The psychological challenge has become as tough, or tougher, than the physical challenge.

[kentuck]

It is wearing on people. You can see it. You can feel it.

The battle against this novel virus would be easier if we were united. But, we are not.

Donald Trump and his supporters want the country opened up, as if nothing ever happened? The doctors and scientists are advising caution and warning that the virus is not yet gone.

It is this conflict that is creating the psychological pressures on our people. It is the President of the United States that urges it on.

But, who are you going to listen to? The "enemy of the people"? Or the President, whom you voted for and continue to support to the bloody end?

The psychological tax on our people will grow heavier and heavier in the days ahead.

[KT2000]

1. Donald Trump is an abuser

He abuses all the citizens of this country. Unless he is talking about himself his words are nothing but abuse of others. He has destroyed the glue of society and there are no more rules for some. Having manners and respect for others is now a political statement. I am more afraid of the defiant among us than I am of the virus now.
He did it - he destroyed America from the ground up.

[Tiger8]

16. I'm seeing the trump cultist "Anger" every day

I see the guys with no masks on, often older and in large pickup trucks throwing off the aggressive vibe. Others not so subtle. And this is in Massachusetts. But then I remember Faux News broadcasts here too.

[Raven]

2. I don't see it that way. I take strength from knowing that Trump hates what I'm doing. n/t

[onecaliberal]

3. If all of the dead doesn't bother anyone I don't know what to say:

[nakocal]

4. If they had started earlier and had been testing appropriately ...

the number of deaths would have been a lot less and we may have never had to close down.

[Lulu KC]

18. +1 n/t

[Jamastiene]

5. I have never seen the country more divided.

I have been saying it since at least George W. Bush, but Trump's incitements to violence just cements it now. It is impossible to not see it now. It is right out in the open. Turmp's incitements to violence will have repercussions down the road if America ends up with another civil war. Quotes like those from Trump will end up being the rallying cry the bullies use to attack liberals.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Then They'll Go To Jail

The notion of secession is settled.
There is no "take my ball & go home" clause in the constitution.

[Olafjoy]

6. Italy had patio sing-alongs and music night. We get bullshit briefings.

[Hortensis]

24. :) I blame the Republicans for a lot but not that we chat

(distanced) with neighbors without singing.

[Bradshaw3]

7. Very well said

Good succinct summation of where we are. It sucks but that is it in a nutshell.

[oasis]

8. While we could certainly use a Winston Churchill right about now,

we can hang on for a few more months until our guy takes over.

[Hortensis]

25. Agree, and our guy is busy planning to hit the ground running. nt

[SheltieLover]

9. Some great reading on this very topic

Erich Fromm's psych theory! 👍

His theory is based upon 2 needs: freedom & a sense of belonging. Good stuff!

[mahina]

11. Would you recommend any articles?

I’m feeling a little worn and our libraries are all closed but I would like to read more.

I googled with the terms you included and I didn’t I don’t anything believe me good so I’m hoping you may share. Thank you

[SheltieLover]

14. Here are some greaf links 😊👍

http://www.erichfromm.net/

Loads of free books by Erich Fromm here:

https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL119716A/Erich_Fromm?mode=ebooks


A wonderful read - Memories, Dreams & Reflections, by C.G. Jung & Anelia Jaffe:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.jungiananalysts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/C.-G.-Jung-Collected-Works-Volume-18-_-The-Symbolic-Life.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiisOCmsp3pAhXPCTQIHapRASYQFjAPegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw0mL-4_E0Nu1alyqBXVj6-v

[mahina]

15. Mahalo Sheltie Lover!

[SheltieLover]

17. Aloha 😊

You are most welcome. Although CG Jung's theory is very different from Erich Fromm's, it is fascinatoing & speaks to what one can accomplish in isolation.😉👍

[ismnotwasm]

19. Nice!

[SheltieLover]

21. 👍

😊

[mahina]

10. Verifying.

He wants voter turnout low and if we’re dead that’s ok with him.

Anyway

Not with us and we will rise.

It’s pretty hard to plan in this situation.

[relayerbob]

12. Honestly

People are so much more spoiled than in the past. Staying home is nowhere near as stressful as having family members go off to war, while everyone else has to deal with rationing, nightly blackouts, and the like.

I agree, however, that Trump is amplifying the problems 1000-fold

[Hortensis]

26. :) This. Most DUers aren't even in sight of tough going.

Sympathies of course to those who are taking genuine, serious hits.

As for Trump, just maybe we should also be outraged that McConnell and the senate Republicans aren't passing legislation (aka instructions from the legislative branch to the executive) and funding to control the pandemic disease and lessen deaths. So far they've limited themselves to measures to shore up the economy. That's NOT okay.

[Skittles]

20. Americans are very fragile people

but then, I realize that every time change when so many people get upset over ONE FREAKING HOUR

[VOX]

22. When Americans can no longer unite to work together in the face of a global crisis...

This country is in DEEP trouble. Trumpists are never coming back into the fold (of sanity), they live in another “reality,” a cult wherein their leader’s “hunch” is greater than science, medicine, proven data, and objective facts; he’s even attained a “god-given” status among his more insane followers.

These feral people aren’t going away, even when Trump loses in November. Republicans, of course, will remain aligned with them, no matter the cost in
dollars and human lives.

I see no peace in this country for years to come. The American people are miles apart on every issue. And now we’ve witnessed how they behave in a difficult time, when teamwork would save lives. But a deadly virus has been completely politicized. Right-wing Americans have failed ALL Americans.

[kentuck]

23. United we stand, divided we fall....

...has never been more truer.

[Hortensis]

27. They were always a minority and becoming more so. We only ever

needed a few more percent reliably voting Democrat to defang those who've gone extremist. Several years ago a political scientist said that even 5% more young voters turning out, regardless of older nonvoters, would effect a revolution in power. (They didn't of course.)

But it's finally gotten bad enough to change attitudes among some who thought it'd all be fine without any need for them to change. And everything we value has always been accomplished by a few particularly smart and principled people empowered by majorities who were often a lot less smart than they were just fed up and choosing to take power away and give it to the other choice.
Our grandparents also brought their nation perilously close to collapse before they finally elected the smart, principled people who created the New Deal -- avoiding falling to the fascist and socialist extremism that other nations did.

The Democratic Party's always had the smart, principled people. We need enough finally-fed-ups to get them enough power to do it.