If you are searching for "happy talk", look elsewhere.

[Atticus]

I believe that there is one over-arching question that most of us are trying mightily to ignore, but which insinuates itself into every other question we encounter: are we, as a nation, in the process of ripping up and throwing away all that our predecessors have fought, bled and died to secure?

We seem to be at a point where compromise is impossible because that word has been redefined by the right-wing extremists to mean capitulation. In essence, they scream at us: "You want to compromise? Fine! Given us everything we demand!"

I fear that the reality of the danger we face and what may need to be done to save us is so frightening, so distasteful, so unlike anything we thought Americans would ever experience, that we are eagerly allowing ourselves to be distracted by bumpersticker memes and non-issues.

I am an old man. I have already accepted that my "golden years" and a retirement for which I worked and saved my entire life are gone. I have to fight tears when I acknowledge that, thanks to people I now consider mortal enemies, we will spend another Thanksgiving alone; another Christmas made painful by memories of the hugs and kisses and laughter that we may not live long enough to share again.

Ask me what drastic measures I am willing to take to defeat the traitors who divide us and my answer is: any and all. For now, I resolve to survive another day.

[Demsrule86]

1. I am vaccinated, hubs is vaccinated and my kids are vaccinated. We will have Christmas this year.

I prefer to look at things a bit more optimistically. I believe we will- in the end- be just fine. Try to enjoy something every day...even a small thing. Also, I suggest a break from the news. It has done wonders for my mental health and perspective.

[chia]

2. You nailed it, their belief that compromise equals capitulation; when you add in religious fervor

about fighting spiritual warfare, you have Trump's immovable base, about 32% of republicans, and I don't know what percent of total voters, but they fight dirty because they believe in a 'muscular christianity' where they hate the same people and things their God hates, which, of course, gives them permission to act on that 'justified hate.'

I don't see this changing. Their apocalyptic, come Lord Jesus, end-times religion is inextricably entwined with their rightwing politics. All we can do is wait while they die off from old age and Covid, because the younger generation holds more hope. IMHO, of course. I won't be around to see it.

[Warpy]

18. There's a huge dose of religion in there, too

Goldwater once opined that the most dangerous alliance the GOP made was with the fundagelicals because they were incapable of compromise because god.

Most of the insurrectionists bought into the idea that god works through flawed men and that Dumdum was their leader who was anointed by god.

See where it's going? Dry politics doesn't generally do this stuff. It needs a god, preferably one with a book of Bronze Age semi fiction.

Why the hell do you think we got that nonestablishment clause in the constitution? They knew damned full well what theocracies are like and didn't want that rubbish anywhere near their new government.

[chia]

24. That quote of Goldwater's was prescient. 100% in agreement with your post, it's the point I was

trying to make. Everything must be black and white, because it's either good or evil. Anything else is "situational ethics," or "moral relativity." Compromise is capitulation and one must never capitulate, as you said, because God. My mom was like this. She believed that "the synthesis" in thesis, antithesis, synthesis meant that evil had won out. She believed that to the day she died.

[Cosmocat]

3. It isn't going to end well

I mean, it does not mean we can't do what we can do, but we are pushing mud.

1/3 of the country is lost - they are hell bent on blowing up the greatest working democracy known to man because they have been consumed by their hatred and fear.

Our 1/3 generally has good intentions and means well and see the threat that they other 1/3 is very clearly.

UNFORTUNATELY, there is roughly a third in the "middle" that either just don't care/pay attention or get compromised by the right's screaming and lunacy, and enable them by doing nothing cause "both sides are the same."

We can't do it alone, and if the "middle" 1/3 doesn't tune in and fight back against the Rs we are lost.

And, frankly, if they don't get it by now, they are not going to get it.

It just is a matter of how bad it gets.

[markie]

4. right there with you...

it is not looking good for our Country and we must depend on younger people to do the right thing...

[secondwind]

5. I'm in the same situation, my friend. Am 74 years old,

living here in the Caribbean, musing about my life and wondering if my traveling days are over.

[Lonestarblue]

7. I refuse to give up travel forever.

I’m looking forward to traveling next year and planning on wearing masks most of the time. I’ve decided that come flu and cold season, I will be wearing a mask regardless of Covid. I had not one sniffle last year, and I usually have at least one nasty cold. Wearing a mask is a small price to pay for being healthy.

[Dave says]

27. Don't leave out hand washing.

[Wounded Bear]

6. Sad, but true...nt

[MrModerate]

8. Short answer (because I don't have the energy for a long one): No.

The politicians and the media are running white-hot, but the rest of America is on a much lower boil.

The Republic is under strain, but we Americans are still more alike than we are different.

[NurseJackie]

9. Great reply. I'm pleased to see that rational thought still exists...

... without being distorted by hyper-partisan over-emotional anger and angst. In the real world, not everything is black and white. There are many different shades and nuances that need to be taken into consideration.

Have a great weekend!

[Treefrog]

14. Ditto.

[Joinfortmill]

10. Amen.

[ananda]

11. Besides staying vaxxed, the only issue of importance to me..

right now is voting rights.

[Wicked Blue]

12. I'm sorry for what you're going through

[Marthe48]

13. I understand

My loved ones and I are trying to be strategical-pick places with low infection rates to go to, meet outside, wear masks inside, avoid hugs. We text and phone often, use the messenger meeting rooms and any other way we can to stay close.

As for losing our country, I don't understand. Idiots trying to destory this country, as it is, for what? If they succeed, hunger like N. Korea? Religious restrictions that affect all of us? Sexual restrictions? -- which in the real world, means limited and chaperoned contact with the opposite sex, and death if you prefer same sex. Lack of social mobility, because of low or fixed wages and a cast in stone social heirarchy?
Who glorifies this crap? Who really wants to live like this? Even the would be warriors fighting to destory the U.S. from the inside out, will not benefit. I guess that theirs is not to reason, just to die. For what? When you get right down to it, most of the laws from international on down to local, are there, but rarely affect individuals' activity. Like rabbits and deer, we can mosey here and there, and unless a predator notices, we live another day under the radar.


Make your happiness, Atticus.

[snowybirdie]

15. We were so happy last Spring

when we were finally fully vaccinated. We made plans to see our family after so many months, we even planned a large family reunion tied to our 60 Anniversary! A trip to a nice resort too perhaps? But now its never going to happen. The selfish and foolish have ruined it for us. Some even in our own family. No arguments will convince them to get the shot! So, like you, we'll continue to remain isolated and be alone 24/7. Were pretty much disposable to the larger world these days. But life remains precious no matter what. Thank you Atticus for voicing what many are thinking and feeling.

[bigtree]

16. compromise is a political construct

...it's a strain on our nature to compromise on our beliefs.

It's near capitulation to acquiesce to politicians compromising on those. We may well need to accept compromise in a political construct, but we should never be sanguine about our elected officials compromising our beliefs away for political expediency. We don't easily compromise those away, but others do.

What does that mean in real time? I think that's down to you.

[MyMission]

17. Well said, and it made me think

When I read your post I had this thought process.

The needs (and wants) of the community, versus the wants (and needs) of the individual;
And now versus the forming community of individuals who are trying to unite as a group to protect their selfish agendas. I say forming, although the old gop was self serving there was more commitment to the communities they served. This is now a GQP. Anything goes. They are an extreme danger to us, to civilization. They are the rot that would destroy our foundation. You are astute in your observations, as always.

Having said that, many communities are working to protect and improve care for their members, and covid has brought some communities together in their isolation, so that's a bit of happy talk. (Infernal optimist that I am) But too many are clearly protecting the individual at the expense of the community, and many are half-hearted in their commitment. Not good.

I just turned 60, sometimes consider myself old, sometimes consider myself wise, with an optimistic nature that tries to look on the bright side. Not much of one at present.
Yet we keep on keeping on. Surviving another day to keep fighting the good fight.
That's a good thing.

[samnsara]

19. i no longer even communicate with any members of my family...but my inlaws are great!!!

..they are the ones I will invite for Tday. Im same age group as you and have decided im not going to allow toxic people ruin the last years I have left.

[llashram]

20. per first paragraph...

yes. All who have sacrificed for our experiment in creating "a more perfect union" whether military or domestic/civilian fighters for equality and equal justice have been trashed in the last 4 years. Culminating in 1-6-2021. The Reptillian thugs calling themselves 'the grand old party is full of traitors and murderers of their fellow Americans. TO HELL WITH THE party of traitors and murderers.!!!

"any and all".

[live love laugh]

21. Gee I am surprised the "no-bad-news-brigade" didn't descend.

For the record I agree with you.

[GoodRaisin]

22. I fight on for my young and for those not as fortunate as I have been.

I too am old, crippled, and do not expect to be as negatively affected by the politics of today as my children, grandchildren, and their offspring will be. They are the reason I can’t just give up and concede to the right wing power grab taking place in broad daylight in front of me. They are the reason I have been politically active, continue to vote, and continue to explain what is happening to those I can get to listen. It’s not about me, it’s about those who will come after me, and about those who live in suffering right now because of the right wing greed in this country.

At this point I would be open to “drastic measures”. I am not sitting comfortable with what I see trending at this time, with what right wing are attempting to do which threatens the future of the souls I care about.

[msfiddlestix]

23. Right? Me Too! n/t

[KT2000]

25. There is optimism and there is pessimism

and then there is reality - which must be faced squarely. I am a realist and I see the continuing fracture of our communities at the very grass roots. When I think of the relatives I no longer have a relationship with I know there is no solution that will come about. There is too wide a gulf in values. They may call it by a million names but it is racist at its core. A sense of entitlement and superiority from people who have lost the most basic glue of a society - simple manners. Not sure if this growing group of Americans can survive outside their addiction to hate and supplication to cult though. They could never hold anything together but they are working to tear everything apart, for what.

Free marketers, Russian and Chinese psych efforts, and white supremacists must be shocked at their success. It was too easy.

[colsohlibgal]

26. Feel similarly

I am not certain how we bridge the huge divide in our Nation. It has been sharpened since the advent of social media, the ultimate double edged sword.

Hate to think this but a some point this is all going to get down to a reckoning and who knows how that will end.

I know this if I was younger I would more seriously consider options concerning where to move to if things go boom here.

[Blue Owl]

28. K&R

Insanity is sweeping this nation thanks to tRump’s MagaMorons

[jaysunb]

29. We must deal a bully the way he understands.

We are the clear majority and should act like it.

[BlueJac]

30. I have had this sinking feeling for quite some time

We are at a tipping point and we must keep are heads up