Is anyone feeling positive about 2011? [View All]

It's probably pointless to list the woes facing us as we enter the second decade of the new century (or, if you're a purist, the second year of the second decade of the new century). It's overwhelming and fantastically depressing, unless you're rolling in dough. (Anyone here rolling dough?) And it's tough to pick even the top five, because, when reminded of yet another problem overlooked, I tend to say, yeah, that should be in the top five, too.

Global climate change is bad enough. Global climate change denial is positively mind-boggling.
Structural unemployment apparently now set at 10% or more, tens of millions no longer looking for jobs, and absolutely no leverage for the American worker.
Republicans and teabaggers. Say no more.
Supreme Court. Need I say more?
Absolutely no truth about the long-term effect of the BP oil spill on the Gulf.
Guantanamo Bay.
Soviet-style endless war in Afghanistan.
U.S. military bases on two dozen countries. Can you imagine foreign military bases in the US?
Impending bankruptcies of municipalities throughout the US.
Increasing "every man for himself" attitude, tragically among those who most need support.
Fantastically high unemployment or underemployment among college graduates and burgeoning student debt.

You get the idea. Sure, the Bush years were bad. Appalling. But during those eight years there was at least an expectation that things would change for the better. And, yes, things have changed. No need to refer me to the list of this administration's accomplishments. I know all about DADT and the list of pretty decent new legislation. This is not an Obama-basing post. This is not an "I'm not going to vote" post. This is more of an attitude post. That said, this is clearly a very depressing post because that's how I see the start of 2011.

If you see it differently, let me know.