The American people understand that the economy today is rigged and that we cannot continue the ‘same old, same old’ establishment politics and establishment policies.
I curse you to someday argue with young people about whether we should declare victory once climate change is solved, or keep going to engineer a Risa-like perfect climate.
That’s the point: It’s never easy. Even if Dems had all three branches they’d be arguing with each other and we’d all be yelling on the Internet because if the wrong lizard gets elected the world is going to end.
If it was ever enough, we would get complacent and society would begin to stagnate, and in fifty years we would be the boomers yelling at the clouds about the good ole days while our civil infrastructure crumbles around us due to neglect, and our grandkids beg us to hand over the political reins so that they can build an economy with entry-level jobs.
So think of it this way: it’s a good thing that the fight is never over.
We don’t have to be angry all the time to keep up the fight. And we don’t have to wait until some mythical complete and final victory before we can enjoy some leisure.
We need to find a balance because it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Rather, it’s a long-distance trek. We go the pace we can maintain, and we rest when we need to. It’s the only way we can keep it up long enough to get to where we’re going.
So celebrate the little achievements all along the way. Take time to experience joy in life. These are the things that will fuel you for the journey ahead (and protect you from ulcers).
But don’t stop fighting just because you reach a hilltop and say “this is good.” The journey never ends, and even a tortoise can catch a hare if it stops moving forward for too long.
See, I’m totally the type to find a nice hilltop and sit there.
That’s my five year plan.
And if we don’t have to be angry and stressed and never have any fun, why is everything I see telling me the opposite? If I’m not angry, am I not paying attention?
Let’s at least pick a better hilltop than this one before we sit there for five years. This one’s still too close to The Wastes, not even properly out of them yet.
It looks like there may be some better hills ahead, let’s see what we can view from atop the next one, then we can decide where to sit.
And if we don’t have to be angry and stressed and never have any fun, why is everything I see telling me the opposite?
Um, congrats, you now see the machine clearly for what it is. It sucks your lifeforce and produces misery as a byproduct while generating exorbitant wealth for the people in the penthouse corner.
If I’m not angry, am I not paying attention?
If you’re paying attention, you certainly will get angry at times. But anger didn’t evolve to be a constant. You’ll burn yourself out that way.
Acknowledge your anger when it comes, channel it to good use if you can. But let it go when its moment passes. No need to hold onto it, there will be plenty more of it later when you need it again.
Go for a stroll, breathe some fresh air, spend an hour just staring at a tree. If you’re really paying attention, you’ll find there’s a lot more to life than only things to be angry about. There are so many things to appreciate too. Things worth protecting, and preserving.
That’s what I mean by balance. Reality is a hodgepodge. Don’t treat it as monochrome.
Because I grew up with good parents I’ve been worrying about shit I can’t control for most of my life, and if I’m ever able to get away from it - which today is impossible - I feel guilty for not being informed.
A little deliberate compartmentalisation can be healthy.
If you can’t make yourself forget for a day, try hours or even minutes. Set yourself some time in which if you think of these things you say to yourself “not now”.
It doesn’t help that so many people I see on Instagram and the likes and elsewhere want instant gratification from everyone, like they demanded an IMMEDIATE response from people and it was never enough for them :/
A five-panel manga showing Mikasa and Eren as children, being accosted by a bandit. The first panel shows Mikasa with a stunned expression, and a dialogue box saying merely “…!!”. The second panel shows Eren being choked by the bandit as he tells Mikasa desperately to fight. The third panel shows Mikasa still stunned and nervous. The fourth panel shows Eren going on as the bandit continues to choke him while cussing him out. In two dialogue boxes, Eren tells Mikasa “If we don’t win, we die.” “If we win, we live.” The fifth panel shows Mikasa wide-eyed as the realization dawns on her.
Alt text:
In two large, vertical panels, Eren’s face and Mikasa’s are shown side-by-side. Eren’s shows a desperate expression, while Mikasa’s remains wide-eyed. The two panels are united by one dialogue box in which Eren tells Mikasa “IF YOU DON’T FIGHT, WE CAN’T WIN.”
Just rolling things back to 2024 is going to be a hard road. Reversing what Doge did is imposdible. Getting rid of tariffs while Trump is in office is too. In fact, the easiest thing to do is to end the Iran war.
Funny thing because that’s the seemingly possible thing I’m most bearish on. It’s of course trivial to have all Democrats vote for the war to end, but you have centrists in there who are going to balk at Iran’s terms. Status quo ante bellum is impossible, so the question is what kind of agreement you can get both Iran and most Democratic congresspeople to accept, and my guess is that it’s going to take a while to hammer that out.
The best part about politics is that nothing is ever enough and we always have to keep fighting.
Oh wait, no, that’s the worst.
Edit: Politics is like my first marriage.
I curse you to someday argue with young people about whether we should declare victory once climate change is solved, or keep going to engineer a Risa-like perfect climate.
Ugh. I hate the tropics. Having that everywhere would suck
Dude, the orange turd and most of his cronies are still going to be in office in January. Of course it’s not just going to be easy
That’s the point: It’s never easy. Even if Dems had all three branches they’d be arguing with each other and we’d all be yelling on the Internet because if the wrong lizard gets elected the world is going to end.
If it was ever enough, we would get complacent and society would begin to stagnate, and in fifty years we would be the boomers yelling at the clouds about the good ole days while our civil infrastructure crumbles around us due to neglect, and our grandkids beg us to hand over the political reins so that they can build an economy with entry-level jobs.
So think of it this way: it’s a good thing that the fight is never over.
False. Leisure is wonderful and being angry all the time gives me ulcers.
We don’t have to be angry all the time to keep up the fight. And we don’t have to wait until some mythical complete and final victory before we can enjoy some leisure.
We need to find a balance because it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Rather, it’s a long-distance trek. We go the pace we can maintain, and we rest when we need to. It’s the only way we can keep it up long enough to get to where we’re going.
So celebrate the little achievements all along the way. Take time to experience joy in life. These are the things that will fuel you for the journey ahead (and protect you from ulcers).
But don’t stop fighting just because you reach a hilltop and say “this is good.” The journey never ends, and even a tortoise can catch a hare if it stops moving forward for too long.
See, I’m totally the type to find a nice hilltop and sit there.
That’s my five year plan.
And if we don’t have to be angry and stressed and never have any fun, why is everything I see telling me the opposite? If I’m not angry, am I not paying attention?
Let’s at least pick a better hilltop than this one before we sit there for five years. This one’s still too close to The Wastes, not even properly out of them yet.
It looks like there may be some better hills ahead, let’s see what we can view from atop the next one, then we can decide where to sit.
Um, congrats, you now see the machine clearly for what it is. It sucks your lifeforce and produces misery as a byproduct while generating exorbitant wealth for the people in the penthouse corner.
If you’re paying attention, you certainly will get angry at times. But anger didn’t evolve to be a constant. You’ll burn yourself out that way.
Acknowledge your anger when it comes, channel it to good use if you can. But let it go when its moment passes. No need to hold onto it, there will be plenty more of it later when you need it again.
Go for a stroll, breathe some fresh air, spend an hour just staring at a tree. If you’re really paying attention, you’ll find there’s a lot more to life than only things to be angry about. There are so many things to appreciate too. Things worth protecting, and preserving.
That’s what I mean by balance. Reality is a hodgepodge. Don’t treat it as monochrome.
This was not helpful. It’s exactly what my therapist said.
🥸
It’s so exhausting, it makes me feel like I can never take an off-day for my mental health if I want things to get better. fuuuck.
Yes, exactly.
Because I grew up with good parents I’ve been worrying about shit I can’t control for most of my life, and if I’m ever able to get away from it - which today is impossible - I feel guilty for not being informed.
It feels impossible to have a good mental well being in this state when I feel like I need to worry about stuff I can’t control
And even worse, you feel like not worrying makes you a bad person.
This thread made me feel less alone so thanks for that.
it doesn’t help when certain performative types try to guilt you into worrying.
like, yes the world is shit, we know this, i hear you, i’m exhausted can i please have one day of rest to recalibrate for the next one?
Can I get the last 30 years back?
You can and should.
A little deliberate compartmentalisation can be healthy. If you can’t make yourself forget for a day, try hours or even minutes. Set yourself some time in which if you think of these things you say to yourself “not now”.
It doesn’t help that so many people I see on Instagram and the likes and elsewhere want instant gratification from everyone, like they demanded an IMMEDIATE response from people and it was never enough for them :/
I know, let’s just have computers run the world! Surely then we will have a peaceful, stable society!
I don’t trust computers because they were made by people.
Nonsense, computers are pure logic! Nothing can possibly go wrong!
Relevant
You stop fighting. You lose.
What a stupid game.
Alt text:
A five-panel manga showing Mikasa and Eren as children, being accosted by a bandit. The first panel shows Mikasa with a stunned expression, and a dialogue box saying merely “…!!”. The second panel shows Eren being choked by the bandit as he tells Mikasa desperately to fight. The third panel shows Mikasa still stunned and nervous. The fourth panel shows Eren going on as the bandit continues to choke him while cussing him out. In two dialogue boxes, Eren tells Mikasa “If we don’t win, we die.” “If we win, we live.” The fifth panel shows Mikasa wide-eyed as the realization dawns on her.
Alt text:
In two large, vertical panels, Eren’s face and Mikasa’s are shown side-by-side. Eren’s shows a desperate expression, while Mikasa’s remains wide-eyed. The two panels are united by one dialogue box in which Eren tells Mikasa “IF YOU DON’T FIGHT, WE CAN’T WIN.”
Just rolling things back to 2024 is going to be a hard road. Reversing what Doge did is imposdible. Getting rid of tariffs while Trump is in office is too. In fact, the easiest thing to do is to end the Iran war.
Funny thing because that’s the seemingly possible thing I’m most bearish on. It’s of course trivial to have all Democrats vote for the war to end, but you have centrists in there who are going to balk at Iran’s terms. Status quo ante bellum is impossible, so the question is what kind of agreement you can get both Iran and most Democratic congresspeople to accept, and my guess is that it’s going to take a while to hammer that out.
And at that point where the Centrist balk, all them what their plan is for victory. Put them on record as having none.
“Centrists” need to be shown for what they are. Tools of the MIC.
Oh yeah my point isn’t that it’s impossible, but that this is one thing the centrists will need to be pushed hard on before they do.