I don’t usually publish about politics right here, however I really feel I’ve to at this time, as a result of lots of people are distressed, shocked, and fearful. Regardless that the outcomes of yesterday’s US election usually are not but absolutely in, it’s clear that Donald Trump can be our subsequent president.
I didn’t know what to anticipate with the US election. I assumed it was potential that Trump would possibly scrape to a slim victory. I hoped, although, that Harris would would win, narrowly or (I scarcely dared dream it) by a landslide. I feared that if Harris did win, that the election could be disputed and that some Republican-controlled states would possibly try and overturn the election outcomes.
I had not anticipated Trump to win resoundingly, with a majority of the votes. [Later edit: not a majority! Slightly less than 50% of the votes cast.] (In 2016 Hillary Clinton obtained 5 million extra votes than he did.) I believe we’re lucky that the election was not disputed, and that there was no try and overturn the vote.
In the intervening time I really feel fairly calm. My poor companion didn’t sleep a wink.
I’m for as soon as grateful that within the US system the victor doesn’t take energy instantly (in contrast to within the UK the place the Prime Minister strikes out of Downing Avenue the day after the election). So there’s a way of normality at current. That gained’t final, although.
It’s not possible to know what’s coming. Trump himself is only one a part of issues. He’s vindictive, petty, useless, and impulsive. He’s simply manipulated by these round him. Final time he was in workplace he was surrounded by individuals who, though not saints, had been not less than higher than he was. With a small variety of exceptions, these individuals have repudiated him and stated he’s unfit for workplace. Two of them described him as a fascist. He’s now prone to be surrounded by people who find themselves a lot worse than he’s. It’s possible they’ll encourage his worst instincts and that we’ll see some very dangerous issues occurring.
Usually you put together to trip out 4 tough years till the following election. This time we’re going through probably catastrophic demolition of the mechanisms that protect democracy, a collapsed economic system, the partial restoration of the Soviet Union, and an acceleration of local weather change.
There might not be one other completely free and honest election for a very long time, and even when first rate persons are elected sooner or later, what they inherit might not be fixable. However they’ll need to do what they will with what’s left. It’s potential that there could also be a re-founding of the USA, if there’s a United States sooner or later. A catastrophic collapse provides the chance to be taught from the previous and to keep away from its errors. The US structure and its legal guidelines have been manifestly “unfit for goal” as they are saying within the UK. The truth that Donald Trump is heading for the White Home fairly than jail is only one illustration of that.
I discover it vital to keep in mind that a lot of those that voted for Trump didn’t know what they had been voting for. Many are struggling in an economic system that favors the ultra-rich and largely ignores strange individuals. They needed a change. Proper wing channel information networks manipulate and dis-inform. They suppose inflation is at an all-time excessive when it’s not. They suppose crime is rampant, when it’s falling. They suppose their lifestyle is beneath risk from immigrants, when they’re themselves the kids of immigrants and rely on immigrants to do fundamental duties that maintain the economic system working.
A lot of these individuals didn’t know they had been voting for a person who says he desires his generals to be like Hitler’s generals, and that he desires to make use of the US navy towards the civilian inhabitants. Or they’d heard this and thought it was propaganda. Or they thought it was simply Trump trolling the libs. However lots of the individuals working for Trump don’t suppose it’s simply Trump trolling. A few of them need violent oppression of all opposition.
Some individuals confirmed as much as vote yesterday not understanding that Biden had dropped out of the race. A examine confirmed {that a} gentle Covid an infection reduces an individual’s IQ by three factors. A extra extreme case with lingering signs causes a six-point drop. If hospitalization is required, the drop is 9 factors. That’s from a single an infection. Presumably repeated infections trigger additional cognitive injury.
The inhabitants has actually been been dumbed down. I say this not as an insult (I’ve had Covid and an not resistant to its cognitive results). I say this as a result of it might be a part of how we obtained to the place we’re.
Briefly, many individuals who voted for a person who has been known as a “fascist” by individuals who labored carefully with him do not know what they’ve simply achieved. They aren’t our enemy, and so they deserve our compassion. (Others are enemies within the sense that they need to hurt us, however we’d like not hate them in return. It’s a delusion which you can’t oppose somebody with out additionally hating them.)
I discover it vital to keep in mind that there are lots of individuals within the US (and elsewhere, in fact) who consider in kindness, generosity, tolerance, compassion, democracy, standing as much as autocrats, and defending the world that sustains us. That’s far more than half of the inhabitants.
We’re the bulk.
I discover it vital to keep in mind that fascist regimes (and it appears like that’s what we’ll find yourself with) at all times collapse. The “sturdy man” is emotionally fragile and can’t stand contradiction. So he doesn’t hearken to critics on his personal facet, and his actions finally deliver issues crashing down.
It’s possible that there can be a sequence of brutal strikes following the switch of energy. These can be designed to intimidate, demoralize, and traumatize anybody who opposes the Trump administration.
We’re going to want to search out methods to carry onto our religion when this occurs.
We’re going to want to search out methods to maintain that religion, and to maintain our kindness, compassion, tolerance, and perception in democracy for for much longer than 4 years.
One of the simplest ways to do this is to be actively concerned in some group that represents your values. Being engaged with like-minded individuals helps us really feel sturdy. Doing one thing that makes a distinction helps us really feel sturdy.
I recommend all of us begin on the lookout for methods to become involved, if we’re not already.
Within the meantime, I extremely suggest studying Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny.” Snyder is a historical past professor who research autocracy. On Tyranny is a small e-book, straightforward to learn, and easily written. It’s a guide-book to surviving fascism, and on protecting alive constructive values via darkish occasions.
I strongly recommend that you just do NOT purchase this e-book from Amazon, which is owned by a billionaire. Individuals like Jeff Bezos have quite a bit to realize (within the brief time period) from an intolerant regime. (The day Bezos introduced that the Washington Publish wouldn’t endorse both candidate, he was reportedly in negotiations with Trump in regards to the authorities utilizing his rockets.) These persons are not your mates. Don’t assist them.
As a substitute, assist an area e-book store. Help strange individuals. Help your neighbors. Dwell your values.
Should you don’t have an area bookshop or can’t get to 1, strive bookshop.org within the US, Hive within the UK, or search for another unbiased outlet the place you reside.
If the whole lot will get lowered to what’s most handy (“one click on buying”) you’re not dwelling your values. The essence of ethics is doing issues which can be much less handy. It’s barely more durable within the brief time period. Nevertheless it feels good in the long run.
We’re the bulk. It’s crucial that we stick collectively.
A few years in the past I taught an internet course known as “Politics as a Non secular Follow,” which is the place the graphic above comes from. I do suppose it’s important that we don’t simply “do politics” however that we see our engagement with politics as a car for creating persistence, braveness, compassion, and knowledge. The subsequent 4 or extra years are going to check us. These assessments can probably make us higher individuals. And we’re going to want higher individuals to rebuild no matter we’re left with.