U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern’s complacency and inaction felt less like a personal failure and more like a symptom of the Democratic Party itself. Instead of providing clarity or hope, the recent town hall at UMass Amherst on Wednesday seemed to be just another reason to disengage from the dire state of American politics completely.

As a young American living through a terrifying and unprecedented historical moment, I entered that room hoping to leave with some reassurance or peace of mind. Instead, I spent 30 minutes listening to the embodiment of the country’s problem — a cis white man clinging to power within a broken two-party system — regurgitating headlines and Democratic talking points. There was no insight, no accountability, and no real answers about how Congress is addressing the Trump administration’s blatant disregard for constitutional and human rights. At one point, I found myself picking at my fingernails and looking around the room, overwhelmed with a sense of anxiety.

I realized underneath it all, I felt something much heavier: the profound, existential duress that many in my generation endure daily. As we watch our rights stripped away, the judicial system weaponized against us, and the protections our grandparents once had vanish, we are constantly urged to participate in a system that falls short. I feel angry. I feel scared. The game has been rigged, yet you still expect my generation to play?

Benjamin G. Clark

Amherst