Your 1st paragraph is a pretty good summary of the status quo. Your 2nd is a pretty gloomy prognostication which may or may not turn out to be the future. For my part, I see the possibility that the slide toward fascism can be halted and things could actually improve. I'm gratified by the return of guilty verdicts in the sedition trial of Elmer Rhodes, the naming of a special prosecutor to bird dog Done Cheato in the J6 and classified documents cases, and the rejection of so many extremist candidates by voters in the recent election. Patches of blue in an otherwise threatening sky. At least the sky is not falling.

@Flyingsaucesir The 2nd paragraph, and your reply, are about whether we get the full on fascism of the Repubs or keep the charade of democracy the Dems prefer. Either way, we are going to remain really screwed, so I would not be rejoicing about the developments you are feeling optimistic about regarding Trump and the insurrectionists. Because in two years or so, even the charade of democracy could be gone for good with a Repub victory in two years, or civil war begun instead around that time.

@TomMcGiverin My friend, we have been here before. Reading your reply to the post, I knew it was you who had written it way before I got to the bottom and saw your thumbnail photo. And I know you did not need to read my reply to know the gist of what I would say. In fact, I have no illusion that I could ever lessen your pessimism. I only write for the benefit of others on this forum, so they may have some hope, and find the energy to fight the good fight. I truly think that fight is worthwhile. Nothing is written in stone. I don't think it is a lost cause. However, even if I did, I would rather go down fighting. I will never bend a knee to the likes of Trump and his mad MAGA minions, or the international criminal oligarchy who he whores for.

@Flyingsaucesir I will probably never give up my pessimism about our country and our system, until and unless it is somehow disproven, which in my lifetime, has only continued to get worse each decade, as far as my points in my first paragraph. What I do share with you, is to go down fighting, both literally and figuratively, against the assholes in both parties, as well as the ruling class both of them serve. I will keep fighting the case and cause for socialism until I die. I know that if it comes to civil war here, which I still think it will, I will have my gun and be ready to fight those pricks when the time comes, whether it is just defending myself when they come for me, or out in the streets if our side needs to actually go out there and fight them in the streets, the left against the right, with the cops and military, either on their side or, at best, standing back and standing by, in case the right is not able to beat us on its own.

@TomMcGiverin Right on.