FLASHBACK 1 month - GOP Plans to "Get Personal-Dig Up Dirt" on Dems

     Try not to get too discouraged or distracted by the
ugliness of political campaigning.  We need to keep our focus
on maintaining our stability and long term perspective.  The
mud-slinging is important, but it shouldn't take our attention
from what we do.
     I think it's safe to say that truly progressive positions
will not be seen or heard much in this election campaign.  It
may well take a long time before things change significantly,
we don't know.
That's why not getting to riled up about the trivial is
generally a good idea, except perhaps in certain situations.
     The long term focus has us trying to avoid the disasters
war can bring, and then making our way in the world to the
best of our ability.  I made some comments on Stan Goff's
website, stangoff.com, (be careful of how you access it, he
keeps track of visitors) about the problems the white
progressive community faces in this challenging world. 
("Why White People Are Afraid", I think June of this
year.)  We are facing the apparent decline of our economy at
home, with no forseeable end in sight.  White progressives, I
point out, must see the struggle more thoughtfully,
particularly in terms of maintaining health and vigor in a
declining economic environment.
     I made some points before Goff dismissed me that white
progressives have never had the dominant position in society,
even though they have influenced society quite a lot,(Franklin
Roosevelt should be considered as a patrician who made
concessions, I think).  The future will be Asiatic, one other
patrician commentator has written, and it looks as if that is
the direction the world is heading.  This means white
progressives must take care of themselves as a priority, and
hope that their vision of a well-adjusted world can exist
sometime, in some way, as the future unfolds.  They cannot
expect the other peoples of the world, including their own
elite rulers, to assist in their progress.
     Without being too dreary, I see our problem as
maintaining our equillibrium in a changing world rather than
thinking our positive ideas are on the verge of victory.
     Things for most of us may be seen as that they are never
as bad or as good as they seem.  So I hope white progressives
and their allies will not get too discouraged by events, and
to not get too excited when something positive happens as
well.  Stay focused on doing what you can, and don't let the
problems of the world cause you to stop trying to do good. 
Good luck.