My exposure to some really dumb Americans

[Sarah Ibarruri]

I don't know why, but I keep encountering Americans that amaze me with their stupidity. Today at work is a case in point.

Today I was in a client meeting, along with my boss and another fellow in our firm. The clients are a married couple.

Halfway through the meeting, my boss asked, "so why don't you have insurance?"

They explained. Neither has health insurance because they cannot afford to pay insurance for him, and as for hers, she couldn't get insurance even if they could afford it, because she is simply 'uninsurable' due to a series of chronic health issues (she has end-stage kidney disease).

So there we are, all 3 of us, listening to her discuss her myriad illnesses, which are why she is denied insurance, when all of a sudden she opens her mouth and says this:

"... and then there's that universal health care, Obamacare, whatever it's called. It's all a bunch of bs! That Pelosi telling us we need to approve Obamacare first so we can then figure out what's in it. Hah! Do they think we're dumb? They'll just tax us to death!"

Our mouths fell open. We generally don't get clients discussing politics, but what shocked the most was the stupidity of this woman. She has chronic illnesses, she is uninsurable, they cannot afford insurance for either of them, and she's criticizing her ONLY possibility of having access to insurance?

And then she's accusing others of being 'dumb?'

How did Americans get so idiotic, become so low IQd?

[leftstreet]

1. Most people don't know who Pelosi is n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. The right-wing media use her as a bogeywoman

Your average rightie doesn't know much about her except that she's supposed to be BAD.

[BobbyBoring]

54. Your average righty doesn't know ANYTHING

except what they are spoon fed daily by Rush, Beck, Hannity, etc.

I listen to the local talk program and it's mind boggling. To them, George Soros is the real Dr. Evil and is behind our rush to socialism and eventually, the dreaded Agenda 21!

[Plucketeer]

178. You NAILED it!

My wife had to travel back for family business in June. She was apalled to discover that her parents have access to only FAUX news. She didn't engage her folks on any political topics - she didn't want to KNOW how they felt about such things. They're in their 80s and there's no use starting a rift in the fqamily fabic. But we were both sad to realize this fact as her mom is disabled and sits in front of the TV most of the day.

[Capitalocracy]

186. Just the face on the screen at the Two Minutes' Hate.

Don't ask why, just yell and scream with the crowd at Pelosi and Obama.

Every once in awhile I read something outside of DU (believe it or not) and the crazy right-wingers in the comments section say things like Obama pretended to be a moderate and turned out to be the biggest communist ever... seriously? How can they even maintain this propaganda? It's not even a big lie wrapped around a grain of truth, it's just a gigantic pile of BS, and people eat it like it's chocolate ice cream!

sorry, it gets to me a bit how crazy almost half the people in the U.S. have become. wtf?

[savannah43]

194. "Bogey Woman?" Sounds like a song from the 60's.

Made me laugh.

[gateley]

21. You're right. This couple must tune in to Rush daily. I'm sure

he's used her name a lot.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

29. Voting against their own self-interests, exhibiting idiocy, and being proud of it.

That's what the Repigs are about.

[Beavker]

114. Yep

They read it right off of a bumper sticker I presume.

[oldlib]

2. This astounds me.

The stupidity of some people, primarily republicans, is unbelievable.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

30. Honestly. I think one thing that separates Republicans from libs is intelligence,

ability to see reality, and degree of ass-kissing the mega-rich against their own self-interests.

[kctim]

52. Only if

ones reality is the same as anothers reality, which it rarely is.

You have no clue as to what is in anothers best interest and pretending you do is hardly a sign of superior intelligence. If that couple believes rights trump money, they are not going to be complaining about the money.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

82. If they believe rights trump money, then they believe the right of the mega-rich to steal

trumps her right to survive.

[kctim]

87. I'd be willing to bet

that they don't give the "mega-rich" a second thought OR agree with your opinion that they "steal" anything.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

90. I'm sure. They were born believing the mega-rich have the right to keep everyone else as servants

Stupid people, simply stupid.

[Name removed]

143. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[whathehell]

176. Don't bother...They're on a Roll...It's the Five Minutes of Self Hate time on DU.

I do wish that some of these elitist bitches would go somewhere else.

[MicaelS]

100. "ability to see reality" uh-huh....

Except when libs (your word) start believing in

the Vaccine/Autism connection, or
Indigo Children, or
Crystals, or
Astrology, or
Homeopathy, or
Chemtrails, or
9/11 was all a big US Government Conspiracy

The first six are nothing but pseudo-scientific mystical bullshit, as bad as any believed by Republicans (including all organized religions).

The last is just another crackpot conspiracy belief like the Republicans' "black helicopters", "FEMA Internment Camps" or "Obama Death Panels".

The Left has no monopoly on intelligence, or ability to see reality. There are plenty of kooks and crackpots on both the Left and the Right.



OTOH, I completely agree with you about the "degree of ass-kissing the mega-rich against their own self-interests. "

[JDPriestly]

147. Indigo Children?

What is that about?

Sounds like something out of a science fiction book.

Please explain. I'm curious. Never heard of it.

[msanthrope]

181. It's what Jenny McCarthy promoted before she cured autism. nt

[MicaelS]

195. Indigo children

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo_children

[seriousbusiness]

212. not that complicated...

it is another way to talk about intuitive people... people who have accurate gut feelings and so forth...

[MadrasT]

160. Uh-huh

The Left has no monopoly on intelligence, or ability to see reality. There are plenty of kooks and crackpots on both the Left and the Right.

Yeppers.

I lose patience with ideologues who spout idiocy, regardless of their political affiliations.

[Beavker]

115. The smart Repugs are the Sociopaths

Basically that is how they get to power. They are smarter than the dummies that follow the GOP, so they have the capacity to even become elected (Aside from an occasional Palin). Then, they are sociopaths, which is what drives them to be elected anyway. They aren't really even Repuglicans...they are just self serving and promoting...which just happens to be where the Republicans get their people.

[Puget Progressive]

152. This reminds me of what John Stuart Mill (a VERY intelligent man) once said -

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative."
I would add that in the right-wing media universe of today it is very easy to have your inherent stupidity amplified by the numerous overpaid shills who parrot the right-wing talking points. Remember the Tea Party sign "Get your government hands off my Medicare!"
The mind boggles.

[SpiralHawk]

32. RepubliCorp, Inc. has diligently cultivated this stupidity (R)

This is the RepubliCorp, Inc. strategery -- the Dumbing Down of America. And for those who watch Fox and listen to Rush and Hannity and O'Rielly, it really is working. They are becoming dumber and dumber, malleble SuckerPuppets sopping up all the lies RepubliCorp shoves their way...

[Enthusiast]

129. Diligently cultivated is a good way to say it.

And these are the dummies that want to take back America.

[Supersedeas]

221. speachless

[OmahaBlueDog]

3. It's part of a larger mindset that goes: "The government can do nothing right"

Many people believe this in the same way they believe the sky is blue or the sun will rise tomorrow.

[Cracklin Charlie]

18. Mr. Truman would have a name for them.

In Independence, we call them "the aginners". It doesn't matter the issue, they are agin it.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

34. That's what they are, the aginners, and they vote Repuke because they're so stupid nt

[whathehell]

121. They're not "stupid", they are uninformed...Deliberately brainwashed by a

RW media.

[RC]

154. Welcome to DU neighbor.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

31. They are so F stupid, it's almost shocking. nt

[whathehell]

128. You're so Rude and Bigoted it IS shocking.

[EC]

4. I hope you adviced her of her

error. Told her that her only chance was the Affordable Healthcare Act.


On edit: I just have a real hard time with this. When I was uninsured, I read every piece in the news concerning any help coming from Health Care reform. Year after year I watched and read to find out if any thing done would help me or not. Why wasn't she concerned enough about it to follow it in the newspapers or online?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

35. Nope. I don't introduce politics in my client meetings.

If I met her out of work, you BET I'd point out how F*****g stupid she is, but I'd do it in as nice a way as I could muster, given her degree of idiocy.

[EC]

55. You could have framed it as

"help available to you" now and in the future...don't even say Obama Care, just say well, there is this or that available now, due to the Affordable Health Care Act...she wouldn't have even known that was Obama Care most likely. No politics, just telling her what is available.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

80. I wish. These days I don't bother with idiots. I have zero patience with them.

If they want to die, welcome to it. I only worry about those who don't want to die, but are being killed off by the system unwillingly.

This woman? She apparently wants to die. Full speed ahead, I say.

[sakabatou]

5. ...

[Sarah Ibarruri]

36. It does, it does. That's why we've had a right wing trend. The STUPIDS vote Repuke nt

[wildbilln864]

6. you must have been in upstate SC?

they're like that around here. worse even.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

37. You're kidding me, right? And I'm in North Florida, which may as well be Georgia. nt

[wildbilln864]

48. I wish I was kidding. nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

51. How did Americans get so stupid? Really. I lived in Spain, and even shoeshines over there read the

paper and know what's going on in the world and more importantly, their country, and can explain it to you.

These people, they only repeat bs, lies, and quips and quotes from right wing idiots.

[spooked911]

79. it's all part of the plan of the elites, to dumb down Americans

so they don't know who is ripping them off. George Carlin has a great bit on this.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

86. Clearly, someone somewhere has designed a really effective propaganda system

Joseph Goebbels would be really proud of the GOP!

[Diclotican]

185. Sarah Ibarruri

Sarah Ibarruri

In fact I belive Dr Gobbelt would have been full of envy about what GOP, and the RW media outlets have managed to do in US..

Diclotican

[RockaFowler]

93. They are bad in South Florida, too

Here was my experience a couple of weeks ago. It is terrifying if these people actually vote

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/RockaFowler

[Sarah Ibarruri]

96. Nice. No doubt about it. Wherever ignorance rules, you're going to find Republicans. nt

[NICO9000]

112. Ooooh, I'm borrowing that line!

Thanks Sarah!

Feel free to use my favorite line about the knuckle-draggers who revel in their ignorance:

"Often wrong, but never in doubt." In the case of the repigs, substitute "always" for "often" and you hit the nail right (no pun intended) on the head.

[whathehell]

141. The South Bashing is getting a bit much, isn't it?...

If she thinks they're so "stupid" she could move..Oh wait..Then she wouldn't have anyone to look down on!

[Name removed]

125. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[whathehell]

146. Again...Are you a stupid American, Sarah?...Or are you a stupid foreigner being rude?

[cordelia]

155. "even shoeshines"? Elitist much?

Please tell me the intolerance in this thread is some sort of grotesque satire.

[whathehell]

161. Yes. Quite elitist, quite rude.

Apparently intolerance is "okay" on DU if the only people

you're shitting on are supposedly "stupid" Americans.

Fuck that times ten.

[cordelia]

110. Snide and divisive. nt

[whathehell]

127. Yes, and actually against the DU Rules. Check it out. n/t

[Moostache]

116. You ought to try East Kansas...

Everything on I-70 between Kansas City and St. Louis is frighteningly filled with stupidity.

I am not kidding when I say that when secession comes again to Amurica, we ought to simply split this place in two and be done with it. Give me the Blue States and give the wing nuts and their version of Jeebus the deep south and the Dakotas, Montana and Idaho. They can be like the fucking Palestinians for all I care, but the sooner we rid ourselves of this viral disease called "tea-baggers" and their entire ideology, the better we will all be.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Be strong, Sarah

The stupid is extremely pervasive. :hi:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

39. I'm trying. When she uttered that sheer idiocy, I lifted my jaw back up, and gave her a

shocked, really toothy grin, as if saying, "That was a joke, right? You were kidding us, right?"

[whathehell]

131. Yeah, so are the ugly and rude.

[xfundy]

8. The dumbest, like the most insane,

are the last to realize it, and will fight anyone who tries to show them facts. I pity idjits like her, but they are bringing the rest of us down, so my patience is growing thin, though I have no way of breaking through idiocy, and the current gubmint is more focused on their own pet projects (themselves) and little folks like us don't matter.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

40. She's SO STUPID that she travels to another city to save on MRIs (which she is

paying out of pocket, by sacrificing her food budget), when in reality the trip alone is causing her MRIs to cost her the same.

She has STUPID deep in her skin.

[CleanGreenFuture]

95. HA! This one deserves replacing the ole "The stupid! It burns!"

"She has STUPID deep in her skin."

[Sarah Ibarruri]

98. She needs to tattoo it on her forehead, for chrissakes. nt

[McCamy Taylor]

9. Calling Americans "stupid" on a Democratic message board will get us lots of votes in 2012.

Makes me question the IQ--or maybe the motives---of some folks.

This is a Divide and Conquer thread, and right now America's workers need to stick together. I can feel for someone who is staring down the barrel of a shotgun named "dialysis" right now who isn't grateful that she will have insurance in a couple of years. By the time she gets insurance, her famnily will be in so much debt they won't be able to pay it off in three lifetimes. And she is one of the lucky ones. Once those beans fail and get starts dialysis, she will get Medicare right away. Not like the cancer patients and stroke patients and heart patients who have to hang on for two years.

[butterfly77]

17. WTF!

:wtf:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

42. Yeah, that's what I want to know. nt

[whathehell]

132. Read the DU Rules, dear. "Insulting, ridiculing, insensitivity to a group"...

What...You thought it was "okay" because you were "only" insulting Americans?

Umm...No...I don't even know if you are American...I am, as are most here, and a LOT

of us dislike this...If you say "some" or "republicans", it's one thing..If you

degrade the lot of us, it's nothing but a racist-like bigotry.

[totodeinhere]

190. That rule isn't enforced very well. There are insults hurled at Tea Party people daily on this site.

And I have been guilty of it too. I think that part of the problem is that most people don't ever take the time to sit down and actually read the rules.

[whathehell]

199. That is unfortunately true.

IMO, though, it's one thing to insult Tea Partiers, it's another

to conflate them with "Americans" as a whole.

The number of self-loathing Americans on the board is amazing.

[whathehell]

206. Dumping on the mentally challenged isn't great, either...The karmic correction for people like Sarah

is to have retarded children and/or grandchildren.

She might find her sadistic joy in trashing "the stupid" waning.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

191. why are you even asking if she's an American?

It could be that Sarah looks a lot like Arundhati Roy because....nevermind that, let's move on.

The OP is not discriminatory to any minority group, except the stupid, and that's kind of the point of the thread. Your presumption to speak in defense of all Americans to this poster-with-swarthy-looking-avatar is wrongheaded, beyond your ken, nonrepresentative of the views of most who post here, and it reminds me of the (intentionally bad) soliloquy in Animal House..."I'm not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America...".

Who cares if Sarah is an American or not? Do you believe that Laotians and Paraguayans shouldn't voice opinions? Are Canadians and Mexicans precluded from noticing stupidity around them? Should Puerto Ricans be able to talk about us? They're a protectorate or somesuch thing--do they need to watch what they say? You need to realize you're not in some protected group whose membership confers special status to you. Sarah's found that some Americans are dumber than rocks. There's an obscenely abundant amount of empirical data to back this up, and this data doesn't much care about what you think or what hurts your feelings. We have the right to talk about the dumbest knuckledraggers we share the country with, and you can either attach yourself to those conversations or not, it doesn't much matter. What you cannot do is to keep them from happening, with a nonsensical appeal to jingoism and piling-on someone who may or may not be (gasp) foreign. This tent is so big, I believe it must stretch far beyond the horizon.

[whathehell]

201. Because I feel like it?

That's as good an answer as any to your flame bating bs. "The OP is not discriminatory to any minority group, except the stupid..".

Apart from the fact that many fail to distinguish between the "uninformed" or "brainwashed"

and the mentally challenged, you have to ask why "the stupid" are acceptable targets.

Do you feel that way about the developmentally impaired, aka, the mentally retarded?

As for the "right" of non-Americans to insult us on this board, anyone with even the SLIGHTEST bit of social awareness knows that

my reaction is an honest, basically universal reaction and here's why: People in a self-contained group, be it family or country, will self-

criticize, but resent insults from outsiders...That's just a fact, and does not pertain to Americans only, it's true for any country.

If you doubt it, I urge you to log onto a foreign board, self-describe as American, and attempt to express an opinion on

that country's culture or poltics...I can assure you, that more than a few will be far more "jingoistic" and

intolerant than you imagine me to be.

"Do you believe that Laotians and Paraguayans shouldn't voice opinions"? No, I think they should voice opinions

if they're informed and if we are free to "voice opinions" on their countries, same condition applied.

"Are Canadians and Mexicans precluded from noticing stupidity around them"?...Not so long as we aren't "precluded" from noticing

the stupidity around them on their boards. "Should Puerto Ricans be able to talk about us? They're a protectorate or somesuch thing.."

"or somesuch thing"??..LOL..First of all, bro, Puerto Ricans ARE Americans.

Secondly, I suggest you educate yourself beyond the "somesuch" level before ranting in their defense, lol.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

220. you're decidedly not my BRO, but thanks for the response

I'm sorry to hear that the hypothetical defense of Puerto Ricans bothers you, and I'm sorry to hear that you insist on being champion for the willfully ignorant and stupid. The question about Puerto Ricans was by design, in order to see how far your hatred extends, thus the protectorate language and the perfectly valid (that means "real") word 'somesuch'. I'm aware of group and clan dynamics, and I'm also aware of the special role that the US is supposed to play in the world.

You can defend people like the OP describes to your heart's content, but don't expect me to sign on. I'm tired of these stupid motherfuckers and their enablers ruining things for the rest of us. Fuck them and the inbreeding they rode in on.

[whathehell]

223. Decidedly and gratefully.

You are SO wrong -- possibly by design -- I just hope it's a better "design"

than you made of your Puerto Rican question, since all that did was expose

your ignorance....You can conflate my dislike of trashing people

of lesser intelligence (You really could NOT answer my question on the retarded, could you?)

with "hatred" but it doesn't really fly...Clearly, my response to your question

had zilch to do with being "bothered" at your "defense" attempts, LOL,

but I'd guess that as a deflection from your obvious "fail" on the subject.

I must say, your use of Puerto Ricans as a gauge for some supposed "hatred" is particularly rich.

How would you know I'm not Puerto Rican?...Have you ever even visited Puerto Rico?

I've not only been there many times, I have Puerto Rican friends with

whom I've swapped houses on vacation.

See how assuming can, as they say, "make an ass of U and me"?

In this case, though, I'll limit the designation to "U".B-)

[DisgustipatedinCA]

224. I don't know if you're Puerto Rican or not...but I'd be very surprised if you are

Most Puerto Ricans don't sound like Archie Bunker on a bigoted rant, but whatever you say, Jose.

[whathehell]

226. I doubt you even know one Puerto Rican let alone "most", Lol

You'd be a lot less ignorant about them if you did.

"Bigoted rant"?...Umm...Where?

Never mind...You're clearly not the sharpest tack

in the shed and these attacks and false assertions

helps avoid the difficult questions, I guess.

[The Doctor.]

20. With respect and all...

You have no clue who or what you are talking about.

None of these people would ever vote for Democrats because they've been convinced of too much bullshit. Calling someone 'stupid' is not only acceptable, we should be doing it more often and then, as the OP did, explaining WHY.

That way, if there is an 'on the fence' voter reading any of this, they'll have a chance to become better informed and decide not to be stupid.

We will not lose a single vote from any of the morons. We also don't stand to gain a single vote by pretending that the views and beliefs of the morons are at all valid.

Call them what they are; plug fucking stupid. If you want to throw in the 'it's not their fault, they've just been brainwashed' excuse, that's fine. Then not only do they hate you for calling them 'stupid', they hate you for being an elitist know-it-all.

We can't pretend these people are anything but stupid. We can try to help them, but validating them is pointless.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

43. Exactly! And what's more, pointing out how STUPID she is that she's hurting her own life and body..

might be the only way she might refrain from voting Republican (read that, stupid). There's NO other way she would not vote Republican.

[deaniac21]

65. Trying to get the stupid out of a repub or a smoker is quite

impossible.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

81. That's what I say. nt

[whathehell]

203. President Obama is, or recently was, a smoker...Do you imagine him as "stupid" too?...

Smokers, yeah...Anyone else we can hate on?:eyes:

[deaniac21]

211. Was then, isn't now.

[whathehell]

222. Uh huh...So he was "dumb" while he was campaigning

and grew "intelligent" in the intervening years?

Funny, that, since so many say they preferred

"Candidate" Obama more than "President" Obama.

Maybe he should go back to smoking!

[deaniac21]

230. Is it smart to smoke?

[whathehell]

231. Most smokers start young when "smart" can be in short supply.

After that, it's more a question of addiction rather than intelligence.

[Name removed]

162. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SammyWinstonJack]

53. They're not stupid, they're selfish! To the point of hurting their selves

along with everyone else. Would that their selfishness only affected them. That would be sweet!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

68. That's a very interesting way of putting it. You're right. Like cutting off your nose...

to spite your face.

They want to hurt other people that have no health care and they're so frikkin' stupid they're forgetting THEY have no health care.

They're living vicariously throught he Repukes, the mega-rich and corporations, and dream that they're part of them. Very stupid.

[Lorien]

165. Repugs value that 26% of their incomes more than they value their lives

after all, they think that "dying for your Country" in a war is noble, but sacrificing 1/4 of your income in taxes to make your Nation a stronger and better place for all? Treason!! Besides, the bimbo doesn't understand that it's the INSURANCE COMPANIES who will suck her dry, not "taxes".

[COLGATE4]

61. You are 100% correct. And you can't fix stupid.

[Politicalboi]

153. Look what not calling Bush stupid got us

We should point it out. Bachmann, Perry, Palin, should all be called stupid by the media.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

41. I agree. But oh my God I have so many other stories of people as stupid as this one

It's remarkable. And I think it has to do with them being brainwashed.

[whathehell]

130. Exactly....This is actually against the DU Rules..."Insensitive, Insulting remarks against a group".

[whathehell]

204. Of course...Hate is such an attractive progressive value, it's bound to draw them in like flies.

:eyes:

[The Doctor.]

210. Or we could just 'preemptively shoot them'...

From what I've seen, that's a 'progressive value' too.

[whathehell]

227. What Ignored said

I've no idea, but that was a choice I made awhile ago.:eyes:

[CBHagman]

10. She certainly used the usual talking points.

I don't know the origin of the talking points (possibly focus groups? Pollsters? The RNC?), but I hear them again and again:

First, the term "Obamacare." There is no such thing. The term is just a swipe at the president. Used by Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, and other presidential hopefuls and GOP members in general.

Secondly, the typical GOP invocation of taxes as an all-purpose boogyman, and without rational of, say, tax rates under various presidents (and who was affected by what changes) and/or the cost of living and how that squeezes the poor and even the middle class.

(And oh, the grim irony of her referring to being taxed to death...).

Thirdly, the swipe at Pelosi and also the reference to finding out what's in the bill after it passed.

I hear/see variations on these all the time. Since they are basically boilerplate rhetoric and have nothing to do with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, it's clear they are being fed to the faithful, who duly repeat them.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

44. The moment she used the term, 'Obamacare' I knew she was spewing

right wing radio bullshit.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

11. You can just about always get on Medicare with End Stage Renal Disease.

For whatever reason it's one medical condition that you can get Medicare because of having it even if you're well below 65. So I don't know if these people are just uniformed or what. Well obviously they are at least somewhat uninformed.

So what, they're paying out of pocket for her dialysis?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_Stage_Renal_Disease_%28US_Federal_Program%29

[Sarah Ibarruri]

45. She's not on dialysis. She IS on one experimental program with U of F because of her

lack of insurance, and just looking at the woman, you can tell she's sickly. Her face is brown-gray, the photo on her driver's license shows a woman who was a normal color once, and her description of how badly she's doing physically is definitely the definition of a very sick woman.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

66. If you truly have "end stage" renal disease, that generally means you need dialysis to live.

.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

78. I'm repeating her explanations of her disease. Don't attack me for them. nt

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

85. I'm not attacking you, simmer down, no hard feelings meant.

Just clarifying the terminology. I don't doubt that your client used the term "end stage" if you are saying it, I'm just saying that THEY likely did not use the term properly if they are not requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant to live. When you have ESRD it's usually an automatic ticket to get onto Medicare. There's actually no particular reason this should be true for ESRD and not for a lot of other conditions that are just as deadly, but it's just the way it is.

http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-health/kidney-failure/end-stage-renal-disease.html

Anyway this is a good thread and I didn't want you to think I was picking some kind of fight with you, because I'm not. :hi:

[whathehell]

135. Wow...Pretty "sensitive" for someone handing out broad brush insults..How 'bout if I asked

"Why are Muslims so stupid", Sarah?....How would you like that?

[Prana69]

192. Look, you've tried multiple times to elicit a response. She's not biting. Give it up already. nt

[whathehell]

198. I don't need her response...I've got others.n/t

[whathehell]

205. She's hearing it and she'll continue to hear it...That's enough.

and WTF do you care anyway?:shrug:

[Prana69]

228. You're being precious. Your 15+ attempts to get her attention just get in the way of

reading the thread.

The OPs point is well made and clear. You're just taking exagerrated offence to what is a non-issue for everyone but you.

P69

[whathehell]

229. They seem to gotten your attention, LOL

SO sorry if they "get in the way of reading the thread", but that's the way

of open discussion boards here. The OP's "point" is an elitist little rant, IMO

and if you actually read the whole thread you'd see others agreeing.

But you know what, Oz?...If statistics mean anything,

you've likely never set foot in this country, and

"know" about as much as your telly and preconceived

notions allow....That being said, you'll excuse me

if I fail to take your "opinion" all that seriously..:hi:

[NICO9000]

113. So she's taking the government hand-out after all?

Hypocrisy, thy name is the GOP. This is just sad, really. The brainwashing by Faux, et. al has been astonishingly successful, unfortunately.

[Cleita]

12. Worse than that, Medicare will cover her kidney

disease right now because insurance won't, plus anything else she needs medically. So she can have 100% care through dialysis, possible transplant and hospice when needed. I'm sure she's getting it. Otherwise she wouldn't know she has end stage renal disease. Does she think it's her fairy godmother who provides this?

[lindysalsagal]

25. I'm guessing they'll separate reality from fantasy when she's fitted for a box.

I know that sounds cruel and insensitive, but honestly, that is probably the only way to shatter the self-loathing mindset that has created dolts like her.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

57. Maybe people like this one are not yet in touch with the reality that they're seriously ill?

And you're right, they should be correctly called, 'the self-loathing mindset.' That's exactly what they are. They're like pointy-headed aliens from an illogical and self-hating planet.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

46. I'll specifically ask her next time what the deal is. She is not on Medicare, because in my job....

knowing whether she has any form of medical coverage is priority #1.

I will post the reason behind her not being on Medicare in my next post once I find out.

[Cleita]

126. Tell her she is entitled to it as are all end stage renal

disease patients. She needs to apply for it ASAP. If she's already on dialysis, I'm surprised that the dialysis center's social worker hasn't informed her of it. When my husband was diagnosed with it, that was the first person his doctor sent us to, who explained to us what was covered and to help us through applying for it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Dumb - or just effectively brainwashed

by the likes of Limbaugh and Faux News?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

59. I've never known how to identify truly brainwashed people. I just always think that brainwashing

can't really be happening, but maybe I have to reassess the way I view brainwashing. These people maybe really are brainwashed and will throw themselves into the pyre for the mega-rich, the corporations, the GOP and their ideas.

[whathehell]

136. Maybe because you're too anxious to insult them as "stupid".

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. That is the power of propaganda

[Sarah Ibarruri]

60. I'm subject to propaganda too. You won't see me turning my head when I see a sexy pair of shoes....

I LOVE shopping, etc. (I know, I shouldn't). But not when it comes to hurting myself physically, and yet these people will vote in ways that will hurt their health. How stupid can one be?

[nadinbrzezinski]

88. Yes, but you do not know what they are subejected day to day

People are not stupid, more like not aware, Also, and I am willing to bet on this... your clients were not college graduates (not that this is a guarantee, by no means) and if they were, they have never been exposed to HOW this works. Either in an autodidact way, because of personal interest, or in a formal class.

And it still works with you and me, just not as well,

[Sarah Ibarruri]

94. You're right. My clients are definitely NOT college graduates. I doubt they'd be thinking

in a way that jeopardizes even their own health if they had been college grads. And as far as high school is concerned, the right wingnuts have a monopoly on textbook censorship, and have had one since Reagan.


'AUSTIN, Tex. — After three days of turbulent meetings, the Texas Board of Education on Friday approved a social studies curriculum that will put a conservative stamp on history and economics textbooks, stressing the superiority of American capitalism, questioning the Founding Fathers’ commitment to a purely secular government and presenting Republican political philosophies in a more positive light....'

SEE REST OF ARTICLE AT: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/education/13texas.html


The Gablers of Texas, strengthened the Repuke strangelhold on history textbook censorship.

http://atheism.about.com/b/2007/08/03/norma-gabler-textbook-censor-1923-2007.htm

I think I might post these as an original post, maybe.

[nadinbrzezinski]

103. Anecdotally my hubby is taking poli sci this semester

And his instructor has taken the US government route... You can do political systems in the same class.

Instructor gave them a quiz first day of class, based on the citizenship exam. Less than half passed it, and he scored the highest. We don't teach any of this crap in HS. And you find the ignorance even at places like this.

I have been doing a lot of this :banghead: in the recent past.

To me it will be an uphill battle to teach people.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

104. Completely uphill. People here are given bread and circuses. Well, mostly circuses and no bread.

I don't know how we'll stop the idiocy of the majority.

[McCamy Taylor]

16. Opps. Sorry. I did not realize at first that this thread is meant to be satire.

Never mind. I just hope the folks on right wing sites who copy and paste it have a good sense of humor.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

28. People like you, who are so SCARED of life, are the reason our country is in this situation

You need to grow a little courage and forge on against the Repigs, and stop shivering in your underwear.

Jesus H Christ! Wimpiness is EXACTLY what we need right now. NOT!!!!!!

[whathehell]

148. How is he "scared of life"?....He just dislikes your aggressive rudeness as do others.

[AndyTiedye]

19. They Believe Anything the Tee Vee Tells Them

They were raised to do what they were told, and to believe what they were told without question.
Critical thinking skills are regarded as subversive and strongly discouraged.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

63. Obedience that requires self-immolation, reminds me of the Third Reich nt

[Booster]

22. How old are these people and did they mention whether or not

they get some kind of assistance re: her medical bills. Sounds like they would be in the hundreds of thousands.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

64. They're in their 40s, and they are not rich, but they're not starving, either, and no,

they do not have Medicare, Medicaid, SS, food stamps, or any other social program.

[Dappleganger]

23. She may as well dig her own grave and jump in.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

69. I want to know why they do this, tho. nt

[donheld]

24. My brother is the same way

Has bad chronic heart problems whines about Obamacare constantly.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

56. Have you ever asked him why he would prefer to be without healthcare? nt

[marlakay]

26. Brainwashed by Fox and radio people nt

[Sarah Ibarruri]

70. Yep, and maybe I just need to read up on brainwashing. Maybe it's not what I thought it was.

I have had this idea that brainwashing causes some sort of hypnotic state that doesn't allow one to function in real life. Maybe brainwashing allows one to function in real life, but it just causes one to make some incredibly BAD decisions to the benefit of someone else, and against one's own self-interests.

[lindysalsagal]

27. Even my Bush-loving cousin figured it out when he looked at me at his mother's funeral

and said, without warning, "My son's joining the marines. Do you think he'll die in the middle east?"

The kid was raised on librul-bashing and war-mongering, and now it's coming home to roost. They "home-schooled" him, which means he's barely literate, and doesn't believe he can get a real career.

Maybe now they'll figure out there was a price for their bigotry, fear and hatred. They're gonna pay with their 18 year old boy.

We've never discussed politics (no point, what-so-ever) so it really surprised me when he said it right to me as I entered the calling hours for his mother. He probably doesn't even know what a librul I am. But he was terrified he'd lose his son, just after losing his mother.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

71. "Maybe now they'll figure out there was a price for their bigotry, fear and hatred." Yes.

These people who get off on hatred, fear and bigotry, are hurting themselves but are so unbelievably stupid, they don't even focus on that. Maybe they don't even realize it.

[Inuca]

33. Very sad :-( n/t

[NNN0LHI]

38. GOP tells these idiots they can just go to the Emergency Room for free

And they believe it.

Don

[Sarah Ibarruri]

72. They do???? You're kidding me, right? nt

[NNN0LHI]

83. The GOP's emergency-room argument lives - The Washington Monthly

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/027194.php

December 21, 2010

THE GOP'S EMERGENCY-ROOM ARGUMENT LIVES.... I'd hoped we would hear the argument much less after the Affordable Care Act became law, but the notion that the uninsured can just rely on emergency rooms hasn't gone away quite yet.

Here, for example, was Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) on Fox News the other day:

"The fact is a lot of people that don't have insurance are getting {care} right now. They're not denied in the emergency rooms. They're generally not denied by doctors. It's not a pretty system, but the idea that people are not getting health care particularly for critical needs is just -- is just not the case."


This is strikingly wrong. For one thing, doctors in private practice nationwide tend to take on patients with insurance. For another, all McDonnell has to do is spend a few minutes at a free clinic someday to realize all kinds of families in need go without much-needed care every day, in Virginia and elsewhere.

But it's that darn emergency-room argument that needs the most help.

-----------------------------

No joke.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

92. You need to make this an original post, so everyone is able to read it.

If they're telling dumb Republicans this crap, and the dumb Republicans are believing it, small surprise that they're making stupid comments and voting against their own self-interests.

I can't tell you how much I abhor Republicans. My hatred knows no bounds.

[City Lights]

47. Fox Nooze breeds idiocy.

Unfortunately, real change won't come to America until people like those described in your OP wake up. The question is, what will it take to wake them up?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

73. I have no idea. Clearly, this woman will be brainwashed until her last stupid, idiotic breath nt

[loudsue]

158. It breeds idiocy, and in the countries where Murdoch is prominent, governments are stuck, unable

to get anything done, which leaves the spoils to the corporate interests.

Murdoch is a cancer on this world, and he needs to be stopped.

[City Lights]

172. I couldn't agree more!

Well said! :fistbump:

[Ganja Ninja]

49. Welcome to my world.

:crazy: :banghead:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

74. You live amongst idiots like this one? nt

[Ganja Ninja]

89. I live just north of Tampa in Florida horse country.

The place is crawling with right wingers. Glenn Beck made it big in right wing radio right here in Tampa. My boss listens to the same station every morning. I have to share a ride with him and the stupid is literally painful. His business of 25 years almost died last spring and probably will die this spring. He doesn't talk politics but I don't know how anyone could listen to that stuff every morning unless they believed it. On days when I have to drive myself it's almost like a day off.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

91. I know exactly the area you're talking about. I graduated from USF, and know the sort of

folks that live just outside. They're the sort of people that believe college educations are 'dangerous.' Stupid people.

[Bosso 63]

50. "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid,

but most stupid people are conservatives."

John Stuart Mill

[Sarah Ibarruri]

75. Great point! I'm sure Mitt Romney is not stupid. He's building himself a palace, has healthcare...

yet this stupid woman is probably going to vote for him, and willing to die for him.

[jpak]

58. A lot of folks were/are wrong about "Obamacare"

yup

[Romulox]

62. Um, people with pre-existing conditions are afraid that they can't afford insurance under Obamacare.

Do you not understand this? "Can't be denied" does not equal "You can afford this!"

[Sarah Ibarruri]

76. But insurance companies have already turned her down! What's not to afford?

And if they offered it, how much would it cost her anyway? $1,000/month?

This is not a matter of her losing something under Obamacare. This is a matter of her being STOOPID and turning down any possibility of getting help.

[Romulox]

84. Well, the government mandating she buy private insurance will solve EVERYTHING then!

"This is not a matter of her losing something under Obamacare. This is a matter of her being STOOPID and turning down any possibility of getting help. "

No, this is a matter of Obamacare not helping these people. Not now. Not later.

[JBoy]

67. RWers live in a world of scarcity, rather than a world of plenty

If it's something good, it must be rationed, denied, and "earned". There's no possible way there can be enough to go around.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

77. Good way to describe it. I sum it up by calling them idiots, because they are. nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

97. A: Fox News

[Sarah Ibarruri]

101. Yep, but the rest aren't far behind! nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

105. sadly true.

[whathehell]

122. Are you a stupid American?...Trust me -- Stupid is a Universal Condition.

When political/corporate heavyweights figure out how to use that

demographic to their own advantage, they're not Stupid, they're immoral,

smart, but immoral.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

149. I agree. They are immoral. nt

[Yavin4]

99. The Top 1% Spend Billions To Propagandize the Bottom 99%

She's just repeating the propaganda that she's hearing.

In addition, propaganda works by appealing to people's prejudicies. So, get people to believe that only racial minorities benefit from government programs at their tax expenses, and then they will oppose any and all government actions even if they may personally benefit from it far more than the average racial minority.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

102. But you gotta admire the evilly successful style of propaganda used here, that it's so hard to

point out to ordinary people. They just swallow it and that's that.

[paulkienitz]

106. because the first thing the right attacked, decades ago, was education

[on point]

107. She is told what to think. It is amazing these gov haters can't think for themselves

[valerief]

108. It's all spelled out in Idiocracy. I think it's the Parrot gene. People with the recessive Parrot

gene are prone to repeat and believe unsubstantiated and irrational statements made on mass media. It makes them dumb as a bucketful of rocks. You know, like the Congress in Idiocracy.

[Carolina]

109. God forgive me,

but someone that stupid deserves the ultimate fate: the natural sequela of her disease.

[Jim_Shorts]

111. Clear example of the failure of our educational system

[go west young man]

117. The US, under Faux news, is experiencing a form of social darwinism.

It really is about survival of the fittest and information saves lives. Bad information can lead to a shorter life span.
This woman and many other Republican fools are victims of their own stupidity. I don't feel sorry for her. I feel sorry
for innocent good people who are effected by the bad policies of the Republican party and the centrist dems who
placate them as well.

[Vinca]

118. Did you mention the pre-existing condition pool?

My neighbors found themselves in a similar fix of not being able to afford insurance because of pre-existing conditions and were very grateful to learn about the pool. Some people just don't pay attention.

[louis-t]

119. It's called brainwashing, and this woman will curse Obama

until the day she dies not knowing that her premature death was caused by Republicans.

[russspeakeasy]

120. "How did Americans become so low IQ"? Fox News.

:evilfrown:

[whathehell]

150. It's not "Americans"...unless, of course, you're indicting yourself here..It's SOME Americans.n/t

[russspeakeasy]

151. Nope, no self indictment here...follow the post and the reply.

:shrug:

[Lorien]

167. And Fox "news" exists because the Fairness doctrine was repelled

it all started with Reagan.

[Deep13]

123. Decades of conditioning. nt

[Enthusiast]

124. Only one answer.....

Fox News.

[ramapo]

133. Such attitudes are rampent

Stupidity abounds. It is truly shocking but not unusual.

My wife has a friend in much the same situation. Can't afford insurance, has all kinds of problems. Because we are in NJ she cannot be denied insurance as long as she has had creditable coverage. But individual insurance is absolutely unaffordable for many.

But she is firmly against this ObamaCare thing.

I think Obamacare sucks on many levels. It is barely better than nothing but it would actually help her (eventually).

[whathehell]

139. Umm..It's "rampant"....and so is misspelling here...Among people calling others "stupid", no less!

[GreenTea]

134. Fox, Limbaugh & the rest pounding away 24/7 to the dumb who repeat the bullshit verbatim without

even thinking it out for themselves because of their inability to do so, uneducated & uninformed (just the way the republicans want ALL working people) as well as these dumb & ignorants outright hate that they welcome & fed 24/7 but the republican corporate media hate mongers.

Disgustingly sad....but she's only repeating verbatim what these lost sheep are told!

[Name removed]

137. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[whathehell]

138. My exposure to some really dumb muslims..

could fill a book...Dumb and arrogant.

[Rex]

140. It is a disease that is spreading from the M$M.

Most people don't know who Nancy Pelosi is or what she does for a living. The M$M gets paid billions to inform Americans of a certain agenda and it works! Just look at your client.

[JDPriestly]

142. She is not dumb. She is impatient.

She does not take the time to learn the facts.

She will tell you that she is too busy, in too much pain, ya-dee-ya-dee.

Truth is she is too impatient to read small print and prefers to watch the Kardashian tivia on TV and all the other non-news.

[a2liberal]

144. Wow (n/t)

[bongbong]

145. Fight back with your own Talkng Points

"Big Government Tea Partiers" (since they want Womb Enforcement Police)

"Big Government Republicans" (since they want endless war)

"Elite-Coddling GOP" (since they want the richest .1% to get every crumb)

"Elitist Job Killing Republicans" (since their taxcuts on the rich go straight to building factories in China)

[paparush]

156. Brainwashed != Stupid

These are victims of a prolonged PSYOPS campaign.

Tell the lie enough times and people will believe it.

[whathehell]

170. No it doesn't, but your equation does.

[Drew Richards]

157. My dear Miss Sarah...Ever heard of repetative indoctrination?

Welcome to the Fox news/reich wing echo chamber...

If you hear the lies long enough and often enough they become your own truths.

That is why I am on the verge of self-radicalization and may begin advocating execution for treason against the Constitution for some of these public mouth pieces.

[onethatcares]

159. I deal with that type of thinking just about daily anymore and I

think to myself, what the fark is wrong with these people? They can't get insurance due to the two factors you mentioned and they take pride in the

fact they won't support everyone having a shot at healthcare across the board.

I've decided to just point and laugh anymore because words are beginnng to escape me.

btw, they got so dumb because they're listening to the talking heads and bimbos on faux snooze.

[Auntie Bush]

163. They listen to Rush and FOX! How could they possibly know anything?

[Juche]

164. I have no idea how it got this bad

The stupidity and compartmentalization is astounding to people who don't subscribe to it. All you can do is sit there with your mouth open trying to figure out how someone can think that way, or how they can make it to middle age or geriatrics with such crappy logic skills.

[Lorien]

166. I do. Reagan repealled the Fairness Doctrine, allowing all the media owners

to give liberal voices the boot.

[geardaddy]

168. Is the woman on dialysis or expecting a transplant?

She can get Medicare if she is.

http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10128.pdf

[REP]

202. MediCare is automatic for ESRD patients - sign up happens at dialysis

Not quite that you're filling out forms while on the electric kidney, but beforehand. Either she doesn't have ESRD or this is yet another cool story, bro.

I'm Stage 3 and I qualify for Medicare. I really doubt this story is real.

[geardaddy]

207. I'm post-transplant (18 years!)

S'mae fy chwaer,
I got Medicare coverage for my transplant and for 18 months after. It covered my donor's (my mom) bills related to the surgery, etc.

I think either she doesn't have ESRD or the story's false.

[REP]

214. Is Congratulations! the right thing to say? How about boo/YAY!!?

I mean, I'm sorry you needed it but I'm so happy for you that it seems to be working so well!!

I'm B- and have primary idiopathic FSGS ... but I did marry O- :-)

We are in total agreement about this story.

Hir oes!

[geardaddy]

215. I'm glad I got the transplant

otherwise I'd be on dialysis or dead. My primary diagnosis was FSGS.

Well, I just hope you don't progress to any later stages. :)

[REP]

216. That's ... weird

Well, I don't neec to tell you anything about FSGS. Did you have LOW blood pressure, too, when dx'd? (I still do, and I'm still a white chick.)

Thanks! I'm working on it! My proteinuria seems to be in remission, but I somehow have become anemic. I'm hoping it's from one of my other defective parts :-)

[geardaddy]

217. Nah, my blood pressure was borderline high

even when I was a teenager.

[REP]

218. I do enjoy confusing doctors

My BP was 90/40 (it's even lower now due to the Cozaar for the proteinuria); I was in my 30s; I'm a white chick who's never even seen heroin. My biopsy actually showed three diseases, but the pathologists weren't sure what the third one is. I now have scarring that shows on the blunt instrument of imaging (ultrasound) ... but they're still ticking, knock wood.

So good to hear an FSGS 'success story' like yours! Especially before I have to go in for more tests :hi: I'm usually not so ... organ recital.

[geardaddy]

219. Glad to hear things are stable for you.

I was initially diagnosed with proteinuria in my teens and then at age 27, Bam! My blood pressure went through the roof and they did a biopsy showing FSGS with less than 10% renal function. Luckily, I didn't have to go on dialysis since my mom was a four-point match.

[AsahinaKimi]

169. "How did Americans get so idiotic, become so low IQd? "

Simple, Two things:

1. Listening to Rush Limbaugh.
2. Watching Fox News.

[whathehell]

171. The correct wording is: "How did SOME Americans become so idiotic, become so low IQd"?...Duh

because obviously not ALL of us listen to Rush or watch Fox...Got it?

[AsahinaKimi]

173. Gee, I could have sworn I put that in QUOTES!!!

HMMM...Maybe you should BLAME the OP? BTFO!

[whathehell]

175. I did that, honey

I alerted on her as did others.

BTFO back at you.:hi:

[AsahinaKimi]

177. Honey?

So why are you telling me about her "bad grammar" Again, I quoted it, whats the friggen problem?

[whathehell]

179. I wasn't talking about grammar.

Never mind.:eyes:

[AsahinaKimi]

180. I guess on DU

I am supposed to "read minds". I promise to take a course in that, next summer! :eyes:

[whathehell]

187. AsahinaKimi, I misunderstood you

and I realize that you didn't understand me, so I'm sorry for my response. I was just feeling frustrated,

or something..I didn't mean to be "dismissive".

[madrchsod]

174. the rest of us who have health insurance pick up part of her bill

it`s really hard to understand how people are so isolated from the world around them.

[chervilant]

182. Consider this:

Our co-opted system of public education has been used--for decades now--to convince two-thirds to three-quarters of us that we have 'average' or 'below average' intellects. This is a load of El Toro Poo Poo, as is clearly demonstrated by contemporary research on timed IQ tests. When the time limit of an IQ test is eliminated, most test subjects score 'near genius.' BUT, by convincing the majority of us that we are mental midgets, the Corporate Megalomaniacs remain secure in their hegemony. (Plus, this falsehood benefits the uber wealthy further as the basic underpinning of our species' divisive and derisive anti-intellectualism.)

Furthermore, the vast majority of this nation's citizenry has been fed a steady pablum of patriotic propaganda, at least through high school. How many among us cling tenaciously to this perverted patriotism? Enough, apparently--since each time someone criticizes the United States, vociferous defenders of the Benevolent and Awesome Grand America get their wee panties in a wad.

Perhaps these poor souls you encountered might consider how many other industrialized nations have universal health care, how many other nations provide five weeks or more paid vacation, how many other nations have lengthy PAID maternity leaves, and how many OTHER nations fully subsidize college or trade school educations (Michael Moore's "Capitalism, A Love Story" is a great tragicomedy documentary on this).

You think there's not a connection (addressing the poor wee souls now...)?! Our citizens are among the most poorly educated, ego-inflated, easily manipulated, propaganda snarfing, hate-mongering and fear-mongering souls on this planet!

Sigh...


Abraham Maslow contended that we humans have an intrinsic need to create or achieve. *WHAT* we create or *WHAT* we achieve is as varied as there are humans on this planet. I would add that we humans fervently desire to be recognized or esteemed for what we create or achieve (which is a likely explanation for our species' preoccupation with personal *power* as measured by *wealth*).

Indeed, our species *thrives* on esteem and recognition. If we hope to help our fellow ignorant slobs humans recognize the stultifying and objectifying Bernaysian mindset cultivated by the corporatists bent on securing their hegemony at our expense, we must extend to our fellow humans the esteem and recognition that is the raison d'etre of our species.

[whathehell]

197. I agree with most of what you are say, but

in saying: "each time someone criticizes the United States, vociferous defenders of the Benevolent and Awesome Grand America get their wee panties in a wad", do you

really think that we are the ONLY country who doesn't take criticism all that well, especially when it comes from outside our borders?

If so, I'd advise you to log on to a foreign discussion board, tell them your American, and give an "opinion" on their country's politics, culture, etc.

I think you'll be surprised at the level of defensiveness..It can be FAR more than what you see here.:eyes:

[chervilant]

213. True that,

and I must admit that I wrote much of what I've included in the post hereinabove in a response to a thread about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Furthermore, I am describing those among us who are uber patriotic--to the point that ANY criticism of the United States is COMPLETELY untenable.

With regards to your advice: while I appreciate that other countries have their own fair share of uber patriots, the United States continues to posture as THE penultimate Superpower. Thus, OUR uber patriots adamantly refuse to see the growing tarnish on our nation's image. AND, they refuse to see that we may soon be tumbled from our much-vaunted supremacy.

(As an aside, I can only speak to our nation's shortcomings with regards to the propagandized pablum fed relentlessly to our precious children. I've not read any history or social studies texts from other countries.)

[MrMickeysMom]

183. You know, I'm not sure what your firm does, but stupid knows no boundaries

I'm a respiratory therapist and I see patients who express opinions all day long about health, which often dovetails with their political alliance. I think the majority of people who bring up the subjects you mention might be under-informed, but not stupid.

Stupid is what you got an ear full of today. Most people don't want to admit how poorly informed they are.

Edit: duh... grammar... spelling.... but, I admit it and corrected it, and that is a smart move.

[DaveJ]

184. Evidence the U.S. brought this on themselves

People here deny my premise that the country is turning more RW, it's not Obama's fault.

[onager]

188. This sums it up for me...

Way back in 1956, Adlai Stevenson was the Democratic candidate for President.

At a campaign stop, a woman yelled out: "Mr. Stevenson, every thinking American is voting for you!"

Stevenson replied: "Unfortunately, ma'am, we need a majority."

[totodeinhere]

189. If she has end-stage kidney disease she is probably eligible for Medicare regardless of her age. n/t

[savannah43]

193. How did they get so dumb, you ask?

The underfunding of public education, preceded by passing uneducated nitwits through the system for years prior to this current crisis. If you ever find out how many people cannot read, yet have high school diplomas, you'll faint.

[whathehell]

196. Who is "they"?

Shouldn't you be saying "we"?

Or have we forgotten that we are talking about ourselves?:eyes:

[REP]

200. If she really has ESRD, she automatically qualifies for MediCare.

Fail.

[hifiguy]

208. 30+% of the people in this country are so dumb,

so unable to reason logically and/or so willfully ignorant it amazes me that they can use toilet paper correctly or tie their own shoes.

The dumbing-down started with King Ronnie the Simple and has only accelerated.

[whathehell]

209. Unless that describes your large circle of family and friends,

I call bullshit.

[TNLib]

225. Oh god you just struck a nerve.

I know someone who is in a union and a federal worker. He may be loosing his job to cut backs. Years ago I asked him how he could vote for anti-union anti-government politicians and he said that he will always have a job because the USPS is in the constitution and his job was protected. He was more concerned about abortion and other issues. Now he's worried about loosing his job due to cut backs.

I couldn't hold my tongue with him. I'm a little ashamed for sounding unsympathetic but how can i sympathize for someone that votes against their own interest and spouts off RW nonsense.