Look around. Do you see fewer smiles and laughter?

[Iwasthere]

I sure do. We're zombies surrounded by his ugly orange, hateful mug everywhere we look. I so miss normalcy. I've been to a lot of other countries. There's far more kindness and jovial spirit, we used to have that too. At least on a greater scale than now. I can certainly understand why so many are leaving the country. We sure would if we didn't have parents nearing 90 years old.

[hlthe2b]

1. I've noted a lot less "planning for the future" among acquaintances (not sure about my friends as I am

careful not to bring up upsetting topics lately)... But, I have noted blank stares when the subject of vacations, major purchases, changing jobs, moving, or any other major decision comes up... Yes, "zombies" about covers it.

[NewHendoLib]

2. Yup. It's why we are enjoying a great day on our favorite

Radio station - and basking in the delight of our nearly 1 year old grandson.

Eliminating all news from our lives for over a decade has made a big difference...just brief check ins here.

[Escape]

3. Yes, an Ugly Orange Cloud hangs over everything we think and do.....

When injustice, unfairness, racism and crime are not only allowed---but celebrated-- it dampens our spirits and threatens our resilience and resolve.

Most of us are now just living day to day and hoping for a future miracle to put everything back together again.

I sometimes envy my dogs and horses. They are oblivious to all that is happening to our country and to our people..

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. no

[Tree Lady]

5. I noticed people decorating early

Like they needed something fun in their life. I am watching more Christmas movies this year lots of fluff to try and cover some of the daily crap.

[Aristus]

6. My grandson has given up on a future.

He drives just enough Door Dash to keep himself and his SO fed, then spends the rest of the time high on cannabis. Can't really say I blame him.

[biophile]

29. I'm sorry to hear that; can't really blame him either

My grandson is only 15 and I fear for his future. Actually, I fear for the future of all of us.

[popsdenver]

7. The word I keep thinking

about, and what I am seeing everywhere is *INCONSIDERATE*.............It is near Pandemic Proportions.
ESPECIALLY when driving on the roads and highways.

Most people who drive around the city for a living will be the first ones to tell you that BMW drivers are by FAR the worst....

[hurl]

24. When I got a BMW

my son asked if I was a 'BMW Driver.' I said not quite, I still use my turn signal. But the last study I saw moved Tesla drivers up to the top spot in number incidents per driver.

[PeaceWave]

8. Sorry, but here in sunny Democratic California, I don't see the doom and gloom...

If anything, I've been blown away by how packed the stores are with folks in full spirit and, apparently, enough cash to drop. There's clearly an economic disconnect going on between red and blue states.

[Iwasthere]

11. I live in a Democratic area too

I've noticed the packed stores. I do see some happy people, howevet many of the shoppers are looking for a distraction this year imo. The threat of ICE (Salem, Oregon) is always looming.

[BlueTsunami2018]

9. Not really. I've found that online angst doesn't translate to the real world.

Everyone wants to kill each other online but out in the world no one even talks about any of this stuff. No one seems any angrier than usual. People are just going about their lives.

Kind of disappointing really but not surprising. Most people really have no idea what’s going on. There should be torches and pitchforks all across the country. Instead…..crickets.

[Xavier Breath]

28. Pretty much what I came here to say.

Most folks live apolitical existences and just go about their days oblivious to all but what directly impacts them. Ignorance is bliss, to coin a phrase.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

10. Yet so many of his sycophants consider Trump and themselves to be victims

Can't fix stupid I guess.

[markie]

12. I refuse to be like them

Just at the grocery store and found pleasant things to talk to other customers about…. Like the man buying scrapple and I asked him how he cooked it and told him how I used to make it and we bonded around scrapple 😂

[IcyPeas]

14. Yeah, I bonded with a Ralphs employee over Play Doh (my post below)

It's the little things sometimes.

[IcyPeas]

13. "... why so many are leaving the country? "

I don't know anyone who has actually left the country because of drumpf. Many dream of being able to. It's not an easy thing to do.

Sunny SoCal here too.

Last night I was looking to buy Play Doh and on their website it said Ralphs supermarket had it in stock. Not trusting websites that say they have an item in stock I called the store to confirm and spoke to a nice woman that said she wasn't sure but would go look. She came back on the line and confirmed that they did have it. 99 cents a can. I was so happy. I asked her name. I drove over right away about 8 o'clock pm and bought some and found the woman who I'd spoken with and we had a good laugh that I was looking for something so trivial as Play Doh of all things!

So, yeah, maybe we're luckier in California these days.

[Grim Chieftain]

15. Yes, and I live in a red state.

A sense of gloom has settled in here.

[Demobrat]

16. Here in San Francisco I notice decorations are back.

During the pandemic there were few and I missed them. This year the lights are up all over, like people decided to be happy again.

[Kaleva]

17. No. Haven't noticed any difference

Crabby people are still crabby and happy people are still happy.

I live in a deep red part of Michigan.

[BBbats]

18. If I Could I Would.

Leave The USA.
But I'm 72 years old & dependant on Social Security. That mostly covers my rent. I had another small pension that went up in smoke during that last Bush Jr. bank crisis. Still work (fun job at least) five days a week. And still do a few gigs(I'm a Bass player). Two to five a month. I could get maybe get a few more but I can't afford a car & all that goes with it.
Live in a Blue state in a Blue city at least. I live in a cool neighborhood. All kinds of people. Everybody gets along.It's fun down here.
But there's certainly a sense of dread. Especially about the future. It's like we are just waiting for whatever we have to be pulled out from under us. You wake up & there's some fresh new Hell that's in your face.
On the other hand like minded people are slowly connecting with each other & loosely banding together hereThis is been recent for me anyway. Some are customers(I work in a small Music shop) who I've known for years. A lot of people are getting laid off & or losing their jobs. It's kinda like we know we have to start banding together & help each other.
The USA is going down. We've alienated our allies. Our financial status is not going to be top tier anymore. The dollar isn't worth the linen paper it's printed on. They're going to do their best to steal whatever scraps that are left from us. And they'll probably succeed.
And no one's coming to save us.
Most people of all ages I talk to are scared.

[Iwasthere]

20. There are expat areas where you can live very well for a fraction

Panama, Mexico, Italy, France (wonderful retirement communities like Huatulco). Vietnam believe or not is a fantastic place to retire.

[Warpy]

19. I live in NM where we saw the disaster coming a mile away

so there's not the widespread anger,/anxiety/disappointment/feelings of betrayal/fear of admitting one has been wrong about everything that one is starting to see in red states. I've been out twice in the last week and people here are the same as always.

I have never seen a red hat, "T" flag, yard sign, bumper sticker, or anything else proclaiming to the world "I am stupid" here in NM. I think I'd have to find a way to go near the Texas border or to the southeast part of the state to find a lot of that crap and now that he's shown his true colors, maybe not at all.

I have heard from people in red states or red areas complaining about the increased grumpiness of their fellow citizens.

ETA: Be careful of taking that geographical cure across borders. Chances are you'll be at least as happy just moving to an island of sanity, areas around secualr colleges and universities are generally a good bet, even in the reddest of states. You do sound a lot like me when I was flying back and forth between NM and FL when my own parents started to need some help. I hate FL with the white hot fury of a million supernovae and their sick politics are just the strychnine cherry on the arsenic shortcake. I miss my parents but I am so very glad I on't have to go back there again. I was noticing an increased grouch level even back in the early 00s confirming my own idea that the worst thing you can do to conservatives is give them what they think they want.

[Roc2020]

21. I live in an Atlanta suburb

And for the most part I can tell the folks who voted for that creature and who didn't. The ones that do can barely look up. It's almost like the shame and disgrace of that man is starting to swallow them up.

[B.See]

23. Or maybe they just know

their souls are eternally damned to hell... along with their antiChrist.

"And I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you"

[Boomerproud]

27. My situation is the opposite of yours. The Magas in my family are happy as clams

as are the ones (the majority of coworkers) at work. They live in their faux bubble. I'm the one who's distressed all the time.

[Raine]

22. No, people seem pretty happy to me. nt

[blubunyip]

25. Yes

I see a lot of worry and exhaustion. I'm in a university area where so many have lost jobs or funding. A lot of scientists and medical researchers heavily impacted. Not a lot of joy and ye olde Christmas cheer. The frivolities seem jarring to me, also wasteful in these difficult economic times. I have no interest in blowing a lot of money on Xmas this year. The holidays will be simple and solemn where I am.

On the other hand, I do understand why people feel compelled to act like things are normal. I understand the urge to fight the demons with lights and noise and bell ringing, but after this year I don't have much bandwidth for partying on the Titanic. I've never been good at looking the other way, certainly not now when so many are suffering and there is such wealth inequality, and everything I ever cared about is being attacked and deconstructed. This country is in crisis, I'm sure most Americans would at least agree on that. There's a shred of hope in this shit show, because more people are seeing the true shape of things politically, and I think a strong backlash could happen. But so much damage has already been done. Many of the fortunate ones stay cocooned and choose not to see. That's part of the success of the Project 2025 Shock & Awe strategy...you keep trying to act like things are normal when they're not.

[Iwasthere]

31. Well put

I feel that way too. Exhausted. Our beloved country is in crisis, which causes a real sense of mourning. It will take far more than a decade to repair it after the republicans have ousted. I'm 68 now. I hope it happens in my lifetime. I am saddened for my children and theirs.

[OAITW r.2.0]

26. Grim is how I'd describe it. Fearful of a future envisioned by this misadministration.

[a kennedy]

30. I try to be as happy and uplifting as I can when I'm out....make others happy and I'm here for them.

Bad enough I bawl at home, feel lonely, hate the way I look.......but the minute I see someone else??? I just fall into making them feel better. Lost my husband, miss him so much and have gotten fatter. So.....at home i’m a mess, BUT OUT??? I’m the best they will meet today. 🥰 ♥️ 🥰

[Iwasthere]

32. Me too

Putting on a good face. I hate that he has done this to us.

[SWBTATTReg]

33. I don't want to leave my Country because of these thugs. If anything, I'm smiling because I know our day in the Sun

will come soon. In 2026, we'll win the house and senate majorities again. In 2028, we'll win the WH if it's still standing. Then, we'll need to have a super aggresive DOJ official (not Garland the worthless), who'll backtrack all of these illegal acts by tRUMP and thugs, and charge literally everyone immediately on day 1. No rest for the thugs, no peace for these thugs.