I'm disillusioned, dispirited and exhausted with this political crap.

[UdoKier]

America is in the crapper. Our democratic institutions are irreparably damaged. Our "President" has unleashed a fraudulent war and mass murder on a sovereign country, and more than likely was at least somewhat complicit in 9-11.

And yet most of America doesn't care. I donated, protested, volunteered and DU'ed from mid-2002 to the 2004 election, but at this point I'm too damn exhausted with a long work week and childrearing to keep up that level of outrage.

I despise this administration as much as anyone, but have resigned myself to the fact that we have a permanent fascist government in place, and most of the elected democrats are COMPLICIT in it with the repukes.

It's just a matter of waiting until the twin ballooning trade and budget deficits, paired with outsourcing , the destruction of the middle class, and the impending housing bubble's burst converge to create an economic catastrophe unlike anything seen since the 30s.

And then there will probably be all kinds of violent uprisings - or maybe mass suicides - who knows how a populace that's been TV-addled this long will react to REAL hardship?

I hope we will have completed our move to Japan by then. Japan will not be immune to the economic train wreck, but at least there is a culture of cooperation there. People here will kill their mother for a few bucks (especially republicans).

I still come here and comment on what's going on, but it's just going through the motions at this point. I know I'm just addicted to this artificial conversation, doing it for filler during lulls at work (I work at home, freeper dipshits, so STFU) I know I should lay off posting and do something more constructive with my time, since "America" is beyond screwed.

Am I the only one who's sick of it all?

[The Traveler]

1. Of course not.

Trust me, your are not alone when you feel these things. This all feels to me like a "bottom experience" ... as if we, as a nation, have smacked into the pavement, victims of our own denial systems.

The good news is that we can rise from this sewer of our own creation. We can do better, we can go forward. As frustrating and digusting as it all is, now is not the time for good people like yourself to cease the fight.

We come here. We share ideas and feelings. We come and reason together. It is not futile. It is not in vain. Keep that faith.

[Erika]

2. ok ...to add to your burden, go to

the site of www.icasualties.org It's not artificial conversation or artificial deaths, it is what Bush has done to our country. It might give you a sense of reality and true passion.

[NMMNG]

3. No, you aren't

The Netherlands is looking more appealing every day.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Take some time off

recharge your batteries... I think there is a seachange and the elections were stolen... but there is a sea change... now take some time off from all of this.. read a novel... I have a very good sugsetion, Tales of the Otori, well written

[BlueIris]

11. I second this. My break from a couple of months ago did me a

world of good.

[wookie294]

5. You need to take a break from politics, imho

Don't burn yourself out. Take a few days or weeks once in a while to completely IGNORE politics. If you don't, you'll drop out totally and never return to it. I know political people in DC who NEVER take a break from it. Some of them are miserable.

[LSK]

6. i can understand the drain on time

Working and raising a child consumes a lot of time which should be your priority.

Politics consumes a lot of time to learn whats going on - partly because our media lies to us and is crap. If the media did its job, it wouldnt be so hard.

While I am not sick of it, I can understand how its time consuming.

[BeTheChange]

7. No..

You definately arent. Sometimes I think that the best we can do is live our lives, not read about others on the internet. Act and think locally. Its easy to become so immeshed in this that it becomes unhealthy when its only a couple mouse clicks away.

There is a time for everything. A time when you need to be able to go somewhere to know that you really arent crazy, and that you arent alone in the world. This is why Im thankful for DU.

There are other times when you just have to do the best with what you have and change what you can. Spend time with those who are important to you before your move.. with the way things are headed, Im not quite sure it will be so easy for those of us that are trying to get the heck off the sinking ship to come back on for a visit.

[UdoKier]

8. That's okay. I couldn't afford to visit home often when we lived there

before.

I missed a lot of things about home, but when I actually came back here, I didn't care about the things I thought I missed all that much. Now I miss Japan a lot (with the exception of the sweltering summers and bumping my head on doors...)

Funny thing about Japan - I never felt any less "free" than I do here. Isn't that weird, considering how we're always told that the US is the "freest country on Earth"?

[Lexingtonian]

9. you're burned out

And you've convinced yourself of the apocalyptic nature of all this. Imaginatively speaking it's worse than that- it's all horrifyingly banal and adolescent.

What it is/represents is the dying of an Old Way of life. In psychotic writhing and nostalgia and ridiculous 'religion'. It's still a prosperous nation with enormous ability and potential, but mired in uncreative and silly games about wealth because social change is too divisive and unbearable to deal with outright.

But yes, you've got to let the Past die. The far Right is the retirement home and ICU and funeral home of political ideas- what it accepts, uses up, and buries is dead for all time. The Left is the maternity ward and nursery of ideas...and the honeymoon suite, too.

The reactionary wing of the Right killed off the dominating conservative wing of the Democratic Party in 1994. That was not a loss, to me. The newly dominating moderate wing of the Party killed off reactionary Republicanism in 1996/1998. No one weeps for Newt Gingrich. The hardline conservative wing of the Republican Party killed off the dominating moderate wing of the Democratic Party in 2000/2002. See how we weep for Gore and Daschle and Gephardt. We now have a Party in which the liberal wing outweighs the others. It has been able to put up the resistance the moderate wing could not, and as the hardline conservatism fails its views become the viable ideas that remain.

After the failure of the moderates, we got a Party recoalesced around hardliners and liberal views in 2002, picked up the moderates in 2003, and got a lot of Indies in 2004. In 2005 we are picking up the rest of the Indies and the moderate Republicans have begun to bleed over into opposition. In the present we're also hammering out the differences internally, destroying the factionalism that filled 2003/04.

The carnage is bad. The Party we're getting out of it is renewed and much better quality.

Now is actually a good time to take a break. Take a summer vacation from politics. The present arguments all turn around moderate Republicans slowly giving up on their hardline (theocrat, plutocrat, monarchist) brethren's politics.

Batten down the hatches as you can in your private life. Things were roughly this ridiculous in 1991/92/93 as whole Cold War industries evaporated. Right now we're seeing a lot of the remainder of the Cold War industrial base go out on one last big endeavor/set of raids, break up, and reformulate. Terrible as it is on the workers, the country does survive and prosper.

So, it's out of our hands in a way. Watch Republicans fail, watch Republicans give up on each other, watch Republicans go Indie, watch the Republican polling numbers die. Watch the Democratic Party lay aside its internal fight and come up with a decent agenda, and '06 could and should be the turnaround. Maybe you don't see the pattern, but it's there. In '07 there should be some pretty good breakup of the Republican Party at present trends. Bring popcorn. And watch us begin the rebuilding.

[catzies]

29. That is a FANTASTIC post. I read and re-read it. Thanks.

Very well put, and you gave me comfort, and food for thought.

[BeHereNow]

10. You

are NOT alone.
It all feels like a bad acid trip at this point.
A blur of outrageous truths in a bag of jello.
I am so tired of all of it.
BHN

[Swamp Rat]

12. Me too.

I have been away from politics for two weeks (except the Daily Show) while I'm taking a statistics class. Since my time is limited, I have to choose between DU/politics/AAR and music... the latter has won out. If I wasn't so tired right now, I would be refinishing the lugs on a Brazilian drum I bought from a friend.

[hfojvt]

13. I am not that pessimistic

I am not sure what would be a more constructive use of my time. DU is like my on-line Cheers - a place to go where "everybody knows your user-name". I enjoy discussing politics and economics and music and film. DU also keeps me apprized about what is going on in the Congress, and such. But if there is something more constructive that I could do, I would like to hear it. I am afraid the if I did not DU I would just spend more time playing spider solitaire and watching TV.

[chknltl]

14. A moment of your time UdoKier...

... Most of those posts ahead of mine have some damn fine words for you. I agree with them. I add this: THANK YOU.
Thank you for all the work you have done, I feel it has made a difference.
Have you noticed the shrubs falling ratings lately?
Thank you, you had a hand in that.
Have you noticed that the news media is picking up more and more on John Conyers and the D.S.M.?
Thank you, you helped spread the word.
Have you seen how America is beginning to question this outrageous war on terrorism?
Yep, you share in getting those questions asked, thank you.
I sense the winds of war are shifting, the troops are moving out from Valley Forge now, you deserve credit for your part in bringing that about. My most sincere thank you for that.
Once you get settled in over in Japan, pick back up your mouse, re-engage in battle comrad.
:patriot:

[ngGale]

15. No, I'm so burned out my flame is dying like a...

candle, blowing in the wind. During the campaign, I worked so hard trying to keep the faith that everything would be okay. K/E would win and our lives would get better. I remember thinking, the morning after the election I would wake up with a whole new outlook on life.

I had hope, while at the same time beating back the part of my brain that told me the election was going to be lost in some way. Trying to keep the positive outlook, then the election happened. I woke up without hope and realized things would only get worse for the next four years. I'm so tired, physically and emotionally just thinking I won't survive until the next time.

Then everyday, something happens that gives me a push or a little piece of hope that keeps me fighting one more day. I work, one day at a time, one issue after another. Our soldier's dying, if I don't fight for them - who will. The sheeple are asleep, in denial. The bad judges, I worked so hard - I have a grand-daughter. What will face growing up if I don't work hard enough to try and help her life.
She's only 8 years old, one day she will be a woman and I want a better life for her. I want a better life for everybody - one day at a time, one issue at a time. Just keep moving forward and hope.

Take your time off and re-fuel. Things are looking better - we are making a difference. Even bad press is better than being ignored. They can't ignore us anymore, so they discredit. We are use to that, but you know what? Other people are beginning to notice things are not improving. Jobs keep leaving, income keeps dropping, programs keep getting cut. The war in Iraq is grating on the nerves of the right, for the first time they don't see an end. Some of their children are dying to and they are afraid. Waking up to reality is not easy, but for the first time I can feel a change...

blowing in the wind.

Peace be with you wherever you go. Find that mouse and check in with your friends here from time to time. Rest and enjoy life!

[UdoKier]

19. All these comments are really great - your in particular stuck with me.

I will try to give myself more breaks.

Listening to Malloy can also be grueling ;)

I was actually kind of scared that I would be accused (for the Nth time) of being a freeper trying to discourage everybody. But it's how I'm feeling.

I do feel a tiny bit of encouragement by what Conyers & Rangel are doing, but even their forum was held in a broom closet and was dismissed by the media as the actions of an "anti-war group" (like that's a bad thing?)

It's also exhausting that I can't vent fully.

Ann Coulter can joke about blowing up the New York Whore Times building, but I am not allowed on DU to say what I would like to do to a lot of these media scum.

I can understand why the rules are as they are, but oh, there is so much more I would like to say and vent, but cannot.

[mopaul]

16. I used to think this was an inconsequential chat room

but i was wrong, and discovered that this place actually makes things happen. witness this last week's hearings on the truth, mr. conyers amazing efforts paid off. the truth tsunami is real, and you UdoKier were a part of it.

all the posters here are correct, but again, DU is actually having a concrete effect on our government. i'll say it again, cause i know it's not quite believable, it wasn't to me at first....

...DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND IS ACTUALLY HAVING AN EFFECT ON OUR GOVERNMENT...!

the internet is our weapon of mass destruction.

[Arugula Latte]

38. Right. Sometimes we have to put things in perspective.

The Republicans plotted for years to take over the media and the voting machine companies, and to impose their brand of fascism/corporatism on this country. It will take years of fighting back for us to see some big results. But we've started. We have more of a voice than we did a couple years ago.

[H2O Man]

17. Take time for yourself.

Do what you need to do to take care of yourself. I have no idea where you live, but if it is near the countryside, get outside and breath clean air. Look at the trees in the woods.

In life, we are supposed to take time to rest. That's a good thing. When we don't, our bodies get tired, and our mind sees things not in the full range of potentials that exist, but in a restricted, worst-case scenario.

Everything is okay .... more, everything is perfect. Everything under the sun is as it should be, or it wouldn't be. This culture is at a strange time in a historric cycle unlike any other, due to technology. One of the Clan Mothers told me that when the cycle begins to spin so quickly that it makes your head spin, get off. Go to the woods. Go to nature's time, not technology's time.

I have a sweat lodge in the woods near me. I will walk up there today, and I will think about this discussion. You articulated what others are feeling.

Peace,
Water Man

[Oversea Visitor]

18. If its any consolation

By merely joining DU you did make a different. I think there are many like me tracking what is going on in the US and DU is heaven send.
DU in a way help me understand what is going on instead of just turning into a raving US hating lunatic.

[otohara]

20. Feeling Helpless, Hopeless

I hear ya!

Doesn't matter that asshole Bush has low numbers, we're still stuck with him and the rest of the GOP assholes for 2/3 years.

Then comes the nasty ass elections and an even more complacent press more interested in consolidation vs truth telling.

What part of Japan will you be moving to?

[UdoKier]

21. Fukuoka, in Kyushu

It's a very nice city about 1.2 million.

[bicentennial_baby]

22. It's my chosen path

this is what i've chosen to do with my life, and I soldier on, despite the bullshit. Mmmm, politics...

[Eric J in MN]

23. I can relate to how you feel.

Our chances of taking back the House or Senate in 2006 are minimal.

Minnesota's chances of electing a new governor in 2006 are minimal.

We have at least 3 1/2 more years of a nightmare ahead of us.

[deutsey]

24. We've all got to see things in terms of the long run, too

Lots of good advice here and strong words of consolation.

However, we've got to see our struggle not in terms of political victory alone, but in terms of carrying on a tradition of social justice, human rights, economic fairness, anti-militarism, and the like.

[bicentennial_baby]

25. Exactly

"we've got to see our struggle not in terms of political victory alone, but in terms of carrying on a tradition of social justice, human rights, economic fairness, anti-militarism, and the like."

It's all about the big picture...

[Eric J in MN]

26. How can we advance those ideals without a political victory? nt

nt

[deutsey]

44. I said we can't be fixated on short-term political victories alone

What kept the African American community in America going between Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Act? How many political victories did they have at first when they were being lynched and segregated? Yet they trudged on, didn't they?

What kept workers organizing and striking even when cops, goons, and state militias were cracking their skulls and even killing them and the corporate media portrayed them as crazies? Did they have resounding political victories in the late 1880s and '90s?

Fortunately for us, they didn't get discouraged because they weren't getting immediate political results. They kept fighting the fight even at the darkest moments or when they had to know that they weren't going to see victory in their lifetime. And because they did, they advanced the cause even when the political establishment had shut them out and they inspired new generations to continue the fight.

I want to see us win electorally, but, like Martin Luther King said the night before his assassination, I recognize I might not get to see that promised land (the way things are going today, I just may not). But I still will do what I can to clear the path ahead as much as I can so that those behind me can continue on that much further.

What's the alternative? Sulking by the side of the path because I'm not "winning"? I'm glad many of those who struggled before me didn't succumb to that.

[Minstrel Boy]

27. The "Thousand Year Reich": 1933-1945

Fascists win only when we let them.

[peacebuzzard]

28. If there was a membership drive for those characteristics, I'd be the 1st

to join. It has been a long uphill battle w/ many slides backward since election 2000. No, my dear, but please take care of yourself....it actually almost killed me. I gained lots of baggage and had to be put on beta blockers and have been struggling physically since. Do take time for yourself.....I have since lost the pounds and toned the muscle, but haven't been able to get off the meds yet. Plus other health issues came into play. Take care.

[amazona]

30. a culture of cooperation with gaijan?

I'll retain my skepticism. If America collapses, then being an American in another country is unlikely to be as pleasant as people fantasize.

On edit -- Thomas Disch wrote a story in the late 50s or early 60s on this theme, called "Casablanca." I think it's more real in its own science fictional way than people's fantasies that they will still be welcome or even much paid attention to in other people's countries when their American dollar is useless and their cachet as an American national is on a par with a Bangladeshi taxi driver -- except they can't even drive the cab because they don't speak the language or drive on that side of the street.

[UdoKier]

34. It's gaijin

The point isn't so much that they would accept me personally - I'm an alien there even in good times. I just think there is less likelihood of riots, etc. And I'm not alone, we are a bicultural family, all well versed in Japanese culture and language.

But thanks for the blanket smear against the Japanese... :eyes:

[amazona]

39. I have family in Japan, it ain't about the Japanese

It's about Americans who think they will be welcome anywhere when their own country is in ruins. If you really think the United States is going to collapse, then your life's investments will become worthless, and you ain't gonna be welcome on anyone else's social services anywhere in any land in any part of the world. It is not Japan or another nation's duty to rescue distressed Americans.

Is that clear enough?

And please forgive me for not having a Ph.D in spelling. I may not be able to spell but at least I like to take credit for having a little common sense.

Sheesh, people sometimes. This could have been discussed courteously, without someone jumping in and taking immediate offense because I don't agree that running for one's life is a wise decision.

Haven't we been on the internets long enough to know that picking apart spelling and grammar is the last resort of people who don't have a good argument to make?

[UdoKier]

41. Running for one's life?

MY FAMILY IS HALF JAPANESE. If they weren't we wouldn't be moving. We have been planning to move back since before we came back to the States in 2000. The present situation certainly makes Japan more appealing, but we would be moving back ANYWAY.

As for my life's investments - I have none.

I did just fine in Japan for five years, and will do fine again. I have many friends there who have lived there for decades and have become part of their communities, built businesses, and would never even consider moving back.

The ignorance you display is staggering. I suppose you also think there are ninjas there that hide behind bushes and that salarymen commit seppuku when they "lose face"...

:eyes:

[converted_democrat]

31. Don't give up, we have come so far. They are counting on you becoming

brow beaten. Don't give them the satisfaction. If they wear us down it's over and we lose, if we stay the course we will win. We can't give up, our country is at stake, we must keep our chins up.

[realFedUp]

32. They want to exhaust you...confuse you....berate you...

better still, take a break then get back
in the ring and bring some others with you.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

33. I'm disillusioned with "politics as usual".

But, I have been for a long time.

So many people (even here) are still looking for "leaders" and still trust politicians to do the leading. To many it seems that what's happening in this country and the world is all a political game with sides, winners, losers, that are determined by (D) or (R). They believe that "who" is in power is more important than what those in power are doing. They fail to realize that "power" itself is the problem. They are all too eager to surrender themselves to politican parties and politicians and follow them no matter how corrupt they may be and justify it by saying "the Democrats aren't as bad as the Republicans", or "Kerry isn't as bad as Bush", or, "Their policy isn't as bad as..". Or, even worse, "The Democrats have to become more conservative to win." To win what? To win power that has already been corrupted by their compromises to win it.

As I see it, the fight isn't to empower politicians and political parties. It is to do what is right.

I would much rather be accused of not being a "good Democrat" than turning a blind eye to the corrupt "leaders" who sell out the principles for political gain.

Stick around UdoKier and remember what Mark Twain said, "Sacred Cows make the best hamburger." Even if the cows are Democrats.

[UdoKier]

35. Don't worry. I'm not leaving.

If I ever do, I'll do it without fanfare.

I already did my dramatic exit once, way back in my DUer infancy. I've seen many other DUers do it since, only to come back, so no melodramatic swansongs...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. Good. And, enjoy Japan. I did.

Even tho' my stay was courtesy of the Marine Crotch. I imagine it's changed since the early '60s, but still a beautiful country with beautiful people. Alas, a corrupt political system. But, at least they don't have a huge military to back up there corporatism.

[UdoKier]

37. LOL - a corrupt political system...

Like ours isn't rotten to the core.

At least they regularly put politicians in jail over there for accepting measly $10,000 bribes.

Here we just call them PACS and make it legal.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

43. I certainly agree. They're amateurs compared to our pros.

[Maclilly]

40. Hey, if you do go to Japan, please

stay in touch on the boards. I am interested in how things go for you there. Good luck

[Tommymac]

42. Take a well deserverd break...recharge...

I did. I was heavily involved in the K/E campaign online last year...and with the grassroots effort locally. But in January I was totally burned out...and took a few months to relax, recharge....now I am getting back into the swing.

I am fairly new here...lurked a lot last fall, but didn't have time to post a lot. But now I am here as one of many new posters willing to carry the load for awhile ... so vets like you can take a well deserved break. And there are many more like me coming...new blood to augment the old, to give you all some time to spend with your family, to relax, catch up on the realities of day to day life.

The circle will remain unbroken...and we will win in the end, however long that may be...We The People will reclaim our Constitution and Our Country from the neocon thugs, though it takes decades.

Thanks so much for your effort...now go get some well deserved rest!
B-)

[LibertyorDeath]

45. Hell UdoKier we all feel like that on some days to one degree or another

I'm sure all people of good conscience feel this way when they are up
against criminal regimes.