I struggle to recognize this country any more...

[NRaleighLiberal]

When people can come together and rise up and get a good, smart man elected to the presidency, with the opportunity, intellect, and ideas to solve so many real problems -

Yet another group of people can come together to obstruct all progress, aided by a media that lacks the intellect and sophistication and ethics to recognize right from wrong, progress from obstruction, positivity from hatred - and nearly in lock step take the messages and ideas of the president and twist them to abet the obstruction -

I confess to feeling quite hopeless and deflated, and to wonder if we are just in so deep that all of the optimism and good hope will be dashed by the ignorant, uninformed, and greedy.

And that's how I feel today. Pretty grim, actually.

[marions ghost]

1. I understand your feelings...

but kinda curious as to why you did not expect this?

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. I guess I am (was?) am optomist, and thought that Obama would use his political

capital and forge ahead, instead of all of the bipartisan crap that is obviously never going to work. Also, I mistakenly thought that now that Bush is out, with the magnitude of the disaster at hand, even the most repulsive republicans would realize that the people and the country would finally have to come first.

Stupid me.

[marions ghost]

5. Well this is not the time to give up hope...

those on the other side would love you to do that. It will take time. And hard hard work.

There are a couple of primary things to keep in mind as you enter this next political plateau (which is already better than the last):

1. Politics is hardball. The losers know that all they can do is put up roadblocks and they WILL do that as much as possible. It will take time to wear them down.

2. "the most repulsive Republicans" will NEVER put anyone (much less the country) first. Remember this always. These are the vultures, the hungry ghosts, the pathological greedy grubbers of the universe. They will not change. The least repulsive Republicans are the only ones to have any hope for.

This world is tough and getting tougher. Hang in. We're on the right side of history.

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. Thanks. good words, good wisdom.

[marions ghost]

8. No problem, living in these times takes a support group...

you've just got a little "post-inaugural letdown" today--like a lot of others. Feel it and let it go.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a hardcore idealist and I know it's wonderful to zoom along in the realms of possibility--don't lose that. We need that. But the trick is to take all that lofty hope into reality. That means going into the trenches where the going is rough. One step at a time. Work and patience.

"Nothing happens unless first we dream" -- Carl Sandberg

(This is what we put on our mother's gravestone in 2005--she was a dreamer who knew how to work hard and fight for the changes she wanted to see).

[NRaleighLiberal]

9. Lovely. This is why DU is so important to me - for the support!

At 53, I found myself laid off and for the last 7 months are finding it a challenging go....challenging in that after 25 years in corporate America, I have to decide each day what I want/need to do. Sometimes the politics drains me, and sometimes it is vice versa. Today...one of those days! Just a read through TPM, 538, DU, CNN and listening to Diane Rehm and Eddie Schultz shows - it all just became overwhelming!

[marions ghost]

11. I know...

The news sources are pretty depressing right now, with good reason. At least we are getting more truth & less Pravda now. More people are sensitized and have even become hypervigilant. That's good in that it helped elect Obama. But when your eyes and ears are open and straining to make sense of it all, it's not hard to take on too much emotionally. I do the same thing. We who see it want it fixed in a hurry. The only thing that keeps me sane is that I have some writing projects that are totally unrelated and that becomes an escape of sorts. Since you are unemployed, what are you doing to fill some time with something that takes you into positive (or at least neutral) places & spaces? (rhetorical Q, just food for thought). Maybe you were hoping for an improvement in job prospects with a new administration? Or maybe you realize you need to find plan B--raising Alpacas? ("Raising Alpacas" has become my new code words for "doing something else entirely" when Plan A peters out).

The ground is rumbling beneath our feet. Nothing is the same as it was. Nothing. This can be an excellent time to reinvent oneself, if you are not struggling just to pay the bills. Where there is great flux, there is also great opportunity. (now I sound like some Chinese sage ;) )but I really do believe that. Getting laid off is a huge bummer and it's a grieving--grieving for all those well-laid plans and job security and the rest of it. It's a challenge, but also a time to think outside the box. You sound like you may have a lot to offer in a different direction, in the new world that IS coming. :hug:

[NRaleighLiberal]

12. Exactly that is what I am doing. Reading a book "Do What You Are" =

I have my degree in chemistry, but am an ENFP...so was misplaced. Ended up doing internal consulting, but what i REALLY want to do is peoply stuff, so thinking of going for my accreditation in MBTI - also may get some work for coaching. Also self publishing a book on heirloom tomatoes, roasting my own coffee, and playing the guitar again! So I am right with you.....I am hoping to hear from the administration, as I offered my services there to help clean up the health industry (spent 25 yrs in Pharma!)

Thanks for your advice and listening!

[marions ghost]

17. advice and listening...

come easy--I'm an INFJ ;-) I'd be making a lot more money if I had gotten that degree (or degrees)in psychology instead of English. Almost did it too...

This is me to a T (only the good parts, that is):
http://www.personalitypage.com/INFJ_car.html

But it sounds as if you can do your own counseling and are well on the way to re-invention and incorporating positive pursuits. Heirloom tomatoes...yum. Love eating those delicious tomatoes & also growing things that are easy, but serious veggie growing, well that is Work, capital W. Is your book lore & how-to? Let us know when it's available, maybe in writer's forum (as well as gardening of course)?

My SO (INTJ) is in the health industry also 25 years but on the statistical end, clinical trials. He like you, is hoping for serious cleaning up & changes to occur. I hope you can be part of that. :)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. You can't recognize that? It's how this country was started!

If you really think this isn't how it's always been, you need to whip out your history books. If you won't do that, just check out the John Adams mini-series HBO did.

[tilsammans]

4. I feel your pain, but . . .

. . . we have to keep in mind that "they" have been carefully crafting their message for 35+ years. And then buying up media outlets and installing their puppets as mouthpieces. :grr:

Maybe when we do hit rock bottom (are we there yet?), the low-information voters will wise up and be receptive to real change.

If not, heaven help us all. :scared:

[JohnnyBoots]

7. It has become The Incorporated Companies of America. Most

of our elected officials on the Hill work for them, not us. They want the cushy jobs that come after their "Public Service."

[wuvuj]

10. I feel your pain...

But it's like Our Dear Leader has said...that the election was just the beginning...this the part that is HARD. I wish all the stupid and retrograde people would just go away...but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

I think the best thing is to watch for the talking points and double speak and be ready to overcome it with factual info.

Remember...around 46% of our fellow citizens have something wrong with them. Not sure what to call it...and probably shouldn't...but it is a sickness.

But if everyone who has at least an ounce of sense would try to set one of them straight at a 1 per day rate...things might start to improve. It's either that...or wait until it's too late...at that point we enter a new dark age and a serious police state.

What's your motivation? Saving your own *ss at the least.

[NRaleighLiberal]

13. Thanks! and welcome to DU! Motivation is just seeing things set right!

I do tell my two daughters (both save the world types) that there is plenty for them to try to fix!

[marions ghost]

16. stupid and retrograde people always have to be dragged

kicking and screaming behind the chariot.

Love that 46% figure :7 (was that the no that voted for McPalin? I thought it was less).

You talk like a fighter wuvuj, welcome.

[wuvuj]

20. Is this the End Game?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-05TZAT5s3o

[Still Sensible]

14. Your feelings are valid, but the Dems just need to

really understand what the problem is. Karl Rove wasn't no freakin genius. He just figured out that the majority of the public wants simple messages. They like black and white, good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, us vs. them. And they want the message capsulized so they don't have to think about it.

That is why they have been so effective. We democrats tend to be thoughtful, recognize complexity and nuance, and care enough about our fellow man to do so.

Why is their "PORK" bullshit right now so effective even though its basically bullshit? Because the "they are wasting money and it will cost the taxpayers" is a very simple us vs. them, good vs. bad argument.

What we should be doing is employing the same tactic when our sensibilities allow it! For example, our message right now should be:

The republicans are putting your jobs in jeopardy! Us vs. them, not complex

The republicans just want tax cuts, and they don't work! Simple message

I don't listen to Limbaugh, but years ago when he first went national I figured out his was the same tactic. He blovates to fill air time, but he always hammers home the simplest black and white messages.

[NRaleighLiberal]

15. Exactly. Quick sound bites vs nuance. Well put.

[leftofthedial]

18. half of all Americans

are below average.

[marions ghost]

19. haha technically true

...but I think the big lump in the middle of the bell curve is perfectly capable of intelligent rational thought unless emotions rule and they can be manipulated by fear mongers & distortionists. However the movie 'Idiocracy' could convince you that devolution is nigh...it's spooky.

The problem is not intelligence so much, it's leadership--leadership with INTEGRITY (Whatever that is).

[RadiationTherapy]

21. Vengeance politics.

We have fallen in to a cycle of 'gotcha' every time power shifts parties.

I live in Arizona and the republicans here are dry fucking everything now that our dem gov is gone and the Palinesque Sec of State is willing to sign anything her overwhore masters command. Az may be purple/blue this next time around. The elected officials here are REALLY stupid and REALLY shortsighted.

[shadowknows69]

22. You give the media too little credit

THey're full of intellect and sophistication. Problem is that those qualities are being used to shovel shit to the American public on behalf of the corporate state.