General Discussion

I'm about the same age as you. After Bush v. Gore and the failure of Congress to object and fight for our most fundamental right -- the right to vote, -- my fears for where we were headed were pretty dire. And then came the failure to impeach for war crimes. A very dark path. But somehow this is all so, so, so much worse than even the worst of my fears in the 2000's.

It often hits when I'm in my car, which is sort of fortunate because I'm free to scream or cry -- which has happened on occasion. Like when I first heard the Zelensky oval office horror show or first heard the news of 47 disappearing people to a concentration camp in Venezuelan.

And when an acquaintance or person on the elevator in my building or wherever asks how I am, my new standard answer is "Fine, except for x" (where x = the whole nation gone mad thing, or the 47 horror show, or feeling sick about the whole American fascism thing...). It usually leads to a moment of venting and sometimes sharing actions taken, however small. And that helps a little.

I've come to believe it's the silence on this in everyday interactions that is depressing and even killing us with the stress of it all. So, I "break the ice" and say something.