Is anyone feeling positive about 2011?

[matt819]

It's probably pointless to list the woes facing us as we enter the second decade of the new century (or, if you're a purist, the second year of the second decade of the new century). It's overwhelming and fantastically depressing, unless you're rolling in dough. (Anyone here rolling dough?) And it's tough to pick even the top five, because, when reminded of yet another problem overlooked, I tend to say, yeah, that should be in the top five, too.

Global climate change is bad enough. Global climate change denial is positively mind-boggling.
Structural unemployment apparently now set at 10% or more, tens of millions no longer looking for jobs, and absolutely no leverage for the American worker.
Republicans and teabaggers. Say no more.
Supreme Court. Need I say more?
Absolutely no truth about the long-term effect of the BP oil spill on the Gulf.
Guantanamo Bay.
Soviet-style endless war in Afghanistan.
U.S. military bases on two dozen countries. Can you imagine foreign military bases in the US?
Impending bankruptcies of municipalities throughout the US.
Increasing "every man for himself" attitude, tragically among those who most need support.
Fantastically high unemployment or underemployment among college graduates and burgeoning student debt.

You get the idea. Sure, the Bush years were bad. Appalling. But during those eight years there was at least an expectation that things would change for the better. And, yes, things have changed. No need to refer me to the list of this administration's accomplishments. I know all about DADT and the list of pretty decent new legislation. This is not an Obama-basing post. This is not an "I'm not going to vote" post. This is more of an attitude post. That said, this is clearly a very depressing post because that's how I see the start of 2011.

If you see it differently, let me know.

[FiveGoodMen]

1. No.

By the end of 2011, America will probably just come out in the open and stop calling itself a democracy.

[OregonBlue]

2. I think the RepubliCONS are going to go overboard. They just can't help themselves. And when they go

too far, they are gonna show the whole country just how nuts they really are. I think this could be a very good year for the Dems.

[TheKentuckian]

8. They've been overboard and diving for thirty years.

They have been way past batshit for around three years now and just won 60 seats.

Knowing the TeaPubliKlans are going to push for madcap shit is not reassuring in the least to me.
It is especially bothersome that Democrats are pretty much committed to compromising with the terrorists. We aren't fixing to allow them to go off the reservation because we are ruled by the Monty Hall mindset.

[Initech]

9. I really hope the teabagger dad dies when they realize nothing will happen.

[Initech]

22. I meant to say "fad"

Stupid autocorrect.

[ladjf]

21. Lots of us have been thinking the same thing about the Republicans

going so far that the American people finally catch on to the con. Well, it hasn't happened yet. I don't know why not.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

3. In a word, NO. n/t

[valerief]

4. I'd like to, but no. nt

[Newest Reality]

5. Those of us who are

living in the Land of Noincomia, on the edge, homeless or in campers, etc., are at the nothing left to lose point. That's the cake and the rest, (on that list) is the fetid slop of cold, oily, fecal icing on top of it.

Well, you have to continue, regardless. Or do you?

[taught_me_patience]

Hell yeah

Economy going to rock. GDP will grow, tax cuts will have a major stimulation effect, unemployment will drop to 9% or lower, interest rates will remain low (4% on the 10yr treasury), corporate profits will rise, and the market will rise. Housing will bottom late this year.

Republicans will fracture

Obama will ride the wave of a recovering economy to an easy victory in 2012.

[matt819]

10. Thanks.

Can I quote you on that?

If I was organized enough, I'd set this post aside and then get back to you at year's end.

Needless to say, I hope you're right.

[taught_me_patience]

15. If I could predict the future, I'd be working for Warren Buffet

but it is pretty clear the economy is on the right track. Leading indicators point to continued recovery and jobless claims have fallen to a level which shows the labor market improving.


Some risks to the economy:
rising inflation manifesting in higher oil and food prices
slow down in china
margin compression
muni bond default

These will not be enough to derail the economy, imho.

[Paper Roses]

6. Nobody I know! n/t

[RKP5637]

7. I'm wondering when a majority will say F it, we've had it with this crap. Americans have

to be waking up to the fact that the R's agenda is to turn the majority of this country into a bunch of serfs working at the lowest possible wage globally. I'm really starting to think Americans collectively are a pretty stupid bunch.

[Karenina]

13. Y'all are SO S-L-O-W to wake up

and the hour is WAY TOO LATE.

[RKP5637]

16. Yep, a direct hit and everyone's still sleeping! n/t

[lunasun]

35. and getting more stupid with time,,,, they won't wake up b4 its too late ...sad

for the minority with even a small inkling of the smart in them.......and an answer of -no - to the OP

[Still Blue in PDX]

11. At this point I'm almost hoping 2012 really is the end of it all.

The only thing making it an "almost" is the fact that I have kids and grandkids. For me, I'm ready to throw in the towel.

:cry:

[tama]

19. As the saying goes:

Remember to take your towel and don't panic! :)

I have two kids. Feeling fully confident. Letting go of old attachments means just letting go of fear and surrendering to love and compassion. Been there, done that, still keep on getting healed by everything around me. There's no end of it all, just new beginning.

[Still Blue in PDX]

38. Thank you for the reminders!

Both for Mitakuye Oyasin and about the towel!

:hi:

[matt819]

28. You mean like the Mayan calendar end of it all?

Hey, as soon as I get my wall calendar for 2012 up, I'm marking, what is it, December 12? The joke's going to be on all the glennbeckians for having wasted their money on stored food and water.

[Still Blue in PDX]

42. Yep, that end.

Silly, I know.

[bigwillq]

12. My expectations for the US gov are always low.

Regardless of which party is in power. Our political system is broken. Has been for a long time. Yes, some good things will get done, but the country, as a whole, will still be controlled by big business, which, to me, spells bad news for the country and its inhabitants.

[tama]

14. Very positive

much healing going on, on all levels. We are waking up, this is the year of peace. Yes, there are deep fears to confront, fears that arise from old attachments that are no longer adaptive to our common reality, and yes, fear and anxiety and pain go together. But I have no doubts that together, trusting each other and liberating ourselves from the lies that divide us, we will overcome our fears and transform them into love. This year.

Couple practical advises to ease the transformation process: lose your TV, breath and relax, walk in the nature, spend time with friends, make new friends. It's All Good, Everything is Preciouss! Let's cherish this challenge and make the most of it, remembering who we really are - brave and loving beings! :)

[matt819]

29. Hey, I want what you're taking

You are absolutely right, of course. Maybe not about peace but about living. I don't have TV, which is step in the right direction. I do spend time here, which can be dangerous. As for the rest, you seem to have found something internal, and I commend you for it. Most people spend a lifetime and never come close.

[tama]

31. To tell you the truth

lately I've been participating in ayahuasca seremonies, that's where my path lead me and that healer and teacher came to me when I was ready for it. But I've been through a lot, with great gratitude of all the gifts of life I've received, and what I'm slowly learning is that the whole world is our teacher, each moment and experience, and our purpose here is to learn. Learning to learn, to know ourselves, by being what we are, acts of creation and endless wonders.

Trusting. In my experience that's really all there is to getting our act together. Trusting oneself the world as whole.

[northoftheborder]

17. NOT positive, totally depressed and disgusted.

[bluestate10]

18. I am. Looking forward to big things in 2011. nt

[PhillySane]

20. I've seen fire and I've seen rain

I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end. -James Taylor

We've been through some deep shit these last ten years. But, we've been through some deep shit forever. It's a cycle. It will get better. And then it will get worse. And then it will get better.
Stay positive. Chill out with your friends and family (they matter more than any of this). Keep working for change, stay hopeful. Smile-it really helps.

[HockeyMom]

23. No

I am old and have seen far too much. It is going to get a lot worse before it gets better, if it ever does get better. I feel sorry for the younger generation, but I feel we are watching the total decline of America into a 3rd world country. Republicans in charge will only accelerate that.

[marions ghost]

32. Ditto

Decline of America--well underway. They just laid off a thousand teachers in a county near me.

It's not gonna be fun.

[Drale]

24. Yes I am

The Bears are in the playoffs and I think the Hawks will get back as well. I know its small but its something to look foward to. Also baseball season is not to far off.

[Blue_In_AK]

25. No, not really.

[scarletwoman]

26. I'm positive that we're going to be even more totally fucked than ever.

I'm positive that our total fucking over will increase exponentially in both speed and depth.

sw

[femrap]

27. On New Year's Eve, I went into a

real funk and it has stayed with me. I really see nothing to be happy about. I'm stuck in Dumfukistan, the former state of Ohio, with a horrid new Governor who said that he will not all Child Care Worker nor Home Aides (pink collar, primarily) to unionize.

I guess women are just supposed to work for free....you know, volunteer to take care of the babies, the ill, and the elderly. I believe these two jobs are more important than any f*cking Bankster and should be paid accordingly.

I hate this asshole. He's having a 'private' inauguration ceremony. Why? Probably afraid of getting egged. He's a cowardly bully.

I just want to leave the state.

I am going to call his office everyday and ask him when he is going to sell Dumfukistan to Canada!!!!!

[PhillySane]

37. Maybe we should all go to California...

It's got great weather (usually) and Jerry Brown is Governor again!

[femrap]

47. I'd like to go hide up

in Mendocino or Humboldt counties but I doubt they want a huge influx of people. I lived in the Bay Area when he was Gov the first time. He's facing quite a mess....he's going to have make some big cuts.

I don't know if there is a good place to :hide:

I've read a bit about Transition Towns...they sound pretty cool.

Welcome to DU.

[Lisa D]

30. Name a year when things weren't bad.

If you're a pessimist you could take ANY year from this country's history (or from world history) and point to several awful/disappointing/woeful events.

If you're an optimist, you realize our country won't ever be perfect but we should always strive to make it better. And we've got it so much better than so many other people on this earth. Helping others is one of the best remedies to gloomy forecasts of future events.

[marions ghost]

33. and

you must be an optimist!

[bettyellen]

34. what she said

[earth mom]

36. NO. Just wait until the cat food commission serves up the cat food. Do you like Tuna & Egg

or Turkey & Cheese? Friskies has all sorts of "tasty" flavors!

MEOW!

:grr:

[Generic Brad]

39. I always feel positive about the future - 2011 is no exception

The future is what we make it and I, for one, do not want mine to be shitty.

[paulk]

40. well, when it comes to the things you mention, no

on a more personal level, we got some unexpected work in Dec, and now we've got enough money to make it through about mid-Febuary...

you got to take the positive where you find it these days

[cherokeeprogressive]

41. Not if gas is going to $5 a gallon.

So many things are going to go south if that happens.

[shanti]

44. they've been threatening us with that for a long time now

it'll happen when it happens. just live your life.

[Ilsa]

43. I'm positive I'm going to stay pissed at the GOP in 2011, and a few Dems, too. nt

[defendandprotect]

45. Always feel future is open to being postive ... but not when criminals are controlling government ..

THAT's the problem --

[Skittles]

46. no

no one is really looking out for us