So, I didn't respond to a friend on facebook...
He (won't declare himself a Trumper...because he's "independent"...but none the less, supports him) wrote about interest rates, home values, etc. He works in the housing loan industry...I usually don't pay attention too much to it, because, hey, I'm an economist...if I want to hear sales bullshit, I'll sign up for a timeshare presentation. Anyway...
A mutual friend of ours responded...and a full blown Trumper, "how could anyone afford a house when the prices rise astronomically!"
He responded, "Actually housing prices haven't gone up too much, they have mostly kept up with inflation, the problem is wages haven't risen to keep up with inflation"
...and that was the end of the conversation.
One part of me wanted to smack the friend who sell's loans, "Well no shit Sherlock, I've been telling you this shit for how long?!"
And another part of me wanted to smack the other friend, "See, even people who agree with your bullshit acknowledge that our current system of Monetarism and quasi Monetarism is failing."
In the end, I didn't say jack shit. Because I knew I couldn't reason with them. And if I did, they both would have resolute to ganging up on me and made my arguments the focus....granted, they would be FUBAR arguments against mine...but they won't see it that way. Then, given the "reflect effect"...would harden their stance.
I argued with another friend, I pointed out that I know economics. He responded that so did he. I countered that I spent a number of years in college as a student of economics, where as he never went to college. And got belligerent about "educated others" who think they know every thing... my response, remind me to not bother arguing with you again.
His response was friendly in that he knows me, and I had just given him the "yeah, I'm not going to bother with you anymore". But, I know he's going to continue on his current way". And despite just passively admitting that I thought of him being too much a simpleton, he regarded it as a victory.
That's what were up against in many respects I believe. I believe there are inroads, just haven't figured out how to appeal to them yet.
= new reply since forum marked as read
The internet has made everyone an expert at everything 
It is the worst in climate change discussions. We have scientific illiterates telling thousands of world class scientists that they are wrong.
We are not immune to it either. I am an Engineer who spent time at ground zero and I have had a number of arguments with people here about 9/11 being an inside job. And they really believe themselves because of BS thinking about the “melting point of steel” etc. Argh!
