How do you deal with all of this ?

I have a real difficult time dealing with all that is going on with the attack on Iraq and the attack on our own country the good old USA by the bush crime family .

Even though i am not young any longer I don't see much hope for the future , the young people who are informed must find it difficult because they have a lot longer to go and live through this insanity .

I can't help but think if you know about all the horrors and are not made with a hard core then this has to be not only depressing but knocks your energy level down a few notches . If not then how do you get through each day and maintain some basic image of hope without being on the edge and ready to hit the streets screaming for protest .

Do we sit here and wait until it's the end and too late to do anything ? Do you think there is plenty of time to sail along without any of this directly affecting you.

What is it that I am missing because I certainly don't feel hopeful or safe and secure , not with this country falling apart at the seams on a daily basis .

Look at their last big bash all standing there like numbed out fools with some grand illusion to support the war and get on the record . Is this not madness ? I can't get over thinking about this stuff and this certainly affects my thought's for any hope of future or even an illusion of what going to work seems to be , even though I have no choice unless I choose to live in the street and I am looking for work to sustain our minimal life and even this is an effort for me . It's difficult to get up in the morning and even try .

If Dems do not take back the House, or at least takes some seats back, it will signify the American people are really that stupid and/or our votes are really getting that brazenly stolen.

Unfortunately, my angst is for my son and his future. I want so much more for him than the future seems to hold. And I want him to learn to be proud of his country again.

Especially after a Republican took Duke's seat. I am still trying to put '04 behind me but now I feel like I may have to prepare myself for a huge letdown in November.

I go through periods of being very depressed and angry at it all, and otehr times where I just numb myself to it and focus on daily life. Despite all the political shit, good things still happen on both the micro level and the macro level.

Support for the GOP is slipping daily. Even their "big bash" the otehr day has ultimately been a flop. The most it might have accomplished is to steer a few of the straying GOP right wing sheep back into the herd.

Having reached 54 I've lived through a number of shit storms (the 60's, Nixon, Reagan), some of which seemed equally hopeless at the time.

I am partially frustrated at the underlying direction we're going, but retain some measure of hope realizing that it's always a zig-zag and never a straight line in any direction.

When I graduated from high school, it was 1983 and reagen was in full swing. We were dealing with the Middle East back then and right before I turned 18 they re-enacted registering for the draft. Unemployment was high and the economy was sucking. My family didn't have the money to send me to college, so I was heading right out into the job market. Life looked bleak.

I think a lot of people got spoiled during the Clinton years because looking back on the 60s, 70s and 80s things sucked. I can understand where you are coming from, but the best advice I can give is to take some breaks from it all once and while and try to look ahead. This is the shittiest time in a long time, but we have been in shitty times before.

The thing is, not everybody wants to live in a peaceful world, not everybody wants a good economy, not everyone cares about the planet, not everyone wants the people in DC to follow the laws, not everyone wants to have a good future for the children, that's just reality and even though it is sad, there is nothing wrong with wanting it. It is just something we have to strive for and not give up.

DO SOMETHING! Get out the vote. Become an activist.
Do your part. You won't have time to feel depressed
if you get active and participate in your world.

also -- WELCOME TO DU!

Many spiritual leaders of different lineages are talking about the great change that is to happen, and happen soon (link to one site below). I am studying their predictions and using my own intiution to help me know what to do. If you are spiritual, you may wish to do the same. If not, I hope others have advice for you.

http://www.mayanmajix.com

around here also. Things move in cycles. America will wise up and things will move back to the left of the political scale. I think this will happen in 2006 & 2008. Tune out the news from time to time. Spend time with close friends and family. Work on some local campaigns or causes. Get some hobbies besides politics and the internet. For me its beer, literature, hiking, punk rock, and baseball.







"When from a long distant past nothing persists, after the people are dead, after things are broken and scattered, still alone, more persistent, more faithful, the smell and taste of things remain poised a long, long time like souls, ready to remind us, waiting, hoping for their moment amid the ruins of all the rest, and bear unfaltering in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence the vast structure of recollection."
-"Remembrance of Things Past" by Marcel Proust

... without surrendering my own choice to be a happy person. I have absolultely no obligation to surrender my inner peace to the tyranny of this fascist corruption.

Let's be clear. I am under no illusion that this corruption will be reversed in my lifetime. The fact that so many on DU seem to think it can all be 'fixed' in the next election or the election after that proves to me that even those who see the corruption haven't the foggiest notion of where it's rooted and how difficutl it is to excise from our society. The delusion that it somehow rests solely or primarily in the regime currently in power in Washington is the kind of denial that presages a further worsening of the corruption. It will take a massive and prolonged effort to return to the egalitarian state we achieved even as recently as the 70s ... without a catastrophic period that will include either extensive civil unrest or economic collapse akin to the Great Depression. If the latter, there's no assurance that would even be enough.

Nonetheless, my own equanamity and peace of mind is not negotiable. Another person can destroy my life but no one can destroy my happiness unless I cooperate by surrendering it. I refuse.

Maybe during the great depression things may have been similar but the one thing that stinks most of all now is the way most avenues have been lost . The rest of the world does not think much of the USA . We never had a president ever as bad as this fool or as much a sick criminal mind . We have never had such a one sided media with no fair and balanced until reagan took care of that but still there was coverage now it's discouraged .

This thing feels entirely different the ever before . You can kid yourself that there will be some dramatic turn around but with all the damage done in all areas how would this be and were do you start . Look at New Orleans for an example , when has something like this ever been so ignored ? Their attack has no rules with proper follow up . it's all bush and friends way with nothing to anyone else to say .

Jobs were not outsoured in such great numbers and the job scene changed suddenly into what is called jobs of the 21st century what ever the hell that means , who knows , it's a sick one sided joke and not laughable .

Maybe it's me but things are not what there ever were before , not at all . i have been around long enough to see the 60's come and go and before that and it has never been this bad nore the USA so over crowded . We were not looking at global warming as a issue of panic .

I don't intend to bring a gloom but jesus , I don't see a sudden batch of blue clouds and sunshine flowing in .

The only hope I have of ever seeing a fair election or one even close to fair is if the black boxes are eliminated completely , not by better candidates alone or more voters . Knowing what you know now and the election in 06 or 08 is stolen again , what is anyone going to do about it ? . most everyone knows the last two were stolen and did nothing and now you have even less control and less coverage and less freedom . people talk about how they will be pissed if this happens again , what are you going to do , I mean really , what are you going to do ?

If all the horrors that have washed over this land are not enough to create a mass revolt then another stolen election will ? i'm sorry , I don't buy this right now .

People were there for each other. (At least, as much as 'murkins are capable). During the Depression and WWII, people all felt in the same boat, and helped each other as much as possible -- or, at least, didn't make it more difficult for each other.

I lived through Vietnam, and there was so much support for each other! We had our good times, and lifted each others' spirits, and knew that we could count on others when we needed to. Then, as the women's groups started, we all became even stronger as we supported each other in our efforts to assert ourselves.

All that is changed. People are so much harsher now. Hardly a kind word to be found. If you tell someone you feel down, you're just as likely to get an admonishment, rather than compassion.

And, heaven forbid if you don't have the same resources, or exactly the same view! It's truely amazing to me how people feel so much freedom in criticizing each other! Yet, then expecting so much effort to change the world from the person they just criticized.

Yes, I'm with you, and know that we no longer have the kind of "movement" as existed in the 60's to be accepted whatever we're feeling, and whatever our limits are.

Interestingly, peace groups in Europe are much more close-knit and supportive.

For what it's worth to you, I *do* understand what you're saying.

Some have said they have inner peace and won't surrender this , I agree but these is a point if things get bad enough that I don't know if most people can remain sane .

I really have to wonder just how many people in this country actually even listen to the radio or spend any time at all on the issues and even know fully how bad things are and where they are headed .

I know there are a few radio shows who give out the info . I wonder how well the hosts hold up . Some seem to do ok but a few like Malloy and Janeane seem to get a bit down more than the others on ARR . And then there are all the blogs . Both have their , the radio shows and blogs , all the hosts as well . But what does this represent in numbers compared to the population of age who work and deal with these issues ?

And then there is the idea of recycle , well yes and no , times may change and go from good to bad and back as a cycle but not without a lot of damage . And right now people have all sorts of distractions they never had , all sorts of toys and media avenues to become absorbed in to ignore the reality . Certainly there are groups out there to spread the word and try to inform . Without the full support of the media we loose a lot of the chances . And then you have the right wing radio and biased tv and written media to force out their talking points to a much larger audience . Sure we are making progress and this is not to be minimized or ignored without credit , surely this is a grand and much needed thing .

I am left with the impression that the numbers are small on our end and time is running out . I feel those in the know or the truth are now a different breed than all others . I feel we may find a niche to stay out of the way of danger somehow but for how long .

We are connected by what seems like a thread and I say this because we have not slowed down this runaway train at all . All of the government Representatives on our side are so few . Most are set for life .

This situation reminds me of a meteor headed for earth and how does one stop it . I don't think a change will ac cure until the masses are affected so harshly that the people hit the streets in great numbers ready to make a sacrifice . If it take less this would be grand and invited but through silent steps it may get much worse well before it ever gets better .

If you drew a wall map and wrote down all that is gone bad right now and connected the dots which reach into every part of damaged society you would have lines covering this map of the globe . It's amazing that everyone does not see it . They just keep bringing on more of their 30 year old plans and dump more each day .

How would you even get all the money back that was poured into these huge corporations who do nothing to help but all to ruin ? Where will all the jobs come from ? We don't even own this country any longer . We have almost a 9 trillion dollar dept .

I have been on the front lines since the Patriot Act was
passed . I use Window Chalk on my car and bumper stickers .

My house is adorned with Yellow Ribbons, Flags, a
Bushoccio doll ,support the troops and Impeach Bush signs.

The Mother's of Soldiers and the Soldiers themselves
thanking me , helps me get through this . I pray I
make a difference in people's lives .

that real change takes time but that we are building a strong progressive movement in this country. It took the dark side (the RW regressive movement) 30 years to get where they are today (destroying the lives and future of the poor and middle class). It will take time to put genuine progressives in power and to attain a significant degree of improvement in the everyday lives of we the people. I am also trying to hold onto the hope that Democrats will win control of Congress in 2006 (even if not all who are elected are genuine progressives) and that they will at least arrest and undo a lot of the harm that this facist regime has done and is doing to our military members and to the Iraqi people; to our environment; to the ability of poor and working people to just meet everyday needs, get the health care they need, educate their children, obtain decent jobs and be treated fairly on the job; to seniors who must choose between food and prescriptions; to detainees whose human rights are ignored and who are tortured in Gitmo and in secret facilities around the globe; and to the basic rights of citizens not to be spied on. I also worry about global warming and that every hour this do-nothing, greedy, rape the planet to obtain every last ounce of profit possible regime is in power is bringing us closer to planetary disaster for future generations. But I also believe that there are cycles in human history and that this awful cycle of greed and stupidity is moving to a close and that better times are coming and wiser people who represent we the people will take control and prevent further degradation of the environment. That's what I'm banking on and I'm trying to do my part to the extent that I'm able to help the change along.

I hope you're able to find work. Just keep getting up every morning and keep trying, with the knowledge that better times are really coming, even if the signs are not always obvious. It is happening. There are lots and lots of folks who are working toward a better world. :hi:

I always look to the model of the Civil Rights era, when people of color and white folks too joined together in common cause, and just kept at it day after day after day. How did they go on, when dogs were set on them and clubs cracked skulls and people spat on them and vilified them? How did they go on? Simply together. That's how.

You are not alone, and you are not alone in your fears. Reach out. Meet up. Come together with some likeminded people. We'll get through this.

Those lessons of solidarity seem to have been forgotten.

I wonder just how much awfulness it will take to relearn that "rugged individualism" doesn't make for peaceful change.

That's how you deal with it.

Anyone with even an average intellect and soul can see that America's condition is beyond critical.

Hurting for the state of the world is not just for crazies or the hyper-sensitive anymore.

So you set a timer and say, I will cry for the next fifteen minutes about things.


And then you cry about those things. When the alarm beeps, you think positive, supportive thoughts for 15 minutes.


And then you drink some hot tea or iced tea (or something stronger) and you get up and work to change something for just one hour.

Write a letter. Clean out a drawer. Go shopping for a week's worth of provisions in case of emergency, plant a tomato, walk the dog, visit somebody in prison....there is really no end to the number of ways you can spend a mere sixty minutes making something around you better.

Humans have lived through far worse times. And here we still remain, fucking things up in 2006 the same as we did ages ago, when the world was young and stupid ;)