Depressed About Politics 2025: How All The Lies Play Russian Roulette With Americans

America, (said in my best Bernie Mac voice), I'm totally confused. An authoritarian government is literally the polar opposite of conservatism.

It's something I know a lot about and this article is meant to educate you so that you know too. Regardless of how you lean I care about you! If you're a MAGA I care about you! If you're a Liberal I care about you!

I'm a lifelong Ohio Republican born in 1964 and raised in a conservative Christian home. I'm a white GenX suburban mom who helicopter parented my kid. There are certain tenants I identify strongly with that define what a conservative is, and here is the #1 belief of every true conservative:

Stay the fuck out of my business and I'll stay out of yours. Don't judge me, and I won't judge you. Stay in your lane and I'll stay in mine. Don't tell me what to do, and I won't tell you what to do. Our elected officials are at the top of the list of people I want to stay TF out of my life on every level. Since December 30, 1982 when I became an adult.

I am the family rebel and the black sheep. I used to feel ashamed about this; I now recognize it's pretty bad ass!

I also have a healthy fear of true authority which keeps me from joining the Ohio Militia like my maternal ancestors did during the Civil War. I want to remind you that the Democrats were the terrorists back then. I expect experts to tell me what would be in my best interest physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.

Today, it's the Republican party that is problematic; that's not to say the Democrats don't have problems. I want to be super clear here - I am NOT a Democrat. Republican leaders as a whole are afraid to stand up to Trump because their money train to dry up. Our politicians are greedy AF and Republican party members are compromised.

Where I'm different from other conservatives is that I don't have the MAGA cult-like mindset because I "buck authority" -as Bunny used to say, BECAUSE I live in reality. It's been a gift and a curse because reality is making us feeling depressed as hell in 2025!

What I mean by this is:

• I'm pro life too: When I got pregnant I chose life - if you don't, it's not my business! For real! No judgment! I am 100% for the life of the woman - that's pro-life, is it not? I argue this point often - it is absofuckiniglutely pro-life.

  • Hey - I know many GenX/Boomer right-wingers who had abortions and I nursed many of them back to health. PRO LIFE.

• Human identity is based in science and not something to be "tolerated."

  • FACT: Most MAGA extremists DON'T EVEN KNOW ANYONE WHO IS TRANSGENDER - I know because I live among them!

  • I do know many transgender people, and I haven't met one yet that wasn't smart, insightful, mature, interesting, and resilient.

  • Here is the irony in my experience: Transgender people are totally normal. People in my world - not so much (There are people in my personal world who are GenX/Boomers who vote against LBGTQ+ and hire them as sex workers!)

• Climate change is real. The end.

• Vaccines overwhelmingly prevent communicable diseases. I know people who have a vaccine scar on their arm and that used to be a sign of great parenting! Not getting your kids vaxxed is reckless!

• Our military is acting out illegally striking without the knowledge, let alone approval, of our elected officials. These acts are the ANTITHESIS of being conservative.

• Hey America - Trump was NOT an FBI informant trying to bust Epstein! Trump is in the Epstein files and he's protecting Maxwell - of COURSE he moved her to a woman's camp in Texas in exchange for her lies. WE SAW THIS WITH OUR OWN EYES - just like January 6th, and the fake elector scheme. It's all real and it all happened. Remember - your outrage about the "libtards" doesn't change any of it!

Americans have forgotten that WE THE PEOPLE run this bitch, and we have all the power through the United States Constitution.

Hey, America - real conservatives dig the Constitution! We live by it! It's what helps me elect people who will keep the government and everyone else out of my business! Remember that's a core conservative pillar! It guarantees that you and me - the voters - are the power. Let me give you a lesson here:

The 10th Amendment says: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

• This means if the Constitution doesn’t specifically give a power to the federal government, like declaring war, then that power stays with the states via our elected officials.

• The bombing of Iran and the attack on Venezuela are acts of War that aren't being authorized by our elected officials aka WE THE PEOPLE.

• Your outrage against Joe Biden doesn't change the fact that Trump can't do whatever he wants as President! There are LAWS AGAINST THIS!

• This is why electing a felon isn't a good idea!

  
  

The United States Constitution - ADHD Version

Preamble:

We, the people of the United States, agree to work together to make our country fair, safe, peaceful, and free. Our elected officials currently act like Congress is high school and it's a popularity contest for Trump's attention. That has to end.

Article I – Congress (The Lawmakers)

• Congress makes the laws. Previous sessions created laws that influenced the NY laws that convicted Trump of 34 felonies. Your outrage over Joe Biden sniffing his daughter's hair doesn't change that Trump isa felon!

• Congress has two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• The House is based on how many people live in each state. The Senate gives every state 2 senators. Republicans cheat and pass laws that cause communities to be disproportionately represented - that is the most non-conservative thing ON THE PLANET - HELLOOOOOOO

• Congress can collect taxes, make money, start post offices, and declare war.

• They cannot make kings or give special titles. This was locked down for a reason!

Article II – The President (The Leader)

• The President makes sure laws are followed.

• The President is chosen every 4 years.

• The President is in charge of the military, makes treaties (with Senate approval), and picks important officials and judges.

• If the President breaks the law badly, Congress can remove them from office (this is called impeachment). The United States Senate failed to convict Trump after he was impeached twice during his first term. Mitt Romney was the only GOP with the stones to convict him and TRUST ME that pains me to say that because I'm not a fan.

Article III – The Courts (The Judges)

• Judges make sure laws are fair and follow the Constitution.

• The highest court is the Supreme Court. Alito's wife flew the American flag upside down. That is a cult-like behavior and I'm not ok with that ESPECIALLY AS A CONSERVATIVE - HELLO!!!! WE WOULD NEVER DESECRATE THE FLAG.

• Judges decide arguments between people, states, and the government.

Article IV – The States

• States have to respect each other’s laws.

• If someone breaks the law in one state and runs away, they must be sent back.

• New states can join the country, but no state can split apart without permission.

• The U.S. promises to protect every state and keep them democratic. The Republican party is methodically trying to dismantle our institutions which is causing instability in our society. THAT IS NOT CONSERVATISM.

Article V – Changing the Rules

• The Constitution can be changed (this is called an amendment).

• It’s hard to change—WE THE PEOPLE have to agree first.

Article VI – The Supreme Law

• The Constitution is the highest law in the land. Trump has violated the Constitution and the law repeatedly and nobody does shit about it. We are about LAW AND ORDER not lawlessness.

• Everyone who works in government must promise to follow it. WE THE PEOPLE elect individuals who hate the government AND THEY ARE THE GOVERNMENT!

• There is no religious test to be in government. I support mental health screening for all elected officials when they apply to be on the ballot. Not sure how that would work but seriously.....wtf....

Article VII – Approving the Constitution

• The Constitution started once 9 of the 13 states agreed to it.

The Amendments (The Changes and Additions)

Bill of Rights (First 10 Amendments)

1. Free Speech & Religion – People can say what they think, follow any religion (or none), gather peacefully, and ask the government to fix problems. All religions are important as is no religion, it has no place in our government! We are all seeing what happens when a religion hijacks it!

2. Guns – People can own weapons. I am a gun enthusiest and we MUST PUT AIRTIGHT LAWS IN PLACE THAT REQUIRE PEOPLE TO HAVE A LICENSE TO OWN AND USE A WEAPON, SIMILAR TO HOW WE GET A DRIVERS LICENSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING. THE END OF DISCUSSION. GUNS ARE THE #1 CAUSE OF DEATH AMONTH CHILDREN. THIS HAS TO FUCKING STOP. IT'S THE GUNS.

3. No Soldiers in Homes – Soldiers can’t live in your house without permission.

4. Privacy – The government can’t search you or your stuff without a good reason. Hey America - it's a violation of our constitutional rights for our government to fuck with us without probable cause and due process. Dean Cain snatching "foreign looking" people off of the factory floor is DEFINITELY not a conservative action.

5. Fair Trials – You can’t be forced to talk against yourself, and the government must treat you fairly. Alligator Alley is NOT A CONSERVATIVE ACTION.

6. Rights in Court – You get a quick, fair trial with a lawyer.

7. Jury Trials – In big cases, you can have a jury decide. DONALD TRUMP WAS CONVICTED OF 34 FELONIES BY A JURY OF HIS PEERS. HE GREW UP IN NYC. CONSERVATIVES DON'T LIKE FELONS AS PRESIDENT. EXTREMISTS DO.

8. No Cruel Punishments – No crazy punishments or unfairly huge fines.

9. Other Rights – Just because it’s not listed doesn’t mean you don’t have the right.

10. States’ Rights – If the Constitution doesn’t say the federal government controls it, the states or the people do. Ohio’s corruption under the Republican Party stands out for the sheer scale of the HB 6 scandal, one of the most brazen bribery schemes in recent U.S. state politics.

Other Amendments

• 13th: No slavery.

• 14th: Everyone born in the U.S. is a citizen. All people must be treated equally.

• 15th: All men can vote, no matter their race.

• 17th: People vote directly for senators.

• 19th: Women can vote. Good luck taking this one away because we're a bunch of Karens.

• 22nd: A President can only serve 2 terms.

• 26th: If you’re 18 or older, you can vote.

Here is the big one that sets me apart from other conservatives - my elders taught me this - I recognize that Liberals and left-leaning Americans are the Ying to my Yang. What do they know that I don't? Where did they come up with that? How would that work? - they help this American Rebel to think outside of my limited conservative view.

Real conservatives and left leaning Americans have way more in common than what divides us.

Why aren't we using that to our advantage?

My theory is simple: Too many of us are fighting the reality that the American people are in the fight of our lives and we better figure out how to unite quickly and overwhelmingly to take back the reins back because our safety is straight up at risk.

It's not right or wrong, good or bad - it just is. And we have to stop fighting reality and start fighting to unite.

Americans are depressed over politics for good reason

Our leaders straight up lie to us, and of course, we believe them because they're our leaders. Why? Research shows that the wave of democratic doesn't mean we're rejecting democracy, but rather our elected officials and their cronies exploiting weak institutions once elected. They make money off of our polarization.

The U.S. Constitution has two “Emoluments Clauses” meant to prevent federal officials, including the president, from profiting improperly from their office. Trump has made millions of dollars improperly off of the Presidency and nobody says or does shit about it.

The lack of accountability is part of why people feel depressed.

In January 2020, I thought the CDC was being ridiculous and overreacting about COVID. Before the vaccine was available and after several hundred-thousand people were already dead in America, I caught it. I was hospitalized for just under a week; one of my favorite doctors was also there and he died.

I now have chronic COPD and a case of Long-Covid.

I was recently talking to a group of people at a restaurant and shared my story. An acquaintance of the group who identifies with MAGA said to me, "You were only in the hospital for a few days, it must not have been THAT bad." Ten years ago, that same man would have wished me good health.

I hear stories like this all day long.

Politics in 2025 feels like a heavy weight on our hearts and our minds. The phrase depressed about politics 2025  has become shorthand for a pervasive gloom and it's a common worry in my sessions.

People see rampant misinformation about vaccines, grocery bills rising faster than paychecks, a job market that seems to shrink every week, school shootings that keep happening, and even unauthorized military actions abroad.

Worse, adversaries like Russia and China openly mock our leadership, fueling a sense of national humiliation.

Hey MAGA - I Care About YOU!!

My Grandpa Bill served in the United States Army and fought in Germany during WW2. He was shot 2x and was awarded the Purple Heart and was Honorably Discharged. He is my favorite leaf in my family tree (Ernie is in an equal spot) because he was such a character and a bad ass patriarch.

His comrades knew his as "Wild Billy Nichols" and they scooped him up off the battle field and carried him to safety, where he was transported to a medical facility. A surgeon removed the bullets and Bill survived.

Tens of millions of us have fallen victim to the conspiracy theories our elected officials spread, knowing how damaging it is but afraid to stand up to the authoritarian Trump administration. Ohio is FULL of MAGA victims.

I'm going to say something here to the non-MAGA readers that is also reality. Like the heroin epidemic and the COVID pandemic, the rot of the MAGA mindset caused by the lies of Republicans, didn't spare people based on race, gender, occupation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socioeconomic status.

It is my civil duty at the very least - it's my job as a therapist - to help all people focus on the present moment where we live in reality, we pump the breaks on the "MAGAs are the dumbest people on the planet," or "Liberals are all pedophiles" and start finding a middle ground where we remember that we're ALL Americans!

We live in reality by paying attention to what's happening in real time. I wrote this article to help you do that.

Lies About Vaccines: Playing Russian Roulette With WE THE PEOPLE

Hey, America - Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a well documented history of drug abuse, likely driven by the complex trauma he suffered as a kid as the third of eleven children. His uncle was assassinated when he was 9. When he was 14 MLK and his father RFK were assassinated. That's a lot of family trauma in a short amount of time at a tender age.

His family has made it known that they believe he has long-term brain damage from it and they report erratic behavior over the decades.

During the height of the pandemic, vaccines offered a lifeline. Yet political misinformation convinced many Americans - Republican‑leaning communities - to avoid vaccination. This always confused me because Trump pushed Warp Speed and got the first COVID vaccines out the door. He and Melania were vaccinated.

In Ohio, State Representative Jennifer Gross, who holds a license as a registered nurse and served in the US Air Force, publicly denounced the COVID vaccine and encouraged her constituents to take Ivermectin. She insisted that anti‑vaccine physician Sherri Tenpenny testify to the House Health Committee. Tenpenny used the hearing to claim that COVID‑19 vaccines magnetize people and allow 5G “interfaces” – statements that are completely false.

Tenpenny's medical license was suspended for that; she just recently got it reinstated. Gross, while she claims she doesn't practice anymore, has an "unencumbered" license, meaning it's free and clear. Tenpenny was also nailed for not paying her taxes.

Another lawless MAGA influenced by her lawless government.

Gross's medical experience is still, as of this writing, overridden by the MAGA Q-Anon thought infection. Her identity as a Christian and her service to our country have been stolen by misinformation and lies by leaders she trusts and believes in. She modeled the behavior of her colleagues and her party leaders and spread that straight up bullshit far and wide in Butler County, Ohio.

Butler County, Ohio has a population of just under 400,000 people; it's a white Boomer pretty wealthy county. Nearly 30% of Butler County became infected with the virus even AFTER the vaccine was available and more than a thousand people lost their lives.

I find Representative Gross's X profile interesting, as she states she is still willing to die for this country. Clearly she cares not about taking her constituents with her.

A National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) study found that after vaccines became widely available in April 2021, excess death rates in Republican counties were 76 % higher than in Democratic counties.

This large gap did not exist before vaccines were available, which means it was not underlying health differences but vaccine refusal that drove the disparity. The researchers noted that excess deaths were concentrated in counties with low vaccination rates.

By late 2022, more than 70 million Americans still had not received even one vaccine dose; those unprotected citizens accounted for a disproportionate share of deaths.

When a politician tells followers that vaccines are dangerous or unnecessary, they encourage people to spin the chamber of a revolver and pull the trigger. Sometimes nothing happens; sometimes a loved one dies.

In statistical terms this is Russian roulette: each refusal of a safe, effective vaccine increases the odds of catastrophe for a family.

As a therapist writing a blog, I cannot diagnose political figures with mental illnesses, but I can point out patterns of dishonesty and manipulation. Telling people to avoid vaccines when evidence shows they reduce mortality is not merely an opinion; it is A LIE.

Lots of our fellow Americans trust those false claims and refuse vaccination, and if they or their children become sick or die, that politician has played Russian roulette with their lives.

The first step in combating this cynical game is to recognize it for what it is - LIES FOR POLITICAL GAIN.

America, Here Is My Call to Action

The best way to fight political depression is to take some sort of action. One thing I've learned from this experience is that we are very ill-equipped for some of the disasters and hardships our ancestors seemed to figure out.

We can work together to change this! Stop telling yourself there is "nothing" you can do because that's not true.

1. Demand Congressional Oversight

Urge your U.S. Senators and Representatives to:

• Launch formal investigations into these deployments

• Hold public hearings on violations of the Posse Comitatus Act  which prohibits the U.S. military from acting as law enforcement within the United States, meaning they cannot serve as a "posse comitatus" or execute laws.

• Introduce legislation restricting unauthorized federal troop use in domestic policing

📞 Call the Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121✉️ Use tools like resist.bot or official websites to send messages.

2. Support Legal Challenges

Back legal efforts by:

• State attorneys general, governors, or civil liberties organizations (e.g. ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund)

• Donating other legal defense funds: Here are examples of legal defense funds and similar organizations: 

  • NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF): A civil rights organization and law firm that focuses on racial justice and equality. 

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund: A non-profit organization that uses legal services to advance animal rights. 

  • Earthjustice: Formerly known as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, it focuses on environmental protection. 

  • National Lawyers Guild (NLG) Mass Defense Program: Provides legal support for protests and activist movements. 

  • Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Legal Defense Fund: Fights for the First Amendment rights of journalists, focusing on public records and open meetings. 

  • Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Legal Defense Plan: A benefit for FOP members providing coverage for duty-related administrative actions and lawsuits. 

  • Poynter's IFCN Media Defense Fund: Helps fact-checkers facing legal threats related to their work. 

💡 California and Illinois are likely sources of active litigation — follow their AG offices.

3. Organize Peaceful Protests and Teach-Ins

Peaceful public demonstrations and teach-ins can:

• Raise awareness of the constitutional crisis

• Highlight the financial costs and lack of accountability

• Strengthen solidarity across affected cities

Coordinate with local groups, churches, unions, and veterans who may oppose misuse of the Guard. Find your protests here.

4. File Public Records Requests

Use FOIA or state public records laws to request:

• Deployment orders from your state to

• Cost breakdowns

• Communications between federal and local officials

This creates transparency, supports journalism, and can strengthen lawsuits and investigations.

🗃️ Try: FOIA.gov (federal) or your state’s transparency portal. 🗂️ Sample Request Template (Use or Modify)

Subject: Public Records Request – Ohio National Guard Deployment Orders and Costs Dear Records Custodian, Pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act (Ohio Rev. Code § 149.43), I am requesting copies of the following records:

• Any and all orders, directives, authorizations, or communications issued by Governor Mike DeWine or the Adjutant General of Ohio regarding the deployment of the Ohio National Guard from January 1, 2025, to present.

• Any internal communications between the Governor’s Office, Adjutant General’s Department, and federal authorities regarding such deployments.

• Detailed cost breakdowns (including personnel costs, travel, housing, and operations) related to these deployments. Please provide digital copies if possible. If any portion of this request is denied, please cite the specific legal exemption and provide redacted versions of the documents where appropriate. Thank you, [Your Name] [Your Email] [Your City, State]

5. Vote and Mobilize Locally

This includes:

• Electing local leaders who will resist unconstitutional federal overreach which is the nemesis of being a conservative!

• Pushing city councils and mayors to pass resolutions rejecting federalized troop presence

• Supporting candidates for Congress who commit to reining in unlawful military action

Local elections have direct influence on city cooperation or resistance.

OK you guys - I trust you! You've got this! Let's do this!

Never give up!

🧭 Authoritarianism ≠ Conservatism: More Evidence and Arguments

While some modern authoritarian regimes may claim to be “conservative,” authoritarianism is fundamentally incompatible with traditional conservative values like limited government, constitutionalism, individual liberty, and rule of law.

Here’s evidence and reasoning drawn from conservative thinkers, constitutional texts, and historical case studies:

🏛️ 1. Classical Conservative Thought Rejects Authoritarian Power

🔹 Edmund Burke – the father of modern conservatism:

“The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients.”– Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)

• Burke warned against absolutism, especially in reactionary governments.

• He supported slow institutional change, not centralized power.

🔹 Friedrich Hayek (author of The Road to Serfdom):

“It is not the source but the limitation of power which prevents it from being arbitrary.”

• Hayek defended markets and liberty, and opposed authoritarian socialism and fascism alike.

• He argued that centralized control always leads to tyranny, no matter the ideology.

📜 2. The U.S. Constitution Is a Conservative Document — and Anti-Authoritarian

The U.S. Constitution:

• Limits executive power with checks and balances (Articles I–III)

• Protects individual liberties via the Bill of Rights

• Requires the military to be subordinate to civilian government (Article II, §2)

• Opposes unilateral governance by any one branch

Authoritarianism violates all of these principles.

📚 3. Conservative Institutions Speak Out Against Authoritarianism

🗣️ The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) – a conservative think tank:

“Authoritarianism is a betrayal of conservatism’s core commitment to limited government and ordered liberty.”

🗣️ National Review (William F. Buckley's flagship magazine):

“A government that silences dissent or bypasses legal limits is not conservative — it’s something far worse.”

These institutions have criticized both foreign and domestic authoritarian trends — including those cloaked in “conservative” rhetoric.

🧠 4. Historical Case Studies Show the Difference

Regime	Claimed to be conservative?	Actually conservative?	Nature of government
Nazi Germany	Yes	No	Fascist, authoritarian, anti-rule of law
Pinochet’s Chile	Yes	No	Authoritarian military junta
Franco’s Spain	Yes	No	Catholic nationalist authoritarianism
U.S. under Reagan	Yes	Yes	Democratic, constitution-based, limited government

Authoritarians often co-opt conservative language to build support — then destroy conservative institutions once in power.

🧩 5. Authoritarianism Is About Control. Conservatism Is About Limits.

Conservatism	Authoritarianism
Limited government	Centralized government
Separation of powers	Power consolidated in executive
Rule of law	Rule by decree
Free speech	Censorship
Religious freedom	State-religion enforcement
Individual rights	Surveillance and control