'Tis the Season to be Optimistic

Via Alternet:

2005 Wasn't All Bad
By Katha Pollitt, The Nation. Posted January 3, 2006.
Bush is on the defensive. The GOP is mired in corruption. The media are waking up. Here are 14 good things that happened in 2005.

All year long it's been one piece of bad news after another, but now it's time to put on the rose-colored glasses and list some of the good things that happened in 2005.

Indeedy. And I'd add a couple to the list:

15) On the local front, it seems that the national (and even international) embarassment that has been the EPS for the last few years may be getting better. We've got a new chief, and his plan to improve matters seems to involve (Shock! Horror!) talking to citizens.

16) Nationally, we finally joined a handful of other progressive nations and legalized gay marriage. Decriminalization of marijuana fell by the wayside, but 1 out of two at leasts indicates some progress in ridding ourselves of some of our dumber laws.

17) Oil drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge got shot down. Twice. In a year that included drowning polar bears and nearly-extinct bengal tigers, we'll take what we can get.