Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

highplainsdem

(60,138 posts)
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 10:18 AM 23 hrs ago

There's nothing wrong with feeling discouraged/scared/depressed at times. There's a lot wrong with getting stuck there.

I'm not going to minimize the forces we're up against. Trump's done more harm in a shorter time than most of us expected. The same thing goes for generative AI (the type of AI being hyped now, not older types of machine learning). The alliance between Trump and the tech lords was something I doubt most people saw coming, though a few people were aware how anti-democratic some of them were.

But if you give in to feelings of hopelessness - maybe even try to convince others our situation is hopeless - you're weakening yourself and others, mentally and even physically. If you think you're feeling bad now, you're likely to feel a hell of a lot worse later.

Do what you need to do, whatever works for you, to make yourself feel better. Exercise, ideally outdoors, is known to help. Watch or listen to anything that lifts your spirits. Spend time with loved ones, including pets. Avoid the news for a while, if you absolutely have to - but please don't do that too long, because no matter how much you try to avoid the news, reality is going to come crashing in, affecting people you love even if you aren't personally harmed, and it's likely to seem even more devastating if it's unexpected. Especially if you see afterward that you might have been able to lessen the impact if you had been paying attention.

It's fine to prepare for what you think the worst-case scenario might be, as long as you still hope for the best and don't let doomer prep consume you.

But if that worst-case scenario includes you taking some violent action, STOP - and especially stop posting about it here, or arguing that it's inevitable.

This is not your board, or mine. It belongs to EarlG, and no one here has any right to post threads or messages on this board that could cause trouble for him.

Our goal has to be peaceful change. That's still possible. And if that ever changes, a public message board would be the dumbest place to talk about it.

Let's leave any talk of civil war to the idiots on the right who want a lawless society, as long as they have power.

It's clear those idiots are not in the majority. If they were, Trump would have a much higher approval rating.

We will get our democratic country back. It's going to take continued pressure from our side as their side cracks apart, oozing obvious corruption and inhumanity that will drive more and more people to our side. Those cracks are already visible, even to a lot of Trump supporters. What's wrong with generative AI is increasingly obvious, too, with AI companies desperate to force their unethical, flawed tech into every device and every corner of society possible, in the hope of finally making some money off this ridiculously wasteful and stupid product before the AI bubble bursts.

We can beat them. We will. But not if we give up in despair.

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

katmondoo

(6,523 posts)
1. I have faith
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 10:24 AM
23 hrs ago

We will return as an even greater Country, because we have learned it takes work to be a Democracy

Ocelot II

(129,196 posts)
2. Speaking only for myself, I am finding that getting directly involved in some way
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 10:26 AM
23 hrs ago

is the best antidote to discouragement and despair. The reaction of my city of Minneapolis to the murder of Renee Good has been so great, so defiant, so determined, that being out there with a community of thousands of other peaceful but very intense protesters has been enormously uplifting and encouraging. If you're feeling helpless and hopeless, get your butt out there. Be with others in your community. Be peaceful but loud. Illegitimi non carborundum.

highplainsdem

(60,138 posts)
10. I agree. It's important to do what you can as part of the resistance. And it's important to remind
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 08:38 PM
13 hrs ago

yourself of the scope of that resistance.

Clouds Passing

(7,057 posts)
3. Power to the people is in the universal energy. The old order is disintegrating, don't get stuck in their demise.
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 11:16 AM
22 hrs ago

It is their demise, not yours.

Do what you can to raise your consciousness. Spend time with yourself to connect with your brighter light. Connect with those who encourage you to lift your self up. Be and do good which means do no harm. Practice Benevolence and Compassion in every moment of your life.

It’s okay to keep one toe dipped in the muck and mire as long as the rest of you is on stable ground. And if the one toe in the deranged world gets to be too much, take it out and return to your whole self.

Thank you highplainsdem for reminding us to stay centered.


highplainsdem

(60,138 posts)
12. You're welcome! We all need to encourage one another, as much as possible - while also alerting
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 08:54 PM
13 hrs ago

one another to dangers. Human society is on a long road. We're each on a long road. It turns out best if we take care of ourselves and one another.

Easterncedar

(5,560 posts)
6. Excellent post!
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 12:49 PM
21 hrs ago

Thank you for your thoughtful and grounding perspective.

Every bit of volunteering or protesting I do helps me. I know I don’t do enough, but what I do always makes me feel stronger. I like to think that I am contributing to building a more engaged and resilient community.

highplainsdem

(60,138 posts)
13. That's exactly what you are doing - contributing to building a more engaged and resilient community.
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 08:56 PM
13 hrs ago

Kudos for doing that!

Hugin

(37,459 posts)
7. I'm trying not to...
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 02:21 PM
19 hrs ago

Pushing the rock up the endless hill against the hurricane force wind of Trumpian scented bullshit certainly isn’t helping.

I am more resilient than most, but DAMN!

highplainsdem

(60,138 posts)
14. It isn't an endless hill, Trump isn't a hurricane force wind, and there are millions - billions, probably - of
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 09:02 PM
13 hrs ago

people around the world who know what he says is bullshit.

And he's surrounded himself with some of the most incompetent people we've ever seen.

The tech lords are looking more and more incompetent, too.

3catwoman3

(28,632 posts)
15. "Trump's done more harm in a shorter time than most of us expected."
Mon Jan 12, 2026, 09:59 PM
12 hrs ago

And in a shorter time than most of us would have thought possible.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»There's nothing wrong wit...