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grantcart

(53,061 posts)
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 05:52 PM Aug 2012

"See I told you (with a deep and piercing glare to her husband)".

In my work I explain benefits to federal employees. A large percentage are in the border security/law enforcement field.

At one point I give a detailed explanation of how their 401k has functioned under Bush and under Obama. The results are presented completely apolitically but I use reference points based on the beginning and ending of administrations.

No need for commentary, the facts scream out, Bush cost them a lot, Obama has made them a lot.

It isn't unusual for the presentation to move into a little light hearted discussion and I can tell if they were voting Republican or Democratic before. A lot more of these guys voted Democratic last time and will again than you might expect.

Over the last year I have done 350 of these one on one sessions with the employee and their spouse.

Last night another very pleasant couple, obviously good parents, very relaxed personalities. He was a law enforcement officer and she worked in the private sector.

She was a lot more reserved than the normal occasion. It was a Border Patrol agent and this month three border patrol agents have died in work related accidents. In Yuma two died earlier in the year when they were killed by a train. Normally the wives are delighted to see me, as I explain their benefits to them, and how they can increase them, because they really have no idea.

I have a couple of jokes that always work well and one of them is "and then on TV the most frightening thing appeared that you will ever see in your life, a white guy in a suit with a piece of paper". You would be surprised at how Hispanics, African Americans and even most white guys laugh when they hear the delivered completely straight by a white guy holding a piece of paper.

You can see the relief in their faces and sometimes their eyes well up a little because they have been repressing some real fear and anxiety.

Last night the wife was engaged but somehow distant. No reaction to the insurance info, or the retirement.

When I showed the graph that showed how they lost so much under Bush and how they had gained so much under Obama the wife leaned forward and said "See I told you (with a deep and piercing glare to her husband)" and she reinforced it with a strong poke to his ribs.

I made a joke and he laughed, she laughed, they actually were very sweet people.

Now here is the point.

She was pissed about what the Republicans are doing and her husband probably voted Republican last time. I think she was distant in the beginning because she couldn't tell if I was a good ole boy or if I was straight with the facts.

I am telling you there is an intensity to the feelings that educated middle class women have about what is going on. They are not backing down, they are not going quietly. This was a church going somewhat traditional Catholic family with a law enforcement officer husband. It was the perfect demographic for the Republicans, but she was angry. This is the kind of anger I haven't seen anytime in the past few years, and she wasn't the first. This is the kind of "you better listen to what I am saying if you want any warm food between now and the election" kind of anger.

We had a very nice conversation after that and as I unloaded more and more facts the husband took it well, "I really didn't know that".

The long ride from Yuma to El Centro was quietly fulfilling as I remembered the intensity of her "See I told you" and his sheepish acceptance that in the past that he had been led astray by some white guy on TV in a suit with a piece of paper.

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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"See I told you (with a deep and piercing glare to her husband)". (Original Post) grantcart Aug 2012 OP
K&R nt avebury Aug 2012 #1
K&R Paka Aug 2012 #2
Thanks for sharing that. Got hope?! babylonsister Aug 2012 #3
I Hope..........Dixie Chicks mrmpa Aug 2012 #6
thanks, I love the Dixie Chicks, maybe they'll throw O a fundraiser like Clooney's wordpix Aug 2012 #15
k&r...thanks, grantcart... ms liberty Aug 2012 #4
Nice story. Thanks! nt valerief Aug 2012 #5
I don't know how, but this should be on the Greatest Page. This is where jtuck004 Aug 2012 #7
Thanks grantcart Aug 2012 #21
Thanks for bringing this here. Care Acutely Aug 2012 #8
thank you grantcart Aug 2012 #19
grantcart Panasonic Aug 2012 #9
nope just FEGLI/FERS and TSP. By the way there was an unusual cut to FEGLI Option B prices earlier. grantcart Aug 2012 #10
Thank you so much, my dear grantcart! That was wonderful... CaliforniaPeggy Aug 2012 #11
You go Grant! Keep up the good honest work! Auntie Bush Aug 2012 #12
Thanks grantcart Aug 2012 #24
What's average 401K loss under Bush and gain under Obama? ErikJ Aug 2012 #13
This graph of the SP 500 is easy to manipulate. grantcart Aug 2012 #16
Love your stories n/t spooky3 Aug 2012 #17
Thanks grantcart Aug 2012 #18
Not many people could put the lie to the memes as well. Thanks. freshwest Aug 2012 #20
good story. Wish I could get through to my bro & his wife, staunch republics wordpix Aug 2012 #14
thanks grantcart Aug 2012 #23
k&r HappyMe Aug 2012 #22
Thank you Sekhmets Daughter Aug 2012 #25
Thanks grantcart Aug 2012 #27
grantcart, your story nykym Aug 2012 #26
I spent the night in the Imperial County jail once Dyedinthewoolliberal Aug 2012 #28
K&R berni_mccoy Aug 2012 #29
I LOVE this story, grantcart! calimary Aug 2012 #30
Polls are like the map that shows how many square miles are covered by water. grantcart Aug 2012 #31
Now THAT is one for my quotes file! calimary Aug 2012 #32
Nice story all around REP Aug 2012 #33
thanks grantcart Aug 2012 #34

mrmpa

(4,033 posts)
6. I Hope..........Dixie Chicks
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 08:26 PM
Aug 2012

Last edited Wed Aug 29, 2012, 11:46 AM - Edit history (1)

Telethon in 2005 for Hurrican Katrina victims.

wordpix

(18,652 posts)
15. thanks, I love the Dixie Chicks, maybe they'll throw O a fundraiser like Clooney's
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 09:07 PM
Aug 2012

he's raised millions

 

jtuck004

(15,882 posts)
7. I don't know how, but this should be on the Greatest Page. This is where
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 08:31 PM
Aug 2012

the Democrats are gonna win or lose the hard to reach demographic. The kitchen table. The park bench. The break room. T.V., Twitter, or Facebook will reach the low-hanging fruit, and you can't ignore them,but there is a significant percentage that must be reached when their mind has a window open, in such a time as this. Because they trust such a meeting more than the twits and the tweets., though the TV can run a close second.

You should get a commendation grantcart.

Thank you.



grantcart

(53,061 posts)
10. nope just FEGLI/FERS and TSP. By the way there was an unusual cut to FEGLI Option B prices earlier.
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 08:50 PM
Aug 2012

Auntie Bush

(17,528 posts)
12. You go Grant! Keep up the good honest work!
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 08:54 PM
Aug 2012

Everyone would be Democrats if we knew the truth and the facts.

 

ErikJ

(6,335 posts)
13. What's average 401K loss under Bush and gain under Obama?
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 08:58 PM
Aug 2012

I was trying to find some kind of data for this a few months ago but couldnt find anything. Data with graphs would be nice. It might be great to use it in the Obama campaign too.

grantcart

(53,061 posts)
16. This graph of the SP 500 is easy to manipulate.
Tue Aug 28, 2012, 09:58 PM
Aug 2012
http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=%5Egspc+interactive#symbol=^gspc;range=20010101,20120828;compare=;indicator=volume;charttype=area;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=off;source=undefined;

To put the two administrations juxtaposition start on 1/1/2001 and then draw a line on 1/1/2009

1/1/2001 SP 500 1345

1/1/2009 SP 500 832 a decline of 514 points or 38% over 8 years.

8/28/2012 SP 500 1409 an increase of 577 or 69% over 3 1/2 years

But that only tells part of the story. The other part of the story is how do the two administrations compare vis a vis others in the same category.

Remember the old joke about two guys, one a fitness nut and the other an over weight smoker walking in the woods? They make a turn around a hill and find themselves face to face with a mother bear and her cubs. They turn and start running like hell. The fit one starts to laugh. The fat guy, already starting to drop behind says, "what are you laughing about, you cannot out run a bear?". The other guy turns and yells "Idon't have to out run a bear, just you".

If you use this graph and input the appropriate numbers you can see how the US Dollar steadily declined during Bush and is now steadily increasing under Obama.

http://www.oanda.com/currency/historical-rates/

That means that Bush didn't just tank the economy, he couldn't keep up with other similar economies at the same time. Under Obama the US has not only rebounded but it is pulling the rest of the world up. What would it look like if Obama had a healthy economy in the rest of the world so that there would be increasing European consumer demand, instead of a sharply declining Eurpean economy.

After showing a bunch of definitive graphs I usually quietly say, "this isn't an election, its an intelligence test for the country".

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
20. Not many people could put the lie to the memes as well. Thanks.
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 01:23 AM
Aug 2012

Really feel much better after these.

nykym

(3,063 posts)
26. grantcart, your story
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 02:01 PM
Aug 2012

would make a very compelling political ad for President Obama's re-election.
That's the type of political ads I would rather see.

Dyedinthewoolliberal

(15,574 posts)
28. I spent the night in the Imperial County jail once
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 03:56 PM
Aug 2012

Not related to your subject but El Centro called it to mind!

calimary

(81,238 posts)
30. I LOVE this story, grantcart!
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 07:30 PM
Aug 2012

Thank you for sharing this one!

I just love these testimonials. It's anecdotal evidence like this that keeps me hopeful. Also, I think it helps buoy us all up. Not just restoring some faith, but also, maybe some conviction to go out there and see if there's another soul that can be saved, or another pair of eyes that can be opened, or another heart that can be softened, or another mind that can be opened. The more of these stories we see ought to convince us that there are MANY such remarkable awakenings to be had. All they need is to be shown a few facts, one-on-one, up close 'n' personal.

grantcart

(53,061 posts)
31. Polls are like the map that shows how many square miles are covered by water.
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 07:59 PM
Aug 2012

They don't show how deep the passion is.

We got it.

REP

(21,691 posts)
33. Nice story all around
Wed Aug 29, 2012, 09:40 PM
Aug 2012

You had good news; it's getting through where it needs to (yes I'll take this one couple as proof) and on top of it, everyone was friendly. Awesome all the way around!

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