“I’m just tired of politics”
It’s a sentiment that I hear whenever I bring up politics with people… and to be honest, I can’t blame them.
Politics right now are gross. The 24 hour news cycle rewards negativity because negativity gets views. And views get money.
Despite still being a college kid– I actually did grow up in the era where we watched the nightly news. At least once or twice a week, despite the pleas of my brother and I to switch to ESPN, we tuned into WGN Chicago and watched the local news. I heard about local issues, and positive stories of hope that happened in the Chicago suburbs.
Now– the local news seems culturally obsolete. I start my mornings by muttering, “Alexa, what’s the weather in Lincoln, Nebraska right now” so that I can plan my outfit. If I want the news, I go to Twitter or the CNN app. Nowhere along the way do I even consider turning on the local news.
The constant bombardment with BREAKING NEWS headlines and new information has completely removed humanity from news. On the rare occasion that I do turn on cable news, I turn it off within 5 minutes because I’m just tired of the negativity. Sometimes it feels like every headline looks like this:
I think it’s time to consider that America is suffering from a case of burnout.
Suffering from Burnout
When I personally suffer from burnout, it’s usually the consequences of my own actions. Most of the time, my mom gets to hear my woes with burnout, like how I “have so much homework” (more than likely I tried to cram a paper I knew about for 2 months into 2 days). Now– being the wonderful parent that she is, my mom just stays quiet and listens, refraining from saying, “JACK ALBERT you’ve known about this paper for HOW LONG???”
With this political burnout however… it’s not the fault of me, or you, or likely, anyone else who is reading this. It feels like we can’t escape the world of politics.
As I’m writing this– the latest news story is that there was just a school shooting at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. A 28 year old walked into a school with two assault rifles and killed three young children and three staff members. My mom is the director of a Christian preschool back home and all I could think about as I looked at the CNN footage was, “that could have been her.” I turned off the channel after 30 seconds. Sometimes, the events of this world are too disheartening and overwhelming to want to stay tuned in.
I empathize with everyone who is just tired of politics. I don’t want to turn on the news most days, yet alone use whatever remaining time and energy I have to phonebank, canvas, or engage in activism.
Remembering Why
In a time where politics feels so divisive and overbearing, the best thing that can be done is to approach politics with humanity.
The power of political movements comes not from money, but from people. Three nine year old kids died at school this week– yet sadly, few from outside of their community will remember their names. This is the 90th school shooting of 2023 already, and odds are, between Monday when I’m writing this and Friday when it’s published, there will have been three more of these senseless, evil attacks.
Nine year olds can’t vote, and it’s our duty not only as Democrats, but as human beings, to protect those who can’t protect themselves. In a country where the environment is under attack, women don’t have a say in matters of their own body, minorities are intentionally disenfranchised from voting, transgender children are told they aren’t valid, and kids can’t learn their ABCs without dying, it is more important than ever to fight the good fight.
We can use the same anger that fuels our burnout to fuel our fight for change.
Change happens in increments. It can start with one door knock, one neighbor who you talk with, or a phone call with a loved one. Getting the ball rolling is the most important step.
It is okay, and completely understandable to be burnt out of politics. But the reason we fight is for other people. The best step in beating burnout is reconnecting with genuine people who you are willing to fight for, and putting a face, a name, and a voice behind these issues.
If you are looking for ways to connect
Sign up to be a block captain here! Block Captains are the core of the Democratic Party, affectionately referred to as our super-volunteers. Block Captains are tasked with getting to know their neighbors on both a personal and grassroots level, with the goal of building Democratic communities and getting out the vote! Contact gina@nebraskademocrats.org for any questions.
Lincoln City Elections are quickly approaching! To see the list of Democrats running please click here.
If you would like to volunteer to protect the blue dot in Lincoln– click here to get involved!
The NDP will be hosting a yard sign drive-thru event for our Lincoln candidates on Saturday, April 15th! We encourage all residents of Lincoln to attend and come get yard signs– candidates from up and down the ballot will be there as well.
If you would like to donate– click here! The NDP is putting in time and resources in order to send texts, get vote by mail applications out, and put a voter guide in the mailbox of every Democrat in the city!
A Parting Message
Thank you again for reading this. With so much on the line in the Lincoln elections, and the 2024 elections quickly approaching, please protect your peace! Let’s work together as a Democratic coalition now to beat burnout so that we can fight against fascism on the streets and in the voting booth in 2024. There is optimism brewing in this great state– sometimes it may seem impossible to find– but I assure you, it’s there.
For any questions, concerns, or feedback, please feel free to reach out at jack@nebraskademocrats.org
All the best,
Jack Schiewe
PS: Trump got indicted I’ll have my jokes ready next week
