They want us to tune out
"Disgust isn't a strong enough word"
It’s been a head-spinning week of news. Just one week ago, Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown, which led to a single member of Congress moving to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which led Congress to LEAVE TOWN for a week with another budget crisis looming. Then President Biden announces he’s going to build more border wall, something he’s long opposed as ineffective.
Donald Trump called the judge who holds the fate of Trump’s New York businesses in his hands “deranged.” Who does that? Trump’s lawyers filed to dismiss federal criminal indictments because Trump was president at the time he tried to overthrow the election so they say he can’t possibly be criminally charged. If that goes through, any future president could do anything and get away with it?
What in the world is going on? How does Matt Gaetz gather a few wackos around him to make history by toppling a House speaker backed by nearly every other Republican in the House? How can we possibly make sense of what’s happening to our country?
Some Americans are tuning out
The New York Times put its finger on the issue with this Friday headline: “How do Americans feel about politics? ‘Disgust isn’t a strong enough word’”.
Quoting from the story: “Voters said that Washington infighting and the Republicans’ flirtation with debt default and government shutdowns recklessly put people’s paychecks, health care and benefits at risk at a moment when they are preoccupied with how to pay rising health care and grocery bills, or to cope with a fast-warming climate unleashing natural disasters in nearly every corner of the nation.”
The Times interviewed several Americans who purposely tune out political news. “I’ve purposely made that choice for my own health and well-being,” says one.
I was on the road this week visiting friends and relatives, so I was probably more of a “normal” news consumer than when I’m home lapping up cable television and reading multiple newspapers and blogs. I understand the temptation to say “a pox on all of their houses” and just tune out. Because when you’re preoccupied with normal life, our leaders can seem completely disconnected from it.
Part of the disrupters’ strategy is to make the political atmosphere so toxic that it forces American citizens to turn their heads. To tune out. Cancel the newspaper subscription. Watch “The Golden Bachelor” instead of the local news. To not vote. To give up. It’s the incendiary language. The personal insults. The attack ads on TV. If they can keep enough us from voting, it gives them more power to wreak havoc.
Democracy is fragile
That’s why I can’t and won’t tune out. As crazy as this week has been, it’s been a stellar week for journalism. The national newspapers and cable news networks have done an outstanding job painting a picture of what’s happening in Washington. The picture isn’t pretty, but it’s one we must see.
This is a dangerous moment in American history. Democracy is fragile. It requires leaders to do the right thing for the country to protect our fragile institutions. Too many politicians are exploiting the cracks in our system for their own gain, not ours. We salute the flag and think we can’t lose America, but we can. Too many Americans are putting cult-like faith in Trump as a savior sent by God, when all the evidence points to a con man who will put America through hell so he can continue to stay out of prison and raise money for his mansions and jets.
I realize I’m likely preaching to the choir. So the message this week is to spread the word. Talk to your neighbors and relatives and keep their spirits up. Share your concerns. Ask them how they’re doing. Mention helpful news stories you’ve read that put events in perspective.
If too many of us close our eyes, the next time we open them things may be even worse than they are now.
Great job, Dave. I couldn't have said it better myself.
Sometimes I just have to tag team with my like- minded friends and family when it gets too overwhelming. ( But I refuse to watch the mindless crap of most television as a sedative. ) Frankly it’s necessary to tag out for awhile unless I want to totally lose my shit. That said , it’s never ok to stay out for long and consider one’s self a citizen. This is an ugly horrifying haul. Fascism. We need all the strength and resilience we can muster. If a short respite helps make me less nuts ( and anyone else who cares about losing democracy ) for the long haul battle, then so be it.