For me, it was the days and weeks after Jan 6th, when it became clear that outright insurrection, a violent coup, was not going to spark a course correct.

The republican party should have shattered. The non-fascists should have woken up, and fought with MAGA, and years later, a viable political party rise from the ashes.

But that didn't happen. A few conscientious dissenters fell on their swords, most at retirement age anyway. Fascism took over completely. And the American people ate it up.

Weeks after Jan 6th, it was clear that consequences were not coming. They took their mask off, and no one cared, or couldn't stop them.

And here we are. Convicted felon with absolute power on his way to the Whitehouse, who owns the SCOTUS, Senate, and likely the House.

Trump will have unchecked power to do whatever he damn well pleases.

Way to fucking go, America. I fucking hate my countrymen.

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? I'm 40, started paying attention to politics in the Clinton years and then really paying attention with Bush v Gore in 2000. America was full on neolib vs neocon bullshit back then, a quarter of a century ago. The 2nd Iraq War was a big moment for me of realizing that the only thing America stands for is corporate hegemony. Project 25 is no different than the Project for a New American Century, and the "opposition" from the "left" isn't fundamentally against any of it, they just pay a bit more lip service to culture issues (which are of course important if you aren't a cis white christian male, but they are clearly not enough).

Tl;dr

I'm with you. It was absolutely soul crushing to watch the worst person to run for president get elected on no qualifications and give us reasons to despise him deeply every day for 8 years. But even worse was that people cheered him the fuck on. Then demanded more. This country is lost. We have no reason to hope anymore. Everything good is in danger and everything dangerous is a possibility. We're fucked. I'll never have another warm and fuzzy feeling about this country or its institutions.

Thanks for writing this for me.

I'm in the same boat. I'm a white straight guy. So, I guess I'm not in immediate danger, although I am an academic. So, I guess my choices are: fight, flee or essentially hide.

Fighting seems infeasible although I think violence is justifiable.

Fleeing would require leaving the country. I dunno if I can swing that.

So....I guess I just live my life and hope it's not quite as bad as I fear? I dunno. I'm open to advice.

I do now hate this country and the bulk of the people who live here. Fuck them.

America is not a nation of mostly good people with a few vocal "bad apples." We are a nation of hateful, scared bigots, and we proved it in a big way.

A big chunk of the rest of the world have telling you that for decades, but you guys believed the lie about some “shining city upon a hill”. The American dream was always built on the misery of others.

If you truly consider yourself a patriot, you will do what you can to help the people who will actually be in danger during this administration. Find orgs near you that help the marginalized and underrepresented. Volunteer. Educate others. Do whatever you are able to.

This is not the time to retreat. This is a time for action.

I feel the exact same way....I'm disgusted with us for letting this happen.

Take heart. Our fellow citizens are slow learners, and few of them have paid close attention to Trump and his shit forsaken privilege in escaping consequences since he left office.

It will be a long wait, but four years of unbridled trump will open a lot of eyes. Let them get a healthy, sustained dose of exactly what they didn't realize they asked for and then we rebuild.

And don't give away the House like that. It's not over yet, and with any luck that guardrail will remain.