If we run away now,

[Are_grits_groceries]

then we might as well not stop. The SCOTUS decision was horrible, but using that as an excuse to throw up our hands is rank cowardice. If we don't change and take advantage of that decision then we will fall well behind. Two can play at any game.

Brown was a battle lost, but not the war. If anything is learned from that special election, it should be that people want somebody who will fight. If you won't still fight for what you believe then it wasn't worth much anyway.

Meh! We get smacked in the mouth, and we whine and quit. I'll probably now get a loooooooong list of reasons why it is useless to try.

I can't and won't quit. There are too many people who count on somebody to fight. These are the poor and dispossessed in our own country. You're not just giving the back of your hand to the Dems in office. You're giving it to people who are counting on us to keep trying.

No, those mucks in Congress don't appear to be listening. They are ready to run too. The Rethugs can't make them run away. That is their own choice. It's the wrong one, and they should hear it over and over.

I prefer to stand my ground and give it all I've got. I don't know the best strategy and tactics yet, but they do exist if we think about the terrain. We may have to cede here and there, but only for the moment and only to set a better trap.

Hubris will get them too. Who knows what tomorrow will bring and the perceived momentum can turn on a dime. Giving up will only add to their momentum. Stand now or forget standing for a very long time.

[liberal N proud]

1. Too many are so quick to call it quits

Too many expected to get it all and get it last January.

Rather than stand and say what do we need to do to make the progressive caucus stronger in Congress in the fall, many just run away from it. They run right into the fire thinking because the house is burning down.

Too many didn't get everything they wanted on Jan 21, 2009, so they are pissed off and have decided to throw in the towel or to take down the only chance they have at ever changing anything.

Instead of fighting to get a bigger Democratic Majority so the blue dogs don't have the power, many will say it is no use.

These are the people that will hand the right the victory they are looking for.

Stand up for what a better democracy, don't lay down for the greed.

[lazer47]

2. I am also Liberal and Proud,,, I am also very well armed

and intend to stay that way

[peace frog]

3. Speaking of standing..

consider that standing in judgement against those who are beaten down by years of fruitless struggle is probably not the kindest stance to take.
People come to conclusions and make decisions based on many things in their lives other than political zeal, and denouncing them for losing heart for the fight is not only counterproductive, it's cold.
Try to mix a little compassion with your passion, if you would. Those of us who have lost faith will thank you for your sensitivity.

[bigmonkey]

12. Those of you who have lost faith don't need "sensitivity."

You need victory. The constant "nothing can change" stuff weakens you, and it weakens everyone who could help you. Grow up, or at least stop proclaiming the supposed truth of your negative view. Saying "I feel hopeless" is different from saying "It's hopeless." The first is an expression, the second is an exhortation.

[blondeatlast]

4. This is a beginning, IMHO.

I have faith that overcoming this crisis may, in fact, be positive. The SCOTUS decision pulled the plug on democracy, but we're going to survive--adn thrive-- anyway.

[sufrommich]

5. Agree. Never stop fighting for democracy. nt

[midnight]

6. Progressives do many things, but they don't quit...

[bdamomma]

7. very encouraging posts

[Orrex]

8. The bottom 99% of society has been totally fucked for all of recorded history, and probably longer.

Realistically, we aren't any more totally fucked-er than we were yesterday.

The fight is important even if victory is practically impossible. Especially if it's practically impossible.


But that doesn't mean thatwe don't feel discouraged from time to time.

[peace frog]

10. Thank you

for acknowledging the very real sense of discouragement. And imho we are more totally fucked-up than prior to yesterday's SC ruling.

[lunatica]

9. The question is what are we going to stand and fight for

The status quo that existed before 2009? No thank you. In case you didn't notice it had the seeds of what's going on today. Maybe we need to envision something different and start to build for it which will probably take a couple of decades.

First we have to do something to begin to empower ourselves. That means we have to remove their power over us and those kinds of changes start within each person because it entails sacrifice. And sometimes that sacrifice is as drastic as putting your life on the line. Look at history.

I'm at the point where I don't want what we have but I don't really know what to do about it yet and I'm not quite sure what I do want. I'm certainly not 'quitting'.

[blindpig]

11. We should run away

We should run away as fast as possible from the idea that there is any redress for the people from a system, political and economic, which serves the interests of the ruling class exclusively.

We should organize outside of the system, not within the system. Is that not evident enough?