I am in despair over the world

Twitter is unbearable. I have utter idiots on my timeline going on about liberal tears etc and revelling in Trumps victory. I think I must have followed them in the past because they were gender critical. I've hit the unfollow button over and over.

US politics is out of your control. It would be better to focus on your own life and what you can do to feel better - such as go into greenery.

Yesterday I stopped using all Social Media bar Insta. I didn’t look at The Mail, The Telegraph, The Guardian or anything else. The only things to concern me where things I actually interacted with.

I’ve not felt as peaceful in a very long time.

Trump-alikes are going to continue to be elected forever until progressive parties / the “left” stop castigating the people who voted for him as idiots, racists, and misogynists, and start trying to understand what concerns led them to do so.

It’s quite clear a lot of people voted Republican in spite of Trump, not because of him. Why did they put their dislike of him personally to one side? The inability to see things from their perspective or to put forward a convincing progressive vision to address those concerns, and instead resort to name calling, is truly depressing.

I say this as someone who hates Trump and his brand of politics.

Trump is loathesome but he was democratically elected, and is the legitimate President Elect. It's protocol to send congratulations, that's all. Of course Keir thinks the guy's a totall bellend, but the nature of international diplomacy requires him to say the empty words.

Volunteer if you can. It gives me an illusion of control and usefulness!

Just stop watching the news and concentrate on your own circle.

Not much else you can do really.

Demonstrating an astonishing level of ignorance of international politics kind of reinforces the OP 🙄.

Quite a naive response given the role that the US plays in the wider world. His plans for tariffs, foreign policy and environmental regulation will impact the rest of the world.
in addition it is quite understandable to empathise with women and minorities who will also suffer as a result of his policies.

I don't like Keir. I don't like Trump. But what would you rather? That Keir bites his tongue and maintains a good relationship with America until he's served his term? Or that he tells the world what a twat he thinks Trump is and makes us one of Trump's 'enemies' as he puts it? I much prefer the former.

@T4phage Yes this. The full blown narcissist leader with childish traits, voted for by other childlike & developmentally stunted adult children who think he's cool. Absolutely terrifying.

I think it very much affects us. The US swinging to the far right has implications for the whole world. Putin will end up with at least part of Ukraine and could be emboldened to move on to an EU country next without America to restrain him. It will encourage the far right in the UK and media millionaires will be further draw to backing their ideas and refraining them as reasonable so people start to accept things they might have balked at before. And for all the reasons mentioned above.

Yes this is my thought too, he is after all going to make America great again (again). It is just puzzling that the didn't do it in his first 4 years in office.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

*world not works

Hi RingoJuice

I disagree. The leader of the USA is one of the most influential leaders of the world and his decisions could most definitely have impacts felt at home. His decisions over Israel/Gaza, Ukraine and climate change could directly impact us in the UK both financially and in other ways.

Furthermore, a man in such an influential position on the global stage, who is a known sex offender, convicted fellon and spreader of disinformation puts the works in a precarious position both by way of morality but also security.

A man known to spread extremist views, homophobia, racism and misogyny having been elected as leader of the 'free world's is pretty unnerving ...

Of course Starmer (and Macron, Meloni, Tusk etc...) have to congratulate Trump, as much as I hate him, he's been elected and there's this thing called diplomacy, you can't just shun the US just because you don't like their legally elected president, we're not going to end diplomatic relationships over some misalignment of values.

This. He's done exactly what other world leaders have done. What do you expect world leaders to do OP, stamp their feet and refuse to acknowledge him? As for the people at your work, what do you want them to do? Everyone sitting around "in despair" will never achieve anything. Life goes on.

There's a lot to worry about, but more and more I'm starting to realise that unless I can personally change it then I need to stop letting it occupy so much brain space. I think for me that means visiting news websites much less often, and enjoying the world in front of me.

I felt that same despair when Israel's IDF started bombing the shit out of Gaza l. That feeling of despair and helplessness has only got worse. The events of this week only add to my existing sense of disillusionment with world powers and how little empathic progress humanity has made in the last few thousand years :(

Of course Starmer has to congratulate Trump.

Agree with this.

What's the point of despair? Nothing you can do.
All we can do as individuals is keep going. If you can make a difference in things that matter to you, great. Otherwise you just have to carry on and live your life.

I'd not have been over the moon whomever America voted in as they are both not ideal but we have other things to worry about ie our own government.

I do feel a little bit if the fear we had in the 80s creeping back in though. The whole threat of nuclear war hovering around the back of our minds....

The Bible says that the end of the world will come once the lion lays down with the lamb.

So even if this Middle East stuff gets sorted it could still be bad for the world if that comes true!

I'm no fan of Keir Starmer but as the Prime Minister he has to be seen to be professional and keep relations with other country's political leaders as smooth as possible, what else could he have done but Congratulate Trump?( even if its through gritted teeth.)