An Overheard Conversation at the MSP Airport ...

[1StrongBlackMan]

Yesterday, I was on a lay-over at the MSP Airport. Usually, I spend the time in the bar, drinking over-priced beer and people watching; but it was close to my flight time and all the bars were packed, so I headed to boarding area. That was packed too; but I was able to find a single seat, next to a late 20/early 30-something couple and their 4-ish son.

As I dove back into my Mother Jones Magazine, a 40-something, woman directly across from the family began talking to the little boy, who was chowing down on a Subway pizza. The father answered the woman by name, telling her that this was all his son had been eating for lunch, as he had been going to work with him for the past week, since his mom had been out of town interviewing.

The woman asked the mother how her job search was progressing. The mother responded that she had been out of town interviewing for teacher jobs ... she had been laid-off from her job of 5 years (somewhere in Wisconsin) and was having a tough time finding another job, despite having a Master's Degree and being certified to teach Elementary, Middle and High school Math and Science ... "I have looked at every school district in the state. School Districts just aren't hiring, anywhere! The only offer that I have received was from a charter school that wants to start me out at $18,000 per year. How can I make my loan payment on that? We still have to eat. If I had known the market would be so tough, I wouldn't have taken out all those loans."

The woman responded that she had gotten lucky ... she had been granted SSI (disability) just before her clerical support job with "the City" was eliminated.

Then, the woman asked the father how he was liking his new job ... apparently, he had recently been promoted to an "office job" position in a government agency. He loved it ... He no longer came home smelling of asphalt and sweat. Plus, his co-workers were all smart, hard working and conscientious, and they were all helpful and supportive as he got up to speed in his new position; "even though they're all members of the Union."

So, the woman asked how he likes Governor Walker? The father's face lit up saying how he loves the guy and supports everything he is doing and wished "all governors had the guts to do the same stuff."

(I Glanced up to see a 20-something woman sitting across from me go slack-jawed, as I could only imagine she was thinking what I was thinking ... "Wait a minute. You're a government worker, in a unionized job; your wife can't find a teaching job, despite being well prepared, and you're talking to a former government worker who is how receiving government assistance ... and you 'Love Walker?'" ... At this point, my magazine is down and I am openly listening to the conversation.)

So the woman asks, what the father thought about Rubio? She got a blank stare from the father. After she had to explain that Rubio was a potential candidate for the Republican VP spot, the father apologized and said that he was kind of out of the loop because he couldn't listen to the radio in the office and he was working long hours at the job because they were down 4 positions and were under a hiring freeze ... but the over-time really helped since his wife was out of work.

(This was met be eye rolling by, both, me and the 20-something)

So the woman asked about the president race, and the father got a disgusted look on his face as he said, "Anyone but Obama ... We've got to get that clown out of there before he destroys this country." The woman nodded and said, "Yup! romney was not my first or second choice, in fact, I really don't like the guy, but with his business experience, he'll be able to turn the economy around."

(That was it! I could stay silent, not a moment longer ...)

As I was opening my mouth to speak, the 20-something woman said, "Excuse me ... But I couldn't help over hear your conversation. Can I ask you guys a couple of questions?"

Father:

"Sure."

20-something Woman:

"Is the primary source of your income derived through investments?"

Father:

"Of course not ... I work and my wife is looking for work. That's why we've got to get that Obama guy out and take back America."

40-something Woman:

"Yeah ... Who has money to invest in this train-wreck of an economy?"

20-something Woman:

"So tell me ... what good will electing romney president do for you?"

Father:

"He has the business know how to create jobs."

40-something Woman:

"He's gonna taxes, cut government spending and repeal ObamaCare. Like my nephew just said, We've got to take back this country."

20-something Woman (to Wife):

"Who pays teachers? Who writes the check for your husband's job?"

40-something Woman and Father (in unison):

"We do ... the tax-payer!!!!"

20-something Woman:

"Exactly! Our tax dollar pays the teachers and government workers ... and romney wants to cut the government spending that pays your husband today; and, he wants to cut the taxes that will helped school districts employ teachers yesterday and would help them hire them tomorrow. So we know what cutting taxes and government spending looks like ... unemployed teachers and under-staffed government agencies. So, again, what good will electing romney president do for you?"

40-something Woman:

"But, Sweetie, you don't understand ... Government doesn't create jobs, private industry does. The government has to be small so that the private sector can create more jobs!"

Father:

"Yeah, you liberals are always demonizing the private-sector and looking for the government to save you. It's Obama's policies that are killing the private-sector's ability to create jobs."

20-Something Woman:

Okay ... Can we agree that the private-sector's goal is to create profit, not jobs; and, oftentimes, creating profits means cutting jobs? And even then, when the private-sector does create jobs, we know what that looks like, too; $18,000 a year for Masters degreed Math and Science teachers and no healthcare or pensions. And President Obama has nothing to do with that. But, that IS what romney did at Bain Capital? And, what Walker is doing in Wisconsin. So, again, what good will electing romney president do for you?"

(At this point, everyone within earshot is listening to the "debate", most are nodding in agreement and some are snickering.)

Father (now, red-faced and talking pretty loudly):

"See that's the problem with you liberals ... You always want someone else to give you free stuff."

20-something Woman (looking at Ms. 40-something):

"Free stuff like Disability and Medicaid?"

(Looking at the wife) "Free stuff like working hard for a living wage that will support your college loans AND allow you to eat, too? Free stuff like having confidence that at the end of your career, there will be a pension to support you and your family in your retirement? Well, they just called my flight so I'm gonna ask you one last time, what good will electing romney president do for you ... other than getting the Black guy out?"

(As this 20-something Woman gathered her stuff) Father (shouting):

"F@#%ing liberals! We should make a law so the brain-dead can't vote!"

To that, the 20-something smiled and said: "Now that we agree on. Enjoy your flight ... Enjoy your life."

And I, didn't even have to say a word!

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Wow. Appears the brain-dead are really multiplying in this country.

[Rambis]

3. They are loud, they are stupid and they are proud!

Bush getting elected emboldened the slack jawed mouth breathers of this world. Even though he was raised as blue blood as they come they identify with his total lack of intelligence and wear it as a badge of honor.

[aquart]

96. Degreed in math and science so NOT stupid.

Maybe you need to look at this differently. And if you do, maybe then you can reach them.

[chervilant]

107. hmm...

Some of the most 'educated' individuals I've met are fundamentally illiterate in math and science, even when math or science is the core of their degree program. In our system of public education du jour, they can rote memorize anything to achieve a passing grade, but their critical thinking skills are under-developed or severely stunted by the very system that should encourage each of us to be creative and resourceful.

All that being said, not a single human being on this planet would appreciate being called 'stupid,' and not just because we are NOT. Until our public discourse is no longer derisive and divisive, we have no hope of pursuing a reasonable consensus among ourselves about how to survive this ongoing and challenging socio-economic reordering of our species.

(Would that more of our species might 'look at this differently.')

[ldf]

120. Until our public discourse is no longer derisive and divisive,

sorry, WAY too late for that.

so you can sit back, take the high road and have your ass handed to you.

you know, exactly like what has been happening while the democrats place nicey nice, and refuse to call them out on their lies.

citing holder for contempt comes to mind as the most recent total fabrication that is allowed to bounce around the echo chamber.

[chervilant]

125. Really?

We can't have diplomatic discourse?

Also, the current 'relationship' between the extremists in the two primary parties resembles a battering relationship. Those of us who advocate for survivors of relationship violence recognize the placatory behavior common among the Democrats (the battered).

We also know that survivors 'leave' the battering relationship an average of seven times before they leave for good. Unfortunately, too many of the Democrats du jour are in bed with the corporate megalomaniacs who've usurped our media, our politics, and our global economy. Consequently, they'll tolerate a lot of 'hits' until they can retire in relative wealth.

[chervilant]

127. P. S.

We can speak the truth without being derisive. The truth about the corporatists is damaging enough without derision or vulgarity.

[Rambis]

110. I don't believe they are reachable

you can put forth reasoned arguments with facts and figures about taxes, insurance, wages, health care etc. Like a dog on its first swim realizes it needs to start paddling or drown their eyes roll back in their head and BANG! Obamacare! Socialism, Fascism, Communism, redistribution of wealth! "That's the problem with you LIBRULS, you all want government to take care of you"

Why do they vote republican when they have factual evidence they get zero benefit from doing so? Jingoism, racism, homophobia or are they just dumb?

[villager]

4. hence the popularity of the zombie metaphor -- the most politically accurate genre of film

...ever to come out of Hollywood...!

[phantom power]

21. This is the result of 30 years of Dems bringing a knife to the meme gunfight.

When people here GOP talking points over and over and over and over and over, for 30 years, with little or no push-back from Dems, or in fact Dems tripping over themselves to avoid being labeled as "liberals," people absorb it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

30. The Dems do have only themselves to blame

The Dems let the Republicans set the agenda and the language for 30 years, and then they're surprised that people are Republicanoid zombies?

Really, the Dems have only themselves to blame because they didn't

1) Fight back hard enough against Reagan. (In fact, some of them, namely the DLC, agreed with him on most issues.)

2) Counter the right-wing noise machine

3) Court the middle and working class on economic issues with grassroots organizers and plain talking politicians

4) Refuse to drink the "free" trade Kool-Aid

[calimary]

53. Lydia, you need to make this a separate post. NAILS the diagnosis in four one-line points.

DAMN! You seriously nailed this one. That encapsulates EVERYTHING that's gone wrong - that our party has done to itself.

Repeating what Lydia Leftcoast said:

Really, the Dems have only themselves to blame because they didn't

1) Fight back hard enough against Reagan. (In fact, some of them, namely the DLC, agreed with him on most issues.)

2) Counter the right-wing noise machine

3) Court the middle and working class on economic issues with grassroots organizers and plain talking politicians

4) Refuse to drink the "free" trade Kool-Aid

I've even heard that Les Moonves would love to buy himself a movie studio so that CBS Films would take on added luster, industry clout, and credibility. And the way to do that, as I've seen it speculated, would be to sell their radio properties. COULD WE PLEEEEEEEZE GET SOME RICH LIBERALS TO BUY THEM UP????????????? Attention Messers Geffen, Reiner, Spielberg, Katzenberg, and even Warren Buffett and George Soros.

DAMN! Does NO ONE on our side of the aisle think strategically, for the long term???

[Zalatix]

77. Booyah!!! You nailed it right to the wall.

[Nay]

32. Yep. It's an all-out propaganda war, and the Dems won't even acknowledge it yet. After 30 years!

you have to wonder why. Why haven't they listened to George Lakoff? Howard Dean?

1. they're really stupid

2. They agree with the game that is being played (they can do their own minor robberies) and are the second team against the Harlem Globetrotters. They're there just to provide a false competitive aura.

3. They truly believe that if you rationally present the facts, even the dumbest, most emotionally-driven person will see the light. And they feel they shouldn't have to fight "at the pubs' level" -- it's demeaning.

[tex-wyo-dem]

88. Honestly, I think...

It's a combination of all three.

[coalition_unwilling]

42. First, though, the Dems collaborated in helping to smash

the Communist and Socialist options in this country. Robert F. Kennedy, for example, served as a staffer for Senator Joseph McCarthy (of McCarthyism fame) during the 1950s.

How foolhardy and short-sighted that smashing of the far left looks now.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

70. Agreed!

[stopbush]

99. That 20-something was too easy on him. She should have looked dad in the face

and said, "you do realize that your government job may be the first job Romney eliminates if he is elected president, don't you? Is that OK with you? I hope so, because apparently, you're OK with other government employees losing their jobs. And you do know that Romney has come out against hiring any more teachers. Are you and your wife really going to proudly pull the voting lever for Romney's plan to have both of you unemployed?"

Never try to reason with these types. Give them both barrels.

[WestWisconsinDem]

67. they ARE multiplying... and moving to Wisconsin

We're awash in folks lacking two brain cells to rub together and the problem is only getting worse, it seems.

[Politicalboi]

2. Good story

At least the woman tried to get through to this idiot. She should have told him to turn in his voting card, he's done.

[elleng]

5. Great story, and great 20-something Woman!

That couple, surely the wife/teacher, just MUST re-think the conversation!

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. The connection between taxes and services

Has been shattered.

[clang1]

45. re: The connection between taxes and services

Yep. Down south they let peoples homes burn down if they don't pay for fire service. Lol. Fuck 'em.

[Initech]

7. When they say "we're gonna take this country back" - wtf does that mean?

[jtuck004]

10. Difficult to tell, but in their minds there is a picture of what they want to create...

[1StrongBlackMan]

11. I think ...

This 20-Something Woman called it on point ...

what good will electing romney president do for you ... other than getting the Black guy out?

[rbixby]

28. I think so too

That's why he got so mad, he got called on his racism. I see that all the time with republicans, you call them on it, they get mad, since they have no real defense for it.

And wow, that 20 something really took them to task on it, good for her. People need to be forced to think about that sort of thing and realize that if they can't defend their views, then maybe their views are wrong. Sadly, those same people see that as a confirmation that they're right.

[NOLALady]

41. I must admit,

I did the happy dance when I read that part!

[coalition_unwilling]

43. She got him when she asked whether his income came from investment (capital)

or working (labor). She has sowed the seeds of massive cognitive dissoncance in his head going forward, for now he must decide whether to succumb to his racist impulses at the cost of his economic well-being.

[aggiesal]

78. She had me at Hello . . .

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. I really don't think they know. Just repeating what they hear from the usual suspects, while

spitting out the word liberal in disgust and as loudly as they can.

Loud obnoxious and willfully ignorant is no way to go through life.

[Scootaloo]

19. It means they think this country is a whites-only country club

So a guy with brown skin and a broad nose named "Barack Obama" being in charge of the country clearly means that the country is no longer in their hands.

C'mon. I know DU'ers tend to tiptoe around even obvious racism, but it couldn't get any plainer! You know damn well what it means, man

[PatSeg]

35. They stole that line from

liberals during the Bush years. Many on the left out of total frustration said they wanted their country back. There was even a country song to that effect.

The past three and half years, I've noticed the extreme right paraphrasing things that the left said for eight years. Either they have NO imagination whatsoever or they're just trying to throw it back in our faces. It often feels like being on a playground. "Now its OUR turn to want our country back. How do you like that???" (Sticks tongue out and gives raspberries)

[felix_numinous]

8. It's so obvious

how people are being programmed with talking points and not thinking for themselves. Dismantling the propaganda machine has to happen--it's like a virus in the collective.

Also it's interesting how these programmed people get--angry--when confronted with reason, or encouraged to think for themselves, because underneath all of that conditioning is a thinking human being. This thinking human being does not want to FACE the alternative--that they HAVE been hoodwinked all along, by a system that has stolen this country, their life savings, homes, jobs and civil rights out from under them--AND their compliance enabled it to happen. This is a very hard thing to admit, and for some people--impossible in this lifetime.

For thinking human beings, we have to decide what to do with this abusive system that is stealing energy, resources, blood and conscious awareness (free thought) as a way of sustaining itself. And I think we have to stop being victim to it--by claiming our birthright as Earthlings--to create our own energy, our own education, food and energy sources, and refuse to have this stolen from us, refuse to be victimized any longer. Do not allow it to steal our emotional strength, refuse to be afraid, and refuse to play their fucking games. I think this is happening

[Ghost of Huey Long]

18. Dismantling the propaganda machine-yes! The media is using our public airwaves

to sell out to the highest bidder. They serve only their own profits, not the pubic interest as required when obtaining a license from the FCC. We should occupy corporate media stations and demand they have their license revoked.

[meanit]

27. It's really kind of pitiful

to hear people in their 40's talking like that, but it is symptomatic of the FOX / right wing media brainwashing. People who constantly ingest the propaganda from these sources really do have an alternate - reality view of things. And make no mistake, it is intentional propaganda and brainwashing that is being done.

When TV first started becoming popular in the 1950's, many saw the potential power of it, so laws and policies were adopted to keep it from becoming a propaganda tool. It was no coincidence that one of the first things the conservatives did when they got into power in the 80's was to start dismantling the "public protections" that had been built into TV and radio news coverage and programming. It has taken a while, but look where the media is now.

In my opinion, to effectively level the playing field one of the first things that needs to be done is to deal with the overwhelmingly conservative media and bring some fairness, balance, truth and integrity back to the airwaves. As we have all seen, there can be 100,000 people in the streets but the media will barely even give it a nod, if at all. On the other hand, there can be 25 Tea-bagging lunatics in a park in East Bumfuk and they get wall to wall coverage, talk show attention - the works. How can you fight that type of manipulation without some laws or policies that keep the media in check?

The night Obama was projected the winner of the election, one of the FIRST things that was brought up on FOX news was their worry that he might reinstate the Fairness Doctrine.
I thought that was very telling.

This country has raised a generation influenced by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, FOX news and the lowlife right wing scum that they shill for. It's going to take quite an effort to counter that poisoning that has been backed up by a multi-billion dollar industry and we need more than e-mail campaigns and boycotts to do it.
Reigning in the media is one of the most important things that can be done.

[freshwest]

34. +1,000

[susanna]

68. Great post! It really interests me, because...

I'm in my 40s. My family watched a lot of TV when I was growing up, especially the news. I actually remember what those shows were like with the Fairness Doctrine in place, and I'll tell anyone who will listen that the over-the-top political divisiveness in this country did not really start until the corporate "infotainment" crap kicked into high gear after RR's gutting of the FD. I remember the first time I heard Rush - I was completely floored by his vitriol. It just felt wrong. Whether or not I truly understood what propaganda was, I thought his show was a horrible thing - there was no give or take, such as hearing the civil discussion of competing points of view; there was no real fairness to it at all. The era of "I'm right, you're wrong" had begun.

The biggest reason that your post struck a chord with me is: when corporate interests really began controlling the media post-FD (and this includes TV news/newspapers/radio) I stopped watching/reading/listening to them, preferring to find more neutral sources. The Web was a lifesaver in that regard. Now, that was my path - my family, however, still watch TV, read the paper, and listen to political radio. I doubt you will be surprised to find that I am the sole surviving liberal in the family. Sadly, all of them were once liberal themselves. It's devastating to me, and I wonder if my tuning out gave me a fighting chance to avoid the brainwashing.

Just some random thoughts based on a great post.

[chervilant]

81. Interesting observations, meanit.

I think you might appreciate Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander. You might also look for anything on Bernays, the progenitor of propagandized advertising that links sex and self-esteem with buying things.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

101. Bernays was Sigmund Freud's nephew.

He invented modern advertising and modern P.R.

He took what his uncle discovered about human desires and motives and used them to create advertising. People want to be happy, popular, smell good, sexually attractive, respected and considered wealthy or high status for their possessions.

They want to be either part of the crowd (everybody drinks this beer & roots for this team) or be an individual (Only a few fortunate people can afford to buy this car, therefore if you buy this car, you are sophisticated and smart).

If you buy this ___ you will be (positive things).
If you buy this ___ you will avoid (negative things).

That is how advertising works. Selling non-tangible associated values.

[Initech]

119. Amen to that!

[zeemike]

24. It is common knowledge that victims of a flim flam game seldom report it to the cops.

Same principle here....even if they are faced with an obvious truth they will still deny that they were wrong and find something else to blame it on rather than face the fact that they were schmucks.

And you are so right...we need to create our own system and our own economic engine and just let the corrupt one fall apart from it's own weight.

[Mister Ed]

64. + 1 for the stunningly simple truth you've given voice to:

"...we need to create our own system and our own economic engine and just let the corrupt one fall apart from it's own weight."

[young_at_heart]

9. They must have adored Bush/Cheney

Those two really created so many jobs and Romney will 'take us back to them'!

[LuckyLib]

26. And they were both "businessmen" -- freepers need to be reminded of

the so-called "business" acumen of those war criminals. Bush was a failure at business, and Cheney was knee-deep in Haliburton. "So how did that businessman at the helm work for us, folks? Huh?"

[Beartracks]

72. It worked out great, just like his his tax cuts prevented a recession!

:roll eyes:

=========================

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. The funny thing is ...

During this whole "debate" I was waiting to jump in; but the only contribution from me that was necessary was ...

Smiling (loudly)

Nodding (vigorously)

Allowing the occasional, "Yup" to slip through my lips (loud enough for everyone to hear, but not be a part of the conversation).

[coalition_unwilling]

44. You forgot your eyerolls (vigorous, I hope), which provided

some great comic relief in your narrative

[Evasporque]

14. The Zombie Apolcalypse is upon us...

Stupendous idiocy.

[freshwest]

36. And they're vicious, too.

[Vinca]

15. I'll never understand how the dim bulbs rationalize their actual lives and their rhetoric.

The 20-something woman was great, but it must have been like talking to a pile of bricks.

[rfranklin]

86. They bought into the Reagan narrative that it was affirmative action that was taking jobs away...

It played right into their racism and fear of newly empowered African Americans. Meanwhile, it was Romney and his pals shipping the jobs overseas. Added to that was the "welfare queen" stories to explain why they were paying higher taxes and ostensibly getting nothing for it while it was hoovered up by the Pentagon.

That emotional ploy has easily translated into that black guy in the WH is screwing us to give our tax money to brown people. We gotta get a white guy back in there to put white guys on top again, they believe. Somehow they forget that things were going of a cliff into the abyss at the end of Bush's term...another white guy who promised that things would be hunkydory if you just gave more tax breaks to the billionaries. They just can't connect the dots.

[1StrongBlackMan]

91. Translated?

That emotional ploy has easily translated into that black guy in the WH is screwing us to give our tax money to brown people.

I believe that was Rick Santorium's exact phrasing ... minus the direct reference to the guy in the Whitehouse being Black. But I think he got THAT point across with his referring to Barak HUSSEIN Obama.

[rfranklin]

104. Updated or transmogrified might have been better terminology...

What I was trying to say was that they were tapping into the same emotional cesspool that Reagan did.

[1StrongBlackMan]

106. Yeah ...

I understand.

[raccoon]

16. Great post. MSP is Minneapolis airport? nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

17. Yup. n/t

[canoeist52]

20. I have such admiration of this generation of young people.

And hope in their ability and patience to cut through name-calling and anger to get to the facts. Kudos to this woman,

[jehop61]

22. Thank the Lord

that woman looking for the teaching position is out of work. How'd you like an idiot like that teaching your children?

[YOHABLO]

23. This type of conversation is the norm

I hear this type of conversation where ever I go. Granted I live outside of Atlanta .. very conservative and church going crowd. But this type of ignorance permeates throughout this country. To me, it's frightening to hear how absolutely uninformed and stupid (for lack of a better word) people are. This is a prime example of what Thomas Frank wrote about in "What's The Matter With Kansas". People so uneducated about the facts that they vote against their best interests. I am ready to move .. to where I do not know .. but 8 years of Bush was just too much. I don't think I can take this Tea Bag House of Reps and Romney too. sigh.

[freshwest]

38. Yes, frightening. And I wish I could move. Between those badmouthing the opposition the GOP and

The legions of the robotic right, we're in a bad way. In the first few years of the Bush era, I talked to people who lived in Europe during the years leading up to WW2. They said it felt the same and were terrified. Now it's worse, if possible. We don't have a 'state run' media but we do have a 'corporatist' media and it's the same messaging system.

[Nay]

25. This sounds EXACTLY like a conversation that could happen at my workplace. Any of the few

liberals who initiated a discussion like this would get the same dumb-ass answers, and no light dawning anywhere, anytime. I swear, only a complete smackdown of these people's lives would help, but only marginally -- even if Obama serves only one term, he will be blamed for any and all disasters that occur over the next 30 years.

I've come to the conclusion that propaganda works, lots of seemingly bright people can be emotionally manipulated, and that we are fucked.

[avebury]

29. What is really sad is that everything that the

20 something woman said went right over their heads. I work for a state agency in a red state and know of state workers who are so anti-Obama and avid Republican/Tea Party people and don't get it that their beliefs are so anti the personal best interest.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

31. I think some people can only learn the hard way

Sad to say.

[DenverDad]

33. If I read the OP correctly. . .

Three people living off the U.S. taxpayer can't wait to vote in the candidate who wants to cut the revenues that support their livelihood in order for 1% of Americans to be less encumbered by their tax burden?

They support the candidate who wants to cut programs that pay their salaries and/or disability in the name of "trimming the fat"?

I need a shower.

[Ed Suspicious]

37. This thread is funny. It seems even us dems hate the dems. n/t

[treestar]

39. Interesting how the guy assumes his job will survive the spending cuts

And doesn't get that his wife's troubles in finding a job are related to that. That's really, really dumb.

I know most conservatives think themselves immune due to their self assumed intelligence and hard work. But this is just a new level of dumb.

They just don't believe it will happen to them, even when it is happening to them.

[1StrongBlackMan]

62. I know ...

I've written this before; but it bears repeating ...

With the 2010 wave, one of my co-workers was beside herself with glee, loudly proclaiming that "the people have spoken" and "now we're gonna get smaller government and stop all this wasteful spending of money we just don't have!"

So I asked her if she could remember the last time she took a day off. She got a strange look on her face and replied, "I took a Sick day last week. Why?"

I replied, "that's funny ... I don't recall the office shutting down because you weren't here."

When she did not catch my point, I told her, &quot co-worker), you do realize that you are a government employee, right? In fact, you are a supervisor that supervises exactly one employee. So who do you suppose will lose their job if we get that smaller government that you long for?"

When I walked away, she still didn't seem to get my point ... But I see her just about everyday and she hasn't mentioned small government again. Maybe her middle school grand-daughter explained it to her?

[progressoid]

40. God, I hope she never gets a teaching job.

[VPStoltz]

46. Perfect example of how intractable these people are.

Their ignorance is a religion - and you all know how THAT goes.

[DFW]

47. And here's the REALLY scary part:

Voters from the American radical right will read this conversation, and nod their heads in agreement with every stupid, ignorant remark from the two idiots who are about to vote themselves either into the poorhouse or onto skid row.

[Kablooie]

51. There's really no way to defeat them except to let the right win so they will all die of poverty.

[DocMac]

61. That's what it's gonna take.

That, and the young people are going to have to see through all the propaganda and defeat these fascists.

[DFW]

80. A depressing thought

Still, I refuse to jump off the cliff with the lemmings just for the privilege of seeing their surprised faces when they hit the water.

[obliviously]

48. That is an unbelieveble

amount of information for you to have memorized, I 'm in awe!

[1StrongBlackMan]

71. I listen and report ...

for a living.

[Bellerophon]

85. it seems

Fake to me also.....
most of the threads like this one are just fantasies

[1StrongBlackMan]

92. So ...

You are calling me a liar?

Why would I take my time to write a fantasy onto an anonymous website?

[Tarheel_Dem]

49. Do you write for a living? If not, you should. Excellent story. I feel as if I were right there..

with ya. And whoever that young lady was, kudos to her.

[Kablooie]

50. They complain about being squashed but fanatically boost the people that squash them.

And want to eliminate anyone who wants to help them.

How can people be so blind and stupid?
It really is jaw dropping.

... but they are nearly half of the United States.

God people are stupid.
How did we survive as a race this long?

[southernyankeebelle]

52. Gee and now you want to know why some republicans want to take away young liberals

right to vote away. Thank you young lady.

[annabanana]

54. Maybe.. (just MAYBE) the daughter will let the conversation roll around in her

head for a couple days. She MIGHT be smart enough for the RW thread to pull a little loose (having a Master's Degree and being certified to teach Elementary, Middle and High school Math and Science). . and the whole sweater of stupid will begin to unravel for her.

[Liberal_in_LA]

55. whoa! that was a conversation!

[whathehell]

56. Good for the twenty year old!

[ErikJ]

57. Edit:

I presume you meant "he's gonna CUT taxes" right? And then there was another mistake earlier but I cant find it right now.

40-something Woman:

"He's gonna taxes, cut government spending and repeal ObamaCare. Like my nephew just said, We've got to take back this country."

[maryellen99]

58. Does that couple really think

That if robme gets elected, everything will magically go back to the way it was?

God people are so ignorant.

[1StrongBlackMan]

93. Yes ...

sometimes I live out a word or two.

Thanks.

[Mister Ed]

59. Dear Ms. 20-Something: Would You Please Consider Running for Office?

How desperately this society needs leaders as clear-thinking and well-spoken as you.

[Peaceful Protester]

60. Political Ad

That would make a great political ad.

[Beartracks]

73. +1000 Yes it would!! n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

90. I fully agree.

Because people will identify with the bystanders, even those who are, in actuality, the idiots in question.

[Dan]

63. Damn....

you should have got the 20-something name. We need to run her for office and at some point president. Someone with that much sense has an obligation to the nation. I want her autograph!

[bullwinkle428]

65. A bunch of DUers were utterly dumbfounded over the idea that Walker could

continue to garner the support he did leading up to the recall election. I hope this story sheds light as to how shit like this can happen.

Not sure whether to laugh or cry over this, but I'm more than happy to K&R!

[WestWisconsinDem]

66. yet another piece of evidence that the people of Wisconsin are idiots.

...and I speak these painful words as a lifelong Wisconsinite. What a great state this used to be. Sigh.

[Historic NY]

69. There's a lot if stupid people out there thank to FOX News....

some think that if they vote Republican they will all be rich someday.

[WestWisconsinDem]

74. that's definately true... people in WI are especially stupid, though.

...voted Russ Feingold out for an empty suit named Ron Johnson, AKA Senator Dumbass, and then respondingly re-elected Scott Walker.

[Beartracks]

75. They see the carrot, but not the stick from which it dangles.

And it's not even a real carrot.

=======================

[Smilo]

97. that's because the stick

is up their collective arses

[Zalatix]

76. If I followed this conversation right, I would have said this instead:

"Enjoy your Masters degree holding wife's $18,000 a year job which won't even pay for the college loan. You'll be looking fondly on that king's salary if Romney wins. Perhaps she should offer to work for free and save the taxpayers more money."

[laundry_queen]

111. LOL, that's a good one

to say to gov't workers who vote against their own interest: "If you want to cut government spending so much, why aren't you working for free?"
It's also a good retort to the "if you want to raise taxes why don't you just cut the government a check?" crap they spew.

[brush]

79. Low info voters

The 40 something couple are the result of some 30 years of the systematic underfunding of public schools. We get walking but not thinking id iots who don't even know they're being undereducated and therefore not able to see through and understand the vast echo chamber the right wing media has taken conjured up and put on the air waves in the country. They have been and continue to be programed by Limbutt, Fox noise and all the other talking point-spewing talking heads. They're actually too dumb to know that are being used by the controllers and funders of the right wing. And has anyone ever thought who the actual make up of the right is? It's got to be most of the top 1% (I say most because there are some good socially conscious rich folk), their supported minions in political offices (GOPers, and Bluedog dems), and the rest are working class and middleclass, or should I say formerly middleclass, dupes who are continually fooled by the right into hating unions, liberals, national healthcare, government programs that are the result of all taxpayers paying their fair share, and our African American president. The good thing is that GOPers are mostly white males and older whites who will become less and less of a factor as the country continues to brown as we speak. These non-progressive whites feel threatened that they are losing their privileged position in society, and they don't like it.

[sandyshoes17]

82. Heard a comparison to the Titanic

I don't remember what show it was. But heard someone say that lower and middle class people who vote republican are like the people in steerage on the Titanic cheering and wishing well to all the wealthy people getting in the life boats.

[LibDemAlways]

83. One thing that needs to be said frequently in these

types of encounters:

"You do realize you are voting against your own self interest, don't you? You are voting to cut your own throat."

That's basically what the 20 something was telling them. It just needs to be said in a dumbed down way that they can understand.

[BB1]

84. Dunning Kruger

sounds like this.

[datasuspect]

87. reads like a talking point script

meh.

[1StrongBlackMan]

94. I just ...

posted what I heard.

Sorry if it doesn't meet your standard for "realness."

[mojowork_n]

89. Outstanding post. I'd love to see that kind of

gritty reality reflected in TV ads and commercials.

Many, many years ago a producer named Norman Lear invented
a TV character, "Archie Bunker."

He was meant to be something like a lunch bucket, Regular Joe
version of what Stephen Colbert does today. Someone to give
voice to dumb ideas, in public, so you can really think about them.

Only just like Stephen Colbert, a lot of people never got the joke.

[1StrongBlackMan]

95. So true ...

I read a (Ohio State University, I believe) study where the self-identified conservatives were unable to pick up on Colbert's mocking of them. In fact, the study indicated that the conservative respondents reported that Colbert's views reflected their conservative views.

[mojowork_n]

113. Found it.

Had to take a look and it came right up. Here's the study:

http://www.democracynow.org/resources/63/263/The_Irony_of_Satire.pdf

Another link:

http://socialpsychologyeye.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/confirmation-bias-satire-and-stephen-colbert/

....uses the term, "confirmation bias," implying someone is looking for opinions to reinforce their own
point of view.

But I disagree. At least a little bit. I'd use the analogy of Plato's cave. Some of these people
are struggling to identify the world around them. For whatever reason, the best they can manage is
a really flat, two-dimensional, black-and-white world. No depth, subtlety, complexity, ambiguity at all.

It's a frightening world they live in, and that -- and anger -- are the engines driving that whole
train wreck.

[1StrongBlackMan]

115. So True ... So True ...

Some of these people
are struggling to identify the world around them. For whatever reason, the best they can manage is
a really flat, two-dimensional, black-and-white world. No depth, subtlety, complexity, ambiguity at all.

But that makes life soooo much easier. Gray is so much harder to understand than white or Black, on or off, "right" or "wrong."

But, that understanding is what separates the higher functioning amongst us.

[mojowork_n]

123. Right on, brother.

I was going to put this up as a new post, but I'll send it to you as a reply in this thread....

....It's late for me, I'm wore out and there's been a lot going on lately so it's really enough for me to just get
a validation from one person tonight.....

I happen to have this one really good, honest friend who happens to be an elderly white Republican
male. There's so much we have in common but just so happens he's the dude filling my inbox with
forwarded viral e-mails. (Long story.)

This is what I got tonight, in an e-mail with "civics lesson" in the subject line:

A black kid asks his dad, "Dad, what's democracy?"
(Wait...the kid doesn't know his Dad...let's start over....)


A black kid asks his mom, "Mama, what's a democracy?"
"Well, son, that's when whites work every day so we can get all our welfare benefits!"

"But mama, don't the white people get pissed off about that?"
"Sure they do, but that's called racism!"

So I said to him:

If you find that sort of jape to be so amusing, the number of teeth in your mouth and your IQ are very likely in a neck-and-neck race for numerical ascendancy. But I'm putting my money on those biting, incisive "choppers."













By the way, I.......

......Bought my MEGABUS tickets for Bastille Day weekend.

It's highly probable that at least one or two of my traveling companions -- of whatever
race or ethnicity -- will look like one of the above photos, but who cares?

Why is it even necessary to make sport of the misfortune of others, except as a
poor, stop-gap reassurance that one's own station in life is still "higher" than
some other poor unfortunate's?

The sixteen dollar and fifty cent fare -- both ways, 700 miles and including the full
fifty cent cost of the "reservation fee" -- is one more 'proof' that sometimes, when
society makes economic choices that benefit all, everyone benefits.

Take "single-payer" health care for instance. All for one, and one for all. The
only losers in this country, if that's ever instituted, will be the insurance company
CEO's and mandarins who have been paying themselves irrationally high bonuses
and salaries for denying coverage (including dental insurance) to those who need
it most.

But of course, those are the same people funding these self-defeating, mean-
spirited and ugly emails you keep forwarding to me.

Like a pigeon in a Skinner Box, trained to respond to an electronic tingle that
explodes with neural rewards within that very minimal cranial space.

.....PS,

Hey, on top of that.....

To be honest, 1StrongBlackMan, I'm really a "brotha-in-law."

Except for the possibility that some serious genetic testing might turn up an
'unexpected' result from a profile of my mitochondrial data -- it's possible
there's some Ottomans in there -- from the Cenk Uygur tribe, the dudes
that ran over my ancestral turf and mixed up the DNA heritage:



,,,,,,my best claim to the "user_name" MoJoWork'N is that for most holidays
and special days in the last couple of decades, I've been enjoying more sweet
potato pie and greens than burek or cevapce. But that's another long story.

[patrice]

98. Speaking of FREE stuff: Granted SSI right before a lay-off?? Hhmmmm . . .

All factors other than the job (and attitudes toward Unions) being relatively equal, bet there's one whole helluva boat load of people who would NEVER get that "lucky".

[proud2BlibKansan]

100. I have a hard time believing that a teacher certified K-12 in both Math and Science can't find a job

Something doesn't smell right here. My district has a hiring freeze but they ARE hiring Math. Science and Special Ed teachers. That's fairly typical of most school districts across the country.

Nope, she's lying about something.

[1StrongBlackMan]

108. That very well may be true ...

with my sister being a teacher (in Ohio), I thought it unusual that a math/science teacher would have a difficult time finding a teaching job.

Maybe, her Masters Degree prices her out of consideration? Maybe she was a crummy teacher?

[proud2BlibKansan]

109. Maybe she got fired

Something's not right here.

[Smilo]

102. The young woman is to be so

commended on trying to educate these two morons. Trouble is though Fox has had decades to work on the "brain" cells of cretins like these two.

They will be the first to complain if the husband is laid off, if the wife's benefits are suddenly cut and the child no longer gets an education. Of course, then it won't be Walker or the GOPTs fault it will be he fault of that black man in the White House.

I always find it amazing how many (individuals and businesses alike) who are subsidized by the government one way of another - don't see it as that they are recipients of government checks - but quickly complain about government spending and that Obama is wrong - but they don't see that government spending puts the $$ in their pockets and that because of the government they are actually able to live.

Sometimes I just feel like screaming - thank goodness for people like this young woman and the OP because they do restore my faith in people having real brains and using them correctly.

[1StrongBlackMan]

112. Living in Tucson ...

I always find it amazing how many (individuals and businesses alike) who are subsidized by the government one way of another - don't see it as that they are recipients of government checks - but quickly complain about government spending and that Obama is wrong - but they don't see that government spending puts the $$ in their pockets and that because of the government they are actually able to live.

with Honeywell, Raytheon and the U of A being three of the largest local employers, and heavily funded with federal and state contracts, it amazes me that people don't seem to understand that THIS is what is at stake when they cry for spending cuts.

[lindysalsagal]

103. Thanks for writing all of that down.

It's like a bad SNL skit.

People really are like trained animals: They can be taught to mimic like a monkey and defend like a bull.

But thinking...To hard.

[lindysalsagal]

105. All the happy rw talk will end when mittens declares the end of social security in the debates.

It's all over at that point. He's too stoopid to keep quiet about it.

[spanone]

114. 'you liberals' hey dude, fuck you.

[Duppers]

116. K & R for excellent reporting

I can relate because my brother sounds exactly like these unbelievable RW idiots.

Phooey to the few posters who implied that you made this dialogue up. I know people like this!

[1StrongBlackMan]

118. It's interesting ...

I made it up; but at least 5 other people report having/witnessed similar conversations ... I think any and every liberal has heard these kind of conversations; maybe it was the amount of detail in my post, maybe it was because I could recall the dialogue ... verbatim, maybe they are trollish disruptors, maybe they are just a$$hole looking for a place to be a$$holes ...

[Duppers]

121. ?

"I made it up;..." ?

Really? You did? Or did you again leave a word out? (Similar to my perpetual split infinitives. )

[1StrongBlackMan]

122. No ...

I didn't make it up.

Wjhat I was trying to say is that I find it interest that I post my rememberance of a conversation and I get accused of making it up. But those accusing me of making it up are silent to the several others that posted saying that they have had/heard similiar.

I was wondering if it was my inclusion of conversational detail that caused them to doubt ... Or, would they have doubted whatever was written.

[Duppers]

124. Thanks for clarifying

And for dispelling any confusion. I was almost 100% sure of what you meant but didn't want you to give the doubters any room for an 'aha,-I-knew-it' moment.

I think one of the posters is a troll (low post count) and the other(s) are probably among the lucky and naive few who have never interfaced with such gross ignorance, sooo....therefore, they doubt anyone's recount of such an encounter.

Besides, some of us just have great recall.

Anywho, here's another pat for a great job.

[Le Taz Hot]

117. This is they key:

the father apologized and said that he was kind of out of the loop because he couldn't listen to the radio in the office

Stupid people (yeah, I said it) prefer to have other people do their "thinking" for them. It's why they can never defend their positions when pressed even a little (as this young woman was doing) and resort to invectives and spitting the "L" word through clenched teeth. It's conditioned response.

[TNLib]

126. I see and hear this kind of nonsense all the time.

I don't see how any government worker, union worker or public servant could vote for a republican. These people are complete morons.

but yet I see and hear this kind of bullshit everyday.