General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhen someone posts a "give the f*ck up" post, check this:
You know what I mean by a "give the f*ck up" post, right? It's a variation on "oh, we're all screwed now, for my whole life and maybe longer, it's all over, they got the Court, game over, yaddayaddayadda..."
Look, I get it. Moments of existential despair are no strangers since November of 2016. I've had my share.
But I rarely post about them, because I know that "moments of existential despair" are what they are. They are emotional reactions, and emotions PASS.
The reality is that change IS happening and the strength of the reaction, the vigor of the opposition to change is a sign of just how serious that change is, and how inevitably it WILL happen.
Those who want to go back to an institutionalized white-superior patriarchy with wealthy oligarchs in control of everything know change is happening, that's why they're fighting so hard.
One tactic they employ is the "give up, it's hopeless" fifth column chant. At every setback, every blow from the reactionary forces, every exercise of power against us, no matter how ultimately futile it may be, they haul out the "OH, WOE IS US!" noise.
It's a variant on concern trolling.
And, sadly, it can have a subtle effect that does real damage when it accumulates.
So do yourself- and all of us working for change- a favor next time you click on one of these "game over" posts:
Check the profile of the poster. Look at some of their other posts on other topics. How long have they been here? What is their pattern?
Is this just a one-time overwhelming moment (in which case, an sympathetic-but-encouraging response may be warranted) or... just possibly...
...could you be looking at a calculated attempt to employ the "DESPAIR AND GIVE UP!" fifth column game?
In which case, click on by. Sooner or later MIRT will find them and/or they'll out themselves.
I'm not exactly chirping merry at the prospect of cleaning up this mess.
But I'm going to vote.
I'm going to keep donating to candidates who have a chance at flipping red seats blue.
I'm going to do what I can to get EVERYONE to vote.
I'm going to keep shining the light on who they are, and who we are.
I'm going to bang a spoke into their wheels at every opportunity.
I'm going to throw myself on the gears whenever I get a chance.
And I am NEVER...
EVER...
...going to give up.
determinedly,
Bright
Funtatlaguy
(10,887 posts)Thekaspervote
(32,796 posts)manor321
(3,344 posts)Supreme Court appointments are for life. It now has 5 extremist radical conservatives on it. They want to turn the clock back before the New Deal and Great Society.
The courts are being packed throughout the country with extremist conservatives. They will shoot down everything we try to pass. And unless we take the Senate, that will continue for two more years, minimum!
Just ask FDR what the Supreme Court did to his programs before they got fear put into them. Who is going to scare this court? The Senate? LOL. Republicans can continue to control it despite their Senators representing less and less of the population.
And, sorry to say, some of us are old enough that recovery is unlikely while we're still alive.
hedda_foil
(16,375 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)The Russians are about to succeed in destroying and taking over the EU and Western Europe as a whole. They are doing the same here.
This supreme court thing is just the penultimate step.
People need to wake up.
Actually, I think it is too late.
But i will keep firing....
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,719 posts)NEVER.
Hekate
(90,829 posts)fierywoman
(7,694 posts)myohmy2
(3,177 posts)...we can't give up, there's no reason to give up...there are only reasons to fight even harder in this new era of trumpian politics...we must adapt and we will...Republicans and Republicanism are evil and good Democrats everywhere will triumph over this evil...
...as I've said over at DI, there is no winning the WAR of politics, all you can ever expect to win are battles...our time in the spotlight will return and when it does we must have strong political leaders in place to take maximum advantage of all the opportunities the slimy Republicans are creating...
...the new trumpian politics is a take-no-prisoner no-holds-barred brand of gutter politics that we must adapt to and succeed at...
...Republicans have given us no other choice...
get the red out
(13,468 posts)And I have not subjected myself to a lot of news and message boards for a few days (having trouble sleeping tonight because I did over-do the caffeine). I have been letting my emotions heal from the Kavanaugh situation so that I won't lose hope. Sometimes it is necessary for me to do that.
arthritisR_US
(7,299 posts)FakeNoose
(32,777 posts)We have so many reasons to not give up! Hang in there and work towards November 6th!
Olafjoy
(937 posts)The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.
Evil triumphs when good people do nothing so we just do not have the luxury of disengagement. Bless all the protesters. Lets get back out there. The other side sees a really big beach and thinks everything is great. The beach is so big because the water has been pulled back into a HUGE wave. The tsunami is coming.
Bright!
elmac
(4,642 posts)run by big money and elections that are a sham at best. I have felt that way for years, don't plan on seeing any changes in my lifetime.
Giving up isn't quite the right word, a reality check, knowing the odds stacked against you, seeing the big con in all its form. Never felt despair because I have seen this coming for years, a fundamental change is needed and elections will never bring that change, revolution or civil wars will but things will need to get much, much worse before that happens. So elections it is, crossing our fingers, hoping for the best, play the pretend Democracy game under the shadow of fascism, sure, I'm up to that.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)Sorry you think that DUers are "crossing our fingers, hoping for the best" when many are actually working for change outside the internet.
Sorry you think "elections will never bring that change" because they are the only thing that will.
Sorry you think "revolution or civil wars will but things will need to get much, much worse" because revolutions and civil wars have never brought positive change to democracies and because things getting "much, much worse" only discourages people from taking action as they feel more and more defeated.
Sorry you're depressed. Take a walk, recuse a dog, kiss your partner, take D3, listen to the early Beatles, or even find a candidate you like and going door knocking. It may help.
SunSeeker
(51,726 posts)PatrickforO
(14,592 posts)Thank you for reminding us all to never, ever give up. It really IS darkest right before the dawn, and that Democratic sun is going to shine all over the corruption and drive it back under the slimy rocks where it belongs!
BigmanPigman
(51,632 posts)They ask you to click a number to respond to questions for surveys on your dial pad. One question was, "How much enthusiasm do you have to win the midterms?". #1 was "a lot", #2 was "none", and #3 was "so-so". #3 got the most hits. The person had to pass the mic for a few minutes before they finished the call. He had to go and look something up. When he came back to sign off he told the people on the call that we have overcome a lot as a country and that this is nothing compared to past defeats. He quoted from history and it was all true. He was a realist as an optimist. We HAVE overcome a lot worse and we can again. He also said that the GOP spin machine is playing games with our heads and the MSM is playing into their hands. DON'T fall for it!
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)"One question was, "How much enthusiasm do you have to win the midterms?". #1 was "a lot", #2 was "none", and #3 was "so-so". #3 got the most hits."
MoveOn members on the phone call, are only 'so-so' about the mid-terms? What explains this since MoveOn has always been perceived to be a political force to be reckoned with? Are they only internet warriors? Have they lost their steam as an organization? Did non-MoveOn activitists scam the phone call?
I'm truly baffled by this. Any explanation as to why?
BigmanPigman
(51,632 posts)After Kavanaugh. They start to believe it. "The polls say blah, blah, blah" is all over the news since the SCOTUS pick. My neighbor, Bill Maher, etc it is everywhere. MoveOn was surprised by it too. I have never heard so much lack of enthusiasm during their calls before. I think people need a week to get over it a bit...we are exhausted. This fake prez IS exhausting...non stop chaos. I am sure it is a momentary feeling and will pass soon enough, especially if Mueller releases good news about the investigation.
Onyrleft
(344 posts)don't be defeated.
4now
(1,596 posts)Then go on my happy way.
I used to argue with them but who has that much time to waste.