Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Election Night Despair

Election day has a certain tendency to send people to either exuberance or the deepest pit of despair. 

Here in Texas, many progressives had hoped for a big change- making Texas blue. And it really did not happen. Margins came up wider than polls suggested. The status quo and the money men remain firmly in place.

The story in my home state of Wisconsin was similar. Oof.

Lots of folks I know are down down down in election night despair right now. But maybe it's time to pull out pickaxes and start mining?

My friend Jo wrote recently about the benefits of hopelessness, reflecting on Henry Cloud's Necessary Endings.  

What if this is the disappointment that makes folks really shift their strategies, step up their passion, and make the changes they want in their towns and states and country?

Change is hard.
Shrugging and cynicism would definitely be easier.
I close with these wise words from Texas hero Molly Ivins-


So keep fighting for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't forget to have fun doin' it. Be outrageous... rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through celebrating the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was!

2 comments:

  1. via http://apnews.myway.com/article/20141105/us--election_rdp-c4f5b26982.html

    Exit polls show the GOP drew strength from voters who felt left behind economically. Almost half said their own families' financial situations hadn't improved much over the past two years, and a fourth said it had gotten worse. Those who said their finances were worse supported Republican congressional candidates by more than a 2-1 margin.

    Add a provocative Putin's Russia and a savage Islamic State to Foreign Affairs and this defeat should be no surprise. It's well deserved.

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  2. Exactly, dude. All dat's got me pretty pessimistic.

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