Right now I just wish I was younger. At 73 I so hoped to see the first woman president, or at least a younger one. Now I fear the rest of my life will be spent looking at this wretched mess. If I was younger and in better health, I would hit the streets.
McLain, I'm 78 so even more despondent at the face of America today; and I need to retreat and find some peace and enjoy what's left of my life, find fulfilment away from politics. Right now there's nothing we can do; history will play itself out. And maybe by the 2026 mid-terms America will recognize its mistake and throw the bums out. But till then, we all need to take care of ourselves.
for what it's worth, this book has been my solace for almost 60 years: it's about finding peace and fulfilment in your life no matter what else is going on.
Exactly!! Myopia is going take us down a path and we may not be able to come back. This has worldwide ramifications! Freedom has been sold down the river for the price of bread.
we're living through a devastatingly important moment in history, a huge global swing to the far right, into autocracy, fascism, and dictatorship, but darn those groceries have gone up under Biden & Harris [and around the whole world, but it's Joe's fault] so let's elect a psychopath and give him unlimited power. Sure.
Historian Tim Snyder said that "any election can be the last".
Let's hope that doesn't apply here.
For myself, it's time to say goodbye to American politics:
It is with great sadness that as I read your article it unfortunately reconfirms everything I have believed to be true. The suffering that will follow is terrifying!
I have decided to look inward and at helping my local community. I don't see a way of stopping the shitstorm that's coming so offering my services, to do acts of goodness to help my neighbors and friends, I hope, will be a remedy for the sadness I feel in watching our way of life disappear.
you said it perfectly. How could we have gone so wrong, except by being motivated by our own selfishness. I am old, and glad of
It. It's a sad retirement package and I don't imagine I have the time to wait for the ship to be righted. So sad to have lost all the ground we won over the decades. Dirty tricks abound and the media failed us with false equivalence and disrespect for Biden's accomplishments, which would have been front page news in the past. Somehow we will survive, but today it seems impossible.
I think you're being wildly optimistic. With all three branches and Project 2025, we will all be in danger. The federal government will be given over to kleptocrats and there will be nothing that is safe: not the air we breathe, the water we drink, or the food we eat. Anyone who tries to fight it will be hounded and ruined by weaponized agencies like the Justice Department and the IRS. Women might well lose all our rights. I'm ashamed of America right now.
and absolute power corrupts absolutely, so the orange psycho is now free to do his worst.
God Help America.
But for each of us, we need to find some peace and enjoy our lives, and find fulfilment away from politics. When 2026 rolls around, we'll be back to it. For now, I need a break of Trump's America.
I'm glad you could find words this morning, I still feel shock. You're spot on about "What's Ahead," but some of the blame for his victory has to go to Dems who could not address a clear need for a break with the past -- both Democratic and traditional Republican past policies. Too many people feel it's not working for them -- prices, healthcare, education. I wish Todd Gitlin were here to give us his thoughts too!
Sad but True, so sorry to see first hand, the Ugly Truth. Thank You for writing this morning ☕💔
America took a selfie.
... and it's not a pretty picture
Right now I just wish I was younger. At 73 I so hoped to see the first woman president, or at least a younger one. Now I fear the rest of my life will be spent looking at this wretched mess. If I was younger and in better health, I would hit the streets.
McLain, I'm 78 so even more despondent at the face of America today; and I need to retreat and find some peace and enjoy what's left of my life, find fulfilment away from politics. Right now there's nothing we can do; history will play itself out. And maybe by the 2026 mid-terms America will recognize its mistake and throw the bums out. But till then, we all need to take care of ourselves.
for what it's worth, this book has been my solace for almost 60 years: it's about finding peace and fulfilment in your life no matter what else is going on.
https://gillmore.ca/products/tao-te-ching-by-lao-tsu-translated-by-gia-fu-feng-jane-english-1997-25th-anniversary-edition
Succinctly and terrifyingly true. I don’t think people have any idea!
I guess most Americans are more concerned with the price of groceries than preserving Freedom and Democracy. An American Selfie. Not a pretty picture.
Exactly!! Myopia is going take us down a path and we may not be able to come back. This has worldwide ramifications! Freedom has been sold down the river for the price of bread.
we're living through a devastatingly important moment in history, a huge global swing to the far right, into autocracy, fascism, and dictatorship, but darn those groceries have gone up under Biden & Harris [and around the whole world, but it's Joe's fault] so let's elect a psychopath and give him unlimited power. Sure.
Historian Tim Snyder said that "any election can be the last".
Let's hope that doesn't apply here.
For myself, it's time to say goodbye to American politics:
https://kamala4prez.substack.com/p/goodbye-america
It is with great sadness that as I read your article it unfortunately reconfirms everything I have believed to be true. The suffering that will follow is terrifying!
now it's about surviving, finding peace and comfort and joy in our own small lives, and let history unfold as it will.
In 2026 maybe Americans will wake up and say "what the fuck did we do?" and then a blue wave will wash out the garbage.
In the meantime, we need to find peace in our own hearts and lives.
I’m frightened for all who will be targeted for one reason or another. Those most vulnerable will be the first to feel such hateful dogma.
Thanks for putting into words what we are all thinking. Well done.
Dark and excellent.
I have decided to look inward and at helping my local community. I don't see a way of stopping the shitstorm that's coming so offering my services, to do acts of goodness to help my neighbors and friends, I hope, will be a remedy for the sadness I feel in watching our way of life disappear.
Thank you, Nina...depressing as it is,
you said it perfectly. How could we have gone so wrong, except by being motivated by our own selfishness. I am old, and glad of
It. It's a sad retirement package and I don't imagine I have the time to wait for the ship to be righted. So sad to have lost all the ground we won over the decades. Dirty tricks abound and the media failed us with false equivalence and disrespect for Biden's accomplishments, which would have been front page news in the past. Somehow we will survive, but today it seems impossible.
Incredibly powerful and poignant piece Nina, thank you for sharing!!
I think you're being wildly optimistic. With all three branches and Project 2025, we will all be in danger. The federal government will be given over to kleptocrats and there will be nothing that is safe: not the air we breathe, the water we drink, or the food we eat. Anyone who tries to fight it will be hounded and ruined by weaponized agencies like the Justice Department and the IRS. Women might well lose all our rights. I'm ashamed of America right now.
Are Americans so petty and small-minded that they are glad to sacrifice democracy and freedom to save a buck at the gas pump?
Are Americans so racist and misogynist that they can't imagine electing a black woman as President?
Someone called last night "an American selfie" - and it's not a pretty picture
They will never be satisfied; that's their nightmare.
If there is another election.
Completely gutted and afraid.
it's definitely a gut punch.
and absolute power corrupts absolutely, so the orange psycho is now free to do his worst.
God Help America.
But for each of us, we need to find some peace and enjoy our lives, and find fulfilment away from politics. When 2026 rolls around, we'll be back to it. For now, I need a break of Trump's America.
Well stated! 🥾🥾🥾
A little dark Nina!
Truthfully dark Joan!
I'm glad you could find words this morning, I still feel shock. You're spot on about "What's Ahead," but some of the blame for his victory has to go to Dems who could not address a clear need for a break with the past -- both Democratic and traditional Republican past policies. Too many people feel it's not working for them -- prices, healthcare, education. I wish Todd Gitlin were here to give us his thoughts too!
Dems will definitely have to do a lot of self-reflection. Blaming the other side isn't enough; we have to figure out how to win in the future.
For now, I think we all need to find comfort and joy in our own lives, away for the nightmare of American politics.