“What’s going to happen in this next election? I’m terrified about what could possibly happen, because our leaders matter. Who we select, who speaks for us, who holds that bully pulpit, it affects us in ways sometimes I think people take for granted,” Obama told Jay Shetty on his podcast “On Purpose.”

“The fact that people think that government — ‘eh, does it really even do anything?’ — and I’m like ‘Oh my God, does government do everything for us, and we cannot take this democracy for granted.’ And I worry sometimes that we do. Those are the things that keep me up,” she said.

“The bars are different for people in life. That I’ve learned,” she said.

Without naming Trump, she continued: “Other people can be indicted a bunch of times and still run for office. Black men can’t. You just learn to be good. And in the end, you benefit from that extra resilience.”

    • vexikron@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      11 months ago

      I appreciate the sentiment, and I completely understand your situation.

      By basically dumb luck, I managed to wander past a shoddy low rent motel … that offers monthly leases.

      Its got a comfy bed, a fridge, a microwave, a working toilet and tub, and most importantly, I can afford it.

      Knowing that there is /somewhere/ I can afford to stay at, and will not have to figure out some new place to stay every few weeks is a massive improvement.

      The near constant state of mortal panic is now lowering. All I have to do is basically not talk to anyone else who stays at this place.

      /Now/ I can finally start to figure out how to replace my Drivers License and other important identifying documents, as most of those got stolen from me months ago at a shelter in another state.

        • vexikron@lemmy.zip
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          11 months ago

          It truly seems that nearly no one who has not been homeless can understand what being homeless does to you.

          Oh well, at least if I survive this long term I can actually justifiably laugh until I pass out from people who have nervous breakdowns over the most unimportant first world problems imaginable.