After 20 months or so of the pandemic, I am saddened to state the following:

[Evolve Dammit]

As a nation, approximately half of us have just said "fuck it." They opposed virtually every approach to the pandemic that would have us in a very different place today. No masks, no contact tracing, no vaccinations, no nothin'. Democratic hoax.

A similar group was fine with everything TFG did because he was "fighting for us", which is just laughable but they believed it and still believe it. This includes 4 years of intentionally destructive and divisive actions by Executive Orders, appointments of supporters who were the antithesis of the agencies they ran (by design), Supreme Court appointments and as many right-wing judges as possible in an effort to make sure that equality and basic human rights causes are cudgeled back to the 1960's, preferably much further. 35 years of Limbaugh and countless others who followed the model made this divisive brainwashing happen.

They bought into climate change as a hoax, alternative facts (WTF?) and turned their heads while watching police violence inflicted on POC. Many of them are total racists. I knew a bunch growing up. I ended some friendships.

What brought me to the point where I seriously doubt we will ever turn this around is the total, constant attack mode by what's left of the GOP. A viscous cesspool of rabid deniers and destroyers, mostly the ones in suits but also the increasingly dangerous AR crowd. This has been evident once again with the rapid pullout of Afghanistan, a war we should never have embarked on, like Iraq. 100,000 successfully removed, but yesterday's tragedy (and I'm not minimizing the loss of life for our soldiers or the Afghani civilians) will be the Benghazi they will hang their hat on for the next 3 years. And now comes the hatred for the refugees by TFG's "base" stoked by Fox and the right-wing radio "hosts" that haven't died yet. Lady Liberty is beyond tears.

If anything, I hope the regular folks; the enlightened that just want to work toward a moral and just society, raise families safely, promote education, equality and "Make Lying Bad Again" see how grave this really is, speak up, call it out and vote. It is anti-democratic and very dangerous. We have lost the ability (as a nation, not "us&quot to share sacrifice (of any kind) for the common good, and the 24/7/365 propaganda rhetoric is a constant poison to our society. My depression-era parents and WWII vet father would be appalled.

Thanks for listening and sorry to be a Gloomy Gus. I have teenagers who just want the same things I've articulated, so I have that, which is a lot. I just wish their future looked a little (OK a lot) brighter. No offense to anyone named Gus.

[TheRealNorth]

1. I don't care that there are crazy GOP fuckers

My issue is that they have been continuing to bend and bend the rules of our Democracy to install themselves as minority rulers. If things get worse, I might have to acknowledge we are no longer a Democracy and consider "2nd Amendment remedies", considering that they are already in the process of criminalizing "1st Amendment remedies" like protest and civil disobedience, or allowing members of the minority to murder protestors with their trucks or cars.

[Evolve Dammit]

7. I'm not disagreeing with your assessment. We will know in the next few months perhaps, and I'm

not wishing for violence. It may seek us. Your points are valid.

[louslobbs]

10. Wow! I have uttered that same statement recently. I recently downloaded the study guide from

The California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms, to study for my Firearm Safety Certificate. I feel like you do right now, and even though they make it difficult to own a fire here in California, I am ready to go through the necessary red tape in order to legally own a firearm. I learned how to fire an M16 rifle many years ago during basic training on Paris Island. I could hit bullseyes at 500 yards all day and earned my experts badge. Long ago, I decided that living here in California, I did not need to own a firearm. I have changed my mind. And here’s the kicker, my spouse, who has never fired a gun in his life and didn’t want them in the house, has decided to do the same. We have decided that the trump cult have lost their minds and feel that they can intimidate and threaten because they have the upper hand, their guns. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

[Tiger8]

24. Thank all above for validating me out of Denial

COVID, MAGAts and 1/6 changed the game for me.

David Pakman has repeatedly said Cultists are too far deep into the echo chamber to ever bring back.

But what's most dangerous is their level of anger and gullibility - and heavily armed, with the target of that anger being anybody not exactly like them (Remember hang Mike Pence?), with a proven record of acting out on their anger (1/6).

But the worst is that we are not prepared.

[MiniMe]

2. He is fighting to increase his bank account

And wants to fund that increase by decreasing your bank account

[Evolve Dammit]

6. Well, that would be the traditional GOP/ Libertarian model

[The Wizard]

3. I seriously question the loyalty

of those tasked with protecting us from violent Nazis / American Taliban.

[EleanorR]

4. Most Americans support masks and vaccines

I know the media framing can make it seem like a 50/50 split because the crazies get lots of airtime and those in the media do seem to love their cage match framing, giving the impression there are two equal sides duking it out. But most of us are sane. Though I do agree we are up against a very radical, shameless, and dangerous republican party.

A new poll by USA TODAY and Ipsos found that a majority of Americans say protecting the common good is more important than ensuring personal liberty when considering whether to require people to get a Covid-19 vaccination or wear a protective mask.

An overwhelming 72% of those surveyed called mask mandates "a matter of health and safety," not an infringement on personal liberty.
68% supported businesses refusing service to the unvaccinated.
62% supported employers requiring workers to get the vaccination.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2021/08/23/most-americans-support-mask-and-vaccination-mandates-which-companies-will-follow-their-lead

[Evolve Dammit]

5. Part of my assessment is just being in "public" and observing. It's not what those numbers say.

[paleotn]

13. Nationally, yes, but on the ground, that depends on where someone is.

Where I am now, support is well over those numbers. In my old haunts in NC and TN, most don't care and many feel masks and vaccines are the "mark of the beast." I kid you not. It's utterly insane down south. An old friend down there complained about the complacency in the face of overrun ER's and patients stacked in the hallways. I asked "why are you still there?" Something we've discussed a number of times. They say they like the weather. Well, the weather ain't that good.

[wnylib]

25. They should poll my county.

All you need to do for polling results is enter a few stores. No masks indoors. No masks at crowded, shoulder to shoulder outdoor events. Masks at churches during services, but then no mask social hours for coffee and snacks afterward.

When I venture out in my N95, I pass by a couple restaurants and see groups leaving together, barely waiting until the door closes behind them to whip off the masks.

The infection rate here is 7.8%. People still insist that the pandemic is over while hospitalizations and deaths increase.

[malaise]

8. Great OP

Rec

[Evolve Dammit]

9. Thanks Malaise. Sad time for sure. As Rodney King once said, "Why can't we all just get along?"

Just don't think it's possible in this poisonous climate.

[Jon King]

11. Our population is 1/3rd decent, 1/3rd pure evil, the other 1/3rd doesn't seem to care either way.

Not sure how this all turns out.

[Evolve Dammit]

12. and only half of us even bother to vote. What do you do with that?

[LiberatedUSA]

16. Only two kinds of adults that don't care who the President is.

Those with money or those who don’t pay attention to politics and therefore are prone to believe whatever talking points get released.

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. Similar to the observation a German writer made of the US.....

Saying essentially the United States, following the election of Trumpy, resembled pre-war Germany, that in the late 30's, 1/3 of the population had been convinced to hate and want the destruction of another third, while the remaining third stood by and watched.

[Evolve Dammit]

30. that's how it feels right now. The pandemic reinforces it for me.

[Blue Owl]

14. K&R

[lunatica]

15. I feel the same way

You articulated it perfectly.

[Evolve Dammit]

18. Thank you. I wish it were otherwise.

[Grasswire2]

17. I am sorry to say this.

But I believe the strategy/policy of "Look Forward, Not Back" when trying to implement a Democratic agenda and thus look past Republican crimes and outrages and open assaults on democracy has allowed us to get to this point. Sort of like "permissive parenting" -- no one was held responsible or punished for assault after assault after assault. And we are now, apparently, at the tipping point where "going along to get along" may not save us as a country.

And I'm talking about decades of outrages and crimes. A cascade effect. We let them get away with one little thing after another and look at things now, after thirty or forty years of this.

[Evolve Dammit]

19. And we keep thinking, this investigation, inquiry or AG will change things. So far, nada

[GreenEyedLefty]

20. I suppose. But always remember:

There are more of us than there are of them.

If you listen to the wags and bloviators you will come to believe that everything is going to shit. Those voices are part of an industry that profits off of fear, despair and negativity. You don't have to buy what they are selling. My advice for people who are discouraged is to turn the noise machines off for a while. Dial into what makes us like-minded people awesome, like kindness, generosity, constructiveness. Get out there and volunteer (doing anything). Be the counter to all that toxic energy. That's my two cents.

[mountain grammy]

21. K & R and thank you.

This..

"A viscous cesspool of rabid deniers and destroyers,"

The fact that we are the majority doesn't matter. They are viscous and rabid and will drag us all down with them. Right now the GOP is armed and dangerous.

[calimary]

22. I totally get this.

It’s getting harder and harder to be hopeful.

I’m far more cynical now than I ever have been before. And I’m old enough to remember Nixon.

[lambchopp59]

23. Much under the rallying cry of "freedom".

Except of course for Democrats, immigrants, journalists, scientists, doctors, teachers, Asians, Mexicans, Jewish, Muslims, native Americans , LGBTQ, anyone non-caucasian, public assistance recipients, the 99%, Kaepernick, anyone attempting to effectively protect themselves and loved ones from a deadly virus, anyone who says inclusive "happy holidays", critics of the confederacy, anyone with a degree, higher education institutions, capital police, ex-cons, alternative energy advocates, moderate Republicans, and birthright citizens and any other possible groups they want all "freedoms" legislatively curtailed!
Yuppers, it's a sad state, Gus.

[A HERETIC I AM]

26. Saw this spot-on TikTok a week or so back...

Which said essentially;

What did COVID teach me?

When a significant percentage of Americans were asked what the absolute minimum they would do to prevent the death of someone near them, their response was.....

Nothing.

[bluestarone]

28. Agree with your assesment here.

The part that WORRIES me the MOST is law enforcement across the country seems to be in THEIR corner. ( i honestly believe this, is because lots of x- military are hired into this field) So we have a country that is 1/3 good honest people, 1/3 TOTAL terrorists types, and 1/3 that ARE NOT paying attention to what is happening!! If that 1/3 doesn't join US, the we could be in deep doo-doo! Remember the terrorists will break EVERY rule or regulation to win! WE on the other hand fight in the courts! I'm not sure this will be enough to succeed beating these scumbag assholes!

[Evolve Dammit]

29. very good points.