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#19 - Frustrated? Don't be outraged
Frustrated with Trump? Don’t be outraged; do this instead
Frustrated with Trump?
Don’t be outraged. Do this.
Lura Forcum, February 13.
How to make your voice heard
If you’re unhappy with what’s happening in Washington, here’s the truth: Outrage won’t change anything. What does make a difference is calling your elected officials.
Here’s a step-by-step guide
1. Identify your members of Congress (two senators and one representative) at websites like https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.
2. Make six phone calls (not emails, not letters) to the DC and local offices of each of the three members.
3. A script you can use: “Hi, my name is [Your Name] from [Your Zip Code]. I’m concerned that this administration isn’t delivering on its promises about [specific issue]. What is [Senator/Representative’s Name] doing about it?”
If they’re up for re-election in 2026, mention what you need to see to earn your vote.
If you’ve voted for them before, let them know.
Why It Works
Independents are crucial in elections. Politicians need your vote to win, so they’re more likely to listen if you focus on policy promises rather than emotional reactions.
Politicians make promises to voters. Hold them to those promises, regardless of party.
Hi friends,
As the Trump administration continues its attempts to dismantle long-standing programs like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), voters are concerned.
Even if you support re-evaluating these programs, maybe you think that cuts should happen through established processes. Or you might be concerned with whether the administration’s actions are constitutional. Or you may wonder how future administrations could abuse this new norm for presidential power.
It's easy to feel outraged and like there’s nothing you can do. But independent voices are important to elected officials—after all, in most states a party can’t win an election solely with their party’s voters.
To get independents’ votes, elected officials have to govern in a way that independents support. That’s a good thing. Because rather than counting on their base to turn out and support whatever they do, they have to earn your approval—they have to be accountable.
That’s why calling your elected officials is one of the most powerful things you can do if you’re worried, frustrated, disgusted, or just questioning the Trump administration.
Outrage doesn’t work
During the last Trump administration, Democrats’ narrative of outrage and resistance seemed to have little impact on how the Trump administration behaved. That might seem surprising—after all, doesn’t public opinion matter?
Well, that depends on whose opinion we’re talking about.
In today’s polarized politics, both parties see their voters as the “in-group” and everyone else as the “out-group.” We naturally empathize with our in-group but often dismiss or even mock the emotions of the out-group. That’s why Republican leaders didn’t react to Democratic anger—they saw it as noise from the opposition.
In fact, when another person is outraged, it can just highlight the fact that they “not like us” (after all, we’re not upset). It makes their concerns seem even less important.
This is why outrage doesn’t help when you’re posting on social media, talking to neighbors, or calling members of congress. It’s much more powerful to ignore the outrageous behavior of members of either party, and focus instead on whether or not they’re keeping their promises to voters.
A new kind of in-group Independents tell us that they feel like they don’t belong to either party, but a sense of belonging is one of the most important human motivations. That’s one of the reasons we decided to create our own in-group. We’re a group of people who don’t accept a binary system that excludes anyone who doesn’t believe what they believe and want what they want.
We’re creating a group of people that welcomes everyone who believes that people should be able to choose how they live their lives. Because that’s how we create a thriving, abundant America.
You’re welcome in our group, no matter how you vote. My colleague Vance Reavie explains it best in the video below—what’s wrong with the current system and our vision for making it better.
And as a reminder, if you missed the podcasts that dropped in recent weeks, you can still catch them. Natasha Graziano, lifestyle coach, motivational speaker, and social media superstar highlights the Independent Center in our conversation. And Ryan Alford, a speaker, writer, podcaster, and marketer extraordinaire has been promoting the IC for awhile now, with his American Dream interview series and more recently on his show, Right About Now. Listen to Lura and Ryan take the BS out of politics.
Media interviews
A final thought - We occasionally hear from reporters who would like to interview independents. If you would like to be included on our contact list, let us know. We’ll use this list to notify you about media opportunities, but we won’t share your information without your permission.
Take care,
Lura
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The Independent Center is the go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, who now make up the majority of the electorate.
We represent those who are fed up with partisan politics and feel politically homeless. We believe the future is not red or blue; it’s fiscally responsible, socially inclusive, and free to choose the best options for ourselves, our families, and our communities.
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