A few months ago, the humorist David Sedaris wrote about his joy at feeling he no longer had to care about political news. Four years of "constant monitoring" of events, which a friend of his likened to having a second job, had left him exhausted. So "the moment that Joe Biden was sworn into office I let it all go...it's so freeing, no longer listening to political podcasts - no longer being outraged."
Thank you for this. I have been sinking ever deeper these last few weeks into a quasi despair...Feeling apathetic, like I better just accept that the worst is going to come true no matter what anyone does. This piece has reoriented me a bit. Thank you for all that you do Ruth.
I can’t thank you enough for this. Last night after reading the Atlantic article, I began to feel awful. If hope is the thing with wings and birds of a feather….it’s truly reassuring to be part of this flock you tend with such grace. 🙏🏼💕
We are truly the weary warriors but what keeps a soldier going when exhausted and devastated? IDK yet I’m certain it comes from training and a bond of brotherhood instilled in that training. The focus and mission. Biden’s WH needs a democracy boot camp and an arsenal of willpower to keep democracy alive. First mission is to STABILIZE the Fort. SAFE AND FREE ELECTIONS. We cannot March into a battle knowing it’s a loss and causality waiting to happen.
From my perspective, Biden's refusal to place his political capital behind hardening democracy is as key to his falling poll numbers as the schizophrenic media coverage. Does he really believe that infrastructure packages (in the unlikely event that BBB passes the Senate) will withstand unified GOP authoritarianism? A reelected Trump will reallocate funds at will...who would stop him? I support infrastructure, but it feels as though we're redecorating the house without bothering to fix the cracked foundation. It's demoralizing the Democratic base and allowing right-leaning Independents to justify returning to the fold to vote for GOP Congressional majorities. After all, if democracy is in such jeopardy in the US, wouldn't every effort be made to protect it? Wouldn't every recess be cancelled, wouldn't we see a full court press by the White House and Democratic leadership to warn of the dangers of authoritarian rule? If the public and the media fully understood the dangers, there might be time for a reset, but I don't see this happening. We already know that SCOTUS has plans to revisit libel laws...yet the 4th estate happily focuses on VP Harris' underwhelming first year. Passing 2 infrastructure bills won't save democracy, people will cash their government checks and vote down ticket for Republicans as they did in 2020, and without democracy-hardening legislation, Democratic turnout in 2024 will be abysmal.
An expert on authoritarianism once said to me; authoritarians want us to despair and give up hope. This is a good reminder not to give in to negative frames and narratives of failure perpetuated in media outlets. In fact, there is a very strong positive narrative of accomplishment that the Biden administration and Democrats can start messaging on especially now that the domestic infrastructure bill has been signed into law as we move into the upcoming holidays. Biden is jumping out on that this week and taking the lead!
Biden was my dead last choice for President. But, all things considered, I approve of the direction his administration is taking and appreciate the vicious headwinds their initiatives are met with. The Infrastructure bill is a big deal and is at least somewhat bi-partisan. The fate of build back better is disappointing, and I suspect Biden could have done more to advance it. But one has to keep in mind that, unlike FDR, Biden does not have a legislative branch composed of 2/3 Democrats. And of the Democrats he has, a substantial number are corporate Democrats, who may actually do more to undermine people's faith in democracy than the authoritarian posse on the other side of the aisle.
Professor Ben-Ghiat: Thank you for describing clearly how and why Mr. Trump and his band have made us feel crushed and hopeless. And thank you for recognizing that hope exists even while we wait for some new outrage to happen, something apocalyptic and awful. The word apocalypse has an interesting history. It began as merely the title of a book: "The Unveiling." The book didn't have a wide readership, even though it was included in the canon-list of early Christian writings. Too hard to understand, apparently, because it was in a genre that fused poetry and image and dream-narrative and a few other things. A good guess at its intended meaning is that it unveiled the corruption and injustice and inequity of the plutocrats who ruled the Roman Empire, and it held out hope that Rome's evil would not last. It didn't. But the patterns of corruption persist, and they provoke people even now to cry, "How long?"
Thank you Ruth, Yes I believe we are weary democracy warriors. Some of which is being deliberately weaponized to make us feel so but others is the complete malfeasance or the inept indecisiveness of some by doing and showing no grit or compunction to actually do anything about it. The criminality alone in itself is overwhelming I completely understand but without the accountability needed and necessary to further right our democracy I feel the need of some to move it forward will all be for naught. Most importantly our voting rights continually being stripped and suppressed from we the people. For any democracy to thrive and flourish we need all branches working together ethically with the same rules for all including the law and our justice systems. Nobody is above the law of which is one of the reasons why this country is where it is at. I for one do not believe our country can sustainably move forward in any meaningful way without complete transparency of what was done and happened with the correct measures whether punishments or new policies, laws set in place to strengthen our democracy so as never to have it happen again. The bbb plan that passed is to he celebrated of course but on the other hand if our elections are not secure and safe along with the equal say of our votes how celebrated can it really be. The gop/gqp have proved they will do anything for $ or power even though they are in fact the minority. I'm ready for some bold actions and changes while tired yes also of waiting and watching some content or comfortable with letting our democracy slip through their fingers. This to me also has no affiliation either because our democracy is and should be for all. A we the people for the people one vote, one voice.
Love all the comments, thanks for your insights and encouragement. It does my heart good to know their our fellow democracy warriors out there that really understand the seriousness and complexities of where our country and democracy are at. 🙏 have a blessed day fellow weary souls
The good news is that there is a lot of intelligent free speech still happening out there in the communications ether. Folks are thinking, talking, reading, responding to the news. In short, there is still democratic life taking place. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? Not until the last breath is drawn.
Important message. Wonderfully timed. Especially after Bannon’s realty TV martyr tirade performance to escalate conflict. Nurture stoicism and endurance as we embrace self care, support, compassion. and unity.
Ruth's column comes on the very day former Democratic congressman Russ Carnahan, who served in congress from a district in St. Louis, and I, who served as a Republican congressman from Kansas City, kick off our Saving Democracy Road Show. We will meet via Zoom with students, faculty and friends of Washington University in St. Louis. We will sound the alarm that our democracy is in danger. Thanks Ruth for writing: "While some may take their distance from politics, others may feel the duty to engage to make people aware that democracy is ours to lose."
Thank you for this article, Ruth. It is very heartening. I have noticed every other day (at least) there is very negative press for Biden. Maureen Dowd may be a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, but I find her mean spirited and stopped reading her columns years ago when she called Pres. Obama, "Barry". I found it disrespectful to the office of the presidency. Things don't look great for us in the 2022 and 2024 elections, but I refuse to give up hope and just hand the GOP victories. Reading that the GOP is giving their support to Bannon was very upsetting but not surprising. His objective is to destroy our government, he has said as much in public, repeatedly. We are all disheartened by the lack of accountability both for 1/6, and for me and many others, the hundreds of thousands of Covid deaths that didn't have to happen but for a criminal masquerading as president. I think it's important for each us to find candidates we believe in, and support them with small monthly donations...those donations add up. It's important to support candidates at the local level who often don't get the donations. Once I'm back in the U.S., I plan to work hard to encourage voting, as I did in 2020. People are disappointed with the lack of accountability and disenfranchised with gerrymandering and will choose to not vote. It's incumbent upon all of us to work as hard as we can to save our democracy and not just accept the GOP takeover in 2022 and 2024 as a fait accompli.
Ruth, I so needed this! I've been overwhelmed by all the news. For me, it's taking a deep breath and reminding family, friends, and myself not to lose sight of our accomplishments. We must stay focused and move forward - or push forward. Your insights are appreciated. Hope all is well.
Author Lee McIntyre said that "postmodernism is the godfather of post-truth." It has also been said that post-truth is the beginning of fascism/authoritarianism. There is no doubt that this nation is in a battle for the truth. Many of our citizens are in the post-truth mode, where political emotions supersede truth. The degree of cognitive bias going on is stunning and related to tribal solidarity. Once people become removed from reality via propaganda, the authoritarian can mold their minds to any shape he pleases. CRT is nothing but manufactured hysteria, playing on peoples' sense of victimhood. As we all know, this tactic was used under fascsism and should be a warning.
Thank you for this. I have been sinking ever deeper these last few weeks into a quasi despair...Feeling apathetic, like I better just accept that the worst is going to come true no matter what anyone does. This piece has reoriented me a bit. Thank you for all that you do Ruth.
I can’t thank you enough for this. Last night after reading the Atlantic article, I began to feel awful. If hope is the thing with wings and birds of a feather….it’s truly reassuring to be part of this flock you tend with such grace. 🙏🏼💕
We are truly the weary warriors but what keeps a soldier going when exhausted and devastated? IDK yet I’m certain it comes from training and a bond of brotherhood instilled in that training. The focus and mission. Biden’s WH needs a democracy boot camp and an arsenal of willpower to keep democracy alive. First mission is to STABILIZE the Fort. SAFE AND FREE ELECTIONS. We cannot March into a battle knowing it’s a loss and causality waiting to happen.
From my perspective, Biden's refusal to place his political capital behind hardening democracy is as key to his falling poll numbers as the schizophrenic media coverage. Does he really believe that infrastructure packages (in the unlikely event that BBB passes the Senate) will withstand unified GOP authoritarianism? A reelected Trump will reallocate funds at will...who would stop him? I support infrastructure, but it feels as though we're redecorating the house without bothering to fix the cracked foundation. It's demoralizing the Democratic base and allowing right-leaning Independents to justify returning to the fold to vote for GOP Congressional majorities. After all, if democracy is in such jeopardy in the US, wouldn't every effort be made to protect it? Wouldn't every recess be cancelled, wouldn't we see a full court press by the White House and Democratic leadership to warn of the dangers of authoritarian rule? If the public and the media fully understood the dangers, there might be time for a reset, but I don't see this happening. We already know that SCOTUS has plans to revisit libel laws...yet the 4th estate happily focuses on VP Harris' underwhelming first year. Passing 2 infrastructure bills won't save democracy, people will cash their government checks and vote down ticket for Republicans as they did in 2020, and without democracy-hardening legislation, Democratic turnout in 2024 will be abysmal.
An expert on authoritarianism once said to me; authoritarians want us to despair and give up hope. This is a good reminder not to give in to negative frames and narratives of failure perpetuated in media outlets. In fact, there is a very strong positive narrative of accomplishment that the Biden administration and Democrats can start messaging on especially now that the domestic infrastructure bill has been signed into law as we move into the upcoming holidays. Biden is jumping out on that this week and taking the lead!
Biden was my dead last choice for President. But, all things considered, I approve of the direction his administration is taking and appreciate the vicious headwinds their initiatives are met with. The Infrastructure bill is a big deal and is at least somewhat bi-partisan. The fate of build back better is disappointing, and I suspect Biden could have done more to advance it. But one has to keep in mind that, unlike FDR, Biden does not have a legislative branch composed of 2/3 Democrats. And of the Democrats he has, a substantial number are corporate Democrats, who may actually do more to undermine people's faith in democracy than the authoritarian posse on the other side of the aisle.
Professor Ben-Ghiat: Thank you for describing clearly how and why Mr. Trump and his band have made us feel crushed and hopeless. And thank you for recognizing that hope exists even while we wait for some new outrage to happen, something apocalyptic and awful. The word apocalypse has an interesting history. It began as merely the title of a book: "The Unveiling." The book didn't have a wide readership, even though it was included in the canon-list of early Christian writings. Too hard to understand, apparently, because it was in a genre that fused poetry and image and dream-narrative and a few other things. A good guess at its intended meaning is that it unveiled the corruption and injustice and inequity of the plutocrats who ruled the Roman Empire, and it held out hope that Rome's evil would not last. It didn't. But the patterns of corruption persist, and they provoke people even now to cry, "How long?"
Thank you Ruth, Yes I believe we are weary democracy warriors. Some of which is being deliberately weaponized to make us feel so but others is the complete malfeasance or the inept indecisiveness of some by doing and showing no grit or compunction to actually do anything about it. The criminality alone in itself is overwhelming I completely understand but without the accountability needed and necessary to further right our democracy I feel the need of some to move it forward will all be for naught. Most importantly our voting rights continually being stripped and suppressed from we the people. For any democracy to thrive and flourish we need all branches working together ethically with the same rules for all including the law and our justice systems. Nobody is above the law of which is one of the reasons why this country is where it is at. I for one do not believe our country can sustainably move forward in any meaningful way without complete transparency of what was done and happened with the correct measures whether punishments or new policies, laws set in place to strengthen our democracy so as never to have it happen again. The bbb plan that passed is to he celebrated of course but on the other hand if our elections are not secure and safe along with the equal say of our votes how celebrated can it really be. The gop/gqp have proved they will do anything for $ or power even though they are in fact the minority. I'm ready for some bold actions and changes while tired yes also of waiting and watching some content or comfortable with letting our democracy slip through their fingers. This to me also has no affiliation either because our democracy is and should be for all. A we the people for the people one vote, one voice.
Love all the comments, thanks for your insights and encouragement. It does my heart good to know their our fellow democracy warriors out there that really understand the seriousness and complexities of where our country and democracy are at. 🙏 have a blessed day fellow weary souls
The good news is that there is a lot of intelligent free speech still happening out there in the communications ether. Folks are thinking, talking, reading, responding to the news. In short, there is still democratic life taking place. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? Not until the last breath is drawn.
Dum spiro, spero. Cicero
Important message. Wonderfully timed. Especially after Bannon’s realty TV martyr tirade performance to escalate conflict. Nurture stoicism and endurance as we embrace self care, support, compassion. and unity.
Ruth's column comes on the very day former Democratic congressman Russ Carnahan, who served in congress from a district in St. Louis, and I, who served as a Republican congressman from Kansas City, kick off our Saving Democracy Road Show. We will meet via Zoom with students, faculty and friends of Washington University in St. Louis. We will sound the alarm that our democracy is in danger. Thanks Ruth for writing: "While some may take their distance from politics, others may feel the duty to engage to make people aware that democracy is ours to lose."
This article very much worth taking in -- and sharing! I needed this as a reminder because I admit that sometimes things can seem tenuous around here.
Thank you for this article, Ruth. It is very heartening. I have noticed every other day (at least) there is very negative press for Biden. Maureen Dowd may be a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, but I find her mean spirited and stopped reading her columns years ago when she called Pres. Obama, "Barry". I found it disrespectful to the office of the presidency. Things don't look great for us in the 2022 and 2024 elections, but I refuse to give up hope and just hand the GOP victories. Reading that the GOP is giving their support to Bannon was very upsetting but not surprising. His objective is to destroy our government, he has said as much in public, repeatedly. We are all disheartened by the lack of accountability both for 1/6, and for me and many others, the hundreds of thousands of Covid deaths that didn't have to happen but for a criminal masquerading as president. I think it's important for each us to find candidates we believe in, and support them with small monthly donations...those donations add up. It's important to support candidates at the local level who often don't get the donations. Once I'm back in the U.S., I plan to work hard to encourage voting, as I did in 2020. People are disappointed with the lack of accountability and disenfranchised with gerrymandering and will choose to not vote. It's incumbent upon all of us to work as hard as we can to save our democracy and not just accept the GOP takeover in 2022 and 2024 as a fait accompli.
Ruth, I so needed this! I've been overwhelmed by all the news. For me, it's taking a deep breath and reminding family, friends, and myself not to lose sight of our accomplishments. We must stay focused and move forward - or push forward. Your insights are appreciated. Hope all is well.
Author Lee McIntyre said that "postmodernism is the godfather of post-truth." It has also been said that post-truth is the beginning of fascism/authoritarianism. There is no doubt that this nation is in a battle for the truth. Many of our citizens are in the post-truth mode, where political emotions supersede truth. The degree of cognitive bias going on is stunning and related to tribal solidarity. Once people become removed from reality via propaganda, the authoritarian can mold their minds to any shape he pleases. CRT is nothing but manufactured hysteria, playing on peoples' sense of victimhood. As we all know, this tactic was used under fascsism and should be a warning.