Europe won't be much of an improvement, especially as an immigrant. There has been a rightward shift globally, spurred by the pandemic and the effects of Russia's invasion on the global economy.

We can't fight disinformation online anymore. There's too much noise. The only way we're going to win this fight for the soul of our country is by having honest, sometimes difficult, but calm and rational discussions with our friends, family, and neighbors. Maybe it's my years of experience in the service industry (or perhaps my encyclopedic knowledge of Columbo), but I can listen to just about anything with a smile on my face waiting for logical inconsistency to present itself. In that moment it can be tempting to pounce, but instead I encourage us all to let them keep talking and continue listening. When they've finished, just ask follow up questions under the guise of trying to understand better. In the end, emotionlessly leave them with one obvious but clear inconsistency in their thinking. Don't try to change their mind on it, just state that it's something you can't seem to get past.

They didn't reason themselves into this thinking, and reasoning won't be the way out of it. However, if we can remove our emotions from the equation, and slowly build the tension with logical progression, the end result is the feeling at the end of a good magic trick. They will want to know how it was done, and it will stick with them. Where they go from there isn't up to us.

This will end the way it always does throughout history. Currently those with power believe their wealth grants it, but money is just a lie we all tell ourselves to make trade more convenient. Once you take too many steps towards removing the wedge issues and scapegoats that have been used for decades to obfuscate the obvious wealth hoarding, you're left with the oldest dichotomy, have vs. have not. And the have nots always have the numbers.

Just remember that around half the country is A-OK with all the bullshit that's happening and likely even celebrate it... well, that number is based on voter turnout, so optimistically, maybe a large majority disapprove, but who even knows.

I feel very doom and gloom saying this, but I think our darkest days are still ahead. I'm struggling on a daily basis to find any constructive motives in the actions being proposed by this administration. And yes, I optimistically say "proposed," because these numerous (and asinine) executive orders are effectively worthless until congress signs them into law (in many cases).

I can only hope that the courts push back hard on a large part of these, but the highest court in the land is stacked with those who kiss the ring. History will certainly remember this as a strange time. The average American really can't be bothered to even worry.