How to talk about this election at Thanksgiving with those who want a right wing SCOTUS.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

I have relatives who have been converted by FOX NEWS. The fallback defense in light of so much that cannot be explained away is this fear of a neutral and balanced court. My family does not oppose abortion rights. We have a lesbian cousin who has voted Republican but is appalled by Trump and his band of deplorables. She may be my ally this year.

I don't think they know why they must have "conservatives" on the court. Maybe it's latent racism. Hidden away, but now know they are enablers. How to get them to reflect on that? I believe the typical conservative lacks the empathy gene.

To me it will mean tyranny over women, neglecting the dire warnings of climate change, allowing unlimited money in politics - which exacerbates global warning as lords of fossil fuels will not acknowledge the harm they have done, limiting those who can vote, carte blanche for Wayne Lapierre, and a war on minorities.

What are the benefits of a conservative court? I see none in a democracy where inequality tends to bubble up bigger and more harmful about every 50 years.

One out they always claim is that being in CA, their vote doesn't matter. But debate should be healthy. And defending your ideology should be based on more than vindictiveness - like imprisoning minorities.

Any suggestions on this?

[avebury]

1. I just read an article that Michigan

is looking to have a legal case dismissed because literacy is not a fundamental right. When you add to it the Conservative push to inhibit people's rights to vote, women's reproductive rights, religious freedom for those who are not Christian, passing leglisation to discourage movement towards green and/or renewable technology (in Oklahoma you actually have to pay a fee to have solar panels), corporations that treat water as a business commodity and not a necessary right of life, efforts to deregulate that can impact the safety and well being of the public, and so on and so on the point becomes:

Just who is going to protect the civil and constitutional rights of the people? Is most certainly will not be a conservative Supreme Court.

People on DU have recognized for quite some time that the Conservatives are interested in the dumbing down of society to be better able to do as they wish without the masses having a clue about what they are up to. When you start actually looking for court rulings that literacy is not a fundamental right that spells is out pretty darn clear.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2016/11/21/state-michigan-says-literacy-not-fundamental-right/94218364/

[SleeplessinSoCal]

3. broadening the discussion beyond hot button topics is probably vital.

And thanks for the info. My bright ally was a teacher and an administrator for educating kids with handicaps. I will be sure to bring this case to her attention. It could make it to SCOTUS.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

2. just read fb of bright female family member who has a high paying job at Amazon. Hates Hillary.

Found this one link that Hillary tried to rig Palestinian election. True or not, this is the info out there. It came from this site, I think.

http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/poll-voters-ignorant-issues-affect-them