Are you bitter?

[MoonRiver]

Poll question: Are you bitter?

Whatever your answer, please state why.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Because a small aristocracy has control of our future and agenda.

Leaving the people of this country behind.

[beezlebum]

32. ditto. n/t

[Nitrogenica]

2. I'm bitter that the childish "gotcha" politics is so popular here at DU.

When do we start talking about what to do about Defense Contracors and privatizing the Army, for example.

I'm waiting.

[Swamp Rat]

7. I'm rubber.

You're glue. :D

[panader0]

3. I'm actually more salty than bitter.

[JVS]

4. I would be if I supported Hillary

She seems to be a magnet for some of the most bitter shits I've ever seen.

[Pavarotti]

5. Question should be: Do you cling to guns when you become unemployed?

Or, "Do you cling to religion when you lose your job, and quit clinging when you find one?"

[mrreowwr_kittty]

12. Do trolls troll?

Troll.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

22. Poster is unable to answer as their mouth is full of cookie.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

25. Mmmm cookies......

[shadowknows69]

43. I've been unemployed so long now I may have to cling to a gun

To rob a bank with.

[tokenlib]

6. Those of you who say "No"--can we get some of the drugs you're on??

The posters available at despair.com are so real to me these days...

[TomInTib]

14. Are you kidding?

I am doing everything I can get my hands on.

That's pretty much what it takes for me, these days.

[Tribetime]

8. this country that I love has been destroyed over the last 7 yrs

[w13rd0]

9. Bitter, pissed off, angry...

...I feel like the government and corporations do everything in their power to fuck me over and suck the life out of me. I feel that it's not about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but subsistence, servitude and the slow grind that turns me into a consumer rather than a citizen. When I consider the "forces allied against" "we the people", I recognize that they have more resources, more money, more influence, and the ear of those that have power, and we've got nothing. It's little wonder that in many places around the world, the disaffected and disenfranchised resort to stapping themselves down with bombs.

yeah, so I guess I'm bitter.

[MoonRiver]

10. I'm not bitter!

I have a happy loving family, good retirement benefits for my husband and I, and excellent health. What's to be bitter about? :shrug:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. Must be nice to be you. A lot of other people don't have those advantages

and I'm "bitter" because nothing is being done for them.

[MoonRiver]

26. I choose not to be bitter because it does not solve problems.

Rolling up one's sleeves and tackling societies ills is what gets the job done. And we can get a lot more done with a positive attitude.

[SammyWinstonJack]

42. Which is probably easier too do when one isn't worried about finances or health issues, don't you

think? :shrug:

Rolling up one's sleeves and tackling societies ills is what gets the job done. We can get a lot more done with a positive attitude.

[MoonRiver]

49. Most of us have been through hard times. I've had plenty myself.

But being bitter just makes them worse, don't you think?

[beezlebum]

28. good for you.

i am bitter that i have had to neglect treatment of debilitating disease for years, resulting in near-blindness and more, b/c of the lack of health insurance, and that, at age 29, my husband of 8 years was only just able to begin contributing to a retirement plan, and that my 18 year old cousin is joining the army because he feels that he is out of options after flunking out of school and is out of money, and that my neighbors just had their home torn down without any say so after losing everything they have ever known including a large portion of family neighbors and friends, and that i spent $65 to fill up an 18 gallon tank today to visit my sick grandpa.

i really could go on, but why should i. only a republican could be happy in this atmosphere.

happy loving family? sure. could be worse. but it damned sure could be better.

[BumRushDaShow]

36. Agree. People SHOULD BE BITTER about all the things that are being done

to keep our fellow citizens down.

:grouphug:

[CTLawGuy]

35. have you been paying attention the last 7 years

NT

[cali]

38. I'm bitter and angry about a war that's killed so many

and cost us so dearly. you have to be brain dead or utterly insensitive to not be bitter or angry about that.

[DarienComp]

11. Yeah, I'm bitter. And it's because of you.

:hi:

[MoonRiver]

13. OMG!

I never realized I had so much power over you!! :wow: And, btw, who the hell are you?

[DarienComp]

19. Just a DUer with a sense of humor.

[MoonRiver]

27. OK.

:hi:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

15. Hell, yes.

If you aren't, you haven't been paying attention.

I'm bitter because our civil liberties have been trashed by this maladministration, which has decided it's fine to spy on American citizens without a warrant and it's fine to torture people and lock them up forever without a trial and the Vichy Democrats in Congress have done almost nothing to stop it.

I'm bitter because my standard of living keeps declining while my expenses keep increasing, and I'll probably never be able to retire.

I'm bitter because a bridge collapsed in my city because it's "too expensive" to maintain a safe infrastructure, but we can keep pissing a fortune down the toilet to occupy Iraq forever.

Those are just a few reasons. I could go on... But yes, I'm bitter; that's because I'm neither stupid nor blind.

[DawgHouse]

16. Too busy reading my bible and cleaning my guns to be bitter. n/t

;-)

[Divine Discontent]

20. ha! nice answer! love it! bless us all EOM

[Voice for Peace]

17. I am other than bitter.

Better bitter than nether, but I'm neither.
I'm hopeful.

[TahitiNut]

21. (tasting) No... kinda salty-sweet, actually. Like Kettle Korn.

:silly: :dunce:

[Brigid]

23. Not yes, but hell yes!

I know exactly what Barack Obama was talking about. I'm furious that democracy in this country has been forgotten in favor or corporatism and fascism. I'm bitter about jobs being shipped overseas. I'm bitter about living in the only country in the civilized world without universal health coverage. I'm bitter about the working and middle classes of this country being ignored while the rich get richer. I'm bitter about stolen elections and other forms of election fraud. I'm bitter about this society becoming so psychopathic that kids in school beat up each other -- and their teachers -- and their parents blame everyone but themselves and the kids.

This is no longer the country I grew up in. If I had a good opportunity to do so, I would leave with no qualms whatsoever. I hear Canada is nice.

[Divine Discontent]

24. Bitter ABOUT the govt screwing us over yes.

Hopeful in my Savior that we will get beyond this horrible time in our nation's history, more so!

We are a strong country, that is financially wrecked by the warmongers, but wealth does not control us, no matter what - and shrubya will face his maker for this - and so, bitter, sure, big time! But it's a righteous anger about how crappy these 'leaders' are, and so I respect where Obama is coming from. They (McClinton) can paint him as a bigot elitist all they want, but it aint gonna change a damn thing!

[Georgie_92]

29. Nope.

[BumRushDaShow]

30. Yes and ironically

the VERY SAME ARGUMENT has been hoisted upon many in the AA community by Clinton supporters during their futile attempts to over-analyze why AAs have turned out in such large percentages for Obama during this election cycle. Makes one crazy looking at the hypocracy that surfaces with this sudden faux outrage. :crazy:

IMHO, "bitter" is a state of mind that evolves over time. It's not there initially. Anger, frustration, hopelessness tend to be the initial symptoms. But when these feelings stew for a time - say the past 28 years, then yes, the bitterness will ultimately set in. Look at Geraldine Ferraro.

Of course people DO try to find coping mechanisms and not all are wedge issues. Certainly a whole myriad of other things result - some positive (active involvement in volunteer community organizations, church, etc) some negative (particularly increases in domestic and child abuse, high drop out rates, increase in crime, etc).

Admitting to it is the first step in resolving it and moving on.

[aquarius dawning]

31. way beyond bitter actually.

[melody]

33. I'm bitter about Al Gore being associated with Hillary in your post n/t

[CTLawGuy]

34. Iraq war

torture, lack of health care, spying, deficits, falling dollar, FISA, subprime mortgages, etc. etc.

I'm bitter that my government has failed me the last 7 years.

[Asgaya Dihi]

37. Why? How could anyone not be bitter?

The nation is a disaster and has been for years, we've had all the info we needed to know it but just don't care. We're the most imprisoned nation in the world bar none both per capita and in raw terms, we've done it to service a drug war which has seen purity climb and prices fall, the racial balance is literally several times worse than South Africa prison stats during apartheid and as far as most of the public is concerned it's all going great and we wouldn't dream of stopping. I sourced some of that http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2496606&mesg_id=2496606">here several weeks ago, just brushed the edges though and there's a LOT more just in that subject if anyone is curious about it.

Then we can go to job loss, outsourcing, the steadily growing disparity between the rich and the poor over the last few decades, the increasingly mercenary methods of our economic system which sees death in war or due to lack of resources as a cost of doing business. Torture. Mercenary armies acting in our name. The health care system. The corruption of our politicians, our police, and our judiciary either through the drug war or through corporate corruption.

That's all just off the top of my head at the moment but to cap it off while all of this is happening and our children are losing their chances of a future we're just fascinated with American Idol and Survivor. What's to be bitter about? It's just the slow and sure destruction of everything we thought we were at one time.

[DearAbby]

39. Am I bitter much?

Does the GOP use religious issues to distract from the real issues?

Vote for GOP and we will make sure Marriage is between a Man and a Woman as "Gawd-a" had intended it to be. Worked in 2004

Vote GOP and overturn Roe v wade, because "Gawd-a" only, has the right to give life and take it worked in 2004

Does the GOP use the 2nd amendment to distract from the real issues?

Vote GOP, because those damned liberals want to take your guns away!
worked in 2004

Do these issues, create jobs, make health insurance affordable, help solve & relieve the debt, END THE WAR?

OH LOOKIE OVER HERE...We need a anti-flag burning amendment! That will end the war :sarcasm:

FUCKING DISTRACTION ISSUES...am I bitter? YOU FUCKING A-JOHN I AM! Now I am pissed because Hillary Clinton is using the same fucking tactics as the GOP.

The GOP has successfully used these stupid issues to distract us from what the real problems are...It has worked for them countless times. People who feel they no say in government policy are simply voting to keep what little rights they have left...DEFENSIVE VOTING.

[juno jones]

40. Damn right

Been bitter since 1980 when my industrial hometown became a ghost town and a den of hopeless alkies who spent their days drinking and in and out of jail. Been bitter since I've had to travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles to other states so I could get a service job, only to be treated badly and told (to my face, BTW) "You're the problem, all you people coming in from other states and taking our jobs. You should be grateful we let you work." Bitter that my children have less chance for education and advancement than I did, even thogh they're far smarter and much more motivated than myself. Bitter that my parents, who were the most liberal and honest people I've ever known, spending their lives in public service, died horrible deaths from cancer due to enviromental/workplace exposure to known toxins. Bitter that I am seeing homeless people downtown who are obviously older retirees who have been thrown away by our society and know that I face that fate when I can no longer slave away.

The only hope I've had in almost thirty years is a guy named Obama who actually addresses the fact that we do not trust our government and are angry at what it has done in our name.

I think bitter is an appropriate emotion to feel at this time.

[OutNow]

41. Bitter? Yes - Slot Machines replace Steel Mill

I grew up in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. In the 60s there were maybe 10,000 people working at Bethlehem Steel. You could get hired on fairly easily. Starting jobs in the coke works were hot and dangerous but you could support your family and move up in seniority. The United Steel Workers union was strong at Bethlehem Steel and other manufacturing companies like Ingersoll Rand. HHH came to Bethlehem for a campaign stop in 1968 and filled a huge auditorium with Bethlehem Steel union retirees. Yes, a separate campaign rally just for USWA retirees. The UAW local at Mack Trucks was rumored to have to best benefits package in the country.

Fast forward to 2008. There is no Bethlehem Steel. Zero. Gone. 10,000 good unions jobs are gone forever and the guys that worked in the dangerous plant have lost their retiree medical package and most of their pensions. What's the plan to fix this? Build a casino on the site of the steel works. That's it. The Ingersoll Rand plant? Gone. Zero. More thousands of union jobs gone. Mack Trucks is a shell of the company that existed in the 60s. More thousands of good union jobs gone forever.

I know there are similar situations in Pittsburgh, Johnstown, York, Scranton, Wilkes Barre, Slatington, etc. etc. etc.

Bitter? When the best answer for a good union job is to go play slot machines? Hell yes I'm bitter.

[PM7nj]

44. Absolutely. After the last 8 years, how can you not be? nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. Pissed off too

[Faygo Kid]

46. Hell yes, the Tigers are 2-9.

Today I'm feeling especially bitter about Hillary "Karl Rove" Clinton's mischaracterization (that's charitable) of Barack's remarks.

But that's OK, he's handling it beautifully.

And I'm bitter about the war, the economy, the environment, millions without health care, the Bear Sterns bailout, the foreclosure encouragement bill, Faux News, cruelty to animals and children, rampant militarism, the erosion of our Constitution, bad television shows and movies, and the list goes on.

Luckily, there are always those who unintentionally provide a good laugh.

[sueragingroz]

47. nope... today, i'm anything BUT bitter!

[MethuenProgressive]

48. I'm not Bitter, even though I'm from small town America, own guns, and go to church.

Barack Obama can kiss my brown ass.

[Pisces]

50. Absolutely, lead paint in toys, less money, poison in our food supply