Going into Election Day, I knew I couldn’t have done more to flip my Assembly District. That alone counts as a win.
I also had a clear hierarchy of outcomes I wanted: Harris, then Mannion and Riley,1 then way, way, way down on the list, me. One out of three is better than nothing, I guess?
But oooof. I sure do wish we weren’t where we are now.
Here’s where I’m finding solace and strength and hope and amusement—all of which we’re really going to need.
.
America has always been divided, just in different ways depending on what decade you’re looking at. The Senate used to be even more violent and volatile (as this podcast2 deftly explains). Americans used to own people and think they were doing them a favor.3 We rounded up Japanese people less than 100 years ago and kept them in camps. We’ve only bee a shining beacon of democracy for some people, not all the people. Maybe this decade will get us closer to our ideals. Maybe it will break us. Hard to know right now.
Some of what’s happening/going to happen is genuinely funny. Matt Gaetz for A.G? That shit’s comedy gold.
77 million Americans voted against fascism. That’s not nothing. And we’re not the same people we were in 2016. We’ve been through some stuff and come out, well, not stronger exactly, but more aware, maybe?
Now is the time to rebuild your community connections. I had a county budget meeting yesterday and remembered just how much of a difference local action makes. Find a group. Get out of the house. You don’t have to fix everything — and can’t — but you can make something a little bit less terrible.
Like life itself, social media/the internet is both awful and amazing. The awful isn’t worth anyone’s energy. But the amazing? Read on.
Some advice for the time we are in:4
From Chuck Wendig.5
From Waging Nonviolence.6
From the Everywhereist.
From Ursula Vernon.7
From Paul Simon.8
Remember that there is progress, even if it’s not the progress we thought it would be.
Other tidbits:
Martha Stewart Christmas and women and power.
It’s winter vagina time, bitches!
Running marathons makes you a better person.10
The poet who toppled an Empire.11
The two U.S. House races in NY19 and NY22, which were held by MAGA-curious Rs and seemed most ripe for flipping. These districts crossed the one I was running for so I spent a lot of time with both campaigns.
The episode about the South Dakota AG is also worth a listen.
I started Erik Larson’s The Demon of Unrest and the echoes are deafening. Highly recommend it and promise you’ll learn something.
I’ve broken this into two groups. First election-related, then just stuff I enjoyed.
My favorite tidbit for a way to get through: “go learn a thing.” Go, y’all. Get really invested in some arcane bit of the world. I have suggestions, if you need them.
First step: trust yourself.
She writes books for grown ups under the name “T. Kingfisher.” Do yourself a favor and read Nettle & Bone.
This is more a musical reminder that this country frequently breaks your heart.
One upside to losing the election is that I have time to go places and do things. Until martial law is imposed, of course, but one must make hay when it’s hay-making time.
At one of my last public speaking events before the election, my opponent opened his presentation with how he walks five miles every morning and listens to conservative talk radio. It took all of my self-control to start my thing with “I ran a marathon and 20+ half marathons and listen to economics podcasts, you absolute spoon.” But that kind of response wouldn’t have made me likeable, which is important, I’m told.
This whole series is great, btw. But this episode in particular might be something you need right now.
You did your best and that's all I can expect of anyone. If I wanted someone who did their worst I would have voted for Trump and his Republican minions.
You threw your hat in the ring and for that alone I am monumentally impressed.
Also - many thanks for the link to the Dr. Jen Gunter vagina article. I needed that laugh SO MUCH!