Mopaul, others....let's look at a bigger picture (a different view)

[AnnInLa]

I very much understand your pessimism, optimism, cynicism, over this election cycle. I feel the anger, the frustration too. Perhaps we could adopt a different perspective on all this??? A perspective that could help save our collective sanity: Namely, that this is a WAR, a war to TAKE BACK THIS COUNTRY. The election is only a battle in the war. Win this election, our effort in the WAR is one step closer to achieving our ultimate goal. Lose this election, we just keep fighting the WAR to achieve our goal---TAKING BACK THE COUNTRY.

I am reminded of Kerry's discussion of what was accomplished in the 60's and 70's. He said the protestors against Nam, for civil rights, for womens' rights WON their war. THEY TOOK BACK THEIR COUNTRY and we can too, as long as we see this as a long-term committment. Even if Kerry wins this election, do you imagine the WAR is over? Congress is still controlled by repugs, as is the court system, as is the press.

I am always puzzled about the posters who threaten to leave the country if Kerry doesn't win, who want to roll over and give up our air waves and our freedom of expression by ignoring main-stream press, and just give up, period, if we don't win this election. So, if we can view the election as just one battle in the war, we will stay more focused on what is really important...winning the WAR TO TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC IDEALS THAT WE ALL BELIEVE IN, AND FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. (My rant for the day, and didn't want it to get lost in the previous threads. Signing off now...thanks.)

[mhr]

1. The Reason That People Like Myself Want To Leave The Country Is Because

we are old or getting older and we are flat tired and worn out.

We just want to live in peace and harmony for the few years we have left.

We also understand that fighting the right-wing juggernaut with its millions and millions of dollars is almost to hard to do on a canned beans budget.

Some of us older ones are just living in reality. We would fully support - to the extent that we can - the younger ones embracing this fight.

[AnnInLa]

2. You may be older, (not old!) but

you must have children and grandchildren, nieces/nephews who will have to live in this country after the election? As one of the older ones myself, I know that history just keeps making a circle....we have seen it ourselves in this country. It CAN make a circle back to the democratic ideals WE value if we just work that circle a little harder, a little faster.

[mhr]

4. I Have No Family And Hence No Legacy To Fret Over

When I am done, the dust will not even remember my name.

[Senior citizen]

8. I was exactly in the same position.

No family, no legacy, no nothing.

Then I got a Fed-Ex letter from someone whose name I didn't recognize. Turned out to be a daughter given up for adoption at birth, 41 years ago, who had managed, against all odds, to track me down. My daughter, a well-spoken corporate attorney in a 10-year committed lesbian relationship, is pregnant, so I'm going to have a grandchild.

Doesn't mean much--we've never met (just phone, snail mail and email), and I still wish I could afford to live in another country, primarily because I hate fascism. But it taught me that life can still be full of surprises, even after you've given up on it. I sincerely hope that life still has some good news for you.

[onecitizen]

5. I understand how ya feel mhr..........

I feel much the same. I did what I thought was right all my life. Played by the rules. Did what I could do to protect myself should disaster visit me. Despite that, I find myself with a chronic illness that will only get worse no matter what I do without Health insurance beginning next year. I'm on a med that costs nearly a thousand dollars a month. It will be stopped in Dec. I will go downhill to the point of a nursing home. I was a nurse for 30+ years taking care of others. I saw what not having insurance will do to you if you don't have it.I did all the right things, took the proper protections BUT still, thanx to the bush economy, my life as I know it will end next year. My hospital that I devoted my career to has chosen to end my disability protection that I and others were promised. With a turn of a pen, my life is ruined. Sorry if I sound like a drama queen right now. But my deadline is fast approaching.

I'm tired too mhr. I understand how you feel completely.

[Swamp Rat]

3. Aren't you feeling a bit pessimistic after the Louisiana election

yesterday? Voter fraud in favor of banning same sex marriage? October has some nasty surprises for us as well.

I agree that we should fight harder, but today I am feeling a bit cynical. If Ivan had destroyed New Orleans, I would be ripe for leaving the USA. Since I love this city, I will stay and fight... I was living in Brasil but came back this year just to fight the fascists in the WH. If Bush wins again, as soon as I finish my PhD I am outta here. I have white beaches, a girlfriend, and a tranquil life waiting for me in Brasil... and they have Carnival and great seafood as well!

For now, I am here willing to fight the usurpers until there's no more hope. :kick:

[Kanary]

6. I'll tell you bluntly why I wish I could leave the country

Regardless of who wins, there will be cuts to the safety net, and that means ME. I have no other way to survive.

You may have noticed....... most threads about poverty issues here on DU sink like a rock. Requests to write or call about upcoming issues go unanswered. That is a very clear indication that POVERTY IS OF VERY LITTLE INTEREST TO DEMS, which means the cuts will continue, and many will suffer and die.

Yet, I'm supposed to jump up and down and proclaim my enthusiasm and just how excited I am that "we will win".

Pah.

I'd like to live out my days in a country that actually CARES about people.

Kanary

[antigop]

7. Me, too

>>I'd like to live out my days in a country that actually CARES about people.

Me, too.

[Kanary]

9. AnnInLa, I can tell you one thing that is different now from the 60's

that Kerry was talking about.

I was very involved politically at that time, and I can tell you that there was a very different atmosphere between the people who were working for political change. First of all, there wasn't NEAR the rudeness that there is now... people were much more polite to each other, and ACTUALLY LISTENED to others.

Of course, the famous exception to that was the men not listening to the women. BUT.... the women then broke away on their own, and formed their own movement, and LISTENED to each other, cared about and supported each other. For the most part, that simply doesn't exist anymore. I knew there were people I could call on, and people I could depend on, and they with me. That just doesn't happen anymore.

People have their duties, and that's about it.

There was also very much of an atmosphere of people wanting to make *personal* changes in their lives.... people wanting to understand their own selves at a deeper level, and looking inside to find what might need work on. I don't see much of that anymore.

Mostly, though, the rudeness, and just plain not caring about each other personally. It has worn out a lot of us, and we just don't have the fight left.

That's my view. You can use that to further understand, or.....

Kanary