JCC Senate Coping with American Authoritarianism

It’s clear to me now that regardless of what happens in November, the wave of Trumpism that cascaded through the Republican ranks is here to stay in the form of a political authoritarian bent with the support of a multi-million person cult that believes the other side possesses Satanic powers and I don’t know how to cope with it. Fortunately, most of the world is operating under similar circumstances. What strategies do you use to stop thinking about it?

 

Realize that you've always lived under authoritarianism.

 

Cannabis

 

I cope by leaving the country.

 

Important. I think I need to sticky this sentence on my forehead.

 

I sleep around 16 hours a day and daydream about suicide.

I . . . don't actually recommend that. Perhaps try exercise and handicrafts? That's what people keep telling me.

 

Memes.

 

I complain a lot. I was very demure before I was 18 in 2004. Now, I am not.

I watch AOC and listen to Ilhan a lot.

 

****post about it

actually laugh about it

try not to cry


cry a lot

 

Games.

 

I guess the same way I dealt with nuclear paranoia for the last four decades or so? To paraphrase the Onion - "crippled by cynicism, the very measure they will create to protect themselves from an overwhelming sense of dread and lack of faith in their continued existence."
Playing video games where I can shoot ****ing Nazis helps a little.

 

Rage about it on a forum.

 

Take a deep breath after reading an Ipsos study that shows 82% of French people now endorse putting the country "under a true leader".

 

Realistic answer: Pretty much what you guys have said


My ideal answer: While we still have the civil liberties to do so, do everything possible to promote our anti-Trumpist message. No, I am not by any means saying suggest things go back to business as usual post-Trump. The systemic problems we have didn't begin with him, but he has encouraged those who are worse than him to take a stand and threaten the rights of people.


These people (white nationalists and the like) didn't just appear in the 2010s, but they now have someone who has enough power in the Republican Party to influence his fellow ideologues to embrace his brand of rightism or at least act like they do to stay relevant.

We need to pressure the Democratic establishment into acting based on our point of view, and promote candidates who are not socially authoritarian but will take a true stand against systemic racism and climate change. We've successfully pushed for change before. We still have a long way to go.

Too long, didn't read: Do for the left side what Trump did for the right side and be better at it

 

Me:

 

Don't be silly. We're an elective monarchy nowadays - we just disagree vehemently between ourselves on who the boss should be.

 

We should collectively figure out better coping mechanisms. Drinking game?

 

Time with my wife and kids.

Running, calisthenics and kettlebells.

My organic wine club of European imports from small local wineries.

 

@Vaderize03 — God damn, that sounds healthy. What are you, a doctor or something??

I’m pretty sure my only healthy activities involve my cats. And looking at memes of other people’s cats. And watching YouTube videos about cats.

 

Taking care of mom and myself,
Being grateful for this job and all we have,
Drawing,
Cooking,
Watching blue jays, cats and old trashy movies,
Exercise, posting here and avoiding falls.

((Hopefully writing and getting better at my hobbies too))

And being cranky about stupid things, so I can handle the stuff that does matter.

 

Speaking of authoritarianism:

Nearly two-thirds of US young adults unaware 6m Jews killed in the Holocaust
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/16/holocaust-us-adults-study

So yeah, the US has always had an authoritarian streak. Our history includes slavery, and at various times oppression of not only blacks, but natives, POC, immigrants, jews, workers, or anyone not at the very top, or white, so of course it is.

And I'm sure every President from Washington to Trump has been called a tyrant at some point or another. However, the recent MAGA Authoritarianism is something ...newish, I believe, only in so far as a very large segment of this country has gone ape*** crazy, (due in part of decades of boiling resentment and hatred, toxic masculinity, nationalism, class warfare, out-right racism, religious fervor, belief in American exceptionalism, and our own American Myth, and finally, a unhealthy dose of pure ignorance) is calling the other side of population (or anyone to the right of them) 'the enemy' and is fully ready to follow their Cult Leader into the depths of hell, as long as he fights, or trolls, their enemy. It just so happens that their Cult Leader is a narcissistic, selfish, ignorant, sociopath "CEO" who craves loyalty to himself above all else, doesn't give a second thought to democracy, doesn't care one-iota about laws if they apply to him, our constitution, or norms, and will gladly tear the country a part to satisfy his insecure ego. He's shown that he'll gladly fight his own citizens if it means he get can a photo op out of it, so there's no telling where his line would be.

Should he lose in November, I have no doubt he'll go down fighting, and encouraging his followers to take up arms, against their perceived enemy; the left who have stolen the country from them. I feel that in many ways it's the same basic story as Germany, and a few other countries, in their own trek toward authoritarianism/fascism/you name it. I feel that there's an evolution to this process, and sadly, we're rather far from the end of it, before the fever can break.

To cope, I chat with people like yourselves. My wife. My friends. Drink beer and rum. Cook good meals. Draw. Write a fantasy novel. And try to do my best to prepare for any outcome, even if it's somewhat out of my hands. I dream about moving out of this city, someplace a little more remote, with a little more land, do some gardening, minor farming, grow some wild flowers, and raise my son with my wife. I think a lot recently about the privileges I've had in life, and how other's haven't been so lucky in this country of ours.

 

Let's be real, Americans don't know most of the genocides and crimes against humanity from the past century.

 

I bet most Americans can't even place the USA on a map.