Things are not getting worse; things have always been this bad. Nothing is more consoling than the long perspective of history. It will perk you up no end to go back and read the works of progressives past. You will learn therein that things back then were also terrible, and what’s more, they were always getting worse. This is most inspiriting.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]

Essay (1986-03), “How to Survive Reagan,” The Progressive, Vol. 50, No. 3
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Collected in Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? (1991).