I have a few friends on Facebook who are asking something from the anti-Trump crowd: stop whining. Trump won, Hillary lost, so shut up for the next 4 years.
I disagree with Trump’s 100 day plan. I disagree with appointing a climate change denialist to the EPA, the agency leading the charge against the biggest refugee crisis of the 21st century. I disagree with taking health care coverage away from millions of Americans (something considered a right in most of the world). I disagree with a president-elect who thinks so little of the American people that he refuses to answer our questions. I could go on… (I didn’t even mention nuclear weapons)
You are right though, and I agree to stop whining.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to shut up. I will still speak up when I disagree (after asking myself these three crucial questions). But I will also act. Action – that’s the difference between whining and change.
The Indivisible Guide has been a great place to start. It stresses organizing to hold your congressional reps accountable (which includes celebrating them when they do right), and making phone calls.
To that end I’ve also just signed up for Daily Action. I hear good things about it and am eager to see what kind of actions they offer. I think I can guess today’s action, since the new Republican Congress’ first order of business was to remove independent ethics oversight.
Finally, I’ll be taking care of myself. I remember the Bush years and outrage fatigue is real. That means working on myself, spending time with my family, friends, and hobbies, and remembering that politics is a means and not an end. We can still be friends even if we disagree.
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum