The big one for me is a feeling of powerlessness as a single individual. I read each days news with horror and trepidation. I try to amplify progressive ideas. I plan to vote. But it's hard not to wonder how much impact an individual can have. (From a fellow Kentuckian, in Louisville.)
Thank you for responding. I think you've put your finger on something I've been struggling with myself.
Part of the reason I started Dispatches was that I didn't understand what was happening or what I could do about it. I've learned a lot since then, but I still struggle with that second question.
I don't want to just keep writing about what's wrong. I'd like to understand where ordinary people can actually make a difference.
Can I ask you something? Have you tried anything beyond sharing information and voting that made you feel like you were accomplishing something? Or is figuring out what else to do part of the frustration?
I really appreciate hearing from you. This is exactly the kind of conversation I've been hoping to have with readers.
I will say that I've found your Dispatches interesting and informative. I've learned things from them, and I appreciate that.
Your question isn't easy to answer. Oddly, during years as a journalist (I was at The Louisville Times, and after it closed, the Courier-Journal, from 1976 until 1990, not long after Gannett Corp took over), I felt that I accomplished good things by keeping the public informed about political and governmental matters, even while we were scrupulous about not slanting the news or pushing political agendas. I know a lot of readers never believed this. :)
But I digress. That ship has sailed with the gradual decline of local media. I guess the best I can do is try to be a smallish social media influencer, and turn out for No Kings protests and that sort of thing.
Thanks for a thought-provoking question. I hope many others will join in.
I really appreciate you sharing your journalism background. And thank you for your kind words about Dispatches. It means a lot to know that you're learning something from what I write.
You've raised an important point about the value of simply keeping people informed. Maybe I've been so focused on figuring out what people can actually do that I've lost sight of how important that is, too.
And I share your frustration about feeling powerless sometimes. I suspect quite a few of us are struggling with that same question.
Thank you for being willing to talk about it. I hope others will join the conversation, too.
The big one for me is a feeling of powerlessness as a single individual. I read each days news with horror and trepidation. I try to amplify progressive ideas. I plan to vote. But it's hard not to wonder how much impact an individual can have. (From a fellow Kentuckian, in Louisville.)
Thank you for responding. I think you've put your finger on something I've been struggling with myself.
Part of the reason I started Dispatches was that I didn't understand what was happening or what I could do about it. I've learned a lot since then, but I still struggle with that second question.
I don't want to just keep writing about what's wrong. I'd like to understand where ordinary people can actually make a difference.
Can I ask you something? Have you tried anything beyond sharing information and voting that made you feel like you were accomplishing something? Or is figuring out what else to do part of the frustration?
I really appreciate hearing from you. This is exactly the kind of conversation I've been hoping to have with readers.
I will say that I've found your Dispatches interesting and informative. I've learned things from them, and I appreciate that.
Your question isn't easy to answer. Oddly, during years as a journalist (I was at The Louisville Times, and after it closed, the Courier-Journal, from 1976 until 1990, not long after Gannett Corp took over), I felt that I accomplished good things by keeping the public informed about political and governmental matters, even while we were scrupulous about not slanting the news or pushing political agendas. I know a lot of readers never believed this. :)
But I digress. That ship has sailed with the gradual decline of local media. I guess the best I can do is try to be a smallish social media influencer, and turn out for No Kings protests and that sort of thing.
Thanks for a thought-provoking question. I hope many others will join in.
I really appreciate you sharing your journalism background. And thank you for your kind words about Dispatches. It means a lot to know that you're learning something from what I write.
You've raised an important point about the value of simply keeping people informed. Maybe I've been so focused on figuring out what people can actually do that I've lost sight of how important that is, too.
And I share your frustration about feeling powerless sometimes. I suspect quite a few of us are struggling with that same question.
Thank you for being willing to talk about it. I hope others will join the conversation, too.