I (23M) am becoming increasingly aware that my regular exposure to political content seems to be incompatible with my own mental well-being.
I was raised by two narcissistic parents, one of whom was violent. I have very few positive or loving memories. My trauma turned my brain into a 24/7 threat detector. I'm constantly thinking about everything and everyone that could kill me or take everything I have.
The Internet has taught me that the world is less awful than the hellish place I came from. But I've hit a wall where I can't get better because I am constantly being reminded by well-meaning people that everything in the U.S. is going to shit.
My trauma narrative eats this stuff up. It sees fascists on the streets, impending financial and ecological crises, the dangers of cars, widespread hyperindividualism, the decline of third spaces, and constant phone and social media use. Then it says, "Nobody can be trusted because capitalism makes everyone shallow and selfish. Going outside is dangerous because of cars and fascists. Most people don't want to socialize because they are too busy. There are no good places to meet anyone. Everyone who does socialize is just a fair-weather friend because support is outsourced to paid therapy and the eroding welfare system. I'll never be good enough for a partner because I can't build a stable life and dating apps are designed to not work. Any job I get won't last long because of the collapsing economy. Going to college is too financially risky. There is no stability. Nothing good ever lasts. My progress will be wiped out by systemic forces far beyond my control."
It seems like U.S. politics is about instability and collapse at this point, and because I have so few positive memories, it feels like life itself is about instability and collapse. Your money, your job, your social circle, your health, everything you've worked for -- all of it could just go up in smoke tomorrow. I can't take anything for granted or have any confidence in the future. I can't fully enjoy anything because I'm too busy thinking about how I'll cope with its inevitable loss.
Is this really what life is? Just watching every good thing disappear? Being born into a mostly-functioning society just to watch it fall apart? Knowing you'll have to weather every struggle alone because people only care about themselves? Being promised a stable life and career all throughout school only for the rug to be pulled at the last minute?
There has to be more to life than this.
Is staying on the Internet really worth it?
(Also yes I go to therapy, I'm working on myself but that shit is hard af sometimes)
The unfortunate reality is that Fascist regimes are inherently unstable, and fascist regimes run by drug fueled narcissist's are the worst of all (in terms of stability).
Since the Neo-Nazi party is in charge in America, the short answer is that its very likely that the US will collapse.
That said, the Roman Empire "collapsed" over the course of several generations (200 to 300 years).
Kinda?
So there is a quote that I think is pertinent here. (Michael Parenti from his book Fascism in a Pinstriped Suit)
"The concentration camp was never the normal condition for the average gentile German. Unless one were Jewish, or poor and unemployed, or of active leftist persuasion or otherwise openly anti-Nazi, Germany from 1933 until well into the war was not a nightmarish place. All the “good Germans” had to do was obey the law, pay their taxes, give their sons to the army, avoid any sign of political heterodoxy, and look the other way when unions were busted and troublesome people disappeared. Since many “middle Americans” already obey the law, pay their taxes, give their sons to the army, are themselves distrustful of political heterodoxy, and applaud when unions are broken and troublesome people are disposed of, they probably could live without too much personal torment in a fascist state — some of them certainly seem eager to do so."
Assuming there is not a massive change in the next election, it seems likely that Fascism will win in America. But as noted above, you can live under fascism for a decent amount of time as long as you keep your head down and dont complain too loudly.
As to this one
Republicans are only some 40% of the population.
There are people out there you can make friends with, who will genuinely care for you, and the manosphere has lowered the bar for men so far that just not being a raging asshole is enough to make you noticeable to women. You dont have to be wealthy to get a girlfriend, im moderately successful (I have a solo apartment, and my car is paid off, but im hardly rich), and I have managed a more or less steady string of girlfriends for the past 10 years or so.
If you can manage to avoid the manosphere, the mens rights people, the redpill idiots and the Christians, you can actually be a decent person, and that's honestly all it takes nowadays. You arent going to jump into bed with a supermodel just being a decent person (probably), but as long as your standards are reasonable, its not that hard to find a relationship (as long as you avoid advice from the above groups).