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10 21

I can remember going to bed at night without worrying about "what fresh hell" I'd be waking up to in the morning. (apologies to Dorothy Parker).

Dan Rather:
The challenge of our times is to stay engaged and awake to all the outrage while not being overwhelmed to the point of paralysis and inaction. This weekend I hope to spend time with family, read a book, listen to music while not losing sight of the journey ahead. [twitter.com]

jerry99 8 May 4
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10 comments

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4

To those that don't think politics are important remember that every freedom(or lack of) and every penny of tax (and what tax rate) was determined by politicians.

MizJ Level 8 May 4, 2019

@MissKathleen Every election day we have a choice

@MissKathleen Perhaps, but not making any choice means that they ALWAYS will win. Voter apathy is a major reason for the decline.

@MissKathleen The system is not without flaws. If no one complains the status quo will never change. I have called my lawmakers in the past and will do so in the future.

@MissKathleen ,
it's called a corporatocracy.

@MissKathleen ,
sadly, true.

2

I find that the less I know about current news and politics the better I feel. Waking up and reading about all the shitty things that people are doing in this world is a lousy way to start the day. I think in part it's because there's really nothing I can do about it and I know that its very likely to get worse and the people who can do something about it won't do anything and/or simply don't care. Ignorance may not be bliss, but its better than knowing how shitty so much of the world really is.

Whatever works for you.

1

I don't watch the news because I know that the information is third hand at best, and is strategically tailored to make people angry and keep them bickering about things that don't matter. The truth is the world has never been safer, happier, or more prospourous. Unfortunately human conditioning doesn't allow us to accept that.

I don't think there's any question that the media loves Trump for keeping people frightened and excited and thereby get more clicks and subscriptions, but that doesn't change the fact that he and his criminal organization are working hard to destroy our society and everything we hold dear, all to get more money and power.

@jerry99 It doesn't matter if trump is or isn't a criminal. His power over society is a lot more limited than you think. He is a distraction, ignore him. Maybe then you will notice all the real things wrong, like the large scale social engineering projects of which trump utilized to get into office in the first place.

Fight the source, not the symptoms.

1

I love Dorothy Parker! She so matches my sense of humor. It has indeed seemed like fresh hell each and every morning. It's so disheartening to se another move backward nearly every day and wonder about everything they are hiding as well. I am going to get out for a walk today and maybe lunch with family Sunday. My granddaughter is close to finishing a political science degree so I know we will discuss politics a bit. She also has a new puppy though and that will be a wonderful cuddly distraction. I can't have a dog so I can get some pet medicine.
I find listening to music while I pick up garbage in my local neighborhood. Doing something helpful while I try to calm my migraines and ignore the news for a bit.

@Larry-new ,
time to stock up on bic lighters.

3

I swing back and forth between watching the news closely and then ignoring it for a week or two.
When I am watching the news, I get depressed and wake up in the night and am angry about something that is happening. Hard to get back to sleep. When I ignore the news, I feel better and sleep better, but soon feel guilty about not being informed. A challenging world we live in now.

I had the same problem and was once convinced I had gastritis (I didn't). I discovered that if I read something light and a bit funny before bed and try to watch some nature program at night things are much better. Periodicals like the Atlantic, Humanist or National Geographic are for the afternoon. NPR is my go to station but if there is something I have no control over it gets shut off. There are things I feel I can do to help others and even change my own lifestyle (like donate and volunteer for viable organizations). I feel we each have to do whatever will lower our culpability and be satisfied with that.

is there an advantage to being informed? i don't see it. to me, it's just a sort of self flagellation.

5

Unfortunately , I do , occasionally , still run into Trump supporters . They seem to feel , well stocks keep going up , he must be doing something right , business is booming . Guess they don't see all these huge chain stores closing .

Huge chain store are dying, but that isn't a problem. They are being replaced by something better, in this case online retail which is cheaper and more convinent.

@Happy_Killbot ,
what do you think will happen when all the brick & motar retail is out of business? which way will prices go?

@callmedubious If all the brick and mortar stores suddenly exploded, the prices of everything should go up do to increased scarcity, but only temporarily. I think it's dubious to think all the brick and mortar stores will disappear in the foreseeable future, most people don't buy cheap products, or luxury goods online so retail stores that distribute high and low end goods will most likely thrive. After that or a gradual transition of brick and mortar stores going out of business, prices should stay level or even decrease. In order for a company like amazon to maintain their supremacy, they will have to constantly evolve themselves to stay competitive. A startup that has 30 minute delivery at lower prices to urban areas could threaten their existence.

3

It feels overwhelming and off and on I have to not read and not be engaged / that usually only lasts a day and then I am back at it.

3

I feel the same way about the Brexit situation here.

Me too

7

I totally get what you mean, it is overwhelming and depressing and makes me feel powerless, but I want to know what is happening.

6

It is exhausting. I am hoping Trump fatigue will drive people to the polls.

I fear it will drive many to just opting out.

@Lorajay I don't think so. If the Dems don't blow it. If they nominate the right person, they can even get some conservatives who have left the party to vote for a Democrat. In another year and a half most Americans are going to be so tired of this daily barrage of crap, they will want a change.

Democrats have to make sure they don't nominate someone too off-the-rails. People who call themselves "socialists" are about as popular as a turd in a punch bowl, even though we have several socialist elements to our society. It's just not popular to be too in-your-face about it.

The senator from Colorado, who just announced, might be viable. Hate to say it, but for elect-ability for the masses he might fit the bill. He's not too old, like Biden and Bernie, he's a straight male, he's Caucasian, he doesn't appear to be insane. Personally, I like several of the women and Mayor Pete and Booker. I just don't know if the rest of the country will vote for any of 'em. Any would be better than Trump. A bunch of folks lost their minds because Obama got elected and he wasn't 100% white. Even though he was a great president and was trying to do the right thing, they fought everything he tried to do, tooth and nail. He left Trump this functioning economy that would get any other president re-elected.

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