Thanksgiving dinner trapped next to wealth and ignorance

[Cyrano]

Rather than traveling home this year, I had dinner out with neighbors and friends that included one couple that I was meeting for the first time.

Most conservatives have one of three reasons for being Republicans: (1) They’re wealthy and think that Republicans will protect their wealth; (2) They’re fundamentalist Christians who have bought into the preaching of ministers with a far-right political/religious agenda, or; (3) They’re basically ignorant people who watch Fox, read nothing and are incapable of having a rational thought.

I was seated next to the male half of this couple and someone made a lame Sarah Palin joke. He snapped back that she was a sure thing for 2012. And, sitting right next to him, I just couldn’t manage to bite my tongue.

I had read this man as a wealthy conservative, but as it turned out, I had hit the daily double. He was not only a wealthy Republican, but also a total fool who watched Fox and was proud that he’d “… never had to resort to using a computer.”

Within a minute into the “conversation,” he was faulting Obama for hanging out with the terrorist Ayers, and the criminal Rezko. So here I was, face-to-face with someone whom I thought was only protecting his wealth, but had bought into every single piece of crap peddled by the right-wing noise machine.

Holding my temper, I tried to make a few logical arguments as to why we are where we are today. To my astonishment, he blamed everything on Bill Clinton and completely skipped over the existence of the occupant of the White House for the last eight years.

Realizing I was talking to someone with oatmeal between his ears, I changed the subject. Nonetheless, I find it astonishing how a basically ignorant man can become very wealthy by focusing only on the accumulation of wealth, while ignoring everything else that is taking place on planet Earth.

I suppose it’s the inverse of the statement, “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?” Being smart and being rich are obviously mutually exclusive. This horrible fact is something I probably understood years ago, but I suppose the concept is just too difficult to accept.

[DonEBrook]

1. Many if not most wealthy people become so by either

inheritance
or
stepping on others
or
both

Those who actually earned a lot by honest means tend to be far less rightwing republican types. It's fascinating.

[Cyrano]

4. Welcome to DU, DonEBrook

You're absolutely right about those who either inherited wealth, or attained it by using, abusing, and/or outright scamming their fellow human beings.

There really are people who have made billions through innovation, foresight and just plain intelligence, but far too few. People like Bill Gates and George Soros come to mind. And the fact that they remain sane human beings is to their credit.

I fail to understand why those who have so much more than they'll ever need in their lifetimes insist on voting for Republicans. Such people never seem to grasp the fact that they are voting for people who don't really believe in a "free enterprise" system and will endanger their wealth and well being far more than could any "liberal" politician.

[Frustratedlady]

2. I, too, was amazed at how they could continue to blame Clinton...up to the end...

It had to have been part of their talking points. They hate Clinton so much, it is incredible. Same with Hillary.

If I were in that situation, I'm afraid my tongue would be so sore from biting it, I would have had to pass on dinner.

My hairdresser said it is frightening how many women swear by Sarah. They just think she is soooooo sweet and would make a wonderful president. Look out.

[Cyrano]

3. Yep, blaming Clinton for everything makes sense to people like this

But what I find almost impossible to grasp is the eight-years-that-just-passed gap in their brains.

It can only lead one to believe that far too many of our species are evolutionary mistakes.

[Fumesucker]

5. I long ago came to the conclusion that accumulating wealth has little to do with intelligence..

Other than the occasional accidental fortune, accumulating wealth is something that takes a great deal of interest in money. Too much intelligence is very often a distraction from the single minded pursuit of wealth because money, in and of itself, is really boring to a great many intelligent people.