“The most miserable [...] do not impute their misery to politics”, said Walter Bagehot, speaking on the English Constitutiton in 1865.

The fervour of miserable liberals in the wake of Trump’s election has gone from boiling point to a simmer. Online, jokes circulate that 2016 is a blot on history; a year to forget. YouTube videos of Trump’s hair, and one parodying the John Lewis Christmas advert, have emerged. Yet rather than impute our misery to humour (undeniably cathartic), we must translate despondency into action, lest we forget the facts that Trump is a misogynist with the backing of the Ku Klux Klan.

Taking to Facebook to vent anger is understandable, but erudite statuses preach only to those with similar opinions. These are some easy ways to be more politically active in the post-2016 era:

1) Step away from the sidebar of shame

First, stop falling for clickbait. Circumnavigating Daily Mail headlines such as ‘Myleene Klass under fire for claiming she released giant crab on Hampstead Heath’ might prove difficult at first, but doing so cuts the advertising revenue of the frequently divisive tabloid press, and thus their power to publish the type of vitriol that fuels division. This principle took shape in the recent ‘Stop Funding Hate’ campaign, which lobbied businesses such as Lego and Virgin to make more ethical decisions about where they place their adverts.

2) Get informed about those in power

MPs are a hotline to democratic representation, connecting citizens to government and representing the interests of their local constituency in parliament. Yet the 2013 Hansard Society survey revealed that three-quarters of UK citizens don’t know who their MP is. If this applies to you, open a new tab right now and visit www.theyworkforyou.com.

3) ….and pressure them

You can urge your MP to speak out on issues of domestic and foreign policy in parliament. The website www.writetothem.com has made this easier than ever by listing the details of your MP and all assembly members and councillors in your area, as well as providing a letter template and automatic send function.

For US nationals, former Congressional staff member Emily Ellsworth’s recent series of viral tweets described how to get Congress to listen to you. Tweets to Congress or Facebook posts are largely ineffective. Letter writing will be answered (by staffers), but the best way to get in touch is to pick up the phone: in the words of Ellsworth: “They have to talk to you there”. And if you want to talk to your Congressional representative face-to-face, turn up at town hall meetings.

4) If you read it, help fund it

For every breastfeeding picture that Facebook takes down, fake news goes unremoved. Such news fuels misinformation and unfounded conspiracy theories. Investigative journalism that uncovers truth doesn’t come for free. Donating to platforms that support it will save investigative journalism from perishing.

5) Above all, engage in real life

The physical presence of people occupying public space sends an irrefutable message to politicians and media. Trump’s election sparked an eruption of protests: 21st November saw a solidarity protest against Trump in Cambridge on Kings Parade, organised by Cambridge Defend Education. Participants were encouraged to bring signs.

Finally, political action starts with everyday expressions of solidarity. The election of Trump and Brexit provoked racist attacks curated on upsetting Twitter feeds. We must look out for each other, remembering the values of everyday expressions of kindness and solidarity, speaking up when we see injustice, and remembering that we cannot depend on institutions to protect our rights.

Hate cannot become normalised. Despite his clownish toupee and his tiny hands, Trump’s rhetoric is not a joke, and his intentions will never be funny