I left just over a year ago, -partially- because of the chance the orange asshole would get reelected.

It’s been one of the best decisions of my life. Life in the Netherlands is quiet, doesn’t require a car, I can see a doctor without financial ruin, health insurance is reasonably priced (by American standards), I never see giant lifted pickups or people so paranoid they wear a gun on their hip into a restaurant.

It’s also centrally located so traveling Europe is easy, English is widely spoken (though i am of fucking course learning Dutch), trains can take you damn near everywhere, and I don’t panic a little every time I see a cop.

If you can be self employed the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty makes the Netherlands one of the easiest countries in Europe for Americans to migrate to.

Tldr I’m preparing for systems to fall apart, preparing for violence to increase, seeing friends moving away.

I have friends that are moving to states with shield laws. I’ll be seeing several of them that I’ve known for decades leave because there are just too many assholes here that are making their lives difficult.

I’ve fantasized about leaving the country. I’m tired of being an American. Tired of the guns, the ever growing trucks, our psychotic brand of Christianity. I expect the dangers to come will be stupid musdane things like e.coli outbreaks when the FDA collapses, another pandemic happens because the CDC is toast (avian flu is looking like a likely candidate), or desperate people being priced out of healthcare even more than they currently are and turn to snake oil. I’ve studied German and Japanese and have lived abroad, but Germany has its own far right problems and I didn’t do great living in Japan. Giving up friends, a common culture, and fluency in the local language are not light considerations, nor is the process of moving either physically or bureaucratically.

My partner and I have discussed what to do if we see violence against minorities (she is also a POC). The amount of white guys that think having a gun means they can be as much of an asshole as they want adds too much uncertainty for those conversations to be productive or realistic. We’ve discussed if we want to carry asps or mace or things like that. I’m on antidepressants so we will not be arming ourselves with firearms.

I’ve had conversations with my martial arts teacher about similar topics that ended up with him saying he’s at the point in his life where he doesn’t want to die, but is ready to do so if it comes to that sort of thing. His child has already had to leave the state because they’re nonbinary and a teacher.

Honestly, I hear people say they’re going to stay and fight and I think “Fight for this?” while gesturing to a country that couldn’t be bothered to show up to prevent Trump from getting elected again. Why would I want to keep it going? I know there are some good people but I don’t feel I can help many individuals against systemic problems.

I get my health insurance through the ACA. I expect that to be gutted. This will impact me and most of my coworkers. They may have to seek out employment that provides health insurance. I may be forced into domestic partnership or marriage to keep access to healthcare.

I mean, he’s not the president yet, that happens in late January. check back in late February

I believe that @FlyingSquid@lemmy.world wants to leave? :-P

Family members have told me that I should think about it. Anyone who advocates for liberal values especially trans rights is going to have a hard time of things.

Although if we don’t stand against it, what then? Caveat: I don’t have kids, and those who do need to think of them first. We need to do what we can, within the realm of the possible, imho. And that will require tough calls about which battles are worth fighting - along with where, and how, and when, etc.

There has been a surprisingly low impact actually. I think we’re all just outright numb from the shock. Even conservatives did not seem to expect this - gearing up as they had been for conflict. But this is just the calm before the storm. Underneath it… we can feel the tension, rising, and we are afraid.

And even when the wait is over - what will happen? Will RFK ban anyone from taking vaccines, or just stop government payments for them? Will the DOJ (and many other agencies) cease to exist, or will their heads merely be replaced and they keep on going - or will they pretend to keep going and yet actually be gutted? Traditionally, despite all the talk to the contrary, far more important than the Presidency is Congress who makes the laws, but how will they interpret the will of the people? e.g. will tariffs make food prices go UP (ofc they will), and then how will the leopards try to spin that to sound like a net positive?

We’re all waiting to find out.

Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best.