The scandals surrounding America’s political elite are no longer isolated incidents. They have become impossible to ignore. We are not only governed by ineffective and corrupt politicians, but are increasingly asked to replace them with candidates who are just as unworthy of public office.
Yet Americans continue to support them. They donate to their campaigns, volunteer to knock on doors, defend them online and encourage others to do the same. Then another scandal breaks, and once again the public is left wondering how someone so obviously unfit ended up with their trust in the first place.
The cost extends far beyond the ballot box. Thousands of Americans invest their time, energy and money into these campaigns only to watch their efforts come to nothing. Supporting a political candidate has become a gamble that far too many people keep making.
Sometimes it pays off. But far too often it doesn’t.
Now, to be clear, this isn’t me criticizing those Americans. I have no doubt their intentions are in the right place. They’re the people who genuinely want something better for themselves, their neighbors and their communities. They want safe, healthy and functioning places to live, so they put their faith in a candidate they believe will finally deliver something, anything.
And that’s the problem.
These snakelike creatures we call politicians are more than willing to feed off that hope for their own benefit. They’ll promise Medicare for All, an end to deadly wars overseas, affordable housing, higher wages or whatever they think voters need to hear in that moment. I’m not saying anything most Americans don’t already know. What I’m questioning is why we keep agreeing to play this game.
Actually, that’s a rhetorical question. I know exactly why Americans stay on this dysfunctional merry go round of politicians who promise change yet never materially move toward it. I understand why, at this point, a candidate can simply whisper that they support a welfare program and suddenly be treated like a hero.
It’s desperation.
People are so exhausted by the status quo that anyone who can sell a message of hope and change has a chance to capture the spotlight. And while that may be a winning strategy for candidates, many of today’s politicians have become so brazen they don’t even bother to even lie.
Which is why I think it’s time Americans made a different choice. Because if the bar for American politics is sitting comfortably in the pit of hell, maybe it’s time we stopped measuring progress by politicians who manage to crawl a few inches above it.
But how do we do that?
We take desperation out of the equation.
After a year of writing, one thing has become abundantly clear. Americans are hungry for a different way forward.
Over the past year I’ve shared countless examples of mutual aid, but one of the most popular was about a group of women who volunteer to clean the homes of people going through difficult times. What struck me wasn’t just the response to the story itself. It was the number of people who immediately asked how they could do something similar in their own communities or donate to support the effort.
That gave me hope.
It reminded me that beneath all the political noise, there are still people looking for practical ways to help one another. My hope is that stories like these inspire someone to take that first step.
So, in that spirit, I’d like to plant a few more seeds.
Maybe there’s something on this list you’re willing to do once. Maybe there’s something you could do once a month. Or maybe it’s the spark that inspires you to gather a few friends and build something together.
And if giving your time isn’t possible right now, that’s okay too. Chances are there’s already a local organization doing this work that simply needs a few more dollars to keep going.
Because despite leaving America, I sincerely believe there are still millions of generous Americans out there. I refuse to accept that compassion has disappeared from this country. Nor am I cynical enough to believe there aren’t Americans who are willing to help.
This list is for them.
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Now back to what I was saying.
Set up a refrigerator where anyone can leave fresh food and anyone who needs it can take it. No questions asked.
AE Personal Note: I remember an old neighbor who did something like this every summer. She kept a fridge in her garage stocked with popsicles, water and other drinks for all the neighborhood kids. And other neighbors chipped in to keep it stocked. It was such a simple idea, but it made everyone feel a little more connected.
Keep a neighborhood pantry filled with shelf stable groceries, diapers or hygiene products so families have somewhere to turn before a hardship becomes a crisis.
Many people struggle to fill out benefit applications, find affordable housing, apply for jobs or understand government paperwork. Sitting down with someone for an hour can remove barriers that feel impossible to overcome alone.
Collect and share vegetable, herb and flower seeds so more people can grow food at home.
Bring together volunteers who can repair clothing, bicycles, electronics and household items, saving neighbors money while keeping useful things out of landfills.
Everyone has something to teach. Cooking, sewing, budgeting, language lessons, computer skills or home repairs. Turn knowledge into a community resource.
Coordinate volunteers who can help seniors, disabled neighbors or anyone without transportation get to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores or other essential places.
Connect trusted families who can take turns helping one another with childcare when life gets overwhelming.
AE Personal Note: As a single mom living overseas, I have benefited from this kind of support firsthand. Since apartments in Bangkok are often small, groups of moms have created informal childcare swaps at local playgrounds and play spaces. We take turns with a couple of parents watching the kids while the others get a chance to breathe, run errands or simply have a little time to themselves.
A weekly visit or phone call can reduce loneliness, identify problems early and remind someone they haven’t been forgotten.
Invite neighbors to share a meal where everyone contributes what they can. Food has always been one of the easiest ways to build community.
Find a local business, community center or church willing to host a clothing rack where people can give what they no longer need and take what they do. No money involved.
Spend an hour with someone who rarely has visitors. Whether it’s an elderly neighbor, someone recovering from illness or simply someone who feels forgotten, companionship is a form of mutual aid too.
Gather a few neighbors to clean parks, sidewalks, vacant lots or public spaces. It’s a simple reminder that improving a community doesn’t always require permission or politics.
If your neighbors don’t have gardens, create a shared compost program that reduces waste and produces healthy soil.
Welcome new neighbors with information about local resources, community groups, schools and upcoming events. Strong communities begin with people feeling like they belong coming into them.
AE Personal Note: I’ve written before about times when I felt unwelcome in communities in the United States. But I’ve also experienced the complete opposite, especially when I lived in Malaysia.
Through our building’s community app, moms would go out of their way to welcome new families moving into the building. They shared resources like trusted babysitters, places to avoid, favorite restaurants and tips that made adjusting to a new place so much easier.
That small act of kindness made a huge difference for my daughter and me. It was a reminder that community isn’t something you simply find. It’s something people choose to create.
For many families, a temporary hardship shouldn’t mean giving up a beloved pet. A small food pantry can make all the difference.
Pool small donations into a transparent neighborhood fund that can help families facing unexpected emergencies.
AE Personal Note: While I haven’t personally experienced this one, friends from Morocco have told me this type of community emergency fund is common and has often stepped in when someone was in need.
Members contribute a small amount each year, and any withdrawal is discussed and approved by the group. It isn’t just about the money. It’s about creating a safety net where people know their neighbors will show up when life gets difficult.
To me, it’s a powerful example of what a connected community can accomplish when people decide to take care of one another.
During extreme weather, neighbors with safe homes can volunteer space where others can cool off in the summer or stay warm during winter.
Organize adults to walk groups of neighborhood children safely to and from school.
If you have extra tomatoes, peppers or herbs growing in your backyard, trade them with neighbors instead of letting them go to waste. You can also do this if you dont have a garden.
Offer to collect prescriptions for seniors, disabled neighbors or anyone unable to make the trip themselves.
Exchange skills instead of money. An hour spent helping someone earns an hour of help when you need it.
Build a simple phone, messaging network or group platform so neighbors can quickly check on one another during storms, floods or power outages.
Collect items people only need occasionally, such as tools, baby gear, camping equipment, folding tables, party supplies or specialty kitchen equipment.
Whether it’s a bulletin board at a local coffee shop or an online neighborhood group, create a place where people can post both needs and offers. “Need help moving a couch.” “Free tomatoes.” “Can tutor math.” Sometimes all that’s missing is a way to connect the person who needs help with the person who is ready to give it.
Maybe the biggest mistake we’ve made is believing change only comes from the top.
It doesn’t. It comes from people who decide their neighbors matter. People who share what they have, teach what they know and show up when someone needs help.
The bar for American politics may be in the pit of hell, but our communities don’t have to be.
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