I'm DONE! (or, y'all better help me out.)

[JackintheGreen]

I spent all of yesterday at a tranlation conference at Columbia. No politics (except academic), no war, no taxes, no Social Security or Iraq or election fraud or Bush or...well, you get the point. And I was happy. It was refreshing to not be worried about the world for a day.

This afternoon I log on to the Frist news, and it all came crashing down on me. I'm done, friends. I'm done! What hope do we have of displacing this cabal? Since the repug majority seems to have no qualms about changing the rules on a dime (let alone having no procedural difficulties), what chance do we have? Since the majority of elected democrats (and I underscore elected) are milk-toast lapdogs, what chance do we have? Since the majority of American adults in both major parties appear to be uninformed boobs who are content with the status quo so long as they FEEL secure or can be made to feel in danger, what chance do we have?

I live in suburban Philadelpia (very repug), but work in the city (very dem), but notwithstanding the numerous "there's a change in the weather" posts here, I don't sense any significant shift in the way things are or are likely to be.

I WAS feeling hopeful that the winds were changing. I really, really was. But this Frist letter is like a bullet in the brain. Somebody please tell me why I shouldn't throw up my hands, finish my coursework, then become an expat in India while the country I love self-destructs.

[WilliamPitt]

1. It doesn't take massive change.

Little bitty change you can focus on.

Look at Cheshire County in New Hampshire. In 2000, Bush won NH by a margin of 7,211 votes. Cheshire had almost 30,000 eligible voters who didn't vote. Had that county gone the other way, Gore would have had the EC margin he needed and Florida would have been a footnote.

Flash to 2004 Cheshire County. A group called Swing the Vote focused on Cheshire County and only Cheshire County. Canvassed every single eligible voter, whether they were D or R, registered or not. Talked to them, got them talking, got them registered. Every day they knocked on doors. Cheshire wound up having the largest voter turnout in its history, with 6,000 eligible voters coming down to do same-day registration.

Cheshire flipped to D in 2004, and Kerry carried New Hampshire. No matter the national outcome; they moved the pile in their own quarter. They're getting ready to do it again.

DO NOT ATTEMPT to wrap your arms around the whole picture. Pick a small spot and fight for it with steadfast discipline. Do what you can in your own zone, and know that others are doing the same.

[MADem]

8. Excellent point, Will Pitt!

People cannot see the forest for the trees, and the thing to do is not worry about the forest, worry about the tree in front of you!

[MuseRider]

12. That is excellent advice.

It is what I did and it makes a world of difference. I come here and when I can't take it anymore I change my attention back to what I am doing in my state where I really am making a difference.

These days it is the only way to stay sane and still keep up with what is going on.

[Clara T]

2. .

[Catrina]

3. Just remember Tom Delay ~ they changed the ethics rules for him

over and over again, but it didn't save him in the end from indictment. And he may be facing further indictments in the Abramoff affairs ~

Also, it will be way more difficult for Frist to get away with this kind of tactic now than it was then, imo ~ they were completely in control back then, and still had to re-do their criminal changing of the rules ~

Frist is under investigation himself, for insider trading ~ let him try to do that ~ Republicans are getting nervous ~ I think the smarter ones will not be happy about this.

[ClayZ]

4. ..

[TAPat]

5. We feel the same...

I wish I could wave a magic wand - for you, my daughter, me.
We often contemplate heading north to Canada, but I resist because THIS is MY country (and yours and my daughter's) and I feel that no matter how bad it gets it does truly belong to us.
I throw up my hands every single day but keep on doing what I can do.
I'm not much for organized religion, but I do believe that good, in the end, triumphs over evil.
Hang in there, baby! O8)

[carolinalady]

6. First of all, welcome to DU. I think the thing to watch is the money.

We all go crazy watching the academics of the whole mess, but IMO the average joe reacts only when his purse is affected. For example Clinton was pursued actively by the rich who did not like their taxes and thought they would get a better break with the Repugs. That is why they became so morally upstanding and proceeded to impeach him. However, the average Joe was living large and Billy ended up with a great job approval in the end and he was never thrown out of office. We are enraged at the illegalities and inequalities we are seeing and would like to see Shrub pay, but the people with money won't pursue it because they are living large. Now when this housing bubble bursts, and the lower classes lose all their equity and can't spend, they will get riled up. That is when they will throw Georgie under the bus and most likely it will be something really insignificant compared to what we have seen him get away with so far. I am not sure if it will happen soon enough, but all things economically seem to be heading in a downward spiral, so get some popcorn and watch the show.

:popcorn:

[file83]

7. By all means - if you can make a living in India, you should do it!

This country is turning into a loony bin. The fabric of social mental health is coming apart at the seams. Just don't forget to send us postcards!

No where is it written that you must live between the lines on this map.

[wakeme2008]

9. why India not Costa Rica.....

:)

If it wasn't for the language I would go there for retirement

http://www.discoverypress.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html

[northofdenali]

10. Jack, hang in there..................

All is not lost. Even in solid-red Alaska, with the latest shoot-down of ANWR, the oil leak on the slope, Murkowski's totally inept governorship - yes, even with Uncle Ted Stevens, I hear sounds of revolt.

As Ben Franklin said, " We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." I think our sticking together is the ONLY reason there aren't liberal detention camps being built.

[mahina]

11. check this thread!

If you're feeling discouraged in light of events around you...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x580153

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

13. The Biggest Opportunity To Take Back Control of Congress And You Are Done?

You kidding? This is an election year, and one of the most important ones of our lifetime I'd wager. No. Don't give up now. We will need every single bit of help no matter how small during the course of this year. We must organize, educate, GOTV and do whatever we can no matter how small to help the Dem representatives and Senators gain seats to win back control. Every little bit helps, even if that is as small as staying educated so that you can carry on informative discussions of truth with those who do not yet know otherwise.

Please, don't give up, The year has just begun...

[MuseRider]

14. Take time to sing and dance.

It's no fun being Jack-In-The-Green ---
no place to dance, no time for song.
He wears the colours of the summer soldier ---
carries the green flag all the winter long.

[JackintheGreen]

15. Ah, hoisted on my own petard!

You've got me Muse. ;)

[MuseRider]

16. Every time I see your name

I get that song as an earworm. Of all the songs that frequently become earworms for me that is one of the very best.

[Swamp Rat]

17. "Songs From The Wood"

Jethro Tull fan here. ;)

[MuseRider]

18. I wore that one out

twice!

Funny, I just knew you had to be a Tull fan.

Let me bring you songs from the wood:
to make you feel much better than you could know.
Dust you down from tip to toe.
Show you how the garden grows.
Hold you steady as you go.
Join the chorus if you can:
it'll make of you an honest man.
Let me bring you love from the field:
poppies red and roses filled with summer rain.
To heal the wound and still the pain
that threatens again and again
as you drag down every lover's lane.
Life's long celebration's here.
I'll toast you all in penny cheer.
Let me bring you all things refined:
galliards and lute songs served in chilling ale.
Greetings well met fellow, hail!
I am the wind to fill your sail.
I am the cross to take your nail:
A singer of these ageless times.
With kitchen prose and gutter rhymes.
Songs from the wood make you feel much better.