How do you cope/keep sane in a nation controlled by dishonest and unscrupulous people?

[brentspeak]

In a world where...

- Politicians are paid-off by corporations and Wall St. to lie and enact policies which favor the wealthy at the expense of everyone else

- CEOs ship middle-class jobs overseas to squeeze more profit for themselves and their cronies

- Media personalities are paid to speak, with a straight face, on behalf of said corrupt politicians and corporations

What do you do to keep yourself sane in a time/place where the unethical and unscrupulous have so much undisputed power?

[Fuzz]

1. You're assuming I'm sane.

;)

[babylonsister]

2. Look for the positive instead of the negative. It's out there if you

really care to find it.

[snappyturtle]

7. Does one have to ignore all this other stuff going on to see the positive? nt

[babylonsister]

11. No. That would be called reality. But I still contend we

are in more capable hands than we have been in years. Lots of things had to be undone and corrected, and anyone who has been around politics for awhile knows how things happen at a snail's pace. But there are positive things happening. They're posted on DU often enough, though I imagine there are people here not invested in paying attention to the positives.

[snappyturtle]

15. I pay attention. There have been some advances but they pale in

light of wars, poverty, and the coup of the unions.

[Zoeisright]

3. It's getting much, much harder.

[snappyturtle]

4. Good question! I'll check back later to see if someone has an answer because

I don't and I've asked myself this question many times.

[Lebam in LA]

5. You're assuming I am coping

:crazy:

[Betsy Ross]

6. Hang out on DU.

That's what I do.

[H2O Man]

8. I live in the sticks.

Spending time in the natural world is an essential part of my well-being.

[imaginary girl]

9. The natural world

I'm an animal lover, and I tune out the news occasionally during the day to care for and communicate with my animals. I agree it's getting harder to find a good balance, but it is there for all of us ... in the things, people, and other living beings that we love.

[adigal]

10. I fantasize about Nova Scotia

and do what I can to inform people.

[Newest Reality]

12. I keep myself informed while communcating with other,

like-minded folks.

I keep in mind that, though knowing more about what is going on is extremely uncomfortable, (even painful) it is also a way to cultivate courage. Once you get through the difficult part of accepting how bad things are going, you realize that knowing what is happening to you and why is the way to overcoming fear.

It does not work the other way around. Being in denial is a short-term comfort that, like a band-aid or a drug, will eventually leave you face-to-face with the harsh reality of the circumstances. Those are the people that may be totally overwhelmed with shock and fear while they try to grapple desperately with what they ignored, but has come to their doorstep and knocks loudly and aggressively.

We are in some very difficult times and any hope we may have of bring balance or rectifying the grievous and destructive effects of what is being imposed upon us in increasingly systematic ways comes from open-minded acknowledgment of the most uncomfortable and even threatening truths that reveal the true nature and intent of our opponents and wake us up to the gravity and implications of our situation.

[DebJ]

13. Change for the better whatever I can one day at a time, and

reduce my news intake, take a break, read a book from another period and history and see what a really crappy life can be like, realize how lucky I am, and then go back to fighting on the major big issues after I catch my breath.

[MedleyMisty]

14. I found a new hashtag on Twitter tonight

#USDOR

United States Day of Rage

So that's how I cope. By realizing that people are waking up and mobilizing.

[shireen]

16. it's very hard

i feel such a sense of despair about it. It's surreal.