In the big picture, are we winning or losing?

[SlipperySlope]

Big picture question; when you back up and look at the overall political landscape do you think our cause is winning or losing? What examples would you give to support your answer?

I know it is a very vague and open-ended question, but I wanted to phrase it that way to invite a variety of responses...

[randome]

1. You can't argue with demographics. The changes are in our favor.

And the more the demographics change, the more desperate Republicans get. And the more desperate they get, the more they turn off the -admittedly small- portion of their party that thinks for themselves.

It's a sea change but it's happening and it's non-negotiable, IMO.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
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[msongs]

2. democrats in the senate are obstructing obama's agenda (whatever that is) by allowing

repubs to filibuster everything in sight. Dems are responsible for senate inaction not repubs.

other than that democrats do not seem to have a uniform across the board agenda that all are on board and promoting, as opposed to repubs whose agenda is well known: cut taxes, decrease "entitlements" (except to the military, and corporate leeches), kill unions, and that sort of stuff.

[onehandle]

3. Short term, they win. Long term, we win.

This is the last gasp of the GOP's racist base and their wealthy masters.

[Voice for Peace]

4. I can give a vague and open ended answer, if that helps

I view life on earth in a cyclical way, that is, humanity
(which includes governments and politics) follows cycles
similar to the rest of nature. In this view, we are at the
dawn of a new day, when the darkness is still fierce and
shadows are big, but light is inevitable. Despite bumps
and setbacks, progress is happening & rapidly.

The higher the sun rises, the more the dark things are
illuminated. We can see this happening, especially w/
the internet. It is becoming impossible for criminals
and thieves to hide, or liars to fool people for long.

People everywhere are waking up simultaneously to
so many new ideas and possibilities, so much
crazy information, so much awesome creativity.

This may be my wishful dreaming, but I'm sure many
others are thinking the same way. Something in the
air.. truth, beauty. Hope. Fairness, justice. Kindness
compassion. Liking and Sharing, happening everywhere.
This is a good sign.

[jonthebru]

5. Demographics would show us "winning."

But the average citizen isn't really of high political intelligence. As long as people are influenced by the Corporate media and its slanted perverted "news" coverage there is a great danger that our democracy is at an end. Disaster capitalism is very real. "Be afraid, be very, very afraid!"
Our democracy is being manipulated out of existence.
Remember, the rich are getting richer. Everybody is taught that they can make anything of themselves, but in reality as the financial power is pulled from the middle class, the possibilities for our children are lessening.
Corporate profits are way up, the average workers income is much less that it would be it all things were equal. Corporations are paying less taxes, the average worker is paying a higher tax rate than in previous years.
It is in the interest of the rich and powerful to keep the masses from any form of organization so their eyes will never be opened to what is really going on.

While the average Joe and Joanne are being distracted by the latest "scandal" manufactured as they are, other things are being done to put more power in the hands of the rich and their minions.

[Bonobo]

6. Losing.

In the big picture, in order to beat them, we have become them.

Examples: Military foreign policy, more and more wealth going to the top, social security on the table, cutting to social programs, abdication on single payer health care.

[pinboy3niner]

7. Sometimes, it's a matter of fighting the good fight, no matter what

Discretion is the better part of valor and some things aren't worth our time. Some are, even if against all odds.

I think we're doing alright, but even if things were at their bleakest, there's this:

ALDONZA: Why do you do these things?

DON QUIXOTE
What things?

ALDONZA
These ridiculous... the things you do!

DON QUIXOTE
I hope to add some measure of grace to the world.

ALDONZA
The world's a dung heap and we are maggots that crawl on it!

DON QUIXOTE
My Lady knows better in her heart.

ALDONZA
What's in my heart will get me halfway to hell.
And you, Señor Don Quixote-you're going to take
such a beating!

DON QUIXOTE
Whether I win or lose does not matter.

ALDONZA
What does?

DON QUIXOTE
Only that I follow the quest.

ALDONZA
(spits)
That for your Quest!
(turns, marches away; stops, turns bock
and asks, awkwardly)
What does that mean... quest?

DON QUIXOTE
It is the mission of each true knight...
His duty... nay, his privilege!
To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go;
To right the unrightable wrong.

To love, pure and chaste, from afar,
To try, when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star!

This is my Quest to follow that star,
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far,
To fight for the right
Without question or pause,
To be willing to march into hell
For a heavenly cause!

And I know, if I'll only be true
To this glorious Quest,
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest.

And the world will be better for this,
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
To reach the unreachable stars!


--From 'Man of La Mancha'

[MannyGoldstein]

9. Did we become the Nazis to beat the Nazis?

We can take the high road and win. It won't be pristine and beautiful, but we can be much better than them and still win. In fact, we *have* to be better than them to win, otherwise we win nothing.

[Bonobo]

11. How could I agree more?

You go to 11.

[bluedigger]

8. “The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long, but It Bends Toward Justice” - MLK

In our individual "Big Pictures" we all end up eating dirt, but there is no doubt in my mind that Justice will prevail. (Assuming we don't render the planet uninhabitable first.)

[RobertEarl]

10. Everything is fine

Going along as planned.

They are about to pass a global warming bill that will end global warming via co2 and other pollutants. Hadn't you heard?

Stupid wars on this, that, and the other, are all about to be outlawed and peace is just around the corner.

The rest of the world is following the US lead to make sure individuals all really do have Life, liberty and the freedom from Pursuit. It doesn't look that way, but our media and Fox news et al are on the cusp of change.

People everywhere are throwing off the shackles of corporatism by boycotting everything that corps produce and subsisting on local and friendly sources.

Our representatives are making all this pipe dream bullshit come true... any day now. You just watch. Just sit back like y'all have been doing, go shopping, and support your wiretapping officer.

[Yavin4]

12. We are winning.

Since 1992, the Dems won the popular vote for president 5 out of 6 times. The one time that the Republicans won it was due to the emotional fall out from 9/11.

Big money and bigotry are the only things keeping the Republican party alive.

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. Since this question is about perspective, I definitely agree that demographics....

favor the Democrats. I just wish that the new liberal/libertarian hybrid, although small, would spend as much time doing oppo research on the Repubs as they do this president and Democrats. It's a tactic, and not a very subtle one.

What democrats have to do is not allow these sideshows, fake "scandals", and interlopers to drive the wedge they so desparately want. The midterms are coming. The president only has about 7-1/2 mos. until the midterms start in earnest, and make no mistake, the latest batch of 'scandals' is about depressing turnout. When turnout is low, they win.

Democrats just have to keep in mind that there's a portion of "the left", and third party idiots who are invested in destroying the Democratic Party, much like Ralph Nader, to save it.

Ignore 'em.

[demwing]

14. Winning the Right/Left battle, losing the Up/Down battle

The country is definitely more liberal--and more corporate--than ever.

[Deep13]

15. losing.

consolidation of corporate power, attacks on labor, attacks on the public sector.

[davidn3600]

16. Socially we are winning; economically we are being routed

American is becoming more socially liberal but more economically capitalist. Dare I even say maybe slightly more libertarian overall. People seem to be adopting a more "live and let live" mentality. But wealth disparity is increasing rapidly. And government trust has eroded to a point where the system is struggling to stay efficient.

[cali]

17. if we is the majority of people in this country, we're losing.

[YeahSureRight]

18. Losing Big Time

We, the people can win again, but that will take a complete rejection of corporatism and all politicians who support it but that is not going to happen anytime soon. Too many would rather have a cheap political win and internet bragging rights.

[marions ghost]

19. Losing

on so many levels.