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In the circles I watch and hang around, we've moved from a cynical nihilism about government (nothing matters, elites always win) to a reckoning that we have to

In the circles I watch and hang around, we've moved from a cynical nihilism about government (nothing matters, elites always win) to a reckoning that we have to invest time and energy in our governance to get it to work for us. That age band is the 30-40 year olds, with a smattering of older and younger. I would say we have gotten more idealistic, but also more pragmatic. We like the ideals, we recognize that the country coasted when we were younger, now it's time to take up the burden that the older generations didn't. Things aren't going to just happen with a march here or a slogan there. We need to invest ourselves, and this seems to be broadly understood. Regarding religion - no observer is going to be surprised that religion is collapsing in the US. No one should be surprised. I think we have some curious turns ahead there, but I'll defer those to a theological/religious studies audience. And, of course, kids relates to the economic environment and the state of the parents' mental health. If you're worried about providing for yourself and you're a responsible human being, you are not going to have kids, because you know you nee to provide for them too.

gremlinsinc 7y ago
I flip flop back and forth.... I'm encouraged by the Blue Wave and AOC, and the rise of Bernie/Warren, but at the same time I see corporations and Super PAC's becoming more and more powerful in this country. I do like what RiseUp is doing with anti-corruption campaigns across America. Ending the revolving door of money in politics I think is the surest way towards a more fair government. I'd much rather have a farmer or astronaut or scientist as President who was given 10 million for advertising and not allowed to fundraise as was all his opponents than a system where the person with the most money wins. Even though Sanders is very good at fundraising and grassroots fundraising on the left has skyrocketed, we can't always count on that being the case. As I said I flop back and forth, I'm encouraged, but at the same time I feel like things are desparate in America. I freelance and I have gone through periods of poverty when I have trouble finding clients. I'm in one right now, sadly -- it also coincides with my periods of depression, I'm pretty sure the depression is stress caused, and I've done extensive therapy to learn coping mechanisms but I still feel the pain coming on a few times a day lately. I think I'll totally drop cynicism about politics when we get a real progressive in the Oval office, or if Biden doesn't win and Warren or Bernie does. Just the fact of the progressives beating the establishment would totally lift my spirits and resolve. I'm hopeful that we do see more and more progressives, and intellectuals run in 2020 and win. Guess we'll need to wait and see how things pan out.
- pnathan 7y ago
  > I think I'll totally drop cynicism about politics when we get a real progressive in the Oval office, or if Biden doesn't win and Warren or Bernie does. Just the fact of the progressives beating the establishment would totally lift my spirits and resolve. I'm hopeful that we do see more and more progressives, and intellectuals run in 2020 and win. Guess we'll need to wait and see how things pan out. There's realism and there's cynicism. Realistically, your goals will not be easily achieved. Realistically, many people are flat desperate. Cynicism says, "why bother trying, it'll always be that way". But I can tell you this: the current world didn't fall out of no where, it is not static. Many activists in worked to build it this way.

gremlinsinc 7y ago

I flip flop back and forth.... I'm encouraged by the Blue Wave and AOC, and the rise of Bernie/Warren, but at the same time I see corporations and Super PAC's becoming more and more powerful in this country. I do like what RiseUp is doing with anti-corruption campaigns across America. Ending the revolving door of money in politics I think is the surest way towards a more fair government. I'd much rather have a farmer or astronaut or scientist as President who was given 10 million for advertising and not allowed to fundraise as was all his opponents than a system where the person with the most money wins. Even though Sanders is very good at fundraising and grassroots fundraising on the left has skyrocketed, we can't always count on that being the case. As I said I flop back and forth, I'm encouraged, but at the same time I feel like things are desparate in America. I freelance and I have gone through periods of poverty when I have trouble finding clients. I'm in one right now, sadly -- it also coincides with my periods of depression, I'm pretty sure the depression is stress caused, and I've done extensive therapy to learn coping mechanisms but I still feel the pain coming on a few times a day lately. I think I'll totally drop cynicism about politics when we get a real progressive in the Oval office, or if Biden doesn't win and Warren or Bernie does. Just the fact of the progressives beating the establishment would totally lift my spirits and resolve. I'm hopeful that we do see more and more progressives, and intellectuals run in 2020 and win. Guess we'll need to wait and see how things pan out.

pnathan 7y ago
> I think I'll totally drop cynicism about politics when we get a real progressive in the Oval office, or if Biden doesn't win and Warren or Bernie does. Just the fact of the progressives beating the establishment would totally lift my spirits and resolve. I'm hopeful that we do see more and more progressives, and intellectuals run in 2020 and win. Guess we'll need to wait and see how things pan out. There's realism and there's cynicism. Realistically, your goals will not be easily achieved. Realistically, many people are flat desperate. Cynicism says, "why bother trying, it'll always be that way". But I can tell you this: the current world didn't fall out of no where, it is not static. Many activists in worked to build it this way.