Nothing like a little booze to get the ol' GOP singing...
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We hosted a New Year's Eve party for our friends and family this year here in good ol' Texas, and after a few drinks, the discussion (of course) turned to politics.
After being verbally attacked in my own home about how the "Democrats are just idiots", I finally piped up. I couldn't take the b.s. anymore.
One guy actually made the mistake of challenging me on global warming, and he didn't bring his bag o' valid arguments. His argument was that global warming was all hoo-ha, and then he asked me, "I guess you didn't hear about that big snow storm in Colorado, huh"?!. That was his "proof" that global warming was just a b.s. chumped up invention by the Democrats. I almost laughed margarita through my nose. "You're kidding, right?!", I asked.
He then proceeded to tell me that the was proud to be a Conservative, and that he was glad that his Republican party got elected in our district. I stopped him there. I asked "Conservative AND Republican? You DO realize that those two do not belong in the same sentence currently, don't you?". He said that he emphatically is for small government and controlled spending, and then proceeded to lecture me on how my Dems will blow the lid off of spending as soon as we get a chance to raise taxes. At that same old stale, cliche scolding, I left to go find my shot glass.
Upon my return, he lectured me on how the Dems want to "cut and run" and how we don't support our troops. Now, I'm pissed. I stood up and put my finger in his face and said, "Let me tell you a story. I just got off an airplane two hours ago. On this plane, I had a First Class seat. I saw one scared soldier get on the plane right before they shut the door. I asked the Flight Attendant if he was coming back or going over. She told me he was going back to Iraq. This was New Year's Eve. What a shame it was for that scared young kid. I stood up and told her that I wanted to switch seats with the soldier in Coach class, much to the amazement of my fellow first-class neighbors. So we did. He thanked me, and of course, I thanked him and walked back 21 rows to his former seat. 'Support the troops' doesn't mean that we fly a flag, or wear red-white-and-blue, or that we agree with the war. It means that we do whatever we can do show the troops that we are on their side. It doesn't matter if I agree that they are in Iraq or not. I gladly gave up my seat (no, I didn't get my miles back, either) so that I could be an example to my fellow passengers/Americans. THAT is support, my friend." My party guest didn't say much to me the rest of the night.
His arguments, and those of other self-declared Republicans in my house that night, have told me that their bottom line is that the older they get, the more money they want to keep for themselves.
I believe that this is the fundamental difference between our parties. The Dems focus on improving the lives of all people (yes, even those people who take advantage of government programs that are paid for by taxpayers), and Repubs only want to help those people who "want" to help themselves, and "screw the lazy ones... they're on their own".
Where's my vodka...?
After being verbally attacked in my own home about how the "Democrats are just idiots", I finally piped up. I couldn't take the b.s. anymore.
One guy actually made the mistake of challenging me on global warming, and he didn't bring his bag o' valid arguments. His argument was that global warming was all hoo-ha, and then he asked me, "I guess you didn't hear about that big snow storm in Colorado, huh"?!. That was his "proof" that global warming was just a b.s. chumped up invention by the Democrats. I almost laughed margarita through my nose. "You're kidding, right?!", I asked.
He then proceeded to tell me that the was proud to be a Conservative, and that he was glad that his Republican party got elected in our district. I stopped him there. I asked "Conservative AND Republican? You DO realize that those two do not belong in the same sentence currently, don't you?". He said that he emphatically is for small government and controlled spending, and then proceeded to lecture me on how my Dems will blow the lid off of spending as soon as we get a chance to raise taxes. At that same old stale, cliche scolding, I left to go find my shot glass.
Upon my return, he lectured me on how the Dems want to "cut and run" and how we don't support our troops. Now, I'm pissed. I stood up and put my finger in his face and said, "Let me tell you a story. I just got off an airplane two hours ago. On this plane, I had a First Class seat. I saw one scared soldier get on the plane right before they shut the door. I asked the Flight Attendant if he was coming back or going over. She told me he was going back to Iraq. This was New Year's Eve. What a shame it was for that scared young kid. I stood up and told her that I wanted to switch seats with the soldier in Coach class, much to the amazement of my fellow first-class neighbors. So we did. He thanked me, and of course, I thanked him and walked back 21 rows to his former seat. 'Support the troops' doesn't mean that we fly a flag, or wear red-white-and-blue, or that we agree with the war. It means that we do whatever we can do show the troops that we are on their side. It doesn't matter if I agree that they are in Iraq or not. I gladly gave up my seat (no, I didn't get my miles back, either) so that I could be an example to my fellow passengers/Americans. THAT is support, my friend." My party guest didn't say much to me the rest of the night.
His arguments, and those of other self-declared Republicans in my house that night, have told me that their bottom line is that the older they get, the more money they want to keep for themselves.
I believe that this is the fundamental difference between our parties. The Dems focus on improving the lives of all people (yes, even those people who take advantage of government programs that are paid for by taxpayers), and Repubs only want to help those people who "want" to help themselves, and "screw the lazy ones... they're on their own".
Where's my vodka...?
My mother and family grew up in Rochester, and she was commenting on the exact same thing last week! It really does almost make my stomach turn... not only because of how bad it has gotten, but how some people just put the blinders on.
Incidentally, some Repubs ask me how "I got so brainwashed". I usually reply with, "My mom received her master's degree in Economics from Washington University. She ought to know a thing or two about how the economic machine works."
She really did educate us on the "pay-as-you-go" lifestyle, vs. putting our lives (and this war) on credit. She and my Dad own everything and owe no one. Difficult to do perhaps, yet certainly achievable with discipline, and with the ability to appreciate the opportunities and blessings they have been given, and not being greedy for goofy stuff.
Speeking of goofy stuff and global warming, have you seen the TV commercial where the two moms and their kids are at the playground, and the one mom cuts in front of the other mom in line for the slide? The first mom says, "Excuse me, but we were in line." and the second mom says, "Well, we're here now."
The mom who was shoved out of the way gets mad, glances into the parking lot, and spots a Hummer. The camera cuts to the mom in a Hummer dealer buying a big Hummer SUV, I suppose in retaliation for being "pushed around".
If that doesn't sum up the American culture or philosophy of "I deserve this", then I don't know what does!
Hang in there, Nicholas, and thanks again for your comment.
Christine Hanna --
Rockwall TX
What the *^%! kind of world do our captains of capitalism want to rule, anyway?
I enjoy reading your posts, by the way.
Christine in Rockwall TX