Its easy to get caught up with what's going on in the US at the moment with the squabbling for position and wealth in politics and business.

But I feel its worth saying a country is not any one person, leader or company, its the people, the ordinary everyday people who you dont really see or hear about who keep things going, those who teach history and who re-enact to keep heritage alive, those who explore the stars and keep watch on the natural spaces, those who create new media from classic inspiration and those of us on here who share a different interest.

If anything sums up what everyday people can do its this which I only learned about earlier this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18lsxFcDrjo&pp=ygUMOTExIGJvYXRsaWZ0

Sure, a country is bigger than one person. But when 77 million of them vote for an open fascist- who already tried to overthrow democracy not even 5 years ago!- I don't really have a lot of patience for the country.

In my opinion that statement is (a bit) too harsh. I think that for a fair amount of people who voted republican their vote was not a vote for Trump but rather still a vote against the democrats. I see that as a disadvantage of a political system with only 2 parties. So by far, not everyone who voted republican is hardcore MAGA.

I'm from the Netherlands, where we have 10-15 political parties, big and small, and can't say that that is working out very well either. We again have elections within a year where the normal cycle would be every 4 years. But we don't have the big swings in policy as seem to happen in the 2-party systems.

I made a trip of 3 weeks through the USA in 2016, to California and adjacent states and NY. I'm fully aware this can not be considered as representative for the USA as a whole. However it was really an eye opener and very happy i made it. Everyone i met was very friendly and helpful when needed. It made me realize that, just as mentioned in OP, most everyday people (not only in the USA but all over the world) just want to live their life in peace and give their children a good future.

I think we never should loose faith that common sense and decency will always prevail on the longer term. If we allow ourselves to loose that faith we allow ourselves to surrender to the populists that seem to gain power in the USA and in Europe who mobilize a group that is vocal but still a small minority. The majority of people are decent everyday people, only not that vocal.

I realize that this is easy to say "safely in Europe", and it makes me really sad to see what is going on in the USA and the world. But nevertheless i think it is important to keep the above in mind, keep faith in that and keep fighting off fear and dispair and never surrender, even if only to support your fellow everyday guys who are still the majority.

It is not a harsh statement. It does not matter why you voted for Trump. There are two simple facts with this last election. 1. You choose to vote for Trump and you chose those consequences. I am so sick of seeing people try to claim some kind of ignorance. "I didn't vote for this", or "I didn't know it would be this way" are bullshit excuses. There was enough information out there about Trump and what he was planning. You chose to be an uninformed voter and you are stuck with your choices.

2. That for as progressive as Democrats claim to be, twice they have either stayed home or voted 3rd party rather than vote for a woman. Yes Bernie was screwed over by Hillary. I would love viable 3rd parties, but neither party will allow it to happen. I would love to vote for someone I support 100% rather than have to vote against someone. I have done both.

The last thing I see with this election is around voting and 3rd party candidates. For people that say voting for a 3rd party is like voting for X person which is the candidate they are against. Both parties use the same stupid argument about it. There is nothing wrong with voting for a 3rd party candidate. Yes because of the way the electoral college is set up and how close some races are 1 less vote for either side would mean something. But voting 3rd party is not a vote for a different party.

This!

Makes me think of the Trump voters who are now crying because their family members have been deported. Yes, I find this sad too, but did you guys really think the Trump administration would make an exception for them?

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes...

That's something i agree with. People who voted on him the second time can't say they didn't see it coming or what he's up to.