I knew Mr. Hubbuch many years ago, and I knew him to be a friendly, intelligent person with a very powerful sense of humor. I am confident that in his article on issue fatigue he has good intentions. Issue fatigue is real and can be debilitating and is worthy of attention.
As a retired therapist, I am confident that it should not be viewed as an emotional disorder, as he humorously suggests. It is wearing, perhaps exhausting, but it is a response to real events. It appears to evolve from an awareness of the innumerable issues that we face in the world and feeling overwhelmed by them.
He very accurately makes the point that one can’t do everything in response to everything. He wisely suggests that one needs to narrow the focus of one’s life concerns. Ignore the trivial. Look to oneself, and as he suggests, “Your mind. Your body. Your spirit.” Deal with the important things in your personal life, such as family and friends. He also makes the excellent point about our place in the universe, to create context in our lives. All good.
Where I take umbrage with Mr. Hubbuch’s helpful advice is that it goes a step further in its attitude to create a philosophical absolution for withdrawing from concerns of the broader world. This comforting reassurance toward a more self-centered existence is indeed “sad, yet comforting,” as he asserts. It can also be destructive.
He is accurate in suggesting that an individual can’t solve all of life’s major issues, such as “American politics, foreign policy, global warming, and the economy,” by ourselves. What is not accurate is the attitude that we cannot do anything about “the big issues.” This is the exact attitude that some of the extremely wealthy and powerful depend on from the broader population of our country for maintenance of the status quo.
Passive acceptance and resignation are essential for policies that work against the broader interests of our country and the world. Massive pollution, hunger, health issues, wealth inequality, wars, and so much more are dependent on the attitude he suggests.
Much of the inundation of political advertising is directed toward generating a sense of disgust and/or helplessness in the electorate to limit voter turnout. This results in the interests of a small portion of our population being able to direct or control governmental policy.
Ignorance and withdrawal come at a price.
I would suggest that there is a healthier attitude to take. An informed, participatory public that is engaged in working for solutions, while maintaining a healthy life perspective, has much more to offer a person. Operating as isolated, complaining individuals is destructive. Even focusing only on healthy relationships within one’s own life orbit is limiting.
Go beyond yourself. Operating as an active, engaged person working with others to improve our world is perhaps the only way constructive change can, and will, occur. Pick your focus and work for that change. Working with others, you can actually create change in our world.
To slightly paraphrase Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
