Okay, spent Thanksgiving with brother-in-law's family and some of their friends. Brother-in-law ("B" for short) votes republican. So does his wife ("S" for short). They are classic "vote-against-their-own-interests" republicans. Right-wing right down the line, yet he works for the City where he receives great benefits which he has used extensively, and will continue to do so for the rest of his life. She works for a hospital and is active in her union, shockingly enough, considering how she is unswervingly right-wing. They live in a home that they bought through HUD. The list goes on and on, but suffice it to say that they are classic in the mold of A Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican. They are opposed to liberalism yet their lives have been so improved thanks to liberal-democrat policies that they would be shocked if they only realized. They don't - they think they did it all themselves and deserve every benefit they receive (not realizing they're exploiting the fruits of socialism).
Their friends, although I admit up-front that it is not my place to judge, are country Nascar Walmartian types who seem like they stepped right out of King of the Hill.
B & S have three daughters. The older one (23yrs) shares our basic liberal ideology (thank goodness), while the two younger ones (21yrs) don't seem to be too concerned about such things.
There was very little political discussion, but here's a sample of what little there was:
B, to my wife ("T"): "So, who did you vote for?"
T: "Who do you think? Obama."
B: (emphatically) "I'm sorry."
(Older neice's boyfriend: "The Messiah himself!")
T: "I think he has some good ideas."
B: "Well, if you believe what it says in the good book-"
S: "No political talk at dinner, remember!?"
End of conversation. I knew where he was going with it: he was going to say that the Bible says Obama is the Antichrist. Happy Thanksgiving.
And by the way: what is this obsession the right has had throughout the campaign about Obama being "the messiah"? They're the only ones who ever bring it up. I know it is all a part of their contention that he is the antichrist and all that but it still floors me that the rank-and-file repukes buy it. Real ones, too, right in plain sight! Hoky smokes, Bullwinkle.
I spent the day feeling disassociated from the group, as usual. I'm used to it. It's usually really depressing, but this time I was encouraged by the crushing loss they received on election day. Chuckle (and sigh of relief).
I like my brother-in-law, and I don't condemn him for being ignorant about politics, any more than he condemns me for not knowing how to pour a concrete foundation. He's a good person who is easily influenced by friends and associates who get their worldview from FOX news and talk radio. At least he expresses an active interest, which I suppose is better than being apathetic. Maybe. Maybe not.
I'm just glad more voters decided it was better to vote for the antichrist than for four more years of truly diabolical policies.
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Hmmm. Think about this:
How can anyone claim an active interest in politics when they newz they chooz is only suitable for people who have to be yelled at in order to get their attention?
The yeller and the yellee have a high level of adreniline in their system which is not conducive to reasoning, logic, or finding solutions.
There is a reason the election was lost by the right wing.
People have real problems that are going to require real solutions.
Blustering blowhards may be entertaining for some people, but solutions are needed and they don't offer those.
And isn't it nice to know that people who think rationally finally busted a move and got their butts out to vote?
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