I'm in a bad place.

[deutsey]

4. Unfortunately, I have to agree

I feel pretty much the same way and you do a good job of articulating my frustration.

I think we still have to continue the fight, though, however beleaguered we are. I think about the African Americans, for example, who kept their struggle alive after Reconstruction failed to integrate them into American society.

But, as that example shows, our struggle will likely be long and difficult and may not bear much fruit during our lifetimes. The forces arrayed against us are huge and powerful and quite determined to keep us down and prevent another "century of the common man" from ever happening again.

That sucks, but giving up entirely sucks even more.

(We need a "solidarity" smilie, but that one will do).