Sadly.
They'll tell themselves if they can just survive this - things will get better.
They tell themselves if they simply keep their heads down - they'll go unnoticed.
They tell themselves if they don't rock the boat - they won't be attacked.
As long as there seems to be a way out - even as the door begins to close - the glimmer of hope exist.
Something bad happens - but you can still feed your family, still have a roof over your head - then they tell themselves it's not that bad. Even though hundreds, if not thousands, of people are losing their homes, are unable to feed their families. It hasn't reached you - yet. There's still time, you see. Even as the clock winds down.
And the thing is, your oppressors want you to have a glimmer of hope - you cling to that hope and you go into the necessary stasis mode your oppressors desire for you. Where your outrage is balanced by that sliver of hope you cling to - so you keep on keeping on along the path they have set out for you. If you just do this or that (all things your oppressor wants from you - keep your head low, keep your voice quiet, don't rock the boat, just survive this/cling to that hope ) - then things will change. (because, goshdarnit, they have to change, right?)
All the while your oppressors are rigging the vote through gerrymandering, voter ID pushes, and claiming voter fraud - creating more obstacles to change (the upcoming tax "cuts", gutting needed social programs, stripping education of well, actual education, pandering to ignorance and fear - creating divisions, etc..), and making conditions worse - causing people to feel lucky for whatever crumbs they have and too afraid to fight back lest something worse happens. Which it will, regardless.
There are exceptions, of course. I'm not speaking of those who refuse to adapt to anyone's oppression.
Things can get better, but it won't happen as long as enough people adapt to and make excuses for - all the bad.
But I'm a cynic, so...
= new reply since forum marked as read