I can't believe how much my family has changed after being brainwashed by the GOP.

[johnlucas]

94. Bravo for you, tconer!

That's very hard to do going against something you had believed in for so long & finding the truth.
ESPECIALLY when surrounded by family & friends who believe in the same falseness.

That took courage, tconer.
That took insight & foresight.

People are programmable, it's true. Nobody is immune.
So the best hope is to give them the proper programming.
Run the Truth.exe program & uninstall those viruses.

I'm just glad something they did crossed something you held dear & that crossing compelled you to get the real story.

In my opinion, political beliefs are this simple:
Until we achieve Utopia, there is NO political stance to take other than Progressive.
What are we Conserving when this place doesn't work right for everybody?
That's the whole purpose of Civilization, right? Making things better for everybody?

Don't feel too bad for being taken in.
Human beings don't know everything & being presented with half-truths & clever lies to fill those knowledge gaps can sucker anybody regardless of intelligence.
The fact that you overcame those lies is worthy of congratulation.

People tend to overstate the Return of Hitler situation a lot but it's true.
At any time, a destructive mode of thought can capture the majority of a people & end up destroying that society.
We don't want to end up like 1940s Germany.

One way to have protection against that brainwashing is to have care & compassion for your fellow human being.
Once you give in to hatred & disgust it is easier to manipulate you for their ends.
John Lucas