> With age, you get betrayed in your ideals.

Some of us old-heads got pushed much farther left as a result of this. I used to be a Democrat, blue and blue. These days I'm much more like, "The Dems will sell me out to make a buck, I gotta go out and actually be the change I want to see in the world."

Young folks who are experiencing disillusion -- don't give in to despair. You can make a meaningful difference in lives. Build communities, engage in mutual aid, whatever.

Well said.

Where people are waiting for change and the movement, they don’t realize they are the change and the movement.

yeah, I was disillusioned with the establishment left, so I just looked for the non-establishment left (but not so non-establishment that they idolized the Soviets).

I never imagined I'd see a black president, same sex marriage, or cannabis legalization in my lifetime!

Now would be a terrible time to become disillusioned and despairing, after winning all those important battles. It proves that idealism works, and we really need it for current and future battles! It's the nihilistic disillusioned people who are CAUSING all the problems.

In so many aspects of life, I've noticed how there's always something devastatingly discouraging that happens right before any major successful breakthrough.

It's as if God's being a dick, and always throws something profoundly disheartening at you right on the precipice of success, just so he can laugh at you for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

I now recognize that as a sign I'm just about to succeed, and shouldn't give up no matter what.

We are living through that kind of historic transition right now, watching MAGA finally turn on Trump. Don't fuck it up by giving up now!