I'm just burnt out on gloom and doom. I kinda think everything will be ok.

[Skip Intro]

Yes, there are those that are in need. This current compromise does nothing to endanger them/us as far as I can see. And Social Security isn't going anywhere. It is a contract between us and the government. Any real attack on SS will have people in the streets. The politicians know this, even the repubs. That is why they did not run, en masse, on the idea.

It just seems like every time I open DU or the sensationalistic msm that is all I get, though. Everything rides on this or that vote, and we can count the times this or that vote didn't go our way and, in the end, the sky has not fallen.

I found and joined this board in the wake of the bush *election in 2000. I was sure our democracy had ended. And with each step his admin took, I was all the more sure. Outraged. And eventually the Dems won back control of congress. And eventually the presidency. Bush was gone and I felt sure we'd bring those criminals to account. Didn't happen. More outrage.

Yet we move forward. What else can we do?

And I open DU and I am greeted with posts heralding the demise of America. The demise of democracy. The demise of all that was and is ever good about this nation. Again, we face certain doom if this particular issue doesn't go completely our way.

But by this point I am numb. We came out of the bush years, and the country hasn't fallen to anarchy. The sky hasn't fallen.

I'm on unemployment, btw. Have been for over a year now. My home was to be sold at a foreclosure auction Dec. 1. I got in some modification request just in time, and they placed that on hold while they review the docs. I have little hope they'll approve a modification, given my status, but it did put the sale on hold. Until at least Jan. 5. I'm hoping they won't have had time to review the docs, and that the sale date will be pushed back until the Feb sale date. At a minimum. Of course, I hope they do approve a modification, and lower my payments to something I can pay with my unemployment "income." If not, then I have bankruptcy. I think.

That is my personal situation. And I'm sure others are worse off than I am.

But my point is, every action that doesn't go our way does not equal the end of life as we know it.

[leftstreet]

1. Yeah I smoked a bowl tonight, too

:hi:

I'm kidding.

(or is he?)

[Skip Intro]

5. PM me some of that , will ya?

:hi:

[Warren DeMontague]

2. It's always helpful to remember the Taoist Parable of the Farmer's Luck.

Anyway, :toast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3CmXGKXOmk

[Cant trust em]

3. Everyone just needs a break.

Go for a walk, see a movie, have some sex, mix a cocktail. I feel like I need to get some perspective at times.

Politics and our public lives are important, but they're not the only thing.

[laughingliberal]

4. In 1983, they raised the benefit age for SS and cooked CPI to lower COLA's. Why would you think...

they won't do that again?

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. Purely anecdotal - no numbers or cites

As the name suggests, I live in/near Omaha

About 1/2 way through '07, construction ground nearly to a halt, and I noticed a lot fewer car carriers and container 2x stacks on the UP & the BNSF.

In the past 6 months, I started noticing more rail cars with building materials

In the past 3 months, businesses I deal with professionally, while conceding things aren't great, are now back to complaining to me about how they can't find reliable skilled labor (drivers & welders seem to be high on this list) (some exceptions - cabinet shops and other building suppliers are still slow)

In the past 6 weeks, I've noticed more 2x stack trains. I've also seen empty car carriers heading east (i.e. to pick up) for the first time since '07. Not many, I grant, but a few.

In the past month, I've noticed modest amounts of commercial and residential construction. Emphasis on modest, but modest > none.

[Mortos]

7. I couldn't agree with the OP more

The hand wringing and rending of clothing by my fellow DU'ers would be funny if it weren't so depressing. Things will actually get better for me personally and for millions of others based on this deal Obama cut with the republicans over taxes. Yeah it will get better for the rich too but that doesn't negatively impact me one way or the other.

As the Scottish say, keep your pecker up. I wish you luck and positive things in the new year.