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Devote your time and energy to getting others organized and mobilized. It's going to take a grassroots movement of Americans to take our country back from those who seek to divide us. (Photo: Screenshot)
9 Ways to Stay Sane During the Primaries
We’ve been through dark times before, but we have come out stronger on the other side. We will do so again.
Aug 29, 2019
As the presidential primaries get underway, it's easy to get burnt out or overwhelmed by all the candidates and their platforms. Here are 9 ways to stay sane through the madness of the presidential primaries.
1. Look for a candidate with the right ingredients to inspire you and others. The next president will have to be someone who can bring together Americans from all walks of life -- across race, class, gender, ethnicity, and religion -- into a movement against the hatred, bigotry, and cronyism that now pervades Washington.
2. Don't get distracted by the horserace, who's up or who's down in the polls. Focus on the substance: What their vision is for the country and how it will affect all of our lives.
3. Reach out to independents. Avoid political labels, and talk kitchen table issues like the rising cost of health care, housing and education. Focus on solutions rather than slogans or what you hear on cable news.
4. Get involved. Devote your time and energy to getting others organized and mobilized. It's going to take a grassroots movement of Americans to take our country back from those who seek to divide us.
5. Study up on the candidates and their positions on issues you care about and see if they align. Visit their websites to explore their policy positions, read independent analyses of their proposals, dig deeper into their records in elected office.
6. Take a deep breath. The most important goal is to reclaim our democracy and forge an economy that works for all. Don't succumb to divisiveness or carping criticism of other primary candidates. And remember that you can stay centered, mentally, regardless of how close you are to the political center.
7. Make sure you're registered to vote, and know when and where to vote. The work you put into learning about the candidates means little if you don't actually show up on Election Day. Once you're registered, make sure your friends and family are too.
8. Follow the money. Some candidates have already pledged not to take money from wealthy donors or corporate political action committees. Make sure all of them follow suit.
9. Lastly, don't lose faith in America. We've been through dark times before, but we have come out stronger on the other side. We will do so again.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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Robert Reich
Robert Reich is professor emeritus of public policy at Berkeley and former US secretary of labor. His latest book is the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, "Coming Up Short."
As the presidential primaries get underway, it's easy to get burnt out or overwhelmed by all the candidates and their platforms. Here are 9 ways to stay sane through the madness of the presidential primaries.
1. Look for a candidate with the right ingredients to inspire you and others. The next president will have to be someone who can bring together Americans from all walks of life -- across race, class, gender, ethnicity, and religion -- into a movement against the hatred, bigotry, and cronyism that now pervades Washington.
2. Don't get distracted by the horserace, who's up or who's down in the polls. Focus on the substance: What their vision is for the country and how it will affect all of our lives.
3. Reach out to independents. Avoid political labels, and talk kitchen table issues like the rising cost of health care, housing and education. Focus on solutions rather than slogans or what you hear on cable news.
4. Get involved. Devote your time and energy to getting others organized and mobilized. It's going to take a grassroots movement of Americans to take our country back from those who seek to divide us.
5. Study up on the candidates and their positions on issues you care about and see if they align. Visit their websites to explore their policy positions, read independent analyses of their proposals, dig deeper into their records in elected office.
6. Take a deep breath. The most important goal is to reclaim our democracy and forge an economy that works for all. Don't succumb to divisiveness or carping criticism of other primary candidates. And remember that you can stay centered, mentally, regardless of how close you are to the political center.
7. Make sure you're registered to vote, and know when and where to vote. The work you put into learning about the candidates means little if you don't actually show up on Election Day. Once you're registered, make sure your friends and family are too.
8. Follow the money. Some candidates have already pledged not to take money from wealthy donors or corporate political action committees. Make sure all of them follow suit.
9. Lastly, don't lose faith in America. We've been through dark times before, but we have come out stronger on the other side. We will do so again.
Robert Reich
Robert Reich is professor emeritus of public policy at Berkeley and former US secretary of labor. His latest book is the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, "Coming Up Short."
As the presidential primaries get underway, it's easy to get burnt out or overwhelmed by all the candidates and their platforms. Here are 9 ways to stay sane through the madness of the presidential primaries.
1. Look for a candidate with the right ingredients to inspire you and others. The next president will have to be someone who can bring together Americans from all walks of life -- across race, class, gender, ethnicity, and religion -- into a movement against the hatred, bigotry, and cronyism that now pervades Washington.
2. Don't get distracted by the horserace, who's up or who's down in the polls. Focus on the substance: What their vision is for the country and how it will affect all of our lives.
3. Reach out to independents. Avoid political labels, and talk kitchen table issues like the rising cost of health care, housing and education. Focus on solutions rather than slogans or what you hear on cable news.
4. Get involved. Devote your time and energy to getting others organized and mobilized. It's going to take a grassroots movement of Americans to take our country back from those who seek to divide us.
5. Study up on the candidates and their positions on issues you care about and see if they align. Visit their websites to explore their policy positions, read independent analyses of their proposals, dig deeper into their records in elected office.
6. Take a deep breath. The most important goal is to reclaim our democracy and forge an economy that works for all. Don't succumb to divisiveness or carping criticism of other primary candidates. And remember that you can stay centered, mentally, regardless of how close you are to the political center.
7. Make sure you're registered to vote, and know when and where to vote. The work you put into learning about the candidates means little if you don't actually show up on Election Day. Once you're registered, make sure your friends and family are too.
8. Follow the money. Some candidates have already pledged not to take money from wealthy donors or corporate political action committees. Make sure all of them follow suit.
9. Lastly, don't lose faith in America. We've been through dark times before, but we have come out stronger on the other side. We will do so again.
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