How to Make it Through the Next 4 Years, Part 1

If you are anything other than an ardent MAGA, you are may be well aware that the incoming presidential administration is as hostile to you as Governor Pillen. If you aren’t aware of that, for whatever reason, buckle up.

Maybe you are a woman, person of color, LGBTQIA+ person, or rational cis-het white man wondering what to do next. If you know where to look, there is a lot of discussion about this question, and having the privilege vs. not having the privilege to carry out certain plans. We’re being intentionally vague here because, let’s be real, why show your hand? We’ll talk to certain people about plans in person, but not telegraph that here. That said, here are some ideas for how to make it through the next 4 years:

1. Find Community

First and foremost, find people you can feel comfortable around and be yourself with – not someone who will turn on you. Even if that’s only 2-4 people and not a large group, have folks who have your back and vice versa.

We ditched anyone who voted for Trump. There’s no room for them in our lives. If there are people who you can’t cut out of your life or think you can reason with, go for it, but protect yourself. Trump voters can’t be trusted with even the smallest window into you or your personal life. Don’t let them in.

2. Disengage

Yes, find community, but also stop doom-scrolling. Stop reading about Trump, MAGA, and the other Fascists who support him and his policies. Don’t buy into the sanewashing the media perpetuates. They don’t deserve your time, energy, attention, clicks, views, or ratings, let alone your concepts of thoughts and prayers.

Don’t watch the inauguration. Trump doesn’t care about the people of the United States. Why should you care about him?

Please don’t confuse this with not staying informed. Absolutely stay aware of what these people’s proposed laws and policies are, and how they will affect you. Also be aware of how you react and respond to them. Should you go “no oxygen” or does it need your attention? These are the discussions to have with your trusted community folks.

3. Go No Spend for a Year… or Four

Sound funny or irrelevant? It isn’t.

Corporate dollars and billionaires won the election. These people don’t believe you deserve a living wage, while also expecting you to continue to enrich them, their CEOs, and shareholders. The money you spend on these big corporations will never come back to you. Ever. So stop giving up your hard-earned dollars.

Unsure how to do that? Find a buddy to do this with you, create a budget, and hold each other accountable.

4. Your Womb, Your Choice

Are you a person who menstruates? Stop buying period products online (unless you absolutely must). Stop swiping rewards, discount, or grocery store cards when you purchase pads and tampons, and anything else related to women’s health. Don’t use your debit card for feminine products or birth control. Go cash only when buying for yourself or loved ones.

Republicans want to dictate what you do with your womb. Don’t give them any way to determine yours or your daughters’ fertility or cycles. Protect yourself and your daughters from the Christofascists who see women as nothing but baby-making machines.

The same goes for tracking cycles. If you haven’t stopped using period trackers or online calendars, delete your information, for fuck’s sake. Go paper only. Teacher your daughters how to use paper planners to count days and predict menstrual cycles.

It is unconscionable that we have to do this, after our mothers and grandmothers fought so hard for women’s rights, but here we are again.