And now for a look at the Brighter Side of things... (pic heavy)

[cleanhippie]

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The point? Things could be much, much worse.

[LeftishBrit]

1. Thanks for this

From a local point of view, there is now relative peace in Northern Ireland - unbelievable when I was growing up.

Vietnam is now a peaceful place, which some of my friends have recently visited on holiday. Same for Croatia. Same, of course, for Germany and Japan.

Another encouraging statistic: despite far more cars on the road, the number of road accident deaths has declined over the years.

[cleanhippie]

2. It can be hard to reconcile, considering the coverage conflict gets by the press, but it's true we

are in the most peaceful time in human history.

[2naSalit]

3. Well, that was yesterday

what we face now is a 180 from all of that.

I've been around long enough to know that optimism will fade once the proletariat kicks in to full scream ahead.

[cleanhippie]

4. I think you may be over estimating what the reality of the situation is...

Maybe this will change your mind.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025765949

[2naSalit]

5. Pesonally

I suspect we won't be having elections anymore, at least, not that we little people can vote in. I think we are facing a steamroller intent to drown our democracy - or what's left of it - in that bathtub that's been placed around the Beltway.

Sorry to mix metaphors but my mind isn't right after last night. I have to go take my laps around the western states, I'll be back next week with, hopefully, a more civil mind.

[cleanhippie]

6. Sadly, I think you are right about DC. We need to take a page from the Repub playbook

and start working on Local/State elections. That's the only area where "We The People" have any actual voice at all.