Why not despair?

[Orrex]

I mean it. Even allowing the optimism of a successful '06 Democratic takeover of Congress and an '08 Democratic Presidential victory, the outlook for recovery from Republican destructiveness seems bleak at best.

Give me, say, five good reasons not to say "fuck it," turn on American Idol, and just give up on on this whole damned political experiment?

I'm really reaching, here. Help me out!

[IndependentVoice]

1. Because we have to try if we all turn on american idol

then we have already lost

[BOSSHOG]

2. Not to compound your misery but

48 hours after the democratic president is inaugurated in 2009, conservatives will blame him for everything that has happened to America in the past eight years. Chin up, surely to God, America's future is more important than American Idol.

[paparush]

12. I agree...its not worth giving up for American Idol...If, on the other

hand, you are thinking about giving up for the "X Files Complete DVD Collection", then save room for me on the couch.

[BOSSHOG]

13. I'd appreciate the complete "Crime Story" Series

[Terran1212]

3. I'm scared of the possibility that Dems takeover and barely change

what Bush has done. They keep most of his policies, and progressives are afraid to challenge them because they don't want the Republicans back in the house.

And the whole charade starts over again.

[IndependentVoice]

6. then they are not really progressives.

We have to break the cycle by working our asses off, if only 50% of us vote, or do anything politically related then we are gonna have to pull the weight of the people who won't. We still can make a change, it might take more than 4 years but we need to keep democrats in charge till this is fixed. How many people thought we were screwed during the great depression, the american revoultion, or when Hoover was president?

[ramapo]

9. Yep...

There is no great unrest or unhappiness amongst the masses. Sure there's a feeling of unease perhaps. Citizens aren't happy about the war, or the economy, or the myriad of problems facing us, from health care to education. But not anywhere near what is needed to give Democrats some spine.

Democrats are afraid to challenge Republican policies now and, if by some miracle, they pull off victories in '06 and/or '08, they will be afraid then. Sure they'll implement some kinder, gentler policies and won't engage in as much nonsense, but you won't see any big change.

As much as I miss the Clinton/Gore years, you cannot point to a significant progressive tilt to their governance. To the contrary. Even on environmental issues, they were afraid, and where they did venture to try, like the health coverage, they got destroyed by the special interests.

It is all a charade based on power and money, and money and power. I've watched these knuckleheads for too long to feel any more optimistic.

[Ohio Joe]

4. I can only speak on a personal level

it is simply not in my nature to give up or despair. I'm not sure I even know why but I simply never find my mind going in that direction.

[uppityperson]

5. You can despair, but can keep on working for betterment also

[Greyhound]

7. Because if you, who knows what is happening and how it is being

done, tune out, the (real) terrorists will continue to win and you, along with others like you, will die enslaved, by the whim of your corporate master.

This is not about re:puke:s and democrats, this is not about the next two elections, this is a fight to the death. Please believe me when I tell you that 'they' are deadly serious about this coup and if we don't get serious about it pretty damn quick, the death of true liberty is at hand.

[Warpy]

8. It's counterproductive and eventually fatal.

It's far better to dedicate one's life to being an irritant. Even if things aren't getting noticeably better, one has the satisfaction that the evil aren't enjoying it as much as they want to, thanks to one's irritating efforts.

[bryant69]

10. Well

Things aren't as bad as that

and

You would feel bad knowing you sat aside while others fought.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[unpossibles]

11. I know what you mean, but don't give up

think of it this way: better to feel that you're fighting an uphill battle now than to find out too late that you're not allowed to even try any more.

And as another poster said, at the very least, take delight in being an irritant.

[deutsey]

14. Because previous generations didn't give up even though they

never lived to see the fruits of their labor.

The civil rights movement in the '60s, for example, was the culmination of nearly a century of people enduring the failure of Reconstruction, lynchings, segregation, etc.

You can point to any other contemporary "movement" and find a similar foundation to it.

That's what keeps me going, anyway. I want to win in my lifetime, but I also know it's not all about me. It's about my children's future and the hope that future generations will take up the struggle that I fought in some way.

For what it's worth.

[Orrex]

15. Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts

First, I should disclaim that I would never watch American Idol, no matter how deep my despair or self-loathing.

Second, I recognize the merit of the struggle even if one won't live to see that struggle's end. I guess the thing that's most disheartening is that sometimes its difficult for me even to envision how the struggle might--even theoretically--be won. The enemy, in this case, controls most of the resources, most of the government, the voting machines, and just about all of the money.

But the battle continues as long as there are people to fight it...