I think the US is on a fast downward spiral to an undemocratic very dark space. Wealth buys the votes. The NRA is superbly well funded and well organized. But I spread my bets between belief and action – I believe we are entering a very dark period, but I act as if effective gun control can be accomplished, global warming is on the brink but can be stopped, and community kindness can be partly performed through government programs.
Optimism in the Face of Doubt by Sally Carpenter
October 4, 2013 by ElderChicks
10 Responses
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ElderChicks 
The pharmaceutical industry has 100x the profits of the firearms industry and a lot of $$$ profits $$$ to protect.The NRA’s sole power is the number of its members and those who vote as it advises. That is called D-E-M-O-C-R-A-C-Y.
Social workers see what is happening in a society before anyone else. Three years ago, I saw how unequal, angry and uncaring people were. At that time, I predicted that things would get much worse before they got better. I believe this is the much worse. We have almost gone to the bottom. The gunshots further validation of what many of us had known. The radical right’s major intention was to destroy President Obama, one way or another. We are going to a very dark place, but I do believe we will arise renewed. (I posted this on Facebook yesterday! We may go down even further, but then we will heal and rise again, I do believe. Trickle down. Parents are mean to their chldren, services for tho most needy first to be cut under new mayor, patterns of war war war: we must changed from bottom to top.
No, I believe we are already IN a very dark place. There’s too much of what’s-in it for-me; yes…guns all around us, too many hungry children, too many needy families, too little respect for others (could take pages and pages on this, but just take a look at our House of Reps). We’re not working on the future, so how and with what does anyone back up their assumption that things will get better? Certainly not in OUR lifetime, and what’s in it for our children and grandchildren?
Unfortunately, the biggest problem lies with our elected officials who think the priority is raising funds towards the next election. They loose sight of the fact that they are elected to represent their constituency and not their own interests. Subsequently, their time is spent serving themselves and not addressing themselves to the problems facing the country. We have to remember these actions when election time comes along. We have to tell them with our votes that they cannot “buy” their office but must earn our trust with their actions on our behalf to help all the citizenry not just their contributors.
Joan, we’ve been in this dark place since the 80’s. I’ve been on the front lines in social work and seen this. We are darker, but there is not much further down we can go. There is a loud chorus of loving good people. I believe we are close to the darkest. This has shown the most greedy & pig headed what is going on. No, Jackie, it is not the fault of the elected officials. Peace and love and equality need to come from each individual, digging deep daily, and teaching their families. It comes from each of us.
Not the fault of elected officials? Oh yes it is because they were elected to represent the people who support their positions …. And peace and love and equality need to come from each individual? Sure it does, but that doesn’t make for change; for change you need a cohesive movement of many people speaking together and acting together under a voice of unity, a charismatic leader, a Martin Luther King, a Betty Friedan.
Remember it was a very dark period when it was said “there is nothing to fear except fear itself/” Be active, friends – call for the acts that benefit the poor, the lonely, those in war zones. thanks, Chris
Christine, thank you!
Christine, So great to hear from you! As always, words of wisdom. Thank you.
So tired of taking care of the poor! What we pay in taxes to support them is just not fair. when will the poor help themselves? STOP having all these children and look for a job! Have you not noticed how working, tax payers only have a couple of kids at the most and yet, people on welfare keep having children because they get WI C, subsidized housing, medical care, education, free childcare, Give me a break, this is the land of opportunity, get a job, and stop cuddling these parasites!
Iy