How often do you feel so frustrated......

[Darkhawk32]

about how many people believe the right-wing lies and distortions, that a big part of you says, "Fuck it. You want trickle-down economics, you want anti-choice legislation, you want corporations to rule your lives altogether?" Fine. Have at it hoss.

Then you think about hiding away, living off the land and see the way the country would be in they got everything they wanted all the time.

It's become so mind-numbing trying to present facts, evidence and even anecdotes into a conversation with those people, that I just want to completely shut down any debate with them.

Anyway, just a late Sunday-night rant.

[canoeist52]

1. Sometimes I have to play multiple mah jong games to order my brain, after trying to explain stuff.

[Jamaal510]

2. There's little hope

for persuading them except for them to experience things first-hand, like those stories of all those people who were staunchly opposed to Obamacare, but now have been helped by it.

[pinto]

3. Rarely. I try and counter frustration by encouraging liberal/progessive involvement.

One on one, with a few bucks when I have some, organizationally at the local level, etc. There's no changing hard right wing mindsets - it's a futile attempt.

And, fwiw, I think the extremists will be hoisted on their own petard, politically and socially.

Thyself shalt see the act:
For, as thou urgest justice, be assured
Thou shalt have justice more than thou desirest.

William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (late 1590s), Act IV, scene 1, line 315

[H2O Man]

9. Well done.

Very well done, indeed.

[BlueJazz]

4. I think of things far worse than that. For the good of the country and it's far-future citizens..

...I've actually thought of the democrats all getting together and saying this:
"We can't apparently convince you that the Republican/conservative way is the absolute wrong way ...
..SO...we're going to do this > For the next 40 years we are going to put every crack pot, right-wing, conservative nut into office by voting for him or her. During that time, it will be plain to the American people that the Republicans ARE inferior leaders and politicians plus are incapable of leading a drunken horse to water. The economy and this country will be totally in shambles but at least, your children and grand-children will never vote against their best interests EVER again.

See? That's the crazy stuff I come up with.

[ChiciB1]

23. OH, You're Not Alone Thinking This Way!

It's a thought I've had many, many times. BUT a scary one for sure. I suppose we may all have to re-invent communal living again! Don't have enough money to rise above any onslaught like that!

[Prophet 451]

5. Constantly

I'm disabled (physical disability and mental illness) and pretty much housebound so my only window on the world is through the webway and it';s like, how do you get through to people who don't care about teh truth? I despair of teh world we're leaving behind all the time. Your country is rapidly turning into a cyberpunk-esque nightmare of corporate feudalism. My country is only about ten years behind you, less if teh Tories get their way (I had to start avoiding domestic news entirely because it so often set off a self-harming spiral), the planet is warming in a way we may be unable to stop and 40% of teh public refuses to accept teh problem exists and...

Yeah, you get how I',m feeling here.

[ChiciB1]

6. Pretty Late Right Now, Actually Early Morning... Still

I've tried so many times, over & over & over to read enough, do research on information, ask questions after questions until I feel I'm well informed. Then I try to get people interested and informed about issue after issue. AND more often than not FAR TOO MANY people just say I'm too obsessed! Ask me WHY I don't just stop already, I'm sort of the "Debbie Downer" and I should try being more optimistic and ENJOY life.

I no longer know how to get them to understand. And I'm not only talking about RWers, it's people I know who claim to be Progressives, even Socialists... they DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!

First it depressed me, then I became cynical, then I began to feel morose, then I was made out to be THE FOOL because I cared what was happening and NOW where do I go??

I live in RED country, but am more gob-smacked by the lack of interest and the enormous amount of APATHY I see too much of. AND I'm SCARED! My friends and family know my dedications over many many years... BUT say ENOUGH ALREADY! I kind of stand alone and it breaks my heart. I live in Florida and EVERYWHERE I go I see HUGE nasty signs about Obama and his Liberal Agenda (now there's a good laugh) and then it's RICK SCOTT everywhere!

So many have complained over & over what a horrible Governor he is, and YET he's either ahead in every poll, maybe not by much... but what a smack in the face it's going to be if this ALIEN gets re-elected! I'm tired and worn out! But people just want me to SHUT-UP already! Soooo, all I can say right now is how heart broken I am! I'm in the minority by a large margin right now and have come to the fork in the road!

So very SAD!

[canoeist52]

7. It's like my tornado dreams since childhood.

You can see them coming, but no one wants to stop what they're doing to get to the cellar.

At least in my dreams they don't cheer for and write missives extolling the virtue of tornadoes.

I live in a red section of Ma. You're not alone here.

[RobertEarl]

8. I'm about ready to give up

Too many people drooling over war. Do they know that in ten minutes the whole world could be ashes? They must, they can't be that stupid. So I figure that is what they want.

[RobertEarl]

25. Heh

I've had 2 anti-war posts hidden in the last 12 hours. On DU anti-war posts are now being hidden?

Crazy. But I'm still here.

[Vinca]

10. Sometime my head feels like it will explode because I can't comprehend the stupidity.

And I've been muttering about how nice it might be living in a number of foreign countries.

[ChiciB1]

18. Well Now That's A Thought I've Had For Some

time, but deep roots here. Not enough money to leave unless would be able to sell my home and then try to tell my kids, grandkids I'm outta here. Talk about about a BACK LASH! Not sure ANYONE would understand since most think I'm too obsessed already. Then of course my husband isn't about to entertain anything like that. But have to say it's crossed my mind quite a few times.

The others just say there's trouble everywhere! Yeah, feeling like we've been dumping into a steaming pile of S--T! Smells bad, feels bad and a heavy load to lift! My attempt at humor, but solves nothing.

[canoeist52]

11. On Staying Sane in a Suicidal Culture -Dahr Jamail on Truthout

"I look at the path we're on, to the future, as having a ditch on either side," she continued. "We have to hold onto each other, not to fall into the ditch on the right or left, which are, on one side panic and hysteria, and on the other side is paralysis and shutting down. You see this in the US in spades. There is more and more social hysteria, greatly aided by the corporate media and finger pointing, scapegoating, the panic. The mass shootings on the one hand, and on the other hand a death-like grip on closing down, keeping your eyes focused on a narrowed down life, to the pressures of the moment and what you need to do to put food on the table."

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/24083-on-staying-sane-in-a-suicidal-culture

[lovemydog]

14. Thank you, interesting article

It mentions ACD. Anyone know what that stands for?

[LisaLynne]

17. anthropogenic climate disruption.

Great article.

[lovemydog]

21. Thank you

Yes indeed, a long and excellent article.

[ChiciB1]

20. Thanks For Article, Will Read It Now

But I've read so much, still I know I need some sort of boost. I KNOW I feel like I've lost my way for sure.

[CrispyQ]

30. Thanks for posting.

That's a great article.

[PAProgressive28]

12. Lately I've felt like giving up

but we can't. That's what they want. And I know we're on the right side of history.

So we trek on...

[lovemydog]

15. Welcome here PAProgressive28

Have fun. I agree, we're on the right side of history. One thing that gives me some hope is that I did see an article here that inequality is declining worldwide. Maybe some of that will start happening in this country too.

[TBF]

13. The only thing that keeps me going is the fact

that I have children. They are going to inherit this mess.

[BKH70041]

16. Never

But then again, I'm not of the opinion that what I believe are the "facts, evidence and even anecdotes" are the correct "facts, evidence and even anecdotes" for others. Individuals have their own life experiences which dictate their POV. What is an unmistakable economic fact to one person has proven over and over again in some other person's life experiences to be a complete failure. IOW there are people out there who can't believe you fall for all the "left-wing lies and distortions." I just accept that and don't let it bother me.

[canoeist52]

19. Grief is important ad good for us.

We shouldn't apologize for our sensitivity and caring. If you have 45 minutes, Joanna Macy may make you feel better about your activism. She rambles a bit, but has many gems if insight.

Transformation without Apocalypse; "Joanna Macy is an eco-philosopher and scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. Her work addresses psychological and spiritual issues of the nuclear age, the cultivation of ecological awareness, and the fruitful resonance between Buddhist thought and contemporary science. As the root teacher of the Work That Reconnects, she has created a theoretical framework for personal and social change, as well as a powerful workshop methodology for its application." http://www.joannamacy.net

[ChiciB1]

22. Pretty Interesting... Guess Anything Helps

JUST HAVE to focus on a certain theory and try to live it isn't always easy in a world where you have to interact with people who don't share much. I know this is part of what worries me, I'm unable to come to terms with the why & how so many others just don't want to "see" we have a problem.

But thanks for info.

[CrispyQ]

32. When "Fast Food Nation" came out I read it during lunch break at work.

One of the ladies in the break room asked me, "How can you read that? I don't want to know anything bad about my food."

I think for some there is a sense of helplessness, hopelessness, that there is nothing they can really do to change things. For others it is an unwillingness to want to change, to have their current cushy life inconvenienced by having to change. I actually think that is the biggest issue. Most Americans are still too comfortable, have too much to lose.

[raouldukelives]

24. Many, many times.

I feel surrounded by Americans who love Wall St more than Main St. Who see reports about climate change, ocean acidification, slavery, corporate/state collusion, wars for profit, overthrowing democratically elected third world leaders and killing and torturing the citizens who dissent and think to themselves. "That's for me!"
Can't get any more anti-liberal than that. They could do no more damage to democratic ideals than if they stood on a street corner chanting slogans for the Republicans all day with an I heart Romney shirt on.
A liberal in Wall St is like an abolitionist who secretly invests in slavery, a pacifist soldier or a member of PETA who profits from dog fighting. A logical fallacy and a self-defeating existence.

[nightscanner59]

26. I like to follow our esteemed leader's cue on this one:

Stay calm, stay on message, don't fight fire with fire such as typing in all caps or utilizing "contard" or other insulting epithets. When I'm on debate site SodaHead I just calmly and rationally explain my positions. This may be frustrating and I realize I convince no deeply grounded RW'ers but---
Here's the kind of feedback I've gotten from some youth who are on the fence:
That "conservatives" argue with platitudes and "liberals" calmly and rationally present logic.
That angry reactions from right wing nutjobs only betray their baseless claims.
There are good reasons for the future to fight the good fight, stay the course and logic will prevail. The youth get it.

[narnian60]

28. The youth DO get it.

My 36 year old daughter and her huge circle of friends and acquaintances have proven this to me countless times over the years. She moved to New York 6 years ago, and now I realize that part of the reason was to get out of this red state.

[RKP5637]

27. I often think earth/mankind is so fucked up these days that only intergalactic intervention can

help ... whatever that means. I think mankind will become extinct ...

[CrispyQ]

33. A common enemy for the entire species to rally around?

Wonder if it would work? War, to untie the human race. Oh well. We're fucked.

I know many people who think our big brain will save us, when it's our big brain that got us here in the first place!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

35. I hope it comes in the form of

an asteroid...

[closeupready]

29. I'm currently reading a true account of 19th Century slavery, and

in reading about this group's endurance and the challenges they faced in attempting to flee bondage, it puts into perspective my own life, and it's helping me to appreciate what I honestly have, and not to lose sleep over many of the issues which trouble most people.

Not entirely on point, but trying to say, frustration is understandable and normal, but not productive.

[Blue_Adept]

31. More and more often lately

The disillusionment with both sides is very much there. I'm just minimalizing as much as I can with my own life and biding my time until I can do that once my kids move on.

[Darkhawk32]

34. Thanks guys. Sometimes one feels like an island with their frustrations and feelings. n/t