Its extremely difficult for me to escape the feeling that all really is lost.
I know the feeling. It's spriraling out control and I don't know what we can do to stop it. It breaks my heart
Ben Franklin When asked what type of government the American people were going to participate in, by a well-meaning woman, a stern Benjamin Franklin warned that our new government was going to be "A republic, madam, if you can keep it."
I feel we let our founding fathers down.
All is not lost - not until they put a bullet through the back of your skull and roll you into a ditch. That said, you have some reason to be despondent since the only bulwark between the Republic and tyranny - Republicanism - has been compromised, gutted and betrayed for many years.
But . . . buck up - learn something new - something that will advance your personal independence. Act positively in your personal life and focus on developing your own plans and strategies to avoid what may/may-not wait over the horizon.
Fer instance, I just came in for supper after boning out a deer. Freezer’s going to be full tomorrow, but I’m always looking for more to put into it. Anything to save a buck, develop a skill, cut dependence, thwart collectivism, etc., etc., etc.