Before 2000 I didn't pay much attention to politics.

[MoonRiver]

I just voted Democratic in a knee jerk reaction. Gore v. Bush changed all that. But, I think I was a lot happier before I got so angry and outraged. Where are we now? What changed after we got what we wanted: the White House, Senate and House (which we subsequently lost). We're still in the wars I was in a rage about. The Repub. PTB are still talking about destroying every social network out there, and the loyal opposition seems too terrified to contradict them. A 9 year old girl, a lovely and gentle Congresswoman and other innocents were gunned down because our chicken shit government refuses to take any rational actions against allowing guns to proliferate and land in the hands of madmen. I could go on and on.

Maybe I'll just go back to sleep :boring:

[proud patriot]

1. I dedicate this song to you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aJUnltwsqs&ob=av2nm

It helps me feel better and motivated .

[ixion]

2. I wasn't aslee, but like you, I was apolitical...

I'm still apolitical, at heart, but I'm more vocal about things in general. And I'm definitely less happy for it. I've been depressed about the state of things since the 80's, and it's grown more pronounced over the years to the point where the weight is becoming difficult to bear, at best. I don't see any change, save for our continued change into a full-blown corporate police state. Between that and the fact that my tax dollars go to kill people across the globe, I'm pretty f'n depressed.

[Cleita]

3. Getting involved isn't easy.

But if you sit back and let other people make decisions for you so that you can be happier, then chicken shit things do happen.

[MoonRiver]

4. I haven't been sitting back for the last 10 years.

Chicken shit happened.

[Cleita]

6. That's because other people sat back and let

us do the heavy lifting and it wasn't enough. I'm not blaming you. I'm just saying I hear your angst but you have to stay involved and hopefully more people will try until we really are a majority and the established powers that be can't push us around anymore.

[MoonRiver]

10. Well, knowing me I probably can't stop.

Just saying I might be better off if I would.

[tavalon]

19. You can stop

Really you can. I've watched many an activist turn it off. I've also watched them die just a little faster. A purpose filled life, even if it feels somewhat futile at times, seems to be, subjectively (who knows, maybe objectively, too), a live better lived.

The Impossible Will Take a Little While, by Paul Loeb. I've never met the man (even though we live in the same city) but that book saved my sanity.

[tavalon]

18. Well, here's my take on it

I don't fight with the a priori assumption that because I fight, I win. Or even necessarily change anything. I fight because it's the right action, the right thing to do. I can look in the mirror and say, "I've done all I can and I've done it the best that I can and the outcome is out of my hands." No, it doesn't make the shit raining down any less shittier and yeah, I do the happy dance when things go right, but mostly, I just divorce the action from the outcome.

And I take antidepressants.

[bobbolink]

5. "The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable." James A. Garfield

We dirtyhippiecommiepinkobums learned this during Vietnam. Learning the truth about our country IS depressing... there is no doubt about it.

It does cause one to go into a funk, and I wish I knew all the answers for that.

It is my theory that this is why so many don't pay much attention; not because they are stupid or don't care, but because they instinctively realize that awareness WILL "make them miserable".

[tavalon]

20. You dirty hippies were right

I'm not sure that makes ones life any better, but there it is.

[bobbolink]

22. Thank you... there are things we wish we weren't right about.

There is a price to be paid for awareness. It gives us a whole different understanding of those who went before, and paid that price. It is heroic.

Thank you for understanding the price, and paying it anyway! We need each other! :yourock:

[Curmudgeoness]

7. I feel your pain. I know just how you feel....

I was once told by a mental health professional that I "think too much" and that is why I get depressed. You just cannot turn your brain off. You are either a thinker or a sheep. Sheep do seem happier, just hanging out in the fields eating and pooping.

So you have a choice, turn your brain off or be miserable. But on a high note, every once in a while, we do gain some ground. Blacks can vote, we have national parks, we are not still fighting in Vietnam, our air and water are cleaner than the days when rivers were on fire. It just seems like nothing moves forward, but keep it up because just sometimes, it does.

[RKP5637]

9. I tend to stress out thinking about things... mostly I am just constantly appalled by how

many get led around and have their views shaped for them, never questioning, and then supporting outrageous views stuffed into their heads by someone else.

[Curmudgeoness]

13. Use it or lose it. The brain is a terrible thing to waste. nt

[RKP5637]

14. Yep! I've never stopped. n/t

[RKP5637]

8. It's not the country most are given a childhood view of IMO. It's a country

where many are mislead, because of what good times we have had, and those that would like to change it drastically against most depend on ignorance. I have a lot of trepidation about the future, I hope we do well.

[MoonRiver]

11. It's scary.

I really fear for my children.

[RKP5637]

15. It's also the pounding of delusional propaganda today spewed out to the masses. It's doing

our country a massive disservice. A lot of the politicians are scary too. I often wonder how can people vote these fools into office, not once, but multiple times. Well, it's always better to have knowledge so one can best fend for themselves and their family and if enough of us do it we can keep the country on a better track.

[MoonRiver]

16. Yesterday, my husband and I watched a History Channel marathon about the rise and fall of Hitler.

Not that is happening here, but it was clear how easily manipulated people are.

[RKP5637]

17. I've seen some of that, it's very revealing how easily masses of people can be controlled and

moved toward horrific objectives. IMO American is ripe for something akin to that, not saying a Hitler, but to some savior of some type. I think Americans are easily misled.

I've watched a number of things like that on the History Channel and IMO they do an excellent job of presenting a lot of material one might not otherwise see.

[MoonRiver]

21. History Channel is one of the few worthwhile channels to watch on cable.

One actually learns things, gasp!

[barbiegeek]

12. Use the knowledge to your benefit