MAGA encounter with employee at Trader Joe's.

[Snarkoleptic]

So I get up to the cashier and she spots my Mickey Mouse-shaped American Flag pin, apparently mistaking it for an "I Voted" sticker.

She- Oh, did you early vote.
Me- I'm excited that I get to do that on Monday with my son.
She- Where can I early vote?
Me- Told her when, where and how, then finished with- "I know that's a lot of info, but I'm a Precinct Committeeperson and wanted to give you the full picture."
Me- Also, if you don't live in that precinct, don't forget your State-issued ID, as they don't have the poll books for every precinct.

-then things go sideways-

She-Voter ID should always be shown to keep illegals from voting.
Me (trying to remain chill)- When you register to vote, you already have to prove you're eligible to vote.
She- But how do we know it's the registered person who's voting?
Me- We have biometric identification, where the poll workers check your signature against what's in the poll book.
Me- Voter ID is unneeded and basically designed to disenfranchise POC, elderly, people who don't drive. We should all be able to vote.
She- Well, we need to keep America great.
Me- America was always great (glancing around for any reactions - none - just uncomfortable folks in line)

I managed to get that all in while I was begin rung-up, but later wondered by TJ's doesn't have a 'no politics - no religion' policy.
As always, I thought up my zinger AFTERWARDS and should have said my stock line "A working-class person voting for Republicans is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders."
Briefly toyed with reporting her to management, but didn't want to get her written-up or fired, over her foolish/uninformed comments.

[Afromania]

1. You did your best to enlighten and it doesn't sound like the person was rabid about it.

So, good deal on not calling it in, that's the sort of thing they like to do. Besides, stupid people (trump voters) have to earn a living too.

[Cracklin Charlie]

2. Your stock line is fantastic.

My dad used to say “Nobody that works for a living should ever vote for any Republican. They are the party that exists to serve the rich”.

[lostnfound]

9. "Republican is the party that exists to serve the rich". Great line. should be used often nt

[crazycatlady]

3. You could complain to the store management

[Snarkoleptic]

8. Yeah, I mulled that over...

I was thinking...
1) Sure she's a trumpanzee, but what if she gets fired and thrown into hardship.
2) I shop there frequently and don't want stink-eye from her/others.
3) What if they don't have a 'no politics' policy and I'm the idiot here.

#1 is primarily what kept me chill.

[Marthe48]

35. she initiated the conversation

by commenting on your pin. You represented your polling position professionally. Well done.

[lunatica]

56. I think you did the right thing

Reporting her just to get even is what the MAGA party does. All she did was express an opinion. She didn't single anyone out to rage her racism at.

[Tipperary]

15. Complaining to mgmt because she has a different political view?

Wtf? Wanting to get someone fired because they have a different viewpoint is despicable.

Smh.

[Mariana]

24. Bigotry isn't "a different political view".

Calling people "illegals" is a slur.

[Tipperary]

46. We consider it a slur, yes, but it is technically correct.

Bullshit on getting a minimum wage worker fired for an ignorant remark.

[Mariana]

47. No it isn't technically correct.

"Illegal aliens" or "Illegal immigrants" might be technically correct. "Illegals" is a slur.

[Tipperary]

49. Ok, let's get her fired by all means.

[crazycatlady]

45. No, complaining to the manager that she brought up politics at work

[LisaM]

51. I agree with you.

I don't like the idea of getting people fired over every little thing, especially because in this case, the DUer got to get in some salient points about how illegal voting is virtually non-existent. It sounds like a relatively civil exchange with people having two different points of view. I don't see a fireable offense, and I really don't like this jump to get everyone fired anyway.

Compare that to the two young women who were waiting for AAA to come, and were threatened in a criminal manner by the blonde woman who said she was going to pull a gun. While that had nothing to do with the threatening person's workplace, she committed a crime, and I think it's well within the company's rights to fire her.

But a conversation at a check stand? Let it go, get in a different lane next time, hope that your words had some effect. Sometimes those opinions are just born of ignorance, or what someone's heard at home.

[cwydro]

55. I'm with you.

Frightening to see the authoritarian views espoused here.

People have a right to different opinions.

[Dorian Gray]

64. Ditto

I can't believe the people who think she should have been reported. The OP handled it just about as perfectly as she could. Cogent arguments.

[cstanleytech]

18. Unless she was being rude to the OP I see no reason to report her

for her beliefs in supporting the Repugnants however misguided we consider them.

[Tipperary]

43. Exactly. nt

[Dem_4_Life]

4. Sounds like you did a great job of deflecting her ignorance in a positive way.

Hopefully your words helped others in the line who were feeling awkward. I am surprised that MAGA people would even work at TJ's since it seems here that all TJ employee's are democratic minded people.

[FSogol]

5. The notion that "illegals" are trying to vote is ridiculous. Just more unsupported RW tripe. n/t

[cstanleytech]

20. So true but nonetheless there are millions of gullible idiots in this country that believe

illegals are a problem at the polls.
Its stupid as hell and I pointed out to my younger brother who is a Trumper that if that was true then they must have voted Repugnant since the Repugnants have the majority in Congress.............he did not find it amusing but I did

[Renew Deal]

6. This sounds like a conversation out of The Purge or Handmaids Tale

[Cha]

7. I'm sure the management at TJ's

would Not approve of their employees spewing brainwashed propaganda at the damn register.

[magicarpet]

10. Maybe we could get TJs to install television monitors...

.... at all the checkout lanes and blast Fukx Knuz all day long to sufficient indoctrinate the masses to Right Wing propaganda.

[marlakay]

11. No one at my TJ store has ever talked politics

I live in Medford Oregon which is conservative but if I was to guess more democrats shop there.

Thats the vibe I feel from friendly open minded people.

[Snarkoleptic]

13. I was somewhat shocked as well.

An early-voting conversation turns into MAGA propaganda.
This has never happened to me at TJ's before.

[Tipperary]

48. Me either.

My Trader Joe’s is full of very cool folks.

However, we never discuss politics.

[The Liberal Lion]

12. All is fair in love and war

We are at war. Better you had her fired.

[Tipperary]

19. Wow. Just wow.

[Initech]

14. I had a MAGA encounter the other day.

I was at a bar watching the Stanford - Washington State game on Saturday.

Me: Wow, there are a lot of empty seats in the stands.
Him: Attendance is down everywhere because of this kneeling stuff.
Me: You realize that this is college and not the NFL right?
Him: Oh I don't watch any sports because of that.
Me: But you're literally watching a football game right now.
Him: *dead silence*

Pretty much that was the end of the conversation. I didn't need any further information.

[LittleGirl]

17. good grief. eom

[ProfessorGAC]

21. That's Funny!

"you're literally watching a football game right now!"

Mike drop!

[True Blue American]

22. What did you expect him

To say? You cut his water off!LOL

[Initech]

30. Yeah that was the irony of the whole thing!

I love the Trumpholes' response to kneeling during the anthem how they call it the "No Fans League" and make fun of the NFL, but they still sell out stadiums every time.

[True Blue American]

42. Poll Parrots

If you hear a Republican say one thing, they all do. No thinking there.

[sandensea]

16. You're a brave soul, Snarkoleptic.

I've known people in Orange County (CA) and the Deep South who could get violent before the discussion got even half that involved.

They'd start with "Reagan this" and "Reagan that;" it would usually go downhill from there - fast.

[Initech]

33. I live in Orange County - there's a lot of Trumpholes and Fox bots where I live.

Hell my neighbor across the street has Fox News on practically 24/7.

[sandensea]

36. I know of at least one, in OC, who had his Twitter revoked after sending Kamala Harris threats

A (badly) closeted gay guy, as I recall. Sad.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

23. Where I live I only have to give my name,

year of birth, and the street I live on. Actually, there are no other "Poindexter Oglethorpes" out there (not my real name, but my real name is likewise unique) so my name ought to be sufficient.

I wonder if people like her, who believe illegals are voting in huge numbers, simply never vote themselves so they are completely unaware of what you go through to register to vote. Maybe they think people simply show up at a polling station and are given a ballot or shown to a machine. If so, their belief that millions of illegals vote makes sense, at least in their understanding of the voting process.

[FakeNoose]

25. You gave great answers, no worries

Probably she wouldn't have gotten the chicken-Col.Sanders reference anyway. But it is a great line!

Thanks for fighting the good fight. Look for the Blue Wave on November 6th!

[AllaN01Bear]

27. i gave up reasoning with these people years ago.

good show there .

[vlyons]

28. You were cool and professional

You did just right. You gave her straight facts without any bitter vitriol. I don't think your stock line would have been appropriate at all. She would have taken it as a snarky offense. And god only knows how her resentment would have escalated.

You were a perfect gentleman and didn't leave any negative feelings. Good job.

[TEB]

29. Glad you stood your ground

[PaulX2]

31. Voter ID I BS If Someone Steals My Wallet Again I Can't Vote They Are Saying

Or if I can't pay tickets, or have days to go through the hoops in many cases.

[oberliner]

32. Reporting her to management?

[3Hotdogs]

34. You should'a told her about the special voting provisions on Nov. 7

for people who have questions about how to register.

[C Moon]

37. I've never known TJ cashiers to be that outspoken. I'll bet the company would like to hear about it.

[RhodeIslandOne]

38. The Colonal Sanders line is my go to with my dumb Trump loving co-workers

You'd think a Trumpkin would avoid that shit in a Trader fucking Joe's.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

39. In essence, what she said seems to violate TJ's in-house culture statement.

See: https://www.traderjoes.com/careers

Couldn't find any statement on their web site about customer treatment, so I assume that's buried in their training manuals. However, the in-house cultural statements below should also apply to customer interactions.

(snip)

Culture:

We're flexible—our Crew determines their schedule availability. We don't believe you have to compromise important priorities in your life to be in ours.

We foster an environment that reflects the diversity of our neighborhoods to enhance the customer experience and benefit our Crew.

We behave with integrity—we treat others as we would like to be treated.

We shun bureaucracy and advocate for decision-making to happen at our stores.

We value open and honest communication and are committed to listening to our Crew. Their ideas make us better.

We structure our entire business around supporting the Crew Members at our stores, so they can earn the delight of our Customers.

It's simple, really. We believe that doing the right thing, as it relates to all Trader Joe's stakeholders—Crew, Customers, Vendors—is the right thing to do. And it starts with our Crew.

I'm guessing she could claim the statement about illegals is non-partisan, but the part about keeping America great is right out of a Trumpster's playbook and that was uncalled for from an employee.

Regardless, I admire you for unselfishly passing along the accurate and thorough voting info. I think you reacted well and proper. Another way to see it is that if you rebounded in a verbally abusive manner, that could have influenced her to never swing toward voting blue!

.......................

[JohnnyRingo]

40. I'm glad you didn't report her

You wouldn't have if she was on our side, and you continued the discussion. She heard you out and expressed a different opinion without insulting you.

People change. Give her time.

[saidsimplesimon]

41. Pass the word to your friends who shop there.

I would refuse to get in the line for this person. Should the manager suggest faster service in a shorter line, I would say that I am not there to hear about MAGA nonsense.

[Snarkoleptic]

52. I'm the sort that will steer back to her line.

My habit is to talk to anyone, anywhere.
It's kind of sad walking through any retail store, as so many people are frowning and/or looking at the floor.

[Celerity]

44. Great response but a signature is not a biometric.

Biometric examples: fingerprints, facial recognition, DNA, palm prints, iris recognition, retina scanning, etc.

I know of no polling place that would have that sort of info on people. I hope it never ever gets to that level.

[Snarkoleptic]

53. Actually, signature IS a biometric.

https://www.biometricsinstitute.org/types-of-biometrics

Signature Recognition

Visual/Behavioural Biometric The authentication of an individual by the analysis of handwriting style, in particular the signature. There are two key types of digital handwritten signature authentication, Static and Dynamic. Static is most often a visual comparison between one scanned signature and another scanned signature, or a scanned signature against an ink signature. Technology is available to check two scanned signatures using advances algorithms. Dynamic is becoming more popular as ceremony data is captured along with the X,Y,T and P Coordinates of the signor from the signing device. This data can be utilised in a court of law using digital forensic examination tools, and to create a biometric template from which dynamic signatures can be authenticated either at time of signing or post signing, and as triggers in workflow processes.

[Celerity]

58. It's a behavioural biometric, something that is a lot less solid

than a physical one.

[Snarkoleptic]

61. I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

[Celerity]

62. I am wrong all the time, lolol

[Baitball Blogger]

50. They checked my signature with the one on my Florida license.

But, I have one of the up to date licenses.

[Power 2 the People]

54. You handled that really well.

You gave her something to think about without making it seem like a lecture.

[Smickey]

57. "I thought up my zinger AFTERWARDS"

Story of my life. haha

[UpInArms]

59. My stock line is

Voting republican is like roaches buying Raid

[ecstatic]

60. Uggh. The stupidity is mind boggling.

The only illegal voters appear to be republicans. Normal, non right-wing people barely find the time/energy to vote once, much less multiple times.

[Raine]

63. No need to report her

she didn't bring up politics, she asked about voting.