Let’s All Take a Deep Breath.

It’s Trump v. Biden. Pick a side.

Catastrophizing. It’s so tempting. It’s human nature. It’s what the media wants us to do. It’s what MAGA wants us to do. And it’s so not helpful.

I know the temptation to post a rant on social media, bemoaning the state of the nation and threatening to move to another country. But broadcasting our depression and despair won’t help Democrats get elected. We’re only helping MAGA do its dirty work. We’re playing right into their hands. We’re creating the very thing we fear.

The media want a horse race, a divided convention, drama and angst. In the days after the debate, the New York Times ran 192 stories about Biden’s debate performance and 6 about Project 2025.

The time to state objections to Biden running was a year ago. Where were all the doom prophets and naysayers then? It’s too late now. Crucial swing states are printing their ballots, the convention is weeks away.

We’d like a candidate with Kennedy’s youth, Lincoln’s integrity, and FDR’s vision. That would be nice. But we have a candidate, we chose him, and he’s created a strong economy and passed some brilliant, ground-breaking environmental legislation. There’s a lot more good that he could do--if we get behind him.

I often find my blood pressure is lowered a bit by reading the Status Kuo substack by Jay Kuo. Here’s what he has to say:

Decatastrophize your thinking. We’re all good at imagining the worst outcomes. But we can usually picture a far better outcome, too, like Biden winning by a comfortable margin and the Democrats holding the Senate and taking back the House. But we must do more than just imagine it. We must take at least one affirmative step toward that goal to make it more likely, even if it is a small one. Maybe it’s donating $5. Maybe it’s sharing good news. Maybe it’s making some calls or writing some postcards.

Actions change outcomes. Anxiety alone does not.

Here’s an idea for a quick anxiety-buster: This election, of course, is of special significance to young people, those who will live in the world that climate change creates in the next few decades. Check out a website called Your Voice Matters, a program of the nonpartisan National Women’s Foundation. They’re working to get out the youth vote, and on their site you can email FREE graduation cards to new graduates you know -- your friends, your neighbors, children, and grandchildren! Celebrate their success and make sure that they have the information they need to register to vote, confirm their registration status, and vote this year.

Actions change outcomes. Anxiety alone does not

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Dear Friends,

Are you worried about the election of 2024 and wondering what to do about it? I hope you’ll continue to check out The Optimistic Activist.

Every Tuesday I post some ideas for doing something. How to get out the vote, spread the word, and support progressive candidates. Ideas for simple but effective activism. As easy, as practical, as do-able as I can make them.

Together, I think, we could really make a difference.

                               “Optimism is a strategy for making a better future.”

                                                                 --Noam Chomsky