rthstewart | A few days out

I regret to say that my experience with the bigotry, misogyny, and homophobia of the last few years prepared me for the US election results. I found despair and disillusionment, and experienced the power of those voices, several years ago and so expected this result though I so wished to be wrong. The only good news in this is that this has meant my shock is not as acute because I've already been there for a while and, in my privilege, am not at risk. Still, there has been a lot of stress baking, Corgi petting, and avoidance for the better part of 6 months. So, I am so sorry that I've not responded to you and thank you so much for reaching out to me. It will take awhile to get through 200+ emails and reviews on this account, never mind the dozens of unread stories. But going forward, please understand that I can be here for you if you need it.

So, watch this space. I did a long blather cross-posted here on why I do not believe that women and families will lose altogether access to Plan B, drug-based contraceptives, and the pills that induce medical abortions because the process to remove FDA-approved drugs from the market when the manufacturer doesn't want to remove the product is very difficult and long. In other words, I think for the time being, you can cross off your list, "stockpile Plan B." That comment was long and blathery and I am not familiar with the processes by which medical devices are removed from the market, like IUDs and some implants, so I'll update with something concise soon.

When I was trying to comfort someone at 3 AM on Wednesday morning, I told him how important it was that he continue his creative efforts to tell others about the works of fiction that he enjoyed and found hopeful. We need that more than ever, I told him, and don't let despair stop you.

I recognize in this a call to create in our fiction the world we want to live in. The reason I returned to fandom in 2009 was that I thought we were on the cusp of creating that world in RL. Alas, this is not true. A quote I used in TSG attributed to Gandhi was "Be the change you wish to see in the world."** And so, for me, it will become "write the world you wish to see."

(**BUT, lots of people aren't ready for that call and commitment and may never be. No pressure, OK? This HURTS and is scary. Grieve as you must and take your own damned time about it.)

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That comment is getting linked throughout the DW-space, so your information is getting out there to people who need it. Thank you again.

I am so glad I have you in my life, and your voice in my brain.

Thank you so much. I just posted a longer piece so feel free to spread it around. It was helpful in a way, to remember how pissed off bureaucrats get when politicians try to tell them how to do their job. And what will happen to some federal work forces will be awful and probably swift -- EPA, Homeland Security, Civil Rights Division of the DOJ, Dept of Labor overtime rules. Others will take longer -- we might not notice when the Dept of Interior starts selling off federal lands.

Others, I am more optimistic about, to a point. There is a question as to whether the CFPB survives at all if Dodd-Frank is repealed outright. But it might continue, with a more refocused mission. There are many experienced conservative trade and consumer protection people who believe that the free market can't always protect consumers and those are influential voices. A lot of antitrust will probably continue, maybe? There's an interesting pending case now challenging a merger involving farm equipment. Given that farmers voted as they did, and probably oppose the merger, maybe that one would stick. The Federal Trade Commission will likely continue with a new chairman who is not a lunatic. Though, given how much grifting there is in Republican circles with quick rich schemes, shady products and multi-level marketing, some fraud cases will probably never be brought.

Anyway, sorry to blather. I've been thinking a lot about the transition, and I worry for my friends.

Blather is very welcome (in my space, at least!).

Edited (clarification) 2016-11-13 23:43 (UTC)

It's great to see you back - and I'm really glad that you have the experience and knowledge and generosity of spirit (ie in a time when you're depressed by this election result) to give this briefing about what not to worry about in the immediate future.
And yes, about the need for all our talents, whatever they are, to be swung into the work to envisage, and ultimately make, a better world.

Hello my dear friend and thank you for the kind email. I did respond to that one. It's very hard. There are many stages of grief and anxiety and betrayal and the people around me our experiencing all of them. Even in our very democratic, liberal area, there were swastikas on the middle school bathroom. I had a depressing conversation with SIL who, I believe may have voted for T or not voted at all. She kept saying, "Oh but he's a successful NY businessman. It won't be that bad. He doesn't really believe all those things." It was hard to convince her, no, really, it is and you just aren't paying attention. I felt badly to frighten her but she's Muslim.

Was it as quiet in your area as it was in mine the day after the election? I don't think I've seen the city like that since 9/11 and one could really sense just how stunned and numb we were. The streets, the subway ride and just in general, busy midtown was eerily silent, probably from a combination of lack of sleep and just trying to process it all.

For all that I'm usually apathetic about the elections, this one really stung. (And I nearly cried at the office watching HRC giving her concession speech.)

Hugs to you, and I hope you're doing all right.

It could be worse -- really. At least your office isn't across the street from his residence. The street closures and random protestor before the election was bad enough, but now I've got to put up with more barricades, more police and secret service, the press, protestors and tourists. And add the holiday tourists and the next few months have already become a nightmare.

So yeah, I have to put up with a daily reminder of this mess until at least mid-January. Ugh.

Argh. I lost my reply. I'm so sorry. It must be ghastly being so close to it. It's bad in our office bc we've some old white dudes who worked on the campaign and are now on the transition. It's ugly.

Wednesday was dead. It was shocking and half the office was crying. I made cookies for my assistant and the others who are just devastated. The federal employees I was with were... tired and resigned. Parents with kids, especially girls, are having a very hard time.

Thanks so much for being so kind and supportive, though. I really appreciate it.

Stress baking is a very sensible coping strategy.

That info about contraception and legality was really helpful and reassuring, and maybe I won't have to somehow become part of the black market smuggling Plan B into the US. Though I would - I would totally.

*hugs* It's really nice to hear from you, and I'm glad that you're here.

I've loved your Friday recipes. Thank you and thank you again. I saw so much worry about these issues and thought, well, I can help with some of it. People hurt so much.

Yes.

Am nearly a week into struggling to locate coherence. And also into burying myself in fic with any spare time.

Love you, Rth.

Thank you for this. It is so good to have concrete, informed posts out there.

A few days out

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