Life, the Universe and... Politics

[manicsfan]

Keep calm and carry on?

Well, that was a craptastically disappointing day. Not only watching the party I support and believe in (yes, still, despite everything!) getting crushed in the local elections, but then, rather predictably, watching the No campaign slowly roll its way to victory in the AV referendum vote. Alright, it's been pretty obvious for the last few weeks, or even months, that things would turn out this way but that still doesn't make it sting any less when it happens.

So I have been spending the evening drowning my sorrows in comedy sci-fi by hiding in my bed, avoiding all further political stuff, and listening to the audiobook of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" which is always guaranteed to lift my mood.

I'm not sure how well the Lib Dems can bounce back from this. Nick Clegg talks about dusting ourselves off and carrying on, which all sounds so wonderfully easy and simplistic when it clearly isn't going to be. Although it's stuff like this that really makes me more determined to get over my agoraphobia so I can do more to help out in the coming years. I hated sitting back and not being able to do much this time around, especially for something I believe in so strongly, so I really want to change that in the future. Fuck knows the party'll need all the help it can get!

Well at least there is also Doctor Who tomorrow. When all else fails thank goodness there is still sci-fi to turn to!

~ Ace.

Comments

[softfruit.livejournal.com]

I'm reminded of the story, probably apochryphal, of someone saying they got through the Dubya Bush years by ignoring the TV news and getting all their political news from The West Wing, and they were much happier than their democrat friends that way :)

[manics-fan.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, that seems like a pretty sound plan to me! I would try that myself, but unfortunately the British version of The West Wing would probably be The Thick of It (I've always heard that comparisson anyway), a great political comedy, but not exactly a happy fluffy one! I am half wondering and half dreading how the Lib Dems will be portrayed in the new series!

[shanima.livejournal.com]

The most craptastic part, imo, was that of all the main parties the Tories came through unharmed.

Something like a miracle needs to happen in the next four years for us not to get crushed. The only option we have is to keep plodding on :/

I'll be eating ice cream while watching Doctor Who with friends tomorrow. I'm counting on it to cheer me up.

[manics-fan.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I agree about the Tories. It just proves that they have successfully used the LDs as scapegoats and deflected all blame from themselves. I'm really hoping this means Nick Clegg, et al, will be a little less accommodating to Cameron and fight the Lib Dem corner a bit more ferociously. As Paddy said earlier the bonhomie of the rose garden days is over now.

I guess plodding on really is the only option, and there's not a lot else Nick could have said in the circumstances. It's going to be a rough few years!

I may have to get some ice cream in ready for Doctor Who too!

[totalximmortal.livejournal.com]

ugh, it was horrible... But we have to keep fighting :) I think with all the defeats, it will probably help Lib Dems to be even more determined and make a real fight back in the next elections. (really am trying to be positive!!)

I've got a bag of microwave popcorn waiting for me and Doctor Who tomorrow :D

[manics-fan.livejournal.com]

I like your positive attitude. I tend to be more pessimistic, which doesn't really help anything! I should try and be more positive I guess. Fighting back does seem the only way up from here.

Oooo, popcorn! Sweet, salted or buttered?

[totalximmortal.livejournal.com]

well it feels like we've hit rock bottom. It could get worse with the next locals but only if we let it. we have to learn from this, pick ourselves back up, and go out and fight for our places.

It's okay to feel pessimistic now. I practically had a tantrum at my parents and yelled at my dad whenever a new result came in! but we can't stay like this forever :)

Buttered :D yummy :D I prefer salted ^_^; but Lidl didn't have any XD! couldn't find the popping corn either... lol

[manics-fan.livejournal.com]

I think Nick and the others really need to stand up to the Tories more now to change people's attitudes in the next few years. Simply carrying on the way we've been going is just going to end up with the same results over the next few years.

Haha, I specifically made sure to watch the results on my own because I knew my mood wasn't going to be great. I like to sulk alone! XD

Aww no, popping the popcorn is the best part! Confession time: I have never had buttered popcorn before.

[dark-prime.livejournal.com]

Try to relax baby and take it one day at a time keep your chin up and keep smiling even tho some things are bad or seem bad you just gotta hope for the best and show your support the best way possible ^_^! "Snugs Tight" And you should really get some buttered popcorn its awesome lol and at least you have the awesomeness of Dr. Who "Nuzzle nuzzle" ^_-!

[manics-fan.livejournal.com]

Thanks sweetie *hugs* you're right, there's not much else to do now but keep trying to move forward.

I'm not so sure about buttered popcorn. To be honest I've only ever had sweetened popcorn before. But I am curious to see what it's like, so I may have to get some sometime.

[tallulahgs]

Every so often, current affairs get too much for me and I retreat to fiction ^^ I'm annoyed about AV too, though like you not surprised. So I too am going to focus on piratical DW goodness tonight!

[manics-fan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, retreating into a book, or TV programme, or movie is a coping tactic I've kept over from my childhood I think. Maybe not the most mature response, but it sometimes works for me and helps keep my sane! Doctor Who and pirates seems like a perfect distraction, just hoping there's not too much timey-wimey in it this week, my brain is already frazzled!

[tallulahgs]

Hey, there are far worse coping techniques! I hope the pirates soothed you? I think I saw you commented on doctorwho saying you quite liked the ep.

[manics-fan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought the episode was the prefect fun adventure distraction I needed right now. And no timey-wimey for me to try and wrap my fried brain around! XD

How did you like it?

[tallulahgs]

I thought it was pretty fun ^^ I wasn't sure how well it all held together for me, but it was a pretty good watch and didn't make me grumpy, so yay!

[polietics.livejournal.com]

Doctor Who was awesome. ALMOST makes up for it.

Re: Nick Clegg trying to lead with "dust ourselves off" - I think the problem is that Nick Clegg cannot lead the party. Not that he's incapable as a person, but in the position he's in (as most hated man ever) we can't be led by him. He's not inspiring anyone - he's making everyone hurt. I'm not sure how to get out of that without reforming the SDP, though, so, it's a conundrum to say the least.

also re: the agoraphobia thing, oh god, I have relapsed so hard thanks to that vote - I spent most of last night in my cupboard :|||| I hope I'll be better for the meetup this Sat.

[manics-fan.livejournal.com]

Doctor Who was amazing this week. I loved every minute of it! It was nice just to have a fun adventure episode, without all the plot twists and timey-wimey stuff. My brain is still fried from yesterday and I don't think I could've kept up with sort of stuff today! Next weeks looks pretty good too.

The things is, whilst I can understand some of the Clegg hatred is because of him, his un-kept pledges, ect, the rest of it is simply because of the position he hold as DPM propping up a Tory led government. As you say he's not really able to lead us anymore because he's just become to toxic to the Lib Dems. It's a shame.

But even if he steps down, or gets kicked out after a vote of no confidence, I'd imagine that anyone who takes his place under this government (even if it was someone like Farron who voted against tuition fees) would still end up getting hated by the public and it would end up as a wasted talent.

I'm sorry to hear you've had a relapse. That is one of the things I hate most about agoraphobia is that anything can trigger it off. It seems so easy to get triggered into a relapse, and then so hard to get over it.