What I lost would not have been changed by ignoring reality. A too large share of people in the country support a traitor, amongst other deplorable qualities. The reason why informs me to how I should play the game.

In the short term, I am sure I will benefit greatly from Trump’s leadership, just like I did last time. In the long term, I need to plan for what is best for my family to live in a country (world?) with less and less societal trust/cohesion (including family members).

Maybe the reality of this level of tribalism was always there, temporarily hidden from me by my youth and economic momentum from previous decades.

It is funny, ironic, but moreso sad, to complain about the loss of societal trust and cohesion whilst actively engaging in an ideological purity spiral that merely worsens that loss.

Not really. Traitors are traitors, and people who oppose women’s rights are people who oppose women’s rights. It seems expected to not trust someone who attacks your country, much less one’s mother/daughter/sister/etc.

Some things are black and white.

Doubling-down on the dehumanization and simplification of your enemies is not how you convince others that you actually care about societal trust or cohesion.

I am not dehumanizing anyone. I know they are humans, which is why they are behaving as they are. Humans just don’t happen to be better than most other animals when change in relative status (and hence power) is happening.

I used to think we were a little better, though.

For the record, I actually like some of Trump’s ideas, like no (earned) income tax, about Gaza, and I would still buy a Tesla (although I would prefer if a different automaker that isn’t led by someone who makes Nazi salutes would make buying a car as easy as Tesla).

But he’s not the guy I want my kids to see as the leader of their country, both for his character and his support of other policies/traitors/racism/general chaotic nature.

Your black and white thinking is dehumanizing. By being so rigid in your stance you're being neglectful of other peoples view of the world. It comes across so invalidating and dismissive, the lack of curiosity as to why people have these world views makes it even worse. The flavor of neglect feels very much like the kind growing up in a devoted christian home. You don't get to have a personality or have a valid view of the word because "god".

Is it ok to be black and white on slavery?

It's not black and white, most of society can't even agree on what reality is. Most of the country disagrees that he's a traitor

The one issue voter who only cares about free speech on the internet isn't "opposed" to women's rights.

In you're way of thinking it sounds like you support killing babies... it's pretty black and white...

Sure, you can say I support killing babies. It is black and white that a woman (and her doctor) should have zero qualms about doing whatever they need to prioritize the woman’s health.

Literally no one is killing babies who can survive outside of their moms for fun. They are all medically necessary healthcare procedures.

https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/04/raw-data-abor...