The rhetoric of fear

4 ways to cope with the hidden costs of politics, capitalism & empire

“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” — Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s The Social Contract (1762)

I admit I have been watching far too much news lately, and it has started to take a toll on my mental health. But I know I am not alone in this. So, in the spirit of resilience and moving forward, I have decided to get back to posting this article I have kept in draft for more than three months. Although I live in Canada and do not have direct access to the endless U.S. political news cycle, I somehow find myself consumed by the relentless stream of stories coming from south of the border — even without trying.

It seeps through on my LinkedIn timeline — yes even LinkedIn; on my Instagram feed, through my US friends who feel the need to share a time of immense stress in their lives. And, it…