Not saying it’s easy, just necessary.
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A cloud of despair has settled over our country, and it feels like it’s getting thicker with every decision made by Donald Trump. We all seem to be caught in this political spiral. As Barack Obama remarked at Jesse Jackson’s funeral last weekend, each day brings a new shock.
<p I’m not naturally upbeat. I share the same gloom as anyone else who just wants this nightmare to end. But feeling hopeless isn't a good place for either America or ourselves.
<p What I constantly hear from friends and family is the lament, “What can we do?” To that, I say – for the sake of our nation and our own well-being – there are not just things we can do; there are many things we must do. The simple truth is that the only ones who can save America are its decent citizens: us.
1. Keep raising awareness. As a political journalist and active citizen, I believe it’s crucial for each of us to raise the alarm continually: about the threats that Trump and his fellow Republicans pose to our most vulnerable citizens; about how they’ve harmed our economy; about their corruption; about their desire to create divisions in our country; about their aim to make this a white male Christian nation; about their attacks on science and medicine; about their aggressive actions that have currently ignited conflict throughout the Middle East; and perhaps most importantly, about their ongoing assaults on our electoral system and Trump’s intention to undermine that system and take away our votes.
<p Don’t just live in fear. Stay informed, and ensure everyone you know understands that Trump's goal is to dismantle democracy.
2. Protest. Of course, I often hear people say protests are pointless, that Trump will go ahead with whatever he wants regardless, that the Supreme Court has given him free rein, and other institutional checks have largely failed against him.
<p While Trump may operate mostly unchecked now, I can only imagine what destruction he would have caused if millions upon millions of compassionate Americans hadn’t taken to the streets to show solidarity and demonstrate what he’s up against.
<p Protests alone won’t stop him. However, they boost our morale while diminishing that of Trump’s supporters. On my own “overpass brigade,” where we hold signs for passing drivers, every honk lifts my spirits; every middle finger thrown my way from angry folks reminds me of what I'm standing up for.
3. Engage in local politics. For years now, while Republican activists were busy filling state legislatures, city governments, and school boards with their presence, Democrats remained largely unaware.
<p This isn’t true anymore. Politics starts at home. From personal experience, I know local governments and parties welcome participation eagerly-this gives you chances to influence your community's direction as well as your party's trajectory on a national level.
4. Boycott. One particularly disheartening aspect of recent politics is how Big Business has effectively become part of Trump’s administration machinery. Bit by bit, tech leaders and industry heads bow before Trump while offering him tributes.
<p The good news? The one thing these executives value more than Trump is money-which means they have weaknesses you can capitalize on.
<p Scott Galloway from NYU Stern Business School has initiated a boycott against major backers of Trump-you can find his efforts along with target companies at Resist and Unsubscribe.
<p We’ve already witnessed how companies like Target or Tesla or Disney faced backlash from socially conscious consumers-a way for us to hold other enablers accountable-and if enough pressure builds up on them they might reconsider their support.
5. Restore moral values. Since Trump’s emergence in politics I’ve maintained that this crisis boils down mainly to morals: he’s taken a wrecking ball through our long-held moral principles-like decency, honesty kindness generosity steadfastness-and yes empathy too With continuous lies grifting fear-mongering embracing cruelty racist language cold-hearted rejection cynical vilification-he’s turned far too many Americans into something monstrous
That being said , to truly eliminate Trumpism , I believe we need rebuild reassert those familiar moral values
It involves talking values encouraging fellow citizens elevate themselves teaching children good principles
But it also requires setting an example We saw its effectiveness Minneapolis neighbors protected others putting themselves danger because was right thing do insist compassion kindness generosity empathy
Republicans labeled empathy dangerous Elon Musk deemed fundamental weakness Yet understand it’s actual strength Now show it
I realize this might come off as overly optimistic Just cliches However hopelessness though understandable easy hopefulness much tougher
But firmly believe when history documents terrible era heroes victors likely be those who emerged despair combat disease within society rather than succumbed it
So rise up.
Neal Gabler recipient two LA Times Book Prizes USA Today biography year Time Magazine book year Guggenheim Fellowship Shorenstein Fellowship Harvard His substack Farewell America.
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