Young people have major concerns about climate change, which is having a significant impact on their lives and could have broader consequences decades into the future.
Don’t a lot of issues come back to learned helplessness? I’m in a good place right now, and I do what I can, but I also feel so disenfranchised in the US political system that it all feels completely pointless.
I think it’s a combination of learned helplessness and an unrealistic expectation of your ability to affect change.
As of July 1st, 2023, there are 334,914,895 million people participating in the US political system, I think it would be a little ridiculous if every one of them could influence our government. Not all the people can vote, but they’re still participating in the political system whether they know it or not.
Each of these people have their own ideas, hopes, dreams, ideologies. It takes a long time to sway that much public opinion, even when you aren’t fighting disinformation campaigns from powerful corporations and state actors. Keep at it and have realistic expectations about the impact you’ll have and how quickly things will change.
Do what you can, live the best life you can, and don’t take responsibility for things that aren’t your fault.
Edit: corrected the population of the United States because people oddly focused on that part of my comment.
As a non-American, I’m a bit confused. How are there 380 million people in the American political system? That’s an entire Spain more than the population of the US
I dunno. In my lifetime there have been real movement on gay rights, and then real backsliding on women’s rights. Things can change. The bigger roadblock feels like the difference between advocating for social changes that might incidentally have economic impacts vs. advocating for policy changes that directly harm the economics of wealthy people.
I always recommend checking out the following organizations, which are active in many nations:
https://a22network.org/ the a22 network is a overarching network of many national climate movements using civil disobedience.
https://fridaysforfuture.org/ Fridays for future was created after Greta Thunbergs peaceful protests and now has many national networks using mostly peaceful demonstrations.
https://scientistrebellion.org/ scientist rebellion is a worldwide network of scientists using civil disobedience. Again there are many national groups within.
Part of managing anxiety is working to make a difference.
I also recommend therapy. If you are in the United States, you can use this tool to find a therapist. See here for Canada.
Don’t a lot of issues come back to learned helplessness? I’m in a good place right now, and I do what I can, but I also feel so disenfranchised in the US political system that it all feels completely pointless.
You don’t have to change your system, you must change your surroundings :)
If the system will come along, better. If not, you still kinda improved the life for those around you
I think it’s a combination of learned helplessness and an unrealistic expectation of your ability to affect change.
As of July 1st, 2023, there are 334,914,895 million people participating in the US political system, I think it would be a little ridiculous if every one of them could influence our government. Not all the people can vote, but they’re still participating in the political system whether they know it or not.
Each of these people have their own ideas, hopes, dreams, ideologies. It takes a long time to sway that much public opinion, even when you aren’t fighting disinformation campaigns from powerful corporations and state actors. Keep at it and have realistic expectations about the impact you’ll have and how quickly things will change.
Do what you can, live the best life you can, and don’t take responsibility for things that aren’t your fault.
Edit: corrected the population of the United States because people oddly focused on that part of my comment.
As a non-American, I’m a bit confused. How are there 380 million people in the American political system? That’s an entire Spain more than the population of the US
I dunno. In my lifetime there have been real movement on gay rights, and then real backsliding on women’s rights. Things can change. The bigger roadblock feels like the difference between advocating for social changes that might incidentally have economic impacts vs. advocating for policy changes that directly harm the economics of wealthy people.
I’ve got some specific recommendations on how to work the US system
Yes!
I always recommend checking out the following organizations, which are active in many nations:
https://a22network.org/ the a22 network is a overarching network of many national climate movements using civil disobedience.
https://fridaysforfuture.org/ Fridays for future was created after Greta Thunbergs peaceful protests and now has many national networks using mostly peaceful demonstrations.
https://scientistrebellion.org/ scientist rebellion is a worldwide network of scientists using civil disobedience. Again there are many national groups within.