DEAR PRUDENCE

WITH ADVICE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AT HOME, WORK & BEYOND

Dear Prudence: I’m in my mid20s. I vote in every election,

including local elections. I follow national politics, mostly on my phone. Although I live in the U.S., I prefer to read global news. But lately I’m just burnt out. I recently sent in my absentee ballot (I’m voting for Biden). But I didn’t watch the latest debate, and I’m muting people who keep talking about it on social media. I’m sick of talking about the election with my friends. I just want to stick my head in the sand.

When I was younger, I was very into political activism and never thought I’d feel apathetic, but between dealing with extremely taxing physical and mental illnesses, a full-time job, and grad school, I just can’t work up the energy to care beyond what’s right in front of me. I’m convinced Trump will win again so it’s pointless to get fired up about it.

I know not everyone has a choice and that people’s lives are at stake with this election. But I just can’t make myself care.

My friends are calling me a terrible person for not caring about activism and voting and the whole thing. Can I be “apolitical” and still be a good person?

— Over It

Dear Over It: I’m not sure we agree on the definition of “apolitical.”

Based on what you’ve shared in your letter, it seems like your friends primarily object to your muting discussion of the presidential debates on Twitter, refusing to participate in endless political discussions, following the news, and voting despite a sense of pessimism.

I can understand why your friends might not share your certainty about the outcome, but it seems to me a step too far to say that someone must feel upbeat about voting.

It would be one thing if your friends were busy planning direct actions (organizing bail funds, getting people registered to vote) and were frustrated with you for skipping out, but it sounds like they’re mostly frustrated with you for failing to produce a sufficiently optimistic affect about current politics, which has very little to do with being a good person.

That’s not to say, “Go forth, never care about politics again,” either. But telling a sick, overworked person in crisis who’s already voted that they’re a terrible person for not talking more about how they already voted with their friends who already plan on voting the same way is absurd.