Why is it that every time I tell someone, almost always someone who is NOT American, that I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, they just keep on trying to talk about it? Trying to get me to engage in a conversation in which they want me to explain, defend, or continuously agree or react in shock about the batshit crazy takeover of the American government right now. I DON’T FUCKING WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
Because you don’t want to get me started.
The whole situation enrages me and fills me with despair and disgust and disbelief. I can’t watch the news. I can’t listen to Trump or Vance or Musk. I read the news instead, and several newsletters. I pay attention, but from here there isn’t much I can do.
I vote in Illinois, and our two senators are Democrats. Of the 17 representatives to Congress, 14 are also Democrats. I’m sure they’re already getting an earful from people IN the country, and are doing what they can but being in the minority in both the Senate and Congress limits their options. And the fact that the President and his cronies are just ignoring the rule of law completely doesn’t help.
One thing that is worrying is the SAVE Act which has already been passed by the House, and which is up for the Senate next (and most likely to pass), which will effectively curtail the efforts of the millions of Americans abroad from easily being able to vote, taking away the possibility to vote by mail.
This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship IN PERSON. Since I’m voting from overseas, where do they think my election office IS? Will the consulate in Sweden (which is a 7-hour drive away in Stockholm) have to become one and process all of us? Can we go to the Embassy in Denmark instead (which doesn’t want Swedish residents NOW)? Neither of them is currently set up to handle that kind of complication in time to get our votes in. If not the Consulate or the Embassy, do I have to GO TO CHICAGO IN PERSON?
It’s a blatant sneak attack to remove our eligibility to vote from abroad, effectively suppressing millions of votes, and while it probably won’t affect the military who are stationed overseas, since I’m sure they can set up election offices on any base if they need to, it’s a real stab in the back for the rest of us expats. If I can’t vote, why should I be a citizen? We already have to file taxes and report on our foreign bank accounts, and our sons have to register for selective service. It’s already taxation without representation, but if they take way our possibility to vote, what’s the point in citizenship?
All the obligations and none of the privileges.
but FFS, I don’t want to talk about it with anyone out loud. And I am thoroughly sick of someone, at least once a week, asking me if I’ve sold or am considering selling our Tesla. Ha ha ha, yes, very amusing. YES OF COURSE WE ARE CONSIDERING IT. But it’s already easier said than done, over here. NO ONE is buying Teslas. Who are we going to sell it to, exactly?
People in the US are already protesting, demonstrating, writing and calling their representatives and senators, sending out calls to action and to boycott, and the full-on distraction and destruction just keeps juggernauting forward. ARGH.
I’m even participating. Trying to avoid buying Kindle books on Amazon for now, but ARGH about all that as well.
I feel like so much of society is fiddling while Rome burns. Who cares how many people tuned in to the Superbowl half-time show? Who cares about Glambots and what celebrities are wearing on the red carpet at the Oscars? Who cares about a stupid Cheeto shaped like a stupid Pokémon bringing in over $87,000 at auction?? What the actual fuck, people? FOCUS.
Why can’t people just be DECENT. Why can’t they just be KIND. Why can’t they SHOW COMPASSION and stop waging war for pitiful power grabs? Why do so many people in power feel the need to just hold on to power and money over everything else? It’s a sickness and I’m afraid it will end us. I’m afraid of this virus spreading to engulf all of Europe in war. I’m afraid of the climate crisis tipping past the point of no return and burning us all in our beds. I’m afraid of the world my children are inheriting. I’m afraid and I’m angry, and I don’t want to talk about it.
Make no mistake, though: I care about it. All of it.
Mood: upset
Music: The Thorns—Among the Living
❤️❤️