My Encounter With A Right Wingnut [View all]

[WiffenPoof]

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