General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat's in your Trump presidency survival kit?
I'm looking for suggestions of what to gather in order to weather the disaster that is the Trump presidency.
Of course I'd rather that he gets booted out of office or resigns, but in the event that he lasts a full four years, how can one minimize the damage he does to one's self, and one's friends and family?
Any thoughts?
.
PJMcK
(22,048 posts)dchill
(38,532 posts)HipChick
(25,485 posts)kydo
(2,679 posts)Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)jeffreyi
(1,943 posts)DBoon
(22,397 posts)I think "Volunteers" is a good choice
Rollo
(2,559 posts)1) I paid the second half of my 2017 property tax (due Feb 1) last week. This way I can deduct it from my taxes for the 2017 year. I can itemize under the existing tax structure, but I do not expect to be able to itemize deductions for tax year 2018, because the combination of regular property tax, state income tax, and mortgage interest will not be enough to exceed the $12,000 standard deduction with the new tax structure. So by paying that property tax now, I get to deduct it from this year's taxes, instead of not at all.
2) I plan to make some last minute charitable donations as well, for the 2017 tax year, since they also must be itemized and I probably will not be able to deduct them for 2018.
3) I don't have much left on my mortgage (about 18 months) so I may wind up accelerating paying it off while I have the funds. Who knows what will happen to the economy under Trump? The house of cards could collapse, and being free and clear in home ownership removes a big variable.
4) I was thinking of retiring in early 2018, but I'm now thinking that will be early 2019. That gives me another year to pay off the house, and get 8% more from Social Security as well. The downside is my planned retirement fitness binge will also be put off, although nobody is really preventing me from doing what I can now in that department.
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)My parents paid their 2018 taxes today so they could write them off on their 2017 taxes.
Kilgore
(1,733 posts)Rollo
(2,559 posts)One of my retirement thoughts is to get into home brewing, maybe even wine making. I have the space for it here.
I will however pass, for now, on the suicide pacts.
My cousin lives in an neighboring city, is retired, and has been doing some international travel assisted by home swapping. Of course I'd have to clean up my act here for that to work, but it's a possibility that could get me out of the country, off and on.
I already have a bible or two. Might look into Buddhism at this point.
duforsure
(11,885 posts)For B.S. over exposure, and booze for celebration when he gets whats coming to him.
No Vested Interest
(5,167 posts)better still, when the announcer indicates that he will be the subject of the next discussion.
Rollo
(2,559 posts)mcar
(42,372 posts)rzemanfl
(29,568 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,386 posts)Wiseman32218
(291 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)Plus my little dog to hug.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)Our greatest need is to preserve democratic institutions -- AND, speaking of "democratic," this time big D Democrat) fix our very broken, very hacked and hackable and corrupted voting system. We CAN'T rely on getting out more votes than we need to overcome all the voter suppression and outright vote theft for much longer.
Beyond that, buying a politician -- or several -- might work.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)The demographic progression is on our side. And most laws and courts are also.
Btw, let's put repairing those last on the list of must-be-dones also.
crazycatlady
(4,492 posts)AKA adding fuel to the fire that is nasty women Resisting.
C_U_L8R
(45,020 posts)Generous donations to liberal causes and candidates.
Protest signs. Petitions. Big marches.
Local organizing. Nurture local candidates. GOTV !!!
Buy liberal brands. Boycott conservative ones.
Examine media choices... especially ISPs, Cable and Social Media
Short sales of rightwing stocks.
Constant vigilance. Smack down the Trump idiots.
Have fun doing all the above!!!
murielm99
(30,761 posts)The biggest jug I can find.
miyazaki
(2,249 posts)True Dough
(17,320 posts)Def Leppard? GnR? Van Halen? INXS? Bon Jovi? The Go-Gos? Poison?
miyazaki
(2,249 posts)Subconsciously maybe I was trying to channel my old virility.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Just in case our just-in-time food delivery system breaks down/is taken down at some point and whole regions turn into Puerto Rico.
Btw, this presidency is also busily dismantling infrastructure that identifies and stops epidemic disease overseas and has crippled our ability to fight its spread here. This in an era when most experts feel the next big pandemic disease is a matter of which and when, not if.
arthritisR_US
(7,291 posts)robert p. arthur
(3 posts)I have a two room cottage at a forgotten beach in Virginia to which my wife and I can retreat if we have to. I bought it for a dollar years ago and have been extensively improving it for years for just such an emergency. We will probably sell our three other houses that have mortgages and wind up with enough to build a large bedroom on the back of the cottage and put aside some cash that we'll add to our savings so that we might survive when Trump steals our Social Security checks. I have accumulated four old cars that I will not sell because I know I won't be able to afford a new one for years. I have an old boat and the know-how to find clams, fish, and run trot lines for crabs, as well as a love for sea food, and we have enough land for a sizable garden. Heating the cottage is easy and cheap and utilty costs are small. If we can avoid medical bills we should be alright unless Trump sends a goon squad to wipe us out. I make small amounts selling books and plays I have written and my wife makes money at a part-time job within commuting distance. There's a small library only twenty miles away and a community center and theater. Also, we have friends close by and little taste for luxuries.
The hope, of course, is that both Trump and his Republicans will go down sooner than later. We will try to help destroy them politically as a calling and hobby. I will never forgive the Republican party for what it has done. It is a criminal organization and doesn't care how many of us it has to kill or ideals it has to destroy to satisfy its greed and lust for power. Knowing that this tax bill, if not repealed, has the potential to wipe out the social safety net, destroy the economy, and murder tens of millions of Americans in just a few years, they voted for it, cheered, and clapped one another on the back.
The monster of the month-- the corrupt and vile Orin Hatch. May he burn in hell forever.