Conversation with Uncle John during the Twins/Sox game

[kickysnana]

John was married to my Dad's sister and he gave my Dad a copy of the Birch Society's "None Dare Call it Treason" ca 1963?laying out the secret plans of the "liberals" for taking over the government, taking away freedom and destroying the country. A very early discussion of this work here on DU came to the conclusion it was the blueprint for the Neocon's agenda.

John, a true East Side St Paul Redneck operated a crane for the city until her retired He bought a small house in one of the best neighborhoods in St Paul in the early 1950's. He loves to debate and usually throws out some outrageous far right opinion thing to provoke a discussion. He entered the service at the end of WWII and like my Dad worked in an occupied country until he was discharged. Hunter and fisherman and has a late interest in 1800's history.

I usually debate politely but never really deep because until now he was not really listening he was just enjoying the debate. Today he expressed dismay at the loss of jobs, the huge rise in his property taxes, the crap china is sending us to eat and the job prospects for his only grandson who wants to teach music and preform and is a finishing his third year of college.

I had been avoiding him, avoiding my folk;s place on Sunday where he often came to watch the current seasonal sports events. But today I had already made plans to see my 11 month old grandson there so we could all visit and John called and asked if the game was on. I was avoiding him because he was telling my Dad that he had met a St Paul school board member who told him that the schools had oceans of money and didn't need any additional funds. My daughter-in-law is a teacher and between what she knew what I heard about my niece's and nephews experiences and what I read here I sternly shot him down with facts and figures and examples. He remarked after I had left that he was really surprised that I felt so strongly about it and he really was not positive that what the man claiming to be a school board member was correct.

Bottom line, we have Uncle John's attention and with my aunt working on my other uncle and an exchange a month ago between cousins we are reaching those who I felt were unreachable.

He said he thought that the politicians, state and federal were smarter than he was and should make the decisions. I told him that I did not believe that, the truth. I did not go further but I felt he was recruited to an ideology that he did not originally think through and he was now doing just that and he did now have a realistic picture of how things were. He is a product of his generation, his upbringing and wanting to be "one of the good guys " and be respected. He did read the paper he did watch TV news. He did not like many get all his news from people at Church or the local bar.

BTW. My daughter-in-law's family never discussed politcs, or debated in this way. She is still somewhat uncomfortable with controversial subjects and my son had asked me to be less forthcoming when she is around and this is the first time she has been in the mixed generational debates that have gone on in my family as far back as I can remember. She didn't join in but stuck it out until she was planning to leave anyway. So the a-political people are listening also.

[Forkboy]

1. My friend has never voted in his life (he's 45) but said he will this time.

Unless it's Hillary.He wont vote for her,for a Repub,or for a third party.I'm just happy he's even willing to entertain the idea.Sometime this week we're going to City Hall so he can register.

So yes,the apolitical people ARE listening...and they will come to our side far more often than not.