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WiffenPoof

(2,404 posts)
Sat Sep 8, 2012, 11:47 PM Sep 2012

My Encounter With A Right Wingnut

I arrived for my doctor's appointment a little early. I'm getting to the age where I need to start having a bunch of weird tests and stuff. Let me tell you, getting old isn't for cowards. I was the only one in the waiting room when two middle-aged women enter the room. Once they settled in, one of them said in a really loud voice something to the effect that her disability was taken away because of "Obamacare." She continued to bash the President at a level I had rarely seen. I bit my tongue for as long as I could and finally asked her a very specific question. I asked just how is it the case that Obama took away her disability. This was news to me. I asked in a very polite manner. Before she could answer me, the other woman said in an elevated voice...Oh, you're one of those people. You support Obama. I stated that I was a proud Democrat and that I did indeed support the President. She launched into a tirade about how Obama is a Socialist and that I must be a Socialist myself if I support him. I'm telling you I could not get a word in edgewise...she continued her rant stating that he is ruining the country because of all the social programs and the money he is spending. She said that when Bush was in office, gas was only $1.85...since Obama took over, she is paying $4.50. I asked her how it is the President's fault that gas has gone through the ceiling. I also asked her if she was aware that Exxon generated record profits while they still receive tax dollars from the government. It was like she never even heard me. She continued on. I finally told her that it is important that we all educate ourselves on the issues before we form an opinion. She said that she did educate herself. I told her that it sounded as if she got her education from Fox News. She asked me what's wrong with that? The more she talked the angrier she got. I honestly thought she was going to physically attack me. Then she stated that all the Democrats want is to get everything for free and not work for it. They're a bunch of lazy freeloaders. I told her that her statement simply isn't true. I for one believe that some people need a hand up and not a handout. She continued on as if I hadn't said anything. She then stated again that more people are on food stamps than ever before and that the President is the "food stamp president.". I told her...you think that might be due to the worst economy since the Depression? No answer. She added to her statement that all Obama wants is to turn this country into a welfare state where everyone is on the government dole. Once she took a breath, I asked her this question: If Obama wants everyone on the government dole, then why is it that your friend is having her disability taken away (because of Obama). She couldn't answer me. I added that I believe that we have a social contract to those who are less fortunate than we are. I suppose you would think I'm some sort of Socialist for believing that. She said...no, your not a Socialist, you're and idiot. Ah, I said. Now we are name calling. She said, I'm not name calling. If I were name calling, I would call you a "fucking idiot." Well, I had enough. I realized that there was nothing I could say or do that would make any sort of impact.

To be honest, I was quite upset about the whole incident. In fact, I was shaken and very disturbed to think that there are people out there that honestly do not "get it." That there are people that are that uneducated and believe everything that Limbaugh, Beck and Fox says. I honestly don't know if we will find our way back.

I've had a couple of days to think about the incident and I'm faced with a choice of crawling back in my hole and let the uneducated remain that way...or I could fight. Right now, I'm too depressed to fight. I feel a sense of hopelessness concerning our country. I'm sorry. I wish I felt differently.

-P

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My Encounter With A Right Wingnut (Original Post) WiffenPoof Sep 2012 OP
The Right Wing nuts will always be with us... CaliforniaPeggy Sep 2012 #1
something tells me you are not in Texas Skittles Sep 2012 #2
Yes, You Are Right WiffenPoof Sep 2012 #3
I know it is disturbing Skittles Sep 2012 #4
I love my state, but unfortunately it's true Ishoutandscream2 Sep 2012 #31
I WILL SAY, however: Skittles Sep 2012 #36
it will get worse before it gets better grasswire Sep 2012 #5
I agree that it will get worse before it gets better. Mariana Sep 2012 #18
They said this same crap when he first won Lilyeye Sep 2012 #23
"My aunt was afraid just like you are. She died with Alzheimer's" grasswire Sep 2012 #6
No, I suppose not....n/t WiffenPoof Sep 2012 #7
I've come to the conclusion that it's hopeless to argue The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2012 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author freshwest Sep 2012 #29
great, I run a charity function and my best volunteer is a right wing nut. hollysmom Sep 2012 #9
My experiences with RW nuts in my family Mariana Sep 2012 #21
My volunteer is very sincere. hollysmom Sep 2012 #30
You could have had an effect treestar Sep 2012 #10
I'm very sorry to hear this, WiffenPoof. elleng Sep 2012 #11
I usually just go crazy myself Victor_c3 Sep 2012 #12
I just hope abolugi Sep 2012 #13
"Are you sure you have the right doctor's office?" GoCubsGo Sep 2012 #14
+1000 PADemD Sep 2012 #19
With a big smile on my face I look them in the eye and say very nicely: "You are adorable." TeamPooka Sep 2012 #15
LOL! reminds me of when Cha Sep 2012 #17
I understand how you feel... virgdem Sep 2012 #16
+1 Victor_c3 Sep 2012 #40
Be positive! Kath1 Sep 2012 #20
The best we can do is the best we can do. LiberalAndProud Sep 2012 #22
Sadly, that is how it is with those idiots Lilyeye Sep 2012 #24
Needs paragraphing. Bernardo de La Paz Sep 2012 #25
Forgive them. They know not what they do. But: Let them spew & feed it back to them word for word. Bernardo de La Paz Sep 2012 #26
I always carry my little iPod with me when I am going to be in a waiting room.... Tikki Sep 2012 #27
That woman was unconscionably rude Warpy Sep 2012 #28
I usually tell people like that onethatcares Sep 2012 #32
These people always think they can get away with spewing their RW filth in public Raine Sep 2012 #33
I am completely stuck at the place SheilaT Sep 2012 #34
SSDI drops at age 65 when retirement kicks in kickysnana Sep 2012 #41
Yeah, it's amazingly complicated. SheilaT Sep 2012 #45
"Would you bet your life?" The Doctor. Sep 2012 #35
I had a conversation with one last night said Obama is a Muslim and a Communist. RiffRandell Sep 2012 #37
I have 1 friend who keeps on with the "Birther" shit............ kooljerk666 Sep 2012 #38
I think the problem here was this person wasn't so much jp11 Sep 2012 #39
But, Romney could win. stufl Sep 2012 #42
typical republican argument, TALK LOUDER PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE YOU!!!!! Heather MC Sep 2012 #43
sooooo...she's just pissed because he's black noiretextatique Sep 2012 #44
I think that over the years - in order to sustain the emotional high of right-wing ideology they Douglas Carpenter Sep 2012 #46

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,297 posts)
1. The Right Wing nuts will always be with us...
Sat Sep 8, 2012, 11:51 PM
Sep 2012

I am sorry you had to encounter one of them.

There is NO reasoning with them. NONE. Don't let them get you down. There are many intelligent caring folks out there; these idiots aren't in that group.

WiffenPoof

(2,404 posts)
3. Yes, You Are Right
Sat Sep 8, 2012, 11:58 PM
Sep 2012

...I'm in California. But in a pretty conservative area. This was my first real "encounter" with such venom and hate. Like I said, it really disturbed me. I'm still thinking about it three days later.

-P

On Edit: I wanted to go into the whole economy and the fact that 67% of Americans still believe that it was Bush's fault. I wanted to explain how it was while Bush was in office where there was a lack of regulations on financial institutions that ultimately caused the economic situation we were in... She just wouldn't let me talk at all. If someone were to referee the debate, they would have easily said that I lost. Her tactic of screaming and not letting anyone respond worked very well.

-P

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
4. I know it is disturbing
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:01 AM
Sep 2012

we thinking folk cannot understand how people in the so-called "land of the free" can be so easily misled - but they are, by a party that counts on fear and lack of facts

Ishoutandscream2

(6,655 posts)
31. I love my state, but unfortunately it's true
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:33 AM
Sep 2012

You get in the big cities, you encounter less of these types. But in the suburbs and rural areas, they are a dime a dozen. I love when DUers are perplexed when they encounter a far righty - hell, we're surrounded by them on a daily basis. Heck, many of my friends are very right wing. It's what we have to put up with here.

Skittles

(152,964 posts)
36. I WILL SAY, however:
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 04:57 AM
Sep 2012

that it is a mistake to write off Texas - there are lots of Dems in Texas and we tend to be HARD CORE because of the non-stop SHIT we put up with!!!

grasswire

(50,130 posts)
5. it will get worse before it gets better
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:02 AM
Sep 2012

The closer we get to a WIN for Obama, the crazier they are going to get.

I posted info here some days ago about stuff I read over at freerepublic.com: how after the election food stamps are going to be stopped, and urban "hip hop" gangs will come roaring out of the cities to mass rape and loot.

They really believe this kind of stuff and are scared witless.

I think only time will prove to them that their fears are groundless.

Mariana

(14,849 posts)
18. I agree that it will get worse before it gets better.
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 01:32 AM
Sep 2012

And I disagree that time will prove anything to people like the one the OP encountered. Those people have no relationship whatsoever with reality. As in the OP's story, they utterly dismiss anything that contradicts their delusions. That isn't going to change, people like that are going to live out the rest of their lives that way.

Lilyeye

(1,417 posts)
23. They said this same crap when he first won
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 01:50 AM
Sep 2012

apparently black people were going to take over America and start raping and killing white people in droves. Yup, it was on freeperville. Fucking racist idiots.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,276 posts)
8. I've come to the conclusion that it's hopeless to argue
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:13 AM
Sep 2012

with these people. Actually, somebody did a study indicating that the more you try to persuade these folks with actual facts, the more stubbornly they will hold to their opinions. Facts will not sway them; facts will make them dig their heels in even harder. People don't want to have their strongly-held beliefs challenged; therefore they will resist your sober presentation of facts with all the rationality of a rabid weasel.

Not much you can do but shake your head sadly and say something like, "You poor thing. This is just how my poor old Aunt Mildred was, at first. Turned out it was Mad Cow disease. She was gone in only a few months after she was diagnosed, raving about the President's birth certificate. It was sad. Hope it goes easier for you, dear." Then sigh deeply and turn away.

Response to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #8)

hollysmom

(5,946 posts)
9. great, I run a charity function and my best volunteer is a right wing nut.
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:15 AM
Sep 2012

She was left broke when her husband died a with 4 kids and started her own business. Now a chain for 4 locations, run well, clean and safe and she is kind and generous with her money, unlike Romney, does not give it all to the church but several other charities. But... she watches Fox News. Usually during the quiet times, I will question her and watch her opinions morph a bit with the questions - the other day she went off on birther nonsense, so I asked what would be enough proof for her. She hates Donald Trump though (long story) so I asked if she minded being associated with Donald Trump I just kept pushing the Trump analogies, until she finally conceded that Obama was born in the US, but it is tiring because she has to come to her own conclusions, I can't "tell" her anything.

Arguing with these people will not win them over, Fox has prepared them for that, you just have to get them to think it all out., I think you were right to ask what exactly this woman lost. I would have pursued the conversation that way with feigned concern.

Mariana

(14,849 posts)
21. My experiences with RW nuts in my family
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 01:46 AM
Sep 2012

is that they'll concede something like your volunteer did, and then the next day they'll be saying the very same shit they admitted was false. You watch, she'll go off with the birther nonsense again - maybe not with you because she knows it won't fly with you, but I bet she's still talking that bullshit in the future.

One of the weirdest things I've seen is that there are a lot of rank and file RWers who know this stuff is BS, but they spread it around anyway, pretending to believe it themselves, and hoping that whoever they're talking to is stupid enough to buy it. I wonder if your volunteer is in that category?

hollysmom

(5,946 posts)
30. My volunteer is very sincere.
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:31 AM
Sep 2012

I often wonder about her, though. She built up a business, but really doesn't know about taxes and stuff, I was saying I was finally old enough to get a particular state tax break, and she had never heard about it. Her accountant told her since it was not business, she did not feel responsible to tell her about it - but the accountant also did her personal taxes. I told her to get another accountant. I think she is someone who relied on a lot of people for help. She is a very hard worker, but uneducated. She is near 70 now and had never heard of or didn't remember the dust bowl. I was trying to explain what my Dad did in the CCC which she also never heard of and wandered off into the dust bowl and trees, and lost her completely. I had to give a short course on the 30's to her.

I can't stress enough how sincere this woman is. I know her and her friends ( I cross volunteered to help out one of her friends), we have lots of friends/aquaintances in common, but she is the only conservative, others are liberal but just don't want to talk politics with her. Hey, it is a blue state. I live in a kind of red city in a blue state.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
10. You could have had an effect
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:16 AM
Sep 2012

They don't admit it in front of you due to pride, but what you said could have caused them to think.

elleng

(130,133 posts)
11. I'm very sorry to hear this, WiffenPoof.
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:27 AM
Sep 2012

Sometimes conversations work, that is, they serve the purpose of informing people, and sometimes they don't. I suggest that you NOT crawl back into a hole, give yourself some time, and try again if the opportunity arises.

Victor_c3

(3,557 posts)
12. I usually just go crazy myself
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:28 AM
Sep 2012

I'm totally not kidding here (even though I do think it is kind of funny. It's okay to laugh)

Iraq really messed with my head. I'll easily change any political conversation into a war conversation. Do yourself a favor. Don't talk "pro war" anything with me. I'll start shaking, crying, and blabbering all sorts of nonsense. It does a great job shutting people up!

I kind of hope that hearing the raw parts of war and seeing how it messes up "our heros" heads kind of shocks at least some level of sense into these people.

abolugi

(417 posts)
13. I just hope
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:36 AM
Sep 2012

everyone has their rain slickers on Nov. 7th when all the teabaggers heads explode.
It will be quite messy...

GoCubsGo

(32,061 posts)
14. "Are you sure you have the right doctor's office?"
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:38 AM
Sep 2012

"This is the Family Practice office. The psychiatrist's office is three doors down." You can't reason with delusional people, and this woman is clearly delusional.

Usually, when someone behaves that way toward me, I always say, "I'll bet you're a Christian, right?" They ALWAYS proudly reply that, yes, they are a Christian. I just reply, "Did you learn that in church? I missed the part in the Bible where Jesus told his followers to run around calling people 'fucking idiots'. I'm sure he would be so proud of you." Shuts 'em up every time.

TeamPooka

(24,155 posts)
15. With a big smile on my face I look them in the eye and say very nicely: "You are adorable."
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:43 AM
Sep 2012

if I have to I may repeat it one or two times but that's all they get.
The same thing I say to a strangers kid misbehaving in a public place.

Cha

(295,903 posts)
17. LOL! reminds me of when
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 01:23 AM
Sep 2012

a customer I knew came into our co-op in 2009 spouting rw hate filth about Michelle's garden and I just kept saying.. I love President Obama and smiling.

She went away sputtering..and I didn't see her for a long time. And, then she came in again and was all nice and no mention of the politics that got herself banished for awhile.

Edit..changed 2008 to 2009.

virgdem

(2,119 posts)
16. I understand how you feel...
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 12:52 AM
Sep 2012

I had an encounter 4 years ago with, of all people, the woman who did my nails. It was right after Obama made his speech on Reverend Wright and racism in general, and she unloaded on me while she was doing my nails. It was very ugly-she was quite proud of being a bigot and I realized that no matter what I said, it went in one ear and out the other. She was damned lucky that I continued to use her until she retired at the end of 2008. When I think of that encounter, I still get pissed off. And to make matters worse, she maintained that she wasn't arguing with me.

The bottom line is that there are some people out there that are not worth even talking politics with-they are that dense, stupid and bigoted. I tell acquaintances of the Republican stripe that we can discuss anything but politics, as I don't want a business relationship to suffer due to political differences. That's the best way. Engaging irrational people with rational arguments just doesn't work.

Victor_c3

(3,557 posts)
40. +1
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 08:55 AM
Sep 2012

I frequent a conservative forum from time to time

Engaging irrational people with rational arguments just doesn't work.


You know what is funny about that? The hardcore republicans say the same thing about us. They say that we won't listen to rational arguments either. I guess they have that right - if they consider rational argument to be "creationism is a legitimate science"

Kath1

(4,309 posts)
20. Be positive!
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 01:43 AM
Sep 2012

Don't be too disturbed. There is no reasoning with these people.

Back in 2008, some really nasty people used to pull up next to me in traffic and give me really dirty looks, give me the finger, etc. I can only think it was in response to my bumper stickers - OBAMA "08, War Is Not The Answer, I'm Pro-Choice And I Vote and some others. I found the best response was to give them a big smile (forced, of course) and flash them a peace sign. I really think that drove them crazy! After Obama gets re-elected they'll really go nuts!

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)
22. The best we can do is the best we can do.
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 01:48 AM
Sep 2012

It wasn't a teachable moment. Those are so very rare.

I wish you could have asked the first lady, "Do you think Romney's going to give it back?" I'd be very interested to hear the answer to that.

Courage, my friend.

ngu

Lilyeye

(1,417 posts)
24. Sadly, that is how it is with those idiots
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 01:56 AM
Sep 2012

They get so angry and pissed off if you challenge them in anyway and react so immaturely. My bf's mother turned into a tea bagger recently after getting married again. If my bf challenges her in anyway she gets angry and pissed off. She used to be so much different until she started listening to talk radio with her bigoted husband. Anyway, I am sorry you feel so down. Just remember you still have a good portion of us on your side.

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,788 posts)
26. Forgive them. They know not what they do. But: Let them spew & feed it back to them word for word.
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:18 AM
Sep 2012

You can say things like "Well, ma'am, you just did call a polite person 'a fucking idiot'. Can you say it again and louder, please."

Or let them talk about freeloaders on government assistance. Then say something like "But it's a hand up not a hand out" (like you did) to get her more invested into her idea, dug deeper in. Then you ask her if she would ever vote for somebody whose parents took public assistance. She will likely say "never", and commit herself. But whether she says yes or no, ask her if she would vote for somebody who themselves took public assistance. She is likely to say no or never, but she might sense a trap at that point.

Then you can state the facts: Paul Ryan took public social assistance as a young adult. Mitt Romney's parents took welfare money.

Then let her fume and fuss and expostulate and blow up. If she tries to rationalize it, trip up her (lack of) logic. If she ignores it, keep bringing it back.

Always keep in mind personal safety, but bear in mind that other people might be listening and become persuaded that the Romneybots are nuts and not worth supporting.

Arm yourself with the facts. That may stop them and even if it doesn't, then it will get others to think.

For example, tell her that Wall Street loves Obama. They don't so she will say No they don't, he's a socialist. Then you say, well they have heavily invested in the markets, more so than any other president's first term, so they don't think he's a socialist; are you smarter than Wall Street?

Use mental judo. Don't say much. Let a few words have impact.

Tikki

(14,537 posts)
27. I always carry my little iPod with me when I am going to be in a waiting room....
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:19 AM
Sep 2012

I would know within a few of her statements whether to interact with her.
They can jabber on all they want...I live in a very Blue State.
President Obama will carry my State and that poor women who you encountered
will not lose her disability but her life will always suck for her.


Tikki

Warpy

(110,907 posts)
28. That woman was unconscionably rude
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:21 AM
Sep 2012

If I had the time, I'd have let her scream for a while until she came up for air and asked if she was done, then asked if she was that horribly rude to people all the time. If not, I'm prone to say "And you BOUGHT that?" and walk away twirling my index finger next to my temple. I can be rude, too.

However, it was probably a setup, that female she was with saying the stupid thing, hoping there would be a reasonable person to attack. Yes, some of them are so wound up with hatred they do look for people to attack.

So don't feel bad, you did nothing wrong. You just got sandbagged by two females who really should be in a nice hospital taking nice drugs and talking to nice men in white coats. And maybe several successive Democratic administrations down the line, we can address the mental health problems in this country, too.

onethatcares

(16,133 posts)
32. I usually tell people like that
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 03:02 AM
Sep 2012

"I'm sorry, but I can't argue with television commercials. If you would be so kind as to present some facts,

we can have a discussion, but talking to a tv screen just doesn't work for me."


Face it, PT Barnum said it best

Raine

(30,540 posts)
33. These people always think they can get away with spewing their RW filth in public
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 03:03 AM
Sep 2012

while everyone else is supposed to keep silent, that alone pisses me off! They always think they can take advantage of other's civility. Sometime I would love to just go all ape shit on them so they would get a taste of their own medicine. Of course I know I never will because it's just not in my nature.

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
34. I am completely stuck at the place
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 03:05 AM
Sep 2012

where her disability was taken away by Obamacare.

Huh?

If she actually had a disability, it would not be taken away. So what exactly happened here?

I realize your conversation went in an entirely different direction, but I'm still stuck at "her disability was taken away by Obamacare".

A few years ago I worked for an attorney who did social security disability appeals cases, meaning, if a person had applied for disability and was turned down, she'd take their case if she felt it had merit. It was very enlightening on many levels. One was that people who got SSDI didn't get very much money. Another was how hard it was to get SSDI. Another was that most people trying to get this would really rather be working.

So I get back to, what was her disability and how was it taken away by Obamacare?

kickysnana

(3,908 posts)
41. SSDI drops at age 65 when retirement kicks in
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 09:59 AM
Sep 2012
http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/retired-draw-disability.html

You can't receive Social Security retirement benefits and disability benefits at the same time (with one small exception, which we'll discuss below). The Social Security disability program exists to provide disability benefits to those who are unable to work as a result of their conditions and who are too young to draw their retirement benefits. In this sense, Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) can be thought of as a retirement benefit for those who are forced to retire early. If you do collect SSDI disability benefits, they will be converted to retirement benefits when you reach full retirement age.
Early Retirement Exception

The only exception is for an individual who took early retirement through Social Security, which is possible at 62, before being approved for disability benefits.

Disabled before early retirement benefits start. If an individual drew less than a full monthly retirement benefit for a period of time, and then was approved for disability benefits, Social Security will make up the difference between the early retirement amount and the full disability amount for those months the individual was disabled but receiving early retirement benefits (retroactively).

For example, say you quit work because of health problems, started to collect early retirement benefits for a time, and then applied for and got approved for disability benefits. If Social Security agreed that your disability started before you started to collect early retirement, Social Security would pay you the difference between your disability payment (which is equal to your full retirement payment) and your early retirement payment for those months that you received early retirement payments. (The difference between your early retirement payment at age 62 and your disability payment is currently 25% of your full retirement amount.) In addition, when you reach full retirement age, you would get your full retirement benefit, as if you had never opted to collect early retirement payments.

In addition, you would get the benefit of the disability freeze, which means that your lack of income due to disability is not counted when calculating your Socal Security retirement payment from your earnings record.

Disabled after early retirement benefits start. However, if you were collecting early retirement benefits before Social Security says you were disabled, Social Security will not pay you the difference between your disability payment and the early retirement payment, and you would be paid at a less-than-full retirement rate for the rest of your life. Similarly, if Social Security denied your disability claim outright, you would continue to receive early retirement payments at the early retirement rate for the rest of your life.
Strategy for Deciding When to Take Early Retirement

While some people who quit work at age 62 purposefully apply for disability and elect early retirement at the same time, so that the early retirement payments fill the gap until the disability payments start, remember that there is no guarantee you'll be granted disability benefits, and you could be stuck collecting less than your full retirement rate for the rest of your life. Still, this can work for those people who are severely impaired and are sure that they will get disability benefits. Getting disability benefits for those over 60 is easier than for younger folks, and Social Security gives special consideration to those over 65.

If you are considering this course of action, talk to a disability lawyer, who can help you assess your financial options and your chances of winning disability benefits.
 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
45. Yeah, it's amazingly complicated.
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 05:06 PM
Sep 2012

And if I understand it all correctly (what I learned working for the disability appeals attorney) is that your disability has to be such that you can't work at all in any field you can be reasonably qualified for. The bar is actually fairly high, and it was my observation that just about everyone my attorney represented constantly said, and clearly meant it, that they'd rather be working. For one thing, what you usually collect in disability payments is not all that much. It's simply not the golden chariot to an easy life that some people think.

Also, even very rational people often think irrationally about disability and mainly hear the siren song luring them to consider going that route. An example is a co-worker of mine who has various health issues that are quite real. But she, at least so far, can do her job and she does it well. More than once, when we're chatting about this and that, she'll comment that she absolutely cannot afford to take early retirement. She's about 53 or 55, I forget exactly. And then, in other conversations when she's talking about her health, she'll say she simply ought to retire on disability. I do try to point out to her that she's far better off continuing to work. And this woman is at least as outspoken a liberal as I am. But she does not fully get what retiring on disability really means.

Oh, and the other thing that makes getting disability fairly easy, is going blind. My younger brother had to retire on disability at age 50 when he lost his vision. But because he was relatively young, and was foregoing at least 10 to 15 years of paid employment, his actual check isn't all that big.

 

The Doctor.

(17,266 posts)
35. "Would you bet your life?"
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 04:38 AM
Sep 2012

I haven't used this one yet, but it's the ultimate 'get them to stop and think' interjection. I'm pretty sure that I will if the circumstances are exactly right, it's just a matter of how real I'm going to make it to them.

I've done "Wanna Bet?" many times after some wingnut moron spouts some RW talking point I know is bullshit (just like your 'lady' did). I've won a little cash, but most of them never pay up.

One day, I'm pretty sure it's going to happen, I'm going to respond to some wingnuts pronouncement with, "Would you bet your life?"

Pin them to ONE piece of bullshit by stopping them in their tracks. I won't threaten, I won't insinuate they're in danger. I'll just stop them on that one item and ask them if they'd bet their life.

I'll offer to meet them at a coffee shop with the facts. If they're wrong, they're buying. But I'll add: "But you're a Republican and therefore a coward, so you won't show up."

One way or another, I WILL pin someone down on their bullshit with that response. I doubt it will take long.
 

kooljerk666

(776 posts)
38. I have 1 friend who keeps on with the "Birther" shit............
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 08:12 AM
Sep 2012

....and no facts have swayed him yet. I changed arguments last time.

I asked how would you like your mother/wife/GF/Daughter raped, forced to keep the child & then hang out with the rapist when he has his legal visitations?

How would u like it if I raped them??

Then you get to assist & pay for my satanic spawn??

If they got pregnent than it was not rape, it was the sperm she coveted.

This one had both him & his son thinking & very sullen. I doubt I changed any minds but sure as hell gave them a lot to think about.

Oh yea egg as a person? How about genocide charges for every man who masturbates & kills all those sperm cells?

jp11

(2,104 posts)
39. I think the problem here was this person wasn't so much
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 08:29 AM
Sep 2012

uneducated but indoctrinated. You can reason and educate someone with an open mind or at least who isn't clinging to what they've been told because it is what they need to believe.

I don't think you can do that with someone who is essentially brainwashed and living with hate in their mind that dictates the way the world works and how they think.

I'm truly sorry you had such a horrible person lash out at you for disagreeing with the lies they've been told.

stufl

(96 posts)
42. But, Romney could win.
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 10:22 AM
Sep 2012

The race is close and they have a lot of money.

We survived 8 years of W...barely. What will the Republicans say in 2016 after the world falls apart? The GOP is skillful at prevarication. And they know how to get a message out with few words. And they are unified.

Dems could never have accomplished the duping of the American public the way that the Republicans have done it. Give them credit for being very effective at manipulating public opinion to the dark side. How do they keep all those people in line?

noiretextatique

(27,275 posts)
44. sooooo...she's just pissed because he's black
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 02:09 PM
Sep 2012

really. i am grateful for the tea party because they've exposed a segment of society that we all knew was there, but now, no one with a brain can accuse african-americans of "crying racism." while i am certain she would have a similar animosity towards any Democratic president, it is clear that the color of Obama's skin contributes greatly to the current level of irrationality.

Douglas Carpenter

(20,226 posts)
46. I think that over the years - in order to sustain the emotional high of right-wing ideology they
Sun Sep 9, 2012, 05:20 PM
Sep 2012

have been forced to keep upping the anti - getting crazier and crazier as time has gone on. A similar dynamic happens in various political, religious and social movements over the years. The demand for the truest of true believing becomes unsustainable without a relentless increase in the temperature of rhetoric. We are now at the point where any semblance of civil discourse or rational thought is simply not acceptable in Republican circles. Since crazy talk is now their norm - non-insane discourse ends up sounding crazy to them. I believe it was Frank Schaeffer who used the phrase, "the fifth column of the insane."

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