When Democracy Disappoints: A Guide to Meaningful Personal Action

Stop doomscrolling

That was painful.

Electoral disappointments leave us feeling powerless, particularly when they seem to defy comprehension. The reelection of George W. Bush in 2004—after the Iraq War's devastating toll—marked one such moment in my formative years. More recent electoral surprises have further strained our faith in the democratic process and in our fellow man. When more than half the country supports a candidate who shows contempt for basic decency and constitutional principles, it's natural to feel discouraged. However, giving in to despair only serves those who benefit from democratic backsliding.

Pundits can dissect the causes for Donald Trump's reelection. Instead, I want to focus on concrete steps individuals can take to effect change and steel oneself for the long four years ahead. While these actions may seem small individually, they represent tangible steps anyone can take. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by factors beyond our control—like Supreme Court reform or congressional gridlock—we can focus on these concrete actions that, collectively, can make a difference.

Step Away from Social Media

Social media platforms have evolved from simple connection tools into engagement machines that reward outrage and misinformation. Facebook, once meant for college connections, now amplifies divisive content and Boomer conspiracy theories. Viral hoaxes about migrant crime spread like wildfire. "Jokes" about transgender people are some of the most popular pieces of content.

Big Tech briefly took principled stands at critical moments, such as platform bans following January 6th. However, their priorities ultimately align with maintaining access and influence, leading to policy reversals as the political winds shifted. Now, after years of conservative ref working, the Big Social companies are taking a decidedly hands off approach to content moderation.

The institutional right has masterfully exploited this opportunity to weaponize these platforms. Should Democrats deploy these same tactics? No, the solution isn't to play this game better—it's to step away entirely. As in 1983's WarGames, the only winning move is not to play.

Consider these specific steps:

• Delete Facebook and Twitter accounts, which have become primary vectors for misinformation

• Maintain only minimal social presence for family connections (like a private Instagram account)

• Explore alternative platforms run by non-profit organizations, such as BlueSky

• Use secure messaging apps for direct communication with friends and family

Reconsider Your Media Diet

The transformation of news media offers a cautionary tale. Fox News pioneered an adversarial model that prioritized conflict over information, turning political discourse into nightly combat sport. This approach culminated in dangerous misinformation about election integrity that convinced millions of viewers. January 6th could not have happened without Fox News amplifying Trump's lies.

The transformation of news media offers a cautionary tale. Fox News pioneered an adversarial model that prioritized conflict over information, turning political discourse into nightly combat sport. This approach culminated in dangerous misinformation about election integrity that convinced millions of viewers. January 6th could not have happened without Fox News amplifying Trump’s lies.

Other networks have gradually adopted similar tactics to compete for viewers. CNN and MSNBC have increasingly embraced confrontational formats, while attempting to appear neutral by normalizing outrageous behavior. A stark example was CNN's characterization of Trump’s lies about disaster relief as "messages of unity." 

Meanwhile, print media's attempt at "neutrality" often results in sanitized coverage that fails to convey the gravity of threats to democratic norms. When Trump did a racist rant about migrants having bad genes, the New York Times wrote it up as a “fascination with genes”.

Enough is enough. It is time to cancel your subscriptions. Yes, there will be a lot of innocent reporters caught in the crossfire, but should the alternative be no consequences for abhorrent behavior?

Vote with Your Wallet

Corporate leaders who enable or actively support anti-democratic forces often rely on consumers who oppose those very actions. Elon Musk's $44 billion Twitter acquisition and subsequent transformation of the platform into a right-wing megaphone exemplifies this dynamic. Despite this positioning, companies like Tesla depend significantly on environmentally conscious buyers.

The largest and most liquid part of Elon’s fortune is his stake in Tesla. It’s also the part of his fortune that is heavily reliant on Democrats buyers. You can make his support of Trump financially painful simply by selling your Tesla (reducing prices in the secondary market will force margin compression in the primary market) and purchasing a different EV.

And there has never been a better time to invest in a Tesla-alternative. Tesla has not been a leader in EV car design for a few years now. Rivian and Ford make better trucks, Porsche and Mercedes actually feel like a luxury car, and there are now plenty of options in the mid- and low-end that are preferable to the Model 3 and Y. 

Some would go further with this by targeting any Trump supporter (including with a sex strike). My advice would be to focus on a few of the more egregious examples.

Reserve Energy for Crucial Moments

The initial Trump presidency demonstrated how constant outrage can lead to protest fatigue. When every day brings a new crisis, it becomes impossible to maintain effective opposition. Instead of exhausting ourselves responding to every provocation, we must save our energy for truly critical moments.

Potential flashpoints requiring mass mobilization:

• Attempts to implement national restrictions on reproductive rights that override state protections

• Mass deportation programs that separate families or involve mass detention facilities

• The deployment of military or national guard forces in civilian areas

• Systematic attempts to undermine voting rights or election integrity

Protests must be massive and long lasting to have an effect. Going out once is not going to be enough if the goal is to effect change. It is going to be long arduous work that is littered with more setbacks than victories.

Moving Forward

Remember that historical progress often seems impossible until it becomes inevitable. By maintaining our principles while carefully choosing our battles, we can:

• Support institutions that uphold democratic values

• Impose real costs on those who enable anti-democratic actions

• Build sustainable opposition to authoritarian tendencies

• Preserve our mental and emotional resources

I'll see you out there.