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153

Observing American politics feels really strange at the moment (lemm.ee)

submitted 3 months ago by pet1t@lemm.ee to c/casualconversation@lemm.ee

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As an outsider (I live in Belgium) it feels very weird and dystopian to see everything happening in American politics with Trump and Musk.

On one side, it's very interesting and almost entertaining; on the other side, it's scary. I can't imagine what it must be like to live in the USA.

Americans, how do you cope? What's your take on the situation?

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[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 17 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Americans, how do you cope? What’s your take on the situation?

Trying not to think about it. It very well may lead to my death, but so does every avenue radical enough to avert it by my personal intervention.

I think the hardest part considering it is how okay people are with everything that's going on. Despite the high levels of copium from liberals and leftists about how there's TOTALLY a grassroots movement ready to rise up, the fact is... there isn't. The protests are smaller this time 'round than they were last time. Public opinion is more in favor of Trump than it was at the start of his last administration.

Many of us noted that this country isn't as left as many of the "Trump will make the moderates SEE that fascism is BAD!" types wanted to believe it was. We were ignored.

People live in a bubble, where what they want to believe is true, and goddamn reality.

Anyway. I'm fucked, and just trying to stay alive until I can't avoid dusting off my old suicide plans.

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[–] bennieandthez@lemmygrad.ml -4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (4 children)

this coming off an europe union country citizen is amusing

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[–] SamboT@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

I absorb what i can through the media. I accept that i cant trust most information that reaches me. I keep track of what is right to me compared to what the news shows regardless if the event happened or was accurately portrayed. I try to understand how others feel about stuff too without being a bummer.

I have faith in myself to act according to my beliefs if/when the opportunity presents itself.

This is my disinformation cope. It takes the edge off of alarming news and keeps me engaged.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 21 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

American here. Terrified about what's happening and even more terrified how unaware people like my parents are. The department of education going away is, to my mom, something that won't happen but if it does, they had good intentions. This is from someone who has always claimed "both sides are bad". But suddenly now the most nakedly evil people in the history of the country have taken over, it's out of our hands and just stop worrying.

[–] JPAKx4@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Same. My parents tell me to just stop reading the news so I'll feel better. I can't look away from the train crash that is our country, how can you guys?

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

Exactly. I would feel this way, even if I didn't know people affected and I may be as well, but I do and I might be, so that doesn't help. I was told I stress too much. Fucking absurd dismissive bullshit. This is how we got here. People thinking the American way is to only give a damn about yourself and the people right in front of (assuming your uninformed political beliefs don't conflict with caring about those people). Maybe it is the American way but it didn't have to be.

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[–] Hotspur@lemmy.ml 7 points 3 months ago

I agree with your assessment: I find it both fascinating (who would have thought each new thing was actually possible, what insane bad idea will be launched today?) and horrifying.

Still working out the coping aspect, as what’s going on directly affects me and some of my family, but mostly switch between paying very close attention and trying to game out what the agenda is, and then taking a day to not pay attention and live in calm denial.

[–] tomkatt@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Shit’s pretty fucked right now, and yeah, it’s scary, distressing, and absolutely disturbing.

I live in a small, rural ex-urb. Plenty of people here definitely voted for this. I don’t interact with my neighbors and keep to myself. I live below my means and am financially sound, at least.

I can’t do much about any of this. I donate to my local food bank monthly because hungry people are angry people, and folks gotta eat, regardless is political leanings. And I donate to Wikipedia because I value information.

None of this helps with the insanity and the politics, but hopefully it helps somebody.

[–] Captainvaqina@sh.itjust.works -2 points 3 months ago (3 children)

and folks gotta eat, regardless is political leanings

Nah. Fuck the filthy fascist supporting magats. They deserve to starve for their extreme stupidity.

[–] tomkatt@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

So… we war with each other forever and that’s the end of the country? Just head straight for civil war? Your attitude does nothing to make things better. I understand the anger, it’s righteous indignation because this shit is just absolutely wrong and completely fucked up. But the problem is class warfare and kleptocracy, and you’re feeding right into it, picking the wrong enemy.

Powerless people in bad situations make bad choices. They’re idiots, sure, but many voted on kitchen table issues, which Trump addressed, while Harris did not. Granted, once elected Trump promptly fucked off on that because he’s a grifter and that’s what he does.

I can’t stand the Trump cult, and yeah people are idiots for falling for it again. As another idiot leader once said, “fool me once, sh…uh, c-can’t fool me again.” But as I noted previously, hungry, desperate people aren’t rational actors.

I don’t pick who my donations go to, I just make sure I donate so food is available to those who need it.

[–] KittenBiscuits@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago

I agree somewhat with your last 2 sentences, but their kids don't deserve knowing hunger. Hungry kids don't / can't pay attention in school. And I know the future of our education system is circling the drain, but kids don't deserve to be condemned for what their parents have done.

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[–] gingersaffronapricat@lemm.ee 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Every once in a while a group of mean spirited bullies would get elected to student government. But that didn’t really matter and was only a few months. This is real life and will have consequences for generations. Regan and W bush were both known for defUnding things like science, health, and education. We’re still dealing with ramifications from those defundings today. What we’re currently dealing with wants to make that look like nothing. I have my gripes with Clinton. But he managed to get the budget balanced without this kind of drama and malace. I refused to get sucked into watching this. Watching it only feeds it. I am trying to check on the situation periodically and complain to my representatives at intervals. It isn’t enough. But I’m doing what I can

[–] pet1t@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago

And doing what you can is still better than doing nothing!

[–] Paradachshund@lemmy.today 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Still figuring out that coping part. Right now I have a daily anxiety spike early in the morning that wakes me up, so not going great currently.

I hope you guys can hold it together across the pond. I've heard that some of the same powers are turning their attention and money towards you guys now (or at least in Germany).

[–] pet1t@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, Germany has its elections on Sunday. I'm anxiously awaiting those results, tbf. You'd think Germans know how well it went the last time the extreme right-wingers were in control, but you never know...

In Belgium, we had elections for the federal government in June and regional (Flanders, for me) government in October. Although the right wing gained a lot of votes, we were able to form a government without the extreme right. At the moment we still have a "cordon sanitaire", look it up, I think it's quite nice. The extreme right-wing party says it's undemocratic, of course, but in this case I don't mind. The formation took 236 days, tho, but that's another story. We still hold the world record for longest period without a government (592 days in 2018-202, breaking our own record of 541 days in 2010-2011)

[–] Paradachshund@lemmy.today 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Hearing about your election makes me realize how little I know about how your system works. The idea you form a new government every time is very wild sounding to me, but also the horribly entrenched two parties we have is an absolute disaster at this point and I'd be curious to see basically anything else at this point!

[–] pet1t@lemm.ee 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Oh if you're into politics, it's very interesting to follow hahaha. It's definitely not ideal, but better than a two party system for sure. Also not that difficult of a system, but for outsiders it can be a lot I think. I also struggle to fully understand the American system, with the value per state etc. Forming a new government is fun and exciting, plus it gives you some hope that a terrible minister will lose his function four years later

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[–] Caffeinated_Sloth@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago

I’ve encouraged my teenage children to seek employment outside of the States after college, and even attend college abroad if possible. Since the news information ecosystem is compromised, I have no hope for a future USA that is free and equitable.

[–] peregrin5@lemm.ee 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

We live in a blue bubble so I'm just ignoring everything the next four years and saving money.

My biggest dream is my state along with the other western states just decides to leave the US and we create our own thing.

[–] dxdydz@slrpnk.net 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The notion that this will all blow over in four years is absurd. The damage that has already been done will take years to repair. I understand wanting to put your head in the sand, but if you do that during a rising tide, you’re gonna drown.

[–] peregrin5@lemm.ee 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

No I get that thinking it will go back to normal in 4 years is optimistic. But there's nothing else I can do and being optimistic is the only thing keeping me from blowing my brains out.

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[–] Panamalt@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

how do you cope?

Panic attacks, mostly

[–] pet1t@lemm.ee 1 points 3 months ago

oh, valid... but stay strong! we'll all get through it one way or another

[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 3 points 3 months ago

A lot of it depends on if your independently housed. If so you worry about losing it, if not you worry about ever having it.

[–] The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

As Americans, we're really good at airing out our political dirty laundry on the world stage, as well as taking every item in the news to its most extreme conclusion (especially in online circles that are too homogeneous in their political leanings).

I just try to cut through all the noise and keep perspective.

[–] pet1t@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

This is the most positive take I've read on this topic so far. I hope it's true and it's all more circus than it seems, but it's scary tho

[–] The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of decisions being made that I strongly disapprove of, but I just want to caution that we have a tendency to overwhelm online conversations and completely lose perspective.

Real life in the US is very different than it is presented online.

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