The summer of our discontent

Shakespeare’s Richard III famously begins with the would-be tyrant proclaiming “This is the winter of our discontent.” For us stuck in the declining days of our own would-be tyrant, this feels like the summer of our discontent.

We can see clearly what’s going on. We’re in a downward spiral. Our aspiring autocrat, his popularity (and his remaining cognitive abilities) visibly declining day-by-day, feels both his power and his time slipping away. Some of his supporters are edging away gingerly, fearing his erratic decisions but even more fearing for their own political futures after he’s gone. In turn, he reacts to what he sees as their betrayal by becoming even more erratic and lashing out ever more intemperately. And so it goes.

In the meantime, many of us feel like we’re in limbo waiting for the mid-terms. But the mid-terms are laced with uncertainty: uncertain if we’ll even have free and fair elections without confronting ICE at the polls, uncertain if the Post Office will deliver our mail-in ballots, uncertain what the election outcome will be and uncertain even of what a good outcome would accomplish. While we wait, the Supreme Court continues to overturn justice, democracy and sanity by a vote of 6-3.

We’re deluged with emails and texts asking for our money. Every one of them is urgent and  facing a crucial deadline. It’s bad enough to get these from candidates and causes we support – and then we find that some of them are coming from conservative Republican front groups. 

We can’t even look forward to relaxing and celebrating the 4^th of July weekend. It’s been tainted with so many things we can’t even list them all.

So what should we do?

Breathe deeply and slowly, regroup, refresh, take a break and save your energy for the fall. We can’t maintain this level of outrage – or depression – all the time, let alone having any energy left for the real fights to come. 

This 4th of July, celebrate the America that's worth celebrating: Watch a few of Heather Cox Richardson's wonderful bite-size one-minute "250 to 250" history videos.

Go to videos

Find some lower-stress ways to be politically active. Make sure now that you’re registered to vote. If you have friends, relatives and neighbors who might not be registered – especially young and first-time voters – urge them to register. Support those who are staying fully engaged this summer, challenging the regime every step in court and making sure we’re all watching (especially Democracy Docket).

But otherwise hike. Read. Garden. Spend time with friends and in community, connecting instead of seething. Do anything except dwell on the news. There will be plenty of time for that later.

As for us, we’re researching Reflecting Pool Algae green drinks for the July 4^th weekend. Medori sours are looking pretty good.

And as always: