Why Not Paying Attention Makes You Part of the Problem.

The past isn’t past—it’s running for office.

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Every morning, before my coffee even cools, the news gives me a fresh reason to clench my jaw. The world feels like it's on fire, and some days I'm not sure if I'm smelling smoke or just my own burnt toast.

It's easy to get overwhelmed.

I recall a time when I was blissfully unaware of political news because I was busy and found it all so very, very dull. I even worked for the government, so technically I was being paid to care, and still didn't.

That nonchalance ended a decade ago when Our National Nightmare came on the scene. I don't know U.S. history as well as I should, but I'm learning more about it. A delayed start, but a start nonetheless, and so much of it is coming to life now—more than any history class could have taught me. Many thanks to

Heather Cox Richardson

, who emails me a nightly history lesson.

If you've never heard of her, you should check her out.

I'm discovering that what led us here began decades before I was born. The past is very present.

Some say our current upheaval goes back to the Confederate loss of the Civil War. The South never got over it. They want their free labor back on their farms and in their homes.

While our country was built by enslaved Black people, exploitation has shifted to brown people from Central and South America—people who do the jobs Americans don't care to do and still paid $97 billion in taxes in 2022 without reaping any of the benefits.

History repeats itself. What got us here-again?

Some blame Reaganomics. Others blame Bill Clinton or Newt Gingrich. Then there’s the diabolical Project 25, and possibly one could go back to 1971 and the Powell Memorandum.

The Republicans are jerks. The Democrats are jerks. And Independents? They seem to pop up at just the right time to split a vote like a bad dinner check.

It's too simplistic to say it’s any one thing.

It's many things, stacking up into a crescendo of turmoil and human suffering.

As tempting as it is to stay above the fray, I can't ignore the horrors happening, because "just going about my business" may have added to the problem. When I was a young parent, I was absorbed in making ends meet and raising my family. Any spare time was spent at church back when I subscribed to its ideologies.

I see my grown children busy with their lives, just like I was, barely noticing what's happening, except when the grocery bill delivers its own political message.

Being too distracted to notice has ramifications. If more of us had been paying attention, this madman might not be in office today.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead

This past year, I made the most of the time that used to be so scarce. I became a politically active citizen, canvassing for local candidates, supporting elections in other states, joining Democratic groups, and writing postcards to support the election of Kamala Harris.

I've learned that local action has a ripple effect that rises.

Home is where change begins.

Being proactive lessened the stress. Yet, my efforts didn’t have the desired effect. Even though I was devastated at the election results, I couldn’t say I wasn't prepared. The sting from the 2016 election never faded, so November 6, 2024, felt like deja vu.

As a way to cope eight months into Our National Nightmare Part 2, I only consume bite-sized news: scanning headlines, reading the stories that demand attention, just enough to stay aware without drowning in despair.

The sheer volume of bad news is brutal on the nervous system. It’s all part of the authoritarian playbook designed to numb and shut us down. I have to be able to feel and still function. So, putting the latest attack on democracy aside, I go about my day and stay joyful where I can.

With my grandkids, it's easy. They respond to silliness, so that's what I deliver—corny jokes, funny faces, and the occasional "Gigi's a crazy elephant" routine.

Silly is an answer, but it's also a privilege. A luxury that those targeted by the current regime rarely have.

I refuse to succumb to the doom and gloom that this administration promotes. A positive attitude energizes and uplifts me, whereas constant dread only paralyzes me.

That’s what the other side wants.

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little."

Edmund Burke

Besides staying on top of what’s happening, writing this piece today helped me feel more connected and empowered. It's a small thing, and it connects me with all of you. It's comforting to remember there are more of us than them—why else would they need gerrymandering and trickery to win?

When big, beautiful billionaire perks depress me, I seek out Substacks sharing hope.

Scott Dworkin

regularly highlights and celebrates great news for us that’s terrible for Trump. That’s the spirit, Scott!

Stories of people taking action to save democracy remind me that love always prevails, regardless of the circumstances. It just takes a really long time to get a criminal out of the White House.

And while we fight that battle, I’m focused on arming the next generation—not with weapons, but with compassion, awareness, and the courage to act.

I want my grandkids to grow up feeling heard and understood—something I never experienced and didn't model well for my kids. Perhaps as a grandma, I can do better by helping them develop the empathy, curiosity, and backbone that will spill over into every part of their lives.

Compassion and courage in action could look like:

• Teaching them to see immigrants as people seeking better lives, not threats

• Showing them how to disagree respectfully, even with family

• Asking questions about where our clothes and food come from

• Listening to people whose lives are different from theirs

• Understanding that silliness isn't denial—it's fuel for the fight

• Knowing that being a citizen of the world means caring beyond your cul-de-sac.

That's the world I hope to hand them—not perfect, but kinder, braver, and more awake. And when the headlines make them clench their jaws one day, I hope they'll also know exactly where to put their energy to make things better.

What are you doing to cope? Suggestions welcome in the comments.

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One more important person to share! I recently found Jayne, a teacher, who shares lessons about democracy. If you have a spare minute and an Instagram account (also TikTok), please take a listen.

jayneconverse3

A post shared by @jayneconverse3