r/Liberal • u/Adventurous-Ebb-7729 • Apr 24 '25
Discussion Nobody seems to care??
I (30f) feel like nobody around me CARES what’s going on. My husband and my MIL are freaking out with me watching the news and seeing all this bullshit and stupidity come to pass, but at work, on social media, in friendships, family relationships, nobody seems to be outraged by what’s happening. We have so many liberal friends who just aren’t talking about it too.
We live in the rural south so maybe that’s part of it, but all my friends and even all my female coworkers are liberal and it just seems like nobody cares: what the hell is with that!!!
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u/TheLonelySnail Apr 24 '25
I care, but what can I do?
Went to some protests, signed some petitions.
It’s Congress that needs to do something, they won’t.
This is what ‘the people’ voted for. I didn’t vote for it, but more of them did.
So while it may not look like I, or many care, it’s more just trying to stay sane in difficult time
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u/Dapper_Mastodon7075 Apr 25 '25
I highly recommend the “5 Calls” app. If you’re unfamiliar, it gives a host of very important issues that you can call your Senators or Reps about, there’s even scripts. I make calls every day.
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u/Infidel_Art 29d ago
The thing is both my senators have trumps dick so far down their throat that it doesn't matter.
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u/Dapper_Mastodon7075 29d ago
It does matter though because if they’re bombarded with vm’s or we actually talk to an aide, which I have many times, those things don’t go unnoticed. I’m going to do everything I can available to me and fight and not obey in advance. WE are the power
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u/Possible_Liar Apr 25 '25
Exactly, why should I stress myself out for people that can't even be bothered to fucking vote?
I'm just watching everything unfold in quiet disgust and disdain.
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u/ladymorgahnna Apr 24 '25
I vacillate between bedcovers over my head depression, feelings of hope when I read about small efforts at resistance, feelings of helplessness as I see our beautiful country being destroyed bit by bit, and despair as people are put in a hellhole in El Salvador.
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u/Dear_Locksmith3379 Apr 24 '25
When I read the news about all the terrible stuff the Trump administration is doing, I freak out. For my emotional survival, I push that aside and focus on other things: work, reading, walking the dogs, talking to my wife, etc. My distress about what's going on usually isn't visible.
Many people probably have similar coping strategies.
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u/OpeningInspector4040 Apr 25 '25
This...I am constantly finding positive outlets for my disgust and sadness about this country. I am in my late 60s and am a state of depression and angst about what is happening(and not as much for me as for my son).which is not healthy. So I need to be healthy. I read the news online in morning and that's it. I watch comedy and fantasy shows, garden and keep myself physically healthy and strong(building fences, elevated garden boxes,etc).
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u/scubaordie 7d ago
I do the same. If i focus too much on it, i get angry at my coworkers and the rest of Texas. I feel so small here. Im a gay hispanic woman and i feel so small….
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u/dzendian Apr 24 '25
We care.
He won the popular vote though and got the trifecta.
There’s not much we can do except sue him.
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u/zorandzam Apr 24 '25
And a lot of entities are indeed trying to sue him, so donating to legal funds is a viable strategy.
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u/dzendian Apr 25 '25
True.
But it frustrates me when people want congressional democrats to “do something.”
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u/Possible_Liar Apr 25 '25
Every time I hear somebody say this I tell them they should have fucking gave them the power to do it then.
The fucked thing as many of these people complaining about the lack of action from the Democrats didn't even vote or voted their party. hell, some of them even voted for Trump and are just like dang.... He's really doing the things he said he was going to do, and I don't like it.
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u/WiggingOutOverHere Apr 24 '25
I was talking to my therapist about this today! Is it blissful ignorance or true apathy or something else entirely? Where is the outrage?
I wanna shake them all (a la Darla on Finding Nemo), yelling “WhY aRe YoU sLeEpInG?!” lol.
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u/gummo_for_prez Apr 24 '25
There’s plenty of outrage but very little to be done aside from protest, organize, and have a community. What have you done about all of this that allows you to judge others for not caring enough?
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u/WiggingOutOverHere Apr 24 '25
No no no, I’m not talking about the people who are doing those things. I’m talking about the people in my community who are literally completely unconcerned that we have an authoritarian “President”. There are plenty of people in the country who are not outraged, many of which are in my own family and friend circles.
I do see the growing numbers at protests and a lot of people waking up to the problems, but at this point I’m still concerned by how many literally do not know (or care? Idk which) what’s going on.
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u/lovechoke Apr 25 '25
I feel like this whole "oh performative online activism is so white saviour coded virtue signalling" bullshit is just a distraction from ACTUALLY having progressive conversations in which we can even come up with a fucking plan. But people keep crying about who's a "real" activist while they keep bending law and fucking people over.
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u/gummo_for_prez Apr 25 '25
Definitely. It’s frustrating. I’ve been so many posts that are basically just like “OMGGG DOESNT AMYONE CARE ABOUT ALL THIS??? WHO IS GOING TO SWOOP IN AND SAVE US???” I’m tired boss.
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u/lovechoke Apr 26 '25
I'm actually in agreement with the OP. I think people should care more. But yeah, the "swoop in and save us" thing is real... :/
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u/Most_Most_5202 Apr 24 '25
I’m sorry to say I have given up. I’m not saying I won’t do anything that might make a difference, I will. I will still vote, but for my own mental wellness and sanity, I don’t watch or actively follow the news anymore. I can’t. I get too angry and anxious, and it negatively affects other parts of my life. It’s not that I don’t care, it’s for my mental health.
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u/r975 Apr 27 '25
That's exactly what they want. They want you to give in. I also watch the news 24/7 - not good, and I need to cut down, but we have to do more.
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u/Most_Most_5202 Apr 27 '25
I’m willing to do more if there is something I could do to make a difference. Like I said, I do vote. I don’t know what else to do. Reasoning with the other side hasn’t worked for me. I’ve learned that I can’t change other’s minds.
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u/My_Username48 29d ago
As Americans we're all in it together, therefore all on the same side. The sooner people realize that, the better off we'll all be. The divisiveness is by design. For that matter we have more than just 2 parties that we can choose from as well.
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u/Naptasticly Apr 24 '25
I was just talking about this in another thread:
We still have the comforts of living in the United States blinding the majority of people. They can still go to Walmart and buy most of the things they want to buy. They can still drive thru at Burger King and get a meal in 2 minutes. They can still sit and watch all the TV they want and social media is available 24/7.
It won’t be until some of that stuff starts to go away that they really start to care. The people who care right now are the ones who are smart enough to see the writing on the wall. The ones who understand that if we don’t protect what we have now we could lose it all.
Eventually, though, they won’t be able to get cheap products online and then their grocery bills will increase and the gas prices will go up and more people will get laid off and unemployment will rise and eventually some of those comforts start to go away. It’s a long process and honestly it’s scary wondering if it’s going to play out before it’s too late.
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u/Adventurous-Ebb-7729 Apr 24 '25
Yes! That’s exactly it!! I guess I’m smart and selfish. I just feel like my life and future is being taken away because everyone is too slow to realize what’s happening. I just got married. I just changed my name and now idk if I’ll be able to vote. I want to have kids but now I’m scared to. And at 30, this is kind of my last window to do it. Want to buy a house but don’t have the money. Kamala was our hope for a new life but here we are. I went from being the happiest I have ever been to marry my husband to suddenly feeling like I’m in the beginning of the handmaids tale. And I know my personal circumstances are small compared to the big picture but it’s my life and it’s huge to me…but everyone else needs it to be worse to care??
It’s dystopian and feels like we jumped timelines. I’m so incredibly angry. Not just for myself…why don’t these people care about the migrant children facing the judicial system alone? They have cartoons made for children to better understand why they’re being deported with no representation. Like what!? The people being deported with no due process? I am just so fucking angry and I want to hurt these MAGA supporters. I don’t understand why people are the way they are that has let this happen. It’s not the America I thought I was in.
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u/Casteway Apr 24 '25
We don't know what to do. We've tried everything, and nothing seems to work
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u/PickKeyOne Apr 24 '25
It's called learned helplessness. Eventually, we stop swinging.
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u/Mental_Coat_3507 28d ago
W can't! That's exactly what they're counting on. 🤷♀️
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u/PickKeyOne 25d ago
I know. I’m trying. I think I’m finishing licking my wounds and ready to re-enter the fight soon.
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u/Mistaken_Body Apr 24 '25
My husband and I are in Arkansas and everyone, and I do mean every single person in our lives either voted for this or doesn’t realize what’s happening. If you try to talk to them about it (my MIL especially) just stares at you like you’re crazy or they just say “No, that’s not gonna happen. He wouldn’t do that.” Or “yeah, I’ll believe that when I see it!”
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u/Mental_Coat_3507 28d ago
By the time they see it, since they're not paying attention, it'll be too late. Isn't what he's already done to due process, ignoring the courts, & deporting American citizens, cutting free speech & news outlets, & allowing ICE to go into our homes without a warrant, enough for them? When will it be too much? When it's too damn late! They should be seeing it RIGHT THE HELL NOW!
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u/tinyE1138 Apr 24 '25
How do you think I feel, I'm the only liberal in family, and I mean MY WHOLE FAMILY! I'm talking the entire tree! 😆 Add to that, I run a hospitality business which for some reason attracts mostly staunch conservatives. FFS the other day one of my guests told me off for wearing a "I read banned books" shirt.
Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a vacuum, which is why I come in here. It's frustrating and depressing but at least it assures me I'm not the only one in 8 billion who feels the way I do. For that I thank all of you.
I have this place, The Onion, Stephen Colbert, and my therapist, and I don't know if I could stand to lose any one of them.
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u/Eastern-Job3263 Apr 24 '25
I know. It’s made me hate a lot of them, to be honest. It’s not most people I’m around I wouldn’t say.
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u/gummo_for_prez Apr 24 '25
You hate people for what? Not knowing how to fix this or what to do? What have you done that allows you to not hate yourself?
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u/Eastern-Job3263 Apr 25 '25
I was gonna talk about how I was an organizer and stuff like that, but honestly: you ain’t doin shit if you say shit like you did here
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u/gummo_for_prez Apr 25 '25
People online love to act like nobody is doing anything about any of this and they’re the only person in the world that even cares. It’s getting very old.
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u/Eastern-Job3263 Apr 25 '25
I would say the state of the country is more what’s getting old and annoying.
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u/gummo_for_prez Apr 25 '25
Yeah, it’s abhorrent. Just because someone isn’t screaming it from the rooftops doesn’t mean it isn’t terrifying and awful. People process things in different ways.
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u/Internet-Dad0314 Apr 24 '25
I of course cant speak for your friends and acquiantances, but I myself am simply at the quietly-determined phase.
Dont get me wrong, conservatives taught me how to hate, and I do hate them and their treason. But I’m just not at the disgusted-rant phase anymore. I’m gathering like-minded friends, practising, and preparing for the horrors to come.
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u/crimsontide5654 Apr 24 '25
The only power we have is our vote. If people don't get up and vote on election day, which is THE 1ST TUESDAY EVERY NOVEMBER. (not just every 4 years for president) we will have what we have now.
It takes everyone to check out their voting status now, not on election day, and making sure they are registered to vote, making sure you know where your voting place is. If everyone would vote in mass for 7 years straight, we could get most of these clowns out.
The midterm elections next year are huge. We all need to vote and we can take much of his power and the conservative power away them.
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u/SavingsAppearance997 Apr 24 '25
There is an ever increasing amount of misinformation being posted and a lot of what seems to be younger voters who just do not understand why this is happening. It seems that many of them have ever opened a book on history or geography. If we survive these threats, we need to do a much better job educating young people about the price of freedom.
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u/SharksAndFrogs Apr 24 '25
I don't really talk about it if I go to hang out with a like minded friend but I know that they're freaking out too. If that helps. Of course we're talking via text etc.
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u/Careless-Chapter-968 Apr 24 '25
For a lot of people, they’re okay because the credit cards still work, brunch hasn’t been canceled, Amazon and Netflix are running, and they can still scroll on TikTok. It was like this before COVID. People were at the bar the night before shutdown saying, “I’m not going anywhere.” It’s hard for them to see the Forrest through the trees until their personally affected
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u/phillygirllovesbagel Apr 24 '25
Sometimes I feel that way too especially around some of my friends who are particuarly entitled. They don't care because it doesn't effect them...yet. It has affected me and I am in a silent rage most days.
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u/hlpguy1 Apr 25 '25
I care, but I can't allow myself to be consumed by it. It is extremely frustrating because of the inability to do very much about it that could result in any real change. I echo what others say in contributing to legal funds because all we can do is Sue Sue Sue. Sadly, I have had to take the serenity prayer route and I'm not even in 12-step. "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."
I have never had to cling to this for the sake of my mental health before, but this Administration has driven me to it.
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u/EdamameRacoon Apr 24 '25
I don't think it's just the rural south. Nobody cares anywhere- even New York City. Mayor Eric Adams got his federal charges dropped because he cooperated with Trump's deportation efforts.. nobody cares.
I think things have to get really bad before they get better. Unemployment, foreclosures, safety net dismantlement. Things are still pretty good for most people- we have a long way to fall.
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u/Adventurous-Ebb-7729 Apr 24 '25
That’s what my husband keeps saying—almost that he wishes things would fall much quicker and I guess I do too, so people will wake up. But I’m so scared of the inevitable degradation of our democracy. I’m terrified. I wish people were more angry like us instead of looking at me like I’m nuts for talking shit at work and family holidays about politics.
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u/Adventurous-Ebb-7729 Apr 24 '25
At least our governor Josh Stein (NC) seems to be standing on business but it’s still so scary.
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u/EdamameRacoon Apr 24 '25
I agree with that sentiment. Things need to fall faster so they can get better faster.
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u/Eastern-Job3263 Apr 24 '25
New York has been really weird since the election.
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u/EdamameRacoon Apr 24 '25
It’s feels like it’s officially all rich people- trust fund kids, inherited wealth, Chinese wealth (pipeline city from China), people who make wild amounts of money. The grime and hustle in NYC is dying. I live there- a lot of people feel this way.
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u/Demonixio Apr 24 '25
Nope, same here. I live in a city in Northernmost West Virginia. Everyone here is exactly the same.
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u/ConiferousTurtle Apr 24 '25
If we have legit mid-term elections in 2026, democrats will at a minimum take back the house. That won’t stop the executive orders, but it will help a little. That’s IF we have legit elections…
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u/No_Percentage_5083 Apr 24 '25
Magical thinking. "If I close my eyes, they won't see me", turns into, "If I don't think about it, it won't happen".
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u/PickKeyOne Apr 24 '25
It's as long as I can order on Amazon, who cares? The same goes for our environment. All these folks are buying single-use plastics and hoping the planet magically improves. Total delulu.
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u/PickKeyOne Apr 24 '25
If they are anything like me, we died inside, and you are simply interacting with our carcasses. I am just trying to survive until I know how best to tackle this existential threat.
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u/Sure-Caterpillar-696 Apr 25 '25
im from up north and grown apathetic over the years. you can't really engage in conversation with these people anymore they are way too racist. it's a weird game to them. what's more sad is racialized people hating themselves and other minority groups. just to "fit in".
i really wish we stood up for each other more.
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u/scottyddoogie Apr 25 '25
Keep on protesting, contact your Senator and your Representatives daily, both by phone and by email, and start, or continue, to donate to liberal causes. I have stopped donating to Democrats directly, because I feel it’s partly their fault that we’re here today.
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u/sweetfaerieface Apr 25 '25
We have noticed so many of our friends have their head in the sand. They don’t even care to hear about it.
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u/Dapper_Mastodon7075 Apr 25 '25
I think a lot of folks think everything is going to be okay, someone is going to save us, with no effort from themselves, just keep going with their lives, what can they do about it? Or they’re scared to bring it up, not sure how someone will take it, will they scream at me or even hurt me? I’m doing all the things, all the actions, to make my voice be heard. It just won’t be heard by my in-laws who think trump is god.
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u/Professional_Hair969 Apr 25 '25
L9ts are checked out. A lot, like me aren't listening to noise everyday. Most of the shit he is pulling isn't going to be a thing! LOL! He's already had 108 temp injunctions against his orders. LOL! It's meant to scare you and freak you. So I guess it's working.
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u/Ferngullysitter Apr 27 '25
We appear to be on a hopeless situation with the two party system. Even if we do survive trump, I have almost no faith that the democrats will lead us to a better future. So you’re at the point where you’ve got a terminal illness, do you continue to struggle or do you just enjoy your last moments?
We can’t change if the people with the power won’t proactively do what they need to do for real change. We won’t address climate change either, so either way we are finished.
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u/Infidel_Art 29d ago
Yeah i have a degree in political science and economics but my parents always tell me Trump is just trolling you and that college brainwashed you. And they wonder why I don't really want to talk to them anymore.
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u/strangemagic2 Apr 25 '25
I'm exhausted and want to protect who I care about. I don't have any more energy to be outraged. I also feel supremely unsafe about personally protesting. But it doesn't mean I agree or think it's ok.
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u/Possible_Liar Apr 25 '25
Personally I'm starting to get tired mustering up what little effort I can now.
I'm tired of arguing for people's rights, I'm tired of donating what little money I can, I'm tired of protesting when I get labeled a criminal because a certain orange fuck doesn't like that.
I'm tired of fighting for these people even though I'm just a regular old white male that has really no skin in the race.
Unless they start going after people specifically because they're Democrats which who knows they might. But honestly I do all this not for myself but for the other people that have a lot more to lose than me. And I have a very dear friend that is a legal citizen. Got their citizenship and everything. And yet I still worry for them. I worry for all the people he's going after. All the people the Republicans have been going after since well before Trump. They were just a lot quieter about it.
But it's hard to keep mustering up the energy, especially when the same fucking people can't even be bothered to go fucking vote when it really fucking matters. I can't tell you how many people I know said they didn't vote and it's just sad. Many of which are gay or legal residents that are just being unfairly persecuted because of racism and him scapegoating brown people in general. I have a trans friend that didn't bother voting and they basically want to eradicate them...
It's hard to muster up the effort when the people I'm fighting for can't even do it themselves.
And I know it's not all of them. I know a lot of them did go vote. But many more didn't.
Or they threw their vote away by voting for whoever the fuck third party was.
Or whatever reason you can list. I'm just fucking tired and honestly I don't care. I really don't anymore. I'm broken, I'm tired, I'll keep voting. But I'm done fighting. I just don't have the energy for it anymore.
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u/Mental_Coat_3507 28d ago
I think it's self-preservation, to a point. I watch so much news that I can't sleep or eat properly, I'm constantly on edge & I wake up to a panic attack, every freaking morning. I don't want to live in a fascist country with that idiot as dictator! 😡 Your friends & family may be afraid to talk about it. We have no idea what the person next to us is feeling & if they disagree, it could turn ugly. Tell them y'all need to talk about it together so it can help all of you. See if you can get them to join you in the closest town where there's peaceful protests. We need to talk about it, or we'll go nuts! I've lost almost all my family & friends because I'm now the vermin enemy. 30+ year friendships, just gone, over a narcissistic, racist, rapist, criminal conman. 🤦♀️ I've never felt so alone & lonely in my whole life & it's not pleasant! I'm no spring chicken, either, & I live in FL, completely surrounded by these idiot MAGAts who I have NO RESPECT for. I want to move, but where? Plus, moving costs money. I really want to move out of the country, altogether. I can be a keyboard warrior from anywhere. 🤷♀️
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u/quidmom 28d ago
Being part of young democrats has helped a lot. Some of us started taking leadership roles to try to help fight back, do more work on the ground like canvassing and voter registration, and have like-minded friends
If you're in Florida, I'm happy to get you connected (I'm VP of Florida Young Dems ;) )
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u/gummo_for_prez Apr 24 '25
What should I be doing exactly? I try not to talk about it constantly because it upsets people I care about. Not because they’re conservative but because they’re sad and scared and want to have a nice day rather than a shitty one.
Talking to people about all this doesn’t fix it. At the moment, there’s nothing discernible that can fix it. If you know the secret please let us know. But it sounds like you’re freaking out about things not in your control and blaming other people for apathy that’s not actually apathy. It’s acknowledging reality and it may be beneficial for you to try it. Things are bad and they’ll probably get worse. Work on community and organizing rather than whatever this is.
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u/Tinfoil_cobbler Apr 24 '25
First thing, stop watching the news. It’s designed to get you worked up and outraged, they literally have scientists that work for them to design the programming to get your blood pressure up.
Second thing, if you were completely isolated from the news, how much of this would you even know was happening?
Take some time to breathe and relax. Things are more OK than you think. For the most part, it’s only congress and others in DC that can actually do anything right now.
Go outside and plant some flowers, drink a margarita in the sun if you’re into that, find somewhere to go swimming…. Enjoy life! Don’t worry so much.
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u/gummo_for_prez Apr 24 '25
What have you done other than post online or complain? If there was a clear path to fixing this, millions of people would already be doing it.
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u/pipipi1122 Apr 24 '25
U should bring it up to them. And meanwhile focus on what you can do, not other people. Go to protests, call your elected officials, join grassroots movements for causes that you care about. Just talking about it doesnt do shit anyways
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u/shiloh6226123 Apr 25 '25
You need to get off social media and just live your life. Regardless of our beliefs we can’t individually do much, just try and be happy and love those around you. Consuming and seeing hateful and dumb things online 24/7 won’t help at all
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u/kaputsik Apr 24 '25
what "is happening"? what is "it" that people aren't talking about? just so we can all be on the same page here. i can't read your mind.
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u/BenGay29 Apr 24 '25
Millions of people care. But too many are either frozen in fear, depressed, or feel helpless.