As to realities that encourage escapism, you know, from stories of ships caught in storm, I always retained the image of the captain washed by the waves yet still there. It's all a matter of point of view. In the most dire situation, escapism can be turned into heroic activism - and used to change those realities.

thanks V, though i wonder, do you mean dreaming of the heroic captain was escapism for you?

talking of pragmatism, here's something you might like...
Insurgent American » Blog Archive » Politics is Food is Politics

The argument from the archaic left, i.e., that the Food Underground is individualistic voluntarism, has copped to the idea that all practical, local palliatives are somehow ineffective. This is a deeply fallacious argument. It means we still see the world exclusively through our left-to-right, linear, and purely ideological continuum. We still see politics as the persuasion of the word, and our deeds being limited to either symbolic expressions of resistance or aiming some mythical "mass blow" (a military metaphor, which implies military organization and discipline). Support our Program, and we will win Political Power, and change the Policies, and all will be well.

this is the top social priority, i believe... the whole article is wonderful.

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. Chinese Proverb.