Surviving the 2024 Election Cycle

Amidst the relentless information and arguments from the media and acquaintances during the 2020 election, many found themselves drained and disheartened. Set against the backdrop of a global pandemic, tensions soared, leaving countless individuals frustrated, anxious, and exhausted. Now, as we brace for another round of presidential candidates, it seems we’re destined for a repeat contest.

With the majority likely having already cemented their voting decisions, the coming months promise to be a turbulent ride, with each unfolding event intensifying the emotional rollercoaster.

In light of this, I propose an alternative: the power to unplug and safeguard one’s sanity while cultivating a deeper and more well-rounded perspective on American politics.

Amidst the chaos of the 2020 pandemic, Ryan Holiday delivered a succinct message: “It’s not ambition or skill that is going to set you apart but sanity.”

This sentiment holds true as we find ourselves yet another contentious election season. While active involvement is undoubtedly commendable, it may not be feasible for everyone. However, by disconnecting from the relentless news cycle, seeking alternative sources of information, and fostering new understandings and perspectives, we can remain engaged in the election process without sacrificing our mental well-being.

Get Involved

The most effective way to make a difference and contribute is by actively participating in the upcoming election cycle. This involvement can take various forms, such as assisting people in registering to vote, serving as a poll worker, or engaging with a campaign for a candidate you believe in. By doing so, you can gain a deeper understanding of the electoral process, forge new connections, and develop a greater appreciation for the functioning of the system.

It’s crucial to get energized and actively engage before the election. Following the 2016 election, a grassroots movement emerged, culminating in three to five million people participating in the Women’s March across the United States.

If the efforts of the Women’s March had been organized and executed differently prior to the election, it may have had the potential to alter the outcome. For instance, with just 1.2 million of the march participants canvassing neighborhoods for four hours, it could have reached every registered voter who did not participate in the 2020 general election. Alternatively, allocating four hours each of 750,000 participants could have reached every unregistered voting-age adult in the country.

However, let’s not deceive ourselves about what getting involved truly entails. No one will want you to make antagonistic posts or engage in online arguments. The real work that needs to be done often lacks glamour. Tasks like labeling and filling envelopes, knocking on doors, and making calls to gauge people’s support are all tedious but essential activities that campaigns rely on. This is what true involvement entails.

Beyond Involvement

If your efforts aren’t directed towards positive support for the causes or candidates you care about, it’s worth considering your contribution. Are you staying informed about issues and looking after those close to you? Or are you posting content to provoke reactions, leaving anonymous comments on websites aimlessly, or sharing articles with people you know they will upset?

In times of heightened polarization, these actions sow chaos. Considering the unlikelihood of having your own political beliefs altered by someone’s online post, such participation approaches the realm of sadism.

“As muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone” posits Alan Watts, “it could be argued that those who sit quietly and do nothing are making one of the best possible contributions to a world in turmoil.”

Improving the atmosphere for ourselves and our country begins with mindful consumption. While staying informed is crucial, if our minds are already made up, how closely must we track the news cycle? How frequently do significant events occur that materially impact our day-to-day lives?

I found myself in an environment where heated debates were underway about which political side’s children should be enlisted into service for the anticipated World War III, speculated to commence with Iran in the spring of 2020. Yet, just weeks later, the world shifted dramatically as we found ourselves isolated in our homes, consumed by a larger issue that replaced the previous concerns in our minds.

Unplug From the News Cycle

When a major newsworthy event comes around, such as the pandemic or a major court ruling ruling, you’ll know about it without having to check news sites every free moment or watching hours of cable news each night. The things you miss weren’t that impactful, yet they still rile people up, give them something to argue about and have brief opinions on.

“A great loop of impotence” is how Neil Postman diagnoses the series, “The news elicits from you a variety of opinions about which you can do nothing except to offer them as more news, about which you can do nothing.”

2020 saw a notable trend emerge: the prolonged doom-scrolling sessions that characterized a year marked by the pandemic, reckonings with inequality, and the intense election atmosphere. Many found themselves transfixed by tragic news, unable to pull their gaze away. But amidst this fixation, what valuable lessons eluded us, lessons that could have been gleaned elsewhere? Despite the shock of unfolding events, the daily churn of news yielded little genuinely new information.

On January 6th, 2021 after an hour of absorbing the news, I realized that little more would be learned that day. While details would inevitably emerge in the weeks to come, I made a conscious decision to utilize my time more effectively. I reached for The Luckiest Man, a biography chronicling the life of Senator John McCain from my home state. Through this read, I witnessed profound shifts in our political landscape and the rapid evolution of the Republican Party. When I eventually returned to the news a couple of days later, I found that very little had been missed. Yet, I had gained a wealth of knowledge from a single book and felt enriched for having diverted my attention from the relentless 24-hour news cycle.

How Current Events Shape Political Beliefs

Aldous Huxley once claimed, “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons history has to teach.” What cycles could we recognize, or issues could we avoid, if we possessed a deeper historical awareness?

While the 2016 election marked my first opportunity to cast a vote, it wasn’t my initial foray into political engagement. Having followed and participated in the 2012 election cycle, my political consciousness extended beyond the dichotomy of Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump. This contrasted with many of my peers, whose political engagement began with those particular candidates and their platforms. I recognized that neither candidate epitomized the ideals of their respective parties and witnessed firsthand the seismic shifts in the political landscape over a few short years.

This phenomenon likely holds true for each generation — our beliefs and perspectives are shaped by the period in which we first grapple with political issues. This doesn’t invalidate our views but offers valuable insight into our thinking processes. Consider how a deeper understanding of history could enhance not only our comprehension of the world but also our interactions with others.

Finding an Alternative to the News Cycle

So it seems that with each generation, we become engrossed in the news and narratives of our time, shaping our political ideologies for a lifetime. The problem is, these narratives are often transient, meant to influence the current conversation and secure the next vote rather than outline a lasting vision for the future.

Alexis de Tocqueville recognized this nearly two centuries ago when he remarked, “In America, parties do not write books to combat each others’ opinions, but pamphlets which are circulated for a day with incredible rapidity, and then expire.”

While the medium has evolved, little has changed in the essence of how messages are disseminated. This is evident in the continual transformation of our political parties over both short and long term throughout history, resulting in tribalism and identity politics rather than a genuine debate about the best path forward for our nation.

By disengaging from this cycle, we can preserve our sanity in the midst of a contentious election that profoundly affects our country and the world. However, this doesn’t mean disengaging entirely; it means delving deeper than the disposable information that most people consume, striving to form a better understanding of history and its implications for the future. As Alan Watts aptly stated, “Action without wisdom, without clear awareness of the world as it really is, can never improve anything.”

So what is the best means to check out and go deeper?

The Power of Books

Books grant us access to the wisdom of a specific time, offering insights that have endured through the ages. They represent the culmination of a lifetime of work or, at the very least, years of dedicated effort. Unlike advertisements and ever-changing media, books remain solid and are intended to be purchased for their content, not to captivate and consume one’s time.

By immersing ourselves in books, we can break free from the relentless news cycle and cultivate a deeper historical awareness. Books cover topics overlooked by social media algorithms and cable news, providing a long-form exploration of issues that short news pieces cannot adequately address. They offer a superior source of knowledge and understanding.

What to Read

Below is a list of the type of books and some specific options that one could follow this election cycle to give yourself more nourishing information than the vapid things one will find online. These may lead to better and deeper ideas and conversations.

1. Look back into American history to some of the great leaders who have held office, and how they managed working together. My pick: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.
2. Can we try to understand why is politics so divisive? What are we missing about the other side? My pick: The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion.
3. Read a biography about a politician on your preferred side from not long ago and see how differently it functioned. I prefer those from the late 20th and early 21st century. On the Left: Ted Kennedy: The Dream That Never Died. On the Right: The Luckiest Man: Life with John McCain.
4. Go deep on an issue of importance to the country. Find a book that goes over the past, present, and future of an issue. My Pick: Antitrust: Taking on Monopoly Power from the Gilded Age to the Digital Age.
5. Read a book from a “young” figure in your party and hopefully find some inspiration for future elections with hopefully younger candidates and fresh ideas. On the Left: Pete Buttigieg, Trust: America’s Best Chance. On the Right: Ben Sasse, The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis — and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance.
6. Become more well rounded, read a biography of a politician of the same era as #3 but from the opposite party you support. For those on the Left: The Luckiest Man: Life with John McCain. For those on the Right: Ted Kennedy: The Dream That Never Died.
7. Furthering being well rounded, read a book from a “young” figure in the party opposite yourself. For those on the Left: Ben Sasse, The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis- and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance. For those on the Right: Pete Buttigieg, Trust: America’s Best Chance.

None of these are likely to change your mind, nor are they supposed to. They should make you more informed, but they should also crowd out the disposable news that many will consume with great urgency until the election. While there are important events that will occur, they are far fewer than most dedicate their time to.

By prioritizing long-form, heavily researched, and timeless information, we can sidestep the short-lived, disposable information that is so prevalent. While it may feel like we are staying informed with the news, they are akin to empty calories, leaving us craving more. By embracing quality information to enrich ourselves, we can maintain our sanity in a contentious and challenging election cycle.