What do you think it would be like NOT to care

[mdmc]

Hello DU!

I'm currently working hard defending Maurice Hinchey's claim that Karl Rove set up CBS...
Obviously I come to DU because of the sense of belonging. My buddies could care less about politics or good governance. Really, they just don't care.

My buddies feel about politics the way I feel about the academy awards or the super bowl - they don't care!

My question to you, DU, is what would it be like to not care about progressive politics? What if all you cared about was getting paid and getting laid? What would it be like? Would you be happy?

[babylonsister]

1. In my callow youth I didn't much care.

As I've gotten older, I've paid much more attention to what's going on in our world. I care so much now it hurts!

[mwb970]

2. Actually, I didn't care this much before Bushler.

With Clinton in the WH, I knew things were in good hands, even if he screwed up (!) from time to time.

Now, I know everything is in evil, blood-drenched hands. How can anyone not care about that??

[seabeyond]

3. Would you be happy?

lordy no. whether we can see or not, we do what makes us happy. i couldnt not care any more than someone could care

awards or the super bowl - they don't care!


i am so with you on this

i can remember from the youngest, sitting in adult conversation and then later going thru with mom what everyone said and what i thought and how she saw. this is who i am

[mdmc]

4. lol

(I thought that the world would end when I was in 5th grade and Raygun beat Carter. All the kids cheered, but I was near tears. My parents weren't even that political)

[FuzzyDicePHL]

5. Blissfully ignorant

There is something attractive about not experiencing the frustration, anxiety, pity, anger and disappointment that caring brings. It hurts to continually be let down by fellow humans, and not to be able to trust others' intentions.

Sometimes "knowing better" is a curse.

I would imagine it to be much more painful, tho, to realize down the road that one could've acted to change things for the better and didn't.

[seabeyond]

6. much more painful, tho, to realize down the road

this is what i tell my boys. we have been thru it, not going to be a shocker for us. not our lesson. we can sit back, allow others to come to realization and help them along. but we wont be the ones feeling the pain. rather deal with the now..........in hte now. not future, nor leave it til it is in the past and i have to reach back

[Warpy]

7. I care because of how I'm built

I cared in the 60s, first with lunch counter sitins (I always ostentatiously gave up my chair to a protestor) and later against the war. I likely did more harm than good, but I cared.

During the Reagan years I expected people to wake up. Every night the news got more and more surreal. Homeless families started appearing on city streets, where only a few skid row alcoholics had been seen before. Rooming houses were being evacuated of poorly paid workers and turned back into mansions, like this was a good thing. Still, everybody seemed to be sleepwalking.

During the Clinton years, the economy seemed to be a little better, but he did nothing about the tax code, increased offshoring through NAFTA and GATT, and did nothing to protect reproductive rights as access to services declined in nearly every state. People seemed to rouse slightly, but only in high moral dudgeon because he'd succumbed to the blandishments of an overheated groupie.

I have no idea what it will take to wake these poor stiffs up, but I imagine it will be enough to kill many of them, like another great depression or a world war.

I just know that until they DO wake up, there's little I can do beyond venting here and managing to educate a few of the educable out there.

[mdmc]

8. thanks for posting

enjoyed the read.
:kick:

[Deb]

9. I can't imagine it

Thanks! How great that you are working for Rep Hinchey. I still have my yard sign from his first run at Congress.

Initially, I was angry when they changed his district but now understand he really couldn't come "into his own" until that happened. He's really taken advantage of that and doing an awesome job. I hope you find him to be the same super nice guy we did.

Rove doesn't know NYers. They came out to defend Hillary against the RW, I can see the same happening with Rep Hinchey.

Nope, can't imagine ever NOT caring.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. It Sure Would Be Convenient

No concerns, no outrage, no blood boiling anger. If i didn't care, i would be just another 2 income wanker complaining about my taxes. Since that doesn't take any time or brains, it would be easier life, for sure.
The Professor

[stillcool]

11. Denial and Rationalization....

are wonderful tools until they stop working. From my perspective it is not so much 'not caring', but more likely being overly stressed maintaining a life-style and image...like a hamster on the wheely thing. I had a friend over the other day who knew nothing about the Gannon thing...he said he just couldn't take it in anymore. I am certainly not prepared for the of absurdity and enormity tangled up in current events, and the assault on my psyche, but unlike my friend, I have more time to read and get depressed and recover than he does. So, he along with other friends and family stuck on the wheely thing get the abridged almost comical version...which is nonetheless thought provoking and informing.

[ComerPerro]

12. Yeah, I would be pretty happy

[BillyDoc]

13. I tried to "guilt trip" some folks into caring . . .

I wrote a really acid essay at http://breakthelink.org/The%20reason%20why.php called "A Nation of Kitty Genovese's Neighbors" in which I tried my best to "guilt trip" the folks who are, apparently, trying really hard to "not notice" so they don't have to care. Kitty Genovese was murdered in front of 38 witnesses, for those of you too young to remember. The witnesses, by and large, did absolutely nothing to help her. Not even phone the police, until it was too late.

I know way too many of these "neighbors."

[liberalitch]

14. It would be wonderful to be oblivious....

ignorance is bliss, right?