Exactly. Which is why reactionaries have been trying to reverse, dillute or destroy the gains made during that time (and why others, like Paul Weyrich, have surrendered and look to live in their private caves).
I know where Carl's coming from, though, and in my case it's a place of anger, frustration and despair. The "polishing the brass on the Titanic" rhetoric is cute (and very "Fight Club," Carl Durden), but essentially means, "Everything blows. We're fucked. Bring it all down." Again, there are days when I feel this way, but it passes.
DP