How can I live in a country that is breaking my heart?

[PlanetBev]

I could take the Right-Wing assaults and rollbacks if I knew I had a political party fighting for me. Save for John Conyers and a few others like him, the Democrats just want to get along and be nice. They seem to have learned nothing from the losses of the last 25 years.

If we had a press with a backbone and a sense of responsibility to the nation, I'd feel some hope. Instead, with very few exceptions, we have a bunch of craven, spineless worms.

Having come of age in the sixties, it's just too painful to see how complacent Americans have become. I truly believe that if people were given a choice between their freedom or Ipods and plasma screen TV's, they'd go with the "stuff". They are consumers, not citizens.

I hope it doesn't get so bad in this country that I'll end up envying the dead.

Sorry, I'm pretty depressed right now.

[DanCa]

1. One day at a time

If that doesn't work one hour at a time. Or if that doesn't work try cutting down the news and upping the exercise. Just remember your not alone. Where all in this together.

[applegrove]

2. Plant a garden. Mentor a kid. Volunteer. These are great ways

to get some balance back into your life. Yes it is sad. And you are only human. If a break is called for - to keep you strong and solid in your beliefs about the better side of humanity - take it.

We desperately need you fighting and available for the fight of 2006. So pace yourself. Take a break. Limit the news or your time on bulletin boards. The news is constantly bad. The Rovbots are banking on creating apathy. That is how the Germans and the Saddamites ruled too.

There is so much in life that is freeing and great. Head in that direction to get some relief and build up your strength.

Courage.

[Wetzelbill]

8. this too

Yeah, you don't need to be political 24/7 either. Applegrove is right, find other stuff too.

[dave502d]

3. PlanetBev,That the way allot of us think.

The only thing we can do is keep on fighting.I have talk to
people who supported ** and now they talk about him like
he's got a tail.So hang in there and keep fighting.

[Bumblebee]

4. They want you to feel depressed -- it's in-your-face, outrage-overload

tactic that they use against us so that we all end up feeling helpless and hopeless. They are not the first political thugs and bullies to do so. I know how you feel, and often feel the same way, but we shouldn't let them win :)

[nookiemonster]

5. We're all going to be eating a lotta shit sandwiches..

On the plus side, and I mean a very small plus side, maybe we were complacent too long with our elected officials and this was destined to happen.

We can only hope that history books cover this whole mess in great detail for our children and their children's children.

They will have to be vigilant and reminded OFTEN!

:grouphug:

[wli]

6. I'm not depressed but things don't look good to me either.

I'm not really sure how to explain it. It's more like "react defensively" or whatever than getting sad about it.

ON EDIT: This means things like watching for impending nuclear false flag or impending currency collapse so I can get out of the "blast radius" of the disaster (not that it'll be effective at the last minute anyway). That's most of my interest in all this apart from halfheartedly voting against this garbage (this vote brought to you by Diebold).

[Wetzelbill]

7. Become part of a Revolution!

If you don't want to run for office yourself, find someone you can support and do stuff for. Convince a like minded friend to do so. Get other friends to join in etc.

Use electoral politics as activism. That's what Conservatives did. After LBJ ate Goldwater for lunch in '64 a movement slowly began to swell. By 1980, Conservatives -far-right ones at that - had taken over school boards, city councils, mayorships and state Legislatures. They built that base into the big machine they have now. It's one reason why they all have that lockstep mentality.

Right now Dems are doing the same thing. For example, I live in AZ now, but in my home state of Montana, the state Lege for the first time in forever is controlled by Dems. MT has a Dem governor for the first time in 16 years. They are starting to turn a Red state -Bush blew out Kerry by 20 points - into a Blue State. Now, MT doesn't have a big populations, but stuff like that can be done.

It's called the urban archipelago. Progressives are frustrated at our lack of national success and our weak national leaders so we're starting a Progressive Revolution. It doesn't matter if you run for Dogcatcher or support somebody who is running for that position. If you feel sad, go out and help make a difference. While Leiberman and Biden are selling the farm in DC, you and your friends can be fighting for what's right in your hometown. And, if you already do these things, well, good, just keep at it, because you're on your way.

Don't despair, go out and fight! :)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

9. Yes, the COUNTRY is bad now. Shrubco is bad, but if the country weren't

weak and craven, they wouldn't be able to seize and hold power in this way.

[Xipe Totec]

10. Take this from one who is a Citizen by choice,

and not accident of birth:

Yes, this country is worth it. Don't give up on her; She is not beyond redemption. She never has been.



:dem:

[PlanetBev]

14. I do have to admit that there is one bright spot in all this

When Reagan was elected, I crashed and burned for weeks. We all felt a lot lonelier then, because we did not have the Internet.

It's so different now. I check in on DU several times a day and I must say, I couldn't have gotten through it without you guys.

Bless all you guys for keeping me sane for the last five years.

[CountAllVotes]

11. You aren't alone, I feel the exact same way

Part of me wants to run away, part of me loves this country too much to leave. I have an option and I know it as we all do.

Do we give away our America to these rats? I hate to do it, it is against all I believe in.

So do we stay and fight? I wonder how long we can fight for. I must admit it is getting to be a very old battle going nowhere very fast IMO.

I doubt that any could disagree. We have not won even ONE fight yet, not even one.

Distressing at best with little hope in sight.

Jeb in 2008 OMG :puke: :puke: :puke:

I'd rather be dead at times too so I know what you mean. This is a highly depressing situation this country of ours is now in. However, things will change as that is how life is. How they will change is what we do not know. It could get interesting. That is perhaps my only hope.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. If it's Jeb in 2008, I'm outta here!

That will be the final straw for me. :banghead:

[KerryOn]

12. Patience....

This administration will not last much longer. It will come down and it will come down hard.

Join us for a good old sixties protest in Washington D.C. in September. They are planning a day of civil disobedience, and perhaps that will bring back a few memories and bring you out of you depression.

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?list=type&type=91

If you give in then they win, keep your chin up and together we will bring this administration down to their knees.

[PlanetBev]

18. I plan to be there, KerryOn

I never miss those protests. Been out there since '68.

[BeHereNow]

13. No argument, only empathy

I know just how you are feeling.
It is extremely depressing, I know.
BHN

[PlanetBev]

17. Hi, BeHereNow!

I met you at Doug Decker's party three years ago in Van Nuys. I also read your post about that guy at your post office. Yeah, folks, there's no shortage of wingnuts out here in California, either.

Thanks for your kind words.

[BeHereNow]

19. Back at ya- WHERE is DOUG?

Haven't heard "boo" from him around here for QUITE
some time!
BTW, the guy at the post office wasn't actually a wing-nut.
That's why the whole episode freaked my out!
BHN

[ironman202]

15. they only look dead...dems will come back

History is on our side. The liberal view of the world is the ocrrect one. And the truth will out, as they say. The wingnuts will go back under their rocks, you'll see. Don't give up. Don't give in. Don't let on. All is impermanent. All is without a self.