Question for Middle Aged DUers about the Third Time Around [View All]

[Armstead]

Those who have reached a "certain age" have been through three times of the Republican cycle. Nixon - Reagan/Bush - GW.

My basic question to those who have been through all this too many times before, is "How are you handling the 3rd Time Around?"

Here's some context, from my perspective. We seem to get caught in this dispiriting pattern whenever the GOP ascends to the White House. Each time it happens, we're introduced to a mix of a "new" cast of characters and the Return of the Holdovers. And we know they're Bad News.

Inevitably, things go wrong. We get over-reaching for power, foreign misadventures, a celebration of economic polarization, an increase in domestic social divisions, scandals, etc.....And we're forced to cope with simmering and growing resentment, anger and helplessness on the moderate-to-left side of the spectrum while the righties dance with the glow of power.

The one "bright spot" was perhaps the illusion of prosperity that existed for a few years under Reagan -- before the bubble burst in the late 80's/early 90's under Bush 1.

But otehrwise, we have had to endure economic dislocation, global tension and the arrogence of the "insiders" as they attempt to impose their rigid worldview on the entire dang nation and the globe. And things inevitably seem to unravel -- on them and on us as a nation.

This time it seems worse than ever. But in all honesty, it also seemed worse than ever under Nixon and eventually during Reagan/Bush 1.

All I know is that I'm getting real tired of this movie and it's sequals. It almost feels like getting calmer while sitting in a car that's skidding towards a tree yet again, and sighing "Been there, done that" yet again.