Yesterday, the House passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA). This was part of an attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The bill was online for about 10 hours before it was passed. It was passed without a score from the Congressional Budget Office that would have given an estimate as to how much the AHCA would cost, and how many people it would affect.

How could you pass a bill without knowing how much it costs or what it will do to people currently covered under the ACA? Frankly, the House Republicans don’t seem to care because it doesn’t affect their ability to have health insurance. In fact, the bill exempts Congress and its staff from the effects of the bill. That is for complicated reasons better explained here, but it is infuriating nonetheless.

I learned all of this while filling out Excel sheets at work. I get news updates from my chosen sources constantly on my phone. This leads to a sense of dread when I see the little red newspaper icon. What could our government possibly be doing now?

I have been dreading this vote for a few days, knowing that something bad was sure to come out of it. My whole chosen profession is based around knowing what is happening pretty much at all times. My dilemma is, how do I stay informed without going insane?

Like any millennial with a problem, I googled it.

I found this great article about the misuse of political anger. It presented anger, not as a feeling, but as these four positive outcomes:

1. An opportunity to practice presence.

This tenet refers to acceptance. Not by giving up, but by facing what is happening head-on. We tend to get stuck in how situations are wrong or unfair, and we talk to our friends about how it’s wrong and unfair, and listen to media that says it’s wrong and unfair, and on and on.

My boyfriend said something really helpful to me the other day, “You can’t be angry, you have to be objective.” I am not going to get anywhere with anger alone. I have to be able to see the situation objectively and be able to explain why it is wrong, not just how it makes me feel.

2. A springboard.

Anger can also be a springboard. The catalyst that sets you in motion. Anger can not be the last step if you ever want anything to change. You know what you don’t want, but do you know what you want? Anger is an opportunity to turn your feelings into intentions, which then turns to action.

3. A reminder to take responsibility.

Anger is somewhat of an easy feeling. Especially political anger. You are right and someone else is wrong and whatever happened to make you angry is their fault. They are to blame.

I challenge you to look inward. Was there a way where you could have been more involved? More knowledgable? Are you doing anything to help the situation? I am certainly guilty of this. I have never called any of my representatives. That is one of the easiest ways to get politically involved. Here is a website to find your state representatives.

Call your congressperson or senator and explain to them why you are angry and how they are or are not representing your interests. Remind them that they represent you.

4. An opportunity to clean out the closet.

Finally, anger can help us evaluate our beliefs. We can self-reflect and see what it is about ourselves and our values that is affected by a situation. You get to decide whether it is truly a belief worth continuing or if you ever really believed it in the first place. As we grow, we are constantly changing. Anger might be a way to finally decide for ourselves what we believe and why.

So now the AHCA bill goes to the Senate. I am still angry, but now I know what to do about it.