Is it me, or does there seem to be a growing spate of political anguish here?

[brooklynite]

Almost to the point of "democracy is doomed".

[Elessar Zappa]

1. Definitely.

Unfortunately, that kind of thinking often leads to apathy and self-fulfilling prophecies.

[msongs]

2. repubs control the majority of states but let's talk about something else nt

[PortTack]

8. so What are your suggestions?...seriously

Everyone is aware of the issues.

The OP is correct. We can’t just continue to complain

[onecaliberal]

15. I vote, I donate, I make calls and knock on doors.

I’m not just complaining. If we don’t have S1 the republicans will not allow another democratic win. If you can look at the legislation in 48 states limiting voting for certain people I don’t know what to say. 2022 will be too late.

[PortTack]

28. See post #21

Look back at the suits that frump brought post election. If you read the judges findings they were very clear, as is the constitution. State laws cannot overrule the will of the voter regardless of their shitty laws. When a candidate has a clear win via popular vote, and with the presidency the EC, the courts are not going to overturn that, even SCOTUS refused to take any of his cases that were of this nature. This above all else came thru loud and clear, even with frump appointed judges.

It does remain to be seen how much of the ID nonsense will be allowed.

[onecaliberal]

42. It is now legal in Georgia to overturn the will of the voters

If they don't like the outcome.

[StarfishSaver]

50. It's legal until a court rules it's not. And cases are now in the courts

Any legislature can pass any law it wants. But the courts will decide whether the legislation will stand. We are only at the beginning of this.

[CrackityJones75]

106. Just. Stop!

These types of posts need to come with an automatic ban.


Sorry but this accomplishes NOTHING! If Sr1 doesn’t pass then what? You are going to crawl into a hole and give up?

EVERY SINGLE POSTER HERE KNOWS EXACTLY HOW IMPORTANT THAT BILL IS!!!

Trying to “scare people” into more action isn’t necessary and is counter productive. STOP!

[msongs]

52. oh I send all kinds of suggestions to dems in office, local groups etc

once in awhile I get a computer generated generic response but mostly what I get are pitches for money

[StarfishSaver]

61. They probably aren't looking for random suggestions

They're looking for help

[Kid Berwyn]

64. Cash do the trick?

If they do take a check, remember, the more zeros the better.

Personally, I like ideas. Especially good ones, like publicly financed election campaigns.

Oh, and mass media broadcasters would provide free air time, in equal amounts, to the various candidates.

[StarfishSaver]

69. They are being inundated with ideas.

But my experience in these spaces taught me that, although we read and listened to every suggestion, 99% of the ideas we had already thought of and were already doing or weren't doing for a reason.

[mcar]

91. Because they need money

My local Democratic party can't even afford a storefront, except during election season.

I'm in a very red county; I just recently got to the financial point where I can make them a small monthly contribution.

Democratic groups don't have the big pocket donors that R groups do. Take a look at your local clubs and caucuses and help them out when you can.

[live love laugh]

11. +1

[Quakerfriend]

3. I've noticed the same thing over the past 48 hours

[msfiddlestix]

44. did you happen to notice what caused it in the past 48 hours?

[Hekate]

51. What in particular? I've been seeing it longer, so I must have missed the most recent event. nt

[PortTack]

4. No..it's not just you..seems like every few days

I get that ppl are anxious, worried and down right afraid, but we cannot let that overwhelm us..

We are strong!

[Butterflylady]

5. Thank God someone has finally posted this.

My thoughts exactly. Democracy is not dead, so stop trying to make it so. We are all in this fight and we will prevail no matter what the right throws at us. We are on the right side History.

[PortTack]

10. I really like you attitude!! We need more of this and less oh we're f..ked!!

[msfiddlestix]

23. 'We are all in this fight and we will prevail no matter what the right throws at us"

Please tell me what "fight" are we in? Are you sure "all" of us are in it? And why should "all of us" be in any "fight" since we are on the right side of history?

I'm suggesting "we" are not "all in" . The Senate my dear, the Senate. Where most of everything we need done happens.

editing to add final point. Where most of everything we need done happens... problem is, the things we need to get done vis a vis the Senate, isn't happening.. for different reasons, those reasons are anti Democratic Party, and Anti-democracy.

[StarfishSaver]

66. The Senate is NOT "where most of everything we need done happens"

Most of what needs to happen happens on the ground with us. We can't just sit back and wait for the Senate to do as if this has nothing to do with us.

[msfiddlestix]

71. Oh. Wow. And all this time, i thought Federal Laws were legislated in Congress

I be dad-burned. I didn't realize I can do this at home.

Oky doky! Thanks for the civics lesson!

[msfiddlestix]

93. Actually, I really Don't need a remedial course in civics

And I've been an activist for nearly all my adult life, which is over 50 years.

The context is what is going on not just in Washington or at my local city council, but all over the freaking country that requires Congressional remedy.

That's the context.

[SunImp]

97. There has been a bunch of topics like this in the last few days

[wryter2000]

6. It's very discouraging

That we won the presidency and both senate seats in Georgia but two of our own are blocking what needs to be done. Plus, the states are passing laws that will make it hard for people to vote, and we seem powerless to stop it. We supposedly won, but the Republicans are still in charge.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

9. Dialogue from "The Simpsons" episode...

... "Days of Future Future":

Bart: Isn't your mom eighty-seven?

Nelson: With social security a thing of the past, she can't afford to retire.

Bart: I don't know how that happened in a senate with ninety-nine Democrats.

Nelson: That one Republican is great at getting his way!

So that show's writers apparently felt the same way sometimes!

[Elessar Zappa]

13. Democrats fully control the executive and that's huge.

Also, our judges will get through because we have the Senate. That’s also huge.

[wryter2000]

24. Those are huge

But if people can’t vote, we won’t be able to hold onto our majority. And if they don’t see any progress, they’re less likely to vote, anyway.

If we could get the two voting rights bills through, I’d be less discouraged, but we need to fix the filibuster, and unless something changes, that’s not going to happen.

[Elessar Zappa]

25. Agree.

The filibuster must go.

[StarfishSaver]

82. The filibuster and Voting Rights Act are one track, fighting the state laws locally and in the court

is another. This is a two-front fight and there's a lot you can do on both.

[PortTack]

14. All of the recent voter suppression laws are facing legal challenges & will not stand in the courts

The laws are illegal and unconstitutional and if not the entire law, the most egregious parts will be struck down.

For updates more information follow
Marc Elias and democracydocket.com on twitter

[wryter2000]

26. I sincerely hope you're right

It’s a disgrace for everyone to have worked so hard only to have voting rights taken away.

[PortTack]

29. Check out Marc Elias on twitter. He's the one that led the charge post election

[StarfishSaver]

72. He didn't lead the charge, but he was a critical player

Many others were involved on several different fronts.

[PortTack]

123. Okay..thx for that.

[Kaleva]

58. I'm a glass is half full kind of guy

Biden has been able to undo many of former guy's EOs and with the control of both the House and Senate, Repubs cannot advance their own agenda. There's many other positives like out improved relations with our very own allies.

[StarfishSaver]

70. We're not powerless at all

Get involved locally. That's where the power is.

The wins in 2020 and in Georgia in January weren't the end. They were just the beginning of the work.

[live love laugh]

7. People handle things differently. Should everyone who disagrees just zip it? nt

🤐

[PortTack]

16. I don't think the OP is suggesting that, but continued negative posts do not help our cause

[live love laugh]

19. I think that's exactly what is suggested. nt

[Bettie]

75. That is precisely what the OP

is saying...just pretend that everything is just wonderful.

Try living in a red state. It isn't wonderful. It is awful and no, I can't afford to move.

[msfiddlestix]

12. well I hate to break to ya, but it's damn close

I realize you live in a nice comfy world, every things is going swimmingly. but out in the rest of the country, not so muchl

[Elessar Zappa]

17. So, we're all fucked and there's nothing we can do?

I don’t believe that for a second. We’re not helpless victims.

[live love laugh]

22. Nobody said there's nothing we can do and yes things are fucked up. nt

[Elessar Zappa]

27. They're fucked up but we're not fucked.

Unless people give up, then we most assuredly will be.

[PortTack]

30. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[onecaliberal]

18. 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻&#

[brooklynite]

39. If by "comfy world" you mean a State run by Democrats...

…that we worked to elect, I guess you’re right.

[onecaliberal]

45. I live in red hell in that blue state. Being in a blue state means nothing.

I have no representation. He’s too busy licking trumps shoes.

[msfiddlestix]

47. No, that's not I meant. I live in a very Blue State. The Biggest most Populated BLUE State.

And I'm quite pleased with that fact.

But it could change as it has in the past. That's not at all the issue.

[StarfishSaver]

57. This kind of complaining and whining is a luxury of the privileged

An old-timer said to me when I started complaining about possibly losing an election

"You think YOU have it bad? Imagine how we felt in the 50s when Republicans were winning everything and we didn't have a Civil Rights Act, didn't have a Voting Rights Act, half the Black people in the country couldn't vote, we didn't have any Black mayors or senators or congressman and maybe a couple of state legislators. You're sitting here with a black former two-term president, a Black vice president-elect, a president-elect who talks about civil rights ALL the time, Black Congressmen and Congresswomen, Black senators, Black mayors and state legislators all over the country and you're moaning about how bad you have it? You need to be quiet and get to work like we did."

[betsuni]

62. +1

[PortTack]

124. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[Autumn]

20. Must be just you, I haven't seen a single person in anguish. It is a message board and people

will post things from their point of view. Getting sensitive over what someone else thinks or sees is kind of silly.

[NewHendoLib]

33. this!!!

[Autumn]

53. I was wondering where you were! Didn't see your name change.

Good to see you.

[NewHendoLib]

95. .

[Sherman A1]

65. Precisely

It appears that some folks think that posts on an internet discussion board are the whole world.

[Bettie]

116. And everyone gets down or frustrated sometimes

you'd think that here among like-minded people, you'd get some empathy and some encouragement.

Instead, it's "You aren't allowed to be frustrated!"

[treestar]

21. There's always been a lot of exaggeration

While Dubya was in office, we were sure he would turn us into a dictatorship, using 911. Then the Dotard gave us reason to think he at least wanted to be a dictator.

The optimistic way to see the Republicans is to notice how desperate they have become.

[PortTack]

32. Exactly!

[FoxNewsSucks]

37. Things weren't yet in place

when the lying criminal Bush was in office. The fascists have made progress since then, and are close to their goal.

[live love laugh]

38. ++1

[msfiddlestix]

54. Exactly.

Frankly, I'm stunned that period and anything we experienced and observed was brought up as an example in this very context.

It's exactly when the foundation (of what appears to be the American brand of Fascism) was laid down, to be built upon.

Now it's on steroids.

[Crunchy Frog]

90. They're patient and they play the long game.

[Kaleva]

77. +1

[Grasswire2]

31. perhaps it's just a portion of the awakening in the land..

...because we aren't allowed, in some circumstances, to say what we really think here.

[onecaliberal]

46. True that.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

74. I've seen that too .

[StarfishSaver]

80. You're allowed to say whatever you want

But that doesn't mean that what you say won't be challenged. That's what happens when you post your opinion on a public discussion board.

[Grasswire2]

101. challlenged?

Terminated, if a few others complain.

[live love laugh]

104. +1

[StarfishSaver]

105. You're still here, so ...

[Grasswire2]

113. No

I'm BACK.

But you are a relatively new member here, so you have missed a lot.

I joined DU more than twenty years ago.

[Grasswire2]

102. And no, that isn't "what happens when you post your opinion on a public discussion board."

Because, normally, a few others don't have the power to silence you or terminate you.

[BlueTsunami2018]

34. Yeah, because it is.

No one seems to want to stop the fascist train from rolling right over us.

It sucks that even when we win, we still lose.

[Stuart G]

55. ..Please explain..."No one" , Those 2 Words..?, I believe there are, "MANY" ..not.."No one"

[BlueTsunami2018]

98. Ok, let's play semantics.

No one who actually can stop that train wants to.

Better?

[FoxNewsSucks]

35. This is a critical time,

and no matter what people say about the courts, nothing is certain.

We can't afford to just stick our heads in the sand, hoping for the best. There are things that need to be done and until people see action on them, we can't just relax.

I guarantee you the other side isn't.

[StarfishSaver]

76. Sticking our heads in the sand is not a solution

Neither is just complaining about what other people aren't doing.

[FoxNewsSucks]

103. Some people certainly seem eager to see

"complaining" everywhere.

It's not always mere "complaining", and it's not always without cause.

[NewHendoLib]

36. unrec. Joe Biden "Democracy Itself is in Peril"

we don't need thought police here. If realistic feelings bother you, don't read them

[live love laugh]

40. +1

[Vinca]

43. That's the first thing I thought of, too.

If POTUS is concerned, I'm concerned.

[Bettie]

78. +1

Seriously, we should be worried, but we're not supposed to express any feelings other than "everything is perfect, perfect"?

[Crunchy Frog]

92. +++++++.

[andym]

111. +1. NT.

[uponit7771]

117. *** BINGO !!! *** Biden is not exaggerating. People should give solutions though

[StarfishSaver]

41. Yep.

Even good news is met with "Yeah, but that's not going to last ..." responses.

[Hekate]

48. I've been feeling it & trying, not always successfully, not to say it or respond too much...

I live with a man (my husband, that is) who is only alive today because his mother knew enough to flee Vienna dragging a few relatives who believed what they were seeing. Not all of them survived in Belgium, but everyone who stayed in Vienna died. As for his father (who already had a wife and family in Belgium), he was in the hospital for his heart when the SS came for his wife and kids, and they were never seen again. He survived because doctors and nurses gave him false papers and he went into the Underground.

I may be Irish-American and not Jewish, but I’m not stupid. The resonance here is gawdawful, because fascists really are trying to undo our democracy, no joke.

My husband has wanted to leave this country for over 4 years — but like his grandparents, I am waiting for sanity to return, and besides at our age (over 70) where are we supposed to go? I see a wave of authoritarianism sweeping the planet just now. And nobody else in the family in either side is budging — except maybe our daughter, who thinks Idaho would allow her “medical freedom” to continue to not vaccinate her kids.

I think “anguish” is the right word, but ... if we DUers give in to despair or hysteria, we won’t be able to get anything useful done.

[DET]

85. Well Said

Irish-American married to a Jew whose mother was at the Nuremberg trials. I feel the same way. Trying to be optimistic, but the sheer brazenness of the fascists is extremely disturbing. So sorry about your daughter.

[LeftInTX]

49. It isn't doing too well in Texas

After Democrats walked out and killed a bill, the governor is threatening not to pay them....

It's pretty bad in Texas...and the governor signed a bunch of awful bills this session

[brush]

56. We're definitely on the brink. The vote against the Jan. 6 commission of...

54 votes for it and 35 against it, with the 35 against winning show how close we are for democracy being a thing of the past.

Minority rules in the Senate because of the filibuster and we've got two, maybe three senators with DiFi included, who opposed getting rid of the anti-democractic, rule used most often in history to preserve racist policies.

I hope Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer can persuade Manchin and Sinema (with DiFi probably not completely coherent on her stand on it), I hope they persuade them with promises of shovel-ready infrastructure projects for their states with thousands of good jobs if they vote to get rid of the filibuster and thus allow the infrastructure bill and others to pass which wiil modernize the nation for the rest of the 21st century and preserve what's left of our democracy.

If not our future is in grave peril as the minority in the Senate will continue to obstruct progress. Our hope is that Joe and Schumer are successful.

GOTV, especially in the Senate so our tow resident proto-facists don't hold power over the party and it's agenda.

[Kaleva]

59. There's always been Doomers and Gloomers here.

former Guy was going to steal the election and secure himself a 2nd term

Former Guy was going to use the state legislatures and courts to overturn the results of the election.

Former Guy was going to overthrow the government so he could remain in power.

And that's just recently.

[Andy823]

63. True

of course a lot of them left and started their own site back when Hillary was running. I think some of then are back now that Biden is president trying to divide the board once again!

[StarfishSaver]

79. Remember that?

No matter how much we told people that was not a foregone conclusion, they were certain the election would be overturned.

i think some people thrive on this kind of angst.

[Kaleva]

84. Yes. I recall you and a few others working very hard to bring people back to reality

I also recall how some, even after you had refuted their arguments with facts, would later spew the same stuff in later threads.

[msfiddlestix]

87. Yeah, soo true. And we made such a big friggin deal about Jan 6th... as if wasn't ever going to

happen again. And anyways, that all turned out ok, right? After all, Biden was certified eventually.

And Old Mike Flynn having his eensy weensy little Qanon rally, outright calling for an insurrection like they did in Myanmar... no biggy.

and oh forget about the 2020 elections in the process of getting overturned.. well the courts are going to step in right?

yeah, the list is absolutely endless, but it's just a handful of crazy lunatics making a lot of noise.

Nothing at all to see here, nothing at all to get upset about.

[Kaleva]

94. When Doomers predications didn't come true, they quickly moved on to the next scenario

Remember we were supposed to be annihilated by nuclear warfare if Ronald RayGun was elected?

Extremists, right and left, very often view things in the extreme.

Another thing, despite the doom and gloom, it appears most everyone here is living like it's all okay and there is nothing to worry about. I don't know any member who left the country, went to ground, stocked up on guns and ammo and so on.

[msfiddlestix]

100. oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

lordy, lordy, lordy..

shame on all of us concerned about nuclear warfare then,when, yes, RAY GUN, was president.

Imagine our collective surprise when we learned decades later how frequent and close it came.

but hey, it was only ICBM's ready to be deployed at a hair point trigger's moment. what the heck, nothing to see there either.

And gosh you're so right, , we just moved on with Iran Contra, another nothing burger.

[Crunchy Frog]

60. That's where I'm at. I don't post about it much, but I won't lie about how I feel.

I hope that I'm wrong, but only time will tell.

Bookmarking this for future reference.

[secondwind]

67. Yes, these are scary times.

[kimbutgar]

68. I'm trying to stay positive but it gets harder as time goes on

I talked to my older sister today who was crying that our country is lost. I told her we have to try to remain positive because being negative only makes things worst.

[StarfishSaver]

81. When you get discouraged

think about what it was like for Black folk 60 years ago. They had no political power, no representation in Congress or state legislatures, many had no vote, but didn't give up, didn't stop fighting, didn't whine about how doomed to hell it all was - they just kept fighting.

Be like Black people ...

[betsuni]

83. What two Washington Post writers traveling the country found in 2016:

"For every disgruntled person out there who felt undone by the system and threatened by the way the country was changing, caught in the bind of stagnant wages or longing for an America of the past, we found someone who who had endured decades of discrimination and hardship and yet felt optimistic about the future and had no desire to go back. In this season of discontent, there were still as many expressions of hope as of fear. On a larger level, there were as many communities enjoying a sense of revival as there were fighting against deterioration and despair."

[StarfishSaver]

109. Beautiful!

Thanks!

[Hortensis]

121. Nice to have perspective. I remember polls and other research revealed

that most people actually felt they were doing okay themselves in spite of everything and that it was "others" who weren't.

The "season of discontent" is real, as are some genuine reasons for it, but most people aren't participants.

[OnDoutside]

86. Yes, but unfortunately with just cause. People would sleep a lot

better if Senate Democrats got S1 through.

[Greybnk48]

88. It's not just you. I noticed too. n/t

[mcar]

89. It's Monday

it'll happen again on the usual regular basis.

We're DOOMED!!11 DOOMED I tells ya!!!!

[choie]

96. I think that what contributes to the

anxiety Congress's rejection of the January 6th commission and the consequent fear that the truth won't come out and people won't be held accountable. The fact that Michael Flynn can go to a q conclave and call for the overthrow of the government knowing he won't be called to answer for it adds credence to the fear that our democracy is in peril.

[Meowmee]

99. This

And the past several years. They have advanced the establishment of the start of true fascism. We ignore it at our own peril as have others in the past. Only a fool is not scared and troubled by what has happened.

“When Fascism came into power, most people were unprepared, both theoretically and practically. They were unable to believe that man could exhibit such propensities for evil, such lust for power, such disregard for the rights of the weak, or such yearning for submission. Only a few had been aware of the rumbling of the volcano preceding the outbreak.”

– Erich Fromm, Escape from Freedom

[edhopper]

107. Maybe the people

who didn't think we would get a supermajority in the House and Senate last time, and didn't think we would win back State Governments might be more realistic about what is happening.
I have yet to see a realistic response here when it is pointed out that as long as a few Senators refuse to budge on the filibuster, nothing will get past.
An pie in the sky predictions about 2022 don't answer it.

[ecstatic]

108. Probably depends on how vulnerable one feels

For obvious reasons, some may feel a lot more protected and safe than others at the moment. My entire county's right to vote and be heard has been taken away. So I've been disenfranchised. On top of that, there are still no federal protections in place to prevent rogue cops from having their way with me (or my loved ones)

So yeah... enjoy the lack of anguish and positive vibes you're feeling. Maybe one day I'll get there too.

[andym]

110. Well President Biden made a speech today: he gave a warning that democracy is in 'peril' in the US

not "doomed," but danger is lurking. Do you disagree?

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/31/politics/biden-memorial-day/index.html
By Kate Sullivan, CNN

Updated 3:19 PM ET, Mon May 31, 2021

"President Joe Biden commemorated those who died serving in the military in Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery and urged Americans to honor the fallen by strengthening and protecting the nation's democracy.

"Democracy itself is in peril, here at home and around the world. What we do now -- what we do now, how we honor the memory of the fallen will determine whether or not democracy will long endure," Biden said..."

[spanone]

112. Today President Biden warned 'Democracy itself is in peril'

(CNN)- President Joe Biden commemorated those who died serving in the military in Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery and urged Americans to honor the fallen by strengthening and protecting the nation's democracy.

"Democracy itself is in peril, here at home and around the world. What we do now -- what we do now, how we honor the memory of the fallen will determine whether or not democracy will long endure," Biden said.

The President said: "We owe the honored dead a debt we can never fully repay. We owe them our whole souls. We owe them our full best efforts to perfect the union for which they died."

Biden said the nation must honor the sacrifices of generations of service members "by sustaining the best of America while honestly confronting all that we must do to make our nation fuller, freer and more just."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/31/politics/biden-memorial-day/index.html

[betsuni]

114. "Never give up. Never surrender!"

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

115. It's not just you. Many of us are justifiably disheartened by conservative Democrats

aiding Mitch McConnell in his Grim Reaper murder of all Democratic legislation.

A fascist takeover of the government, and loss of democracy, won't really change the quality of life for rich white men who wear the rose colored glasses of wealth.

[underpants]

118. 100 "experts" seem to think there is.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016294322

[Hortensis]

119. "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;

supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” – Sun Tzu

For reasons for periodic upticks in dooming and whining, it'd be a mistake not to include social media warfare from our own RW and foreign enemies. We are in the middle of simultaneous, and connected, ongoing internal coup attempts and very real and dangerous international warfare.

And DU is the largest single social media forum dedicated to Democrats and other LWers, after all. This kind of warfare is both extremely inexpensive and effective, and they're not neglecting us. Btw, I put a very small handful of people who like to insist America no longer has anything to save on ignore and didn't happen to notice this uptick. ??

[FSogol]

120. Isn't it always, "Game over, man, game over" Day on DU?

[Hekate]

122. "A frantic warning from 100 leading experts: Our democracy is in grave danger" WaPo

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215484766

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/01/frantic-warning-100-leading-experts-our-democracy-is-grave-danger/

[LanternWaste]

125. Sounds like the kind of banal discussion fit for a...

$350 per plate vegetarian luncheon.

(tip: avoid the organically grown, sun-dried water... ain't worth the twenty bucks-- unless we're simply trying to impress ourselves)