision, and a sense of priorities outside their own personal needs, a sense of being called to something greater than ourselves, a common purpose, a history making pivot point
As I’m sure all of us know, it’s not an introvert’s world, and so a lot of us have developed the skill to collaborate, brainstorm, sit around laughing warmly with other others, etc.
It’s not a bad capacity to have under your belt for trying times.
We need to be around each other now in a different way than during Covid. It’s not just humans who survival is on the line, it’s the planet itself.
Well, my cheerleading is over and you’ll do whatever you call to do, but I wouldn’t want you to sit on the sidelines ringing your hands, wishing you knew away to be helpful because there are, if you look for them, a lot of opportunities out there small and large. Everyone does what they can. Some people have family obligations , which are just as important as the “political” work we each do what we can and because we have the numbers we win if most of us step up.
I could easily move to a nearby neighboring country if I chose. But I return to 2 thoughts: am I willing to hand my nation over to fascism without a fight? It gets hard and we flee?
And do we really think if fascism blooms fully here we are safe anywhere? Do we think other nations are immune to this rightward drift? Nah. On both accounts.
Lately I’m working on a concept I’m calling “radical neighborliness”. Getting in there and showing how we repatriate to our common sense outside a bifurcated frame.
Three years ago my neighbor who is more conservative in her politics decided she was going to host dinner every Monday night to the neighbors. People brought side dishes, desserts, wine and beer. Initially it was a handful of folks and now it is often 20 plus. Also, others host to give her a break. The consistency-every Monday is a key. Offering a vegetarian main dish option was also helpful. We often play card or board games or just chat. Good luck.
I think a general strike is as close to an answer. (Activity) there is.
I really appreciate #1) the care that goes into checking in on us that comes across as genuine #2) sharing sincerely the range of your (obviously well educated) thoughts and feelings. There truly is healing in that, for what it’s worth.
I appreciate you so very much. We need your voice, your kind mind, your introspection, your empathy even with those whose views are abhorrent to us. I watched you an Acosta together. A++ carry on m. Wish you and your family lived Nextdoor. I’ve been an activist since the mid ‘69’s, taught college lit 41 years. Young people always give me hope. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
You’re right what you said, maga is gone, just talk to the apathetic. Though it’s hard to understand any apathy with us losing our democracy.
You are nailing it. One of the challenges is that we have been precondition by the lack of action on climate change over the years despite all the talk about it being an existential crisis. And as of today, little has happened even as temperatures warm, droughts intensify, and wildfires increase. Here we are with another existential crisis or so politicians say and we are to believe them? They do nothing and make no changes, take no risks. They allowed the status quo to remain with climate changes and they are doing so now. It is a form of gaslighting.
YES!! I was going to say the same thing. Actually you can argue quite correctly that fighting about what kind of government we are going to have is a luxury that we don't have right now. If the environment that allows humans to survive on the Earth goes, NOTHING else is going to matter. NOTHING! But, as an environmental and public health professional, I've been saying that for my entire adult life along with countless others in these professions and look where we are. Hell, I wish we could be China for one day when it comes to climate change, and if we were heading towards an authoritarian government that was going to deal with climate change instead of deny it, I would still say that I don't want that long term, but to accomplish what needs to be done to overhaul our civilizations to exist in a more sustainable, less extractive way with our livable environment, yeah...I'd support that until we do what's necessary because I think the threat to our very existence is that dire. The scary thing is, I think that's exactly how the MAGA people feel about the threats they think are dire. We can't all be right. Much of these belief systems are quite simply incompatible, which is why I think the chance of civil violence is so great. One of my favorite quotes is, "Wars don't decide who's right, just who's left." The people fighting for the confederacy didn't change their minds on what they were fighting for, they were defeated, and the "Union" got its way. Same with WWII. Germany didn't all of a sudden "see the light" and realize the error of its ways...it was defeated. Those ways of seeing the world still exist and continue to raise their heads repeatedly.
Exactly! Fascists are only successful if people tune out or give up. That’s it and if you’re tired and weary of it all, here’s the great thing…
IT’S REALLY SIMPLE:
👎 WE CAN TALK ALL DAY ABOUT HOW DEMOCRACY IS BROKEN. OR
👍 WE CAN SUPPORT THE PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRACY.
Come find out how young people are mobilizing and organizing at our first Donuts + Democracy Fall 2025 kickoff VIRTUAL house party!
🙌 SPECIAL GUESTS: Congressman Jamie Raskin and Our Amazing Student Organizers
⏰ WHEN: Sunday, September 21st - 4:30pm PST/7:30pm EST 🛋️ WHERE: Zoom from your sofa
✅ RSVP https://tinyurl.com/yuftxm47
🍩🗳️ Website: https://www.donuts-democracy.org/
Loved donuts-democracy! Thanks will pass it on-
Thank you!!
Competitive Authoritarianism...at the end of the day, still Authoritarianism.
We must wake up the apathetic majority to realize that their freedoms are at stake...the freedom to decide if, when or how to start a family...the freedom to work and be paid a living wage, i.e., not to simply struggle to get by, but to be able to thrive...the freedom to afford healthcare and access preventative treatment so disease does not sentence you to an economic, if not actual, death...the freedom to laugh and speak your mind without fear of retaliation—whether that's losing a job, being doxxed or physically threatened, or worse...and ultimately, the freedom to love who you love, and be who you dream of being, without losing basic, fundamental rights of equality.
The majority, actually, the SUPER-majority of Americans want these things. We just have to show them how Tr*mp/MAGA want only to give those freedoms to a (white) wealthy, well-connected few, along with the power of minority rule, so they can further enrich themselves on the profits they gouge from us.
The racism, nativism, sexism, and LGBTQ-hatred is a distraction to divide us, to bully the 99.999999% into submission to the <1% who have not only consolidated so much wealth it's grotesque, but also want to eviscerate the government and commons on which we all rely.
I wonder if the people who are checked out would even care if they had media that wasn’t propaganda. I see their attitude is if my private life is okay I don’t care about artists who may be repressed.
I think Anand talked about this in an earlier essay - the kind of authoritarianism that doesn't prevent you from having a drink with friends at the end of the week or from going on a family holiday. And I was thinking that I could see that. I have friends in China and they live, for the most part, lives that look on the surface pretty much like mine EXCEPT, they know very well where the lines are, they self-censure, they don't allow themselves to get too passionate or angry, they put up with a lot - partly because they've seen in the recent past just how ugly authoritarianism can get. It's that 'boiling a frog' analogy - they've gotten used to living in water that's just a little too hot to be quite comfortable, but it's still bearable if they don't move around too much. In China I think the pot is just simmering at that 'optimal' temperature for the government. But in the US the authoritarian heat's only just been turned on - by a regime with very little 'culinary' experience! So, we're back to Anand, trying to wake people up before they're cooked!!
Great piece A.G. Thanks for the range of thoughts-on symbols (no jackboots at the moment, but how much more loss of speech, ICE kidnappings, Natl Guard deployments will it take for awakening?) on organizing, and on what authoritarianism looks like in other places in this moment-a certain amount of 'freedom' allowed and scrape the surface, none at all. Appreciated your pulling Liz on, the incident at the protest was telling-both people in the right place, absolutely, but unable to hear- that in no so small part having to do with the level of emotion for those of us awake and participating in the moment, and the usual messiness of human communication. Don't recall how it ended or if anyone stepped in to facilitate b/c we need that too, calmer voices are needed. I don't think it's apathy-I think it's FEAR, they are not the same thing. Many people are despondent and disgusted about politics, on both sides. I call, write, to my Senators and other reps-and I live in CA-and neither Senator is supporting no more weapons to Israel, public transportation is underfunded and affordable housing isn't being built either and it's NOT for lack of engagement.We are seeing real consequences to those with some power, voice, legitimacy and the arrests at the ICE building protests in NYC, removals of people like the CDC staff, and SCOTUS backing all this garbage up, continue with impunity. A general strike, yes, boycotting ABC/CBS etal. yes, AOC, Mamdani, Bernie, yes. And more great ideas/actions I'm sure.
Love your Sunday protests Liz.
Yeah Liz, week 30!!!!
Yeah, I really relate to what you're saying Anand Ghiridaridas, and
That is exactly what the Democratic Party leadership is doing.They are confusing everyone and making us progressive activists look like fools.
Yes! This is a huge problem!
Love you Ms. Liz!