Because honestly, I don't know how to bring these people back to sanity. I've posted before about spending time in late 70's early 80s in the Bavarian region of Germany and being shocked at how frequently I would see the local older men wearing a small swastika on their medallion-ladened hats. I'm sure it didn't necessarily mean the same thing for all who continued to wear it, but it still gave me pause.

Strongly entrenched beliefs don't just go away.

...and failed. According to her (and it's been this way prior to Trump), I'm gullible and being led by the left-wing media, which, according to her, dominates. And I'm a "socialist" who does not believe in hard work or the Ayn Randian order of society, where we should submit to the 1% because of their natural prowess at leading and "gettin 'er done." And, of course, I'm like "Fuck that."

Not sure what would convince her to come back to reality. But I guess it's easier to identify with the oppressor than to take them on.

There's a reason that Trump blares "fake news" every day. They've been programmed to believe that WE are the ones who are brainwashed.

Presenting them with facts doesn't work because the facts are brushed aside as "fake" and their fantasies are lovingly protected. Look at all the Trump supporters who are still convinced that "Hillary and Obama" sent the bombs themselves, the MAGA-van is photoshopped, etc.

the last 8 years of her life. She was a secret socialist at the end

to ME according to my needs, to others according to my ability to withhold what I can from them.

from under them.

Wasn't she an atheist, too? Wonder how that goes over with the "Religious Right"? I'm a Christian and I'm appalled at their positions on things. But the wingers are the ones that act holier than thou....the Religious Left people like me tend to actually translate our beliefs into actions for others, not following some nonsensical "prosperity gospel"

My sister, for her part, rarely goes to church, but, when she does, it's at a strange mega-church that she dragged me to a couple times. I didn't detect any wingnut message, but I was on red alert the whole time........

terrified when Fox somewhat rebuked him? I forget the issue but he was terrified. Until we deal with Fox and Murdoch we will remain divided. If Trump loses Fox he is finished. We have to get to the root of the rot and that is FOX!

When I was in high school, 50+ years ago, I read all her books and bought all her bullshit. The Virtue of Selfishness is at the heart of the Randian philosophy. Then I went to college and got exposed to different ideas, smoked dope, dropped acid and mescaline, read lots of history and literature, and basically got my mind opened a bit.

It will be almost impossible to pry open your sister's mind. Ayn Randers are a cult. They pretend that they are rational and ruled by reason, but they're not.

No wonder they are separated.

I simply would not stay in a relationship if my spouse/significant other went over to the dark side.

They disagree about finances (he's of the "you can't take it with you" school of thought while she and I, due to our childhood, are more Depression-era thinking). But I do think her MAGA crap contributed a lot. I know a lot of his relatives were sort of like "WTF?" to her (as were her own relatives ) about it. He always told me he would just not talk about politics with her b/c she'd explode. We all sort of came to that agreement (she was the least likely to maintain the truce) but I was surrounded by right-wing TV, radio, written material, pictures, etc. while there

about as much as I do. I’ve never in my life hated & despised a president. Until now. 😡

mame thousands of others for life and kill innocent Iraqi's by the tens of thousands to steal Oil and give Halliburton millions of $$$ in no bid contracts.


Hope that POS dies a hideous death like he caused others to do.

Many people don't care to listen to this garbage, myself included.

I was at a "support group" and one of the partners of a member of said group is a die-hard puke. We were told to hush up and not say anything to him because it might cause a problem.

He began quoting Rush Limpballs and is a tRump devotee.

The last time I went to said meeting, there he was with his wife who is a Democrat. He announced that it was very inconvenient for him to have to take her to see the doctor once a month to get her RX's refilled. After all, he is now retired and HE wants to spend his time hunting & fishing, not taking his wife to see a doctor once a month!

I was pretty shocked but said nothing.

The last time I went, there they both were and I asked his wife how she was and she told me that she no longer needs the medications she's been taking for years so she quit!

WTF?

I was so disgusted, I have not gone back and never will. Why should I and others have to stay silent when the group is for people with an illness. This man has no illness except being a braid dead puke.

Enough of all of it already!

To be basically trapped and have to listen to that nonsense. I wouldn't go back to that group, either. It wouldn't help me with whatever I needed help with and would likely make me feel worse.

That did it for me!

They've been emailing me inviting me to these $100/plate dinners sponsored by drug companies.

Many of the people that attend this support group do not have enough to eat! They attend support group meetings and literally GRAB any/all food to be seen at the end of said events.

And to have some sh*thead like this around (and phew does this guy every STINK to high heavens!) makes it very stressful. Why are the naysayers being told to shut-up?

I went last month and saw him out in front of where this meeting is once a month and drove away as fast as I could!!

Why is it OK for HIM to spew his sh*t and no one else is allowed to say a word? WTF!?

As for the woman married to this idiot, I pity her. I think she can't drive any longer so she's stuck. This old fart is usually all over her, constantly rubbing her etc. during the meetings.

This last time around it wasn't so sweet. They were at either side of the room and certainly not throwing kisses at one another. His wife was going through WITHDRAWALS from the drugs as he wouldn't take her to the doctor anymore. She'll NEVER get that RX again, NEVER. As for the withdrawals, she could die from them. Does pigman care? Nope, got to do that hunting and fishing!

She is maybe in better shape than myself to a point but wow is her mind ever gone. Being married to a puke will do that to a person every time!

Thanks for the support friends her on the DU. I appreciate y'all more than you'll ever know!

and there isn't another group available, maybe talk to the people who run it and ask that there be some ground rules laid out.

But now that you know he's a wingnut, it might still be hard. I'd sit there and think about him being an idiot, whether he said anything or not, and not focus on the larger issue.

I'd hate to see you lose support b/c of one idiot, but, Good Lord, it can bring the thing down.............

Glad you feel support here, too

They had arranged from some doctor from a teaching hospital (full professor) to show up and give a lecture.

She singled me out and offered to give me an appt. if I got my medical records to her within 2 weeks. I did that and got an appt. which was CANCELED after I bought an airline ticket to fly there and back!

I wanted a refund and was going to sue. I was told to "back-off and to STOP IT right now!".

So, besides being out $700 for an unused airline ticket, it has been more than a waste of time! It is also hurting me financially trying to find a doctor to see me only to get some shill looking for a few nights out of town on a vacation it seems to me.

No apologies, no nothing! FUCK THEM!

is part of the problem. They need to be confronted, they need to be told they're wrong, they need to understand that others don't want to hear their garbage.

She came right out with it and said that all Democrats were to keep their mouths shut.

I went a few more times after that announcement.

After this last event, I can't take any more of it.

They can shove their free dinners sponsored by drug companies up their dumb arses IMO!

That's bullying, and bullies get away with it only because people are afraid to call them out.

My older brother is something of a bully, and both of my sisters won't call him out. I will and I do and guess what? He doesn't bully me any more.

make sure you have a will that leaves that small everything to someone else or some charity or whatever you prefer. If you die intestate, without a will, and if you have no spouse, what little you have would go to him.

Pretty much everyone should have a will.

I will make a will if something happens to my husband.

Then I'll likely move overseas.

He won't know WTF happened to me is my plan.

He brought it upon himself.

I was in the hospital near death after 4 blood transfusions.

I asked him to call me.

He did.

He screamed at me, "What are you bothering me for?".

When I told him why he then asked if I had cancer.

I told him no, I do not have cancer.

He then let off a heavy sigh of disgust and said, "Oh" and hung-up.

So yeah, double fuck him (as if you'd care to!).

His great family is no better -- more of the same.

Sad isn't it or is it?

make a will now. Both you and your husband. It can be incredibly difficult if there is no will when people die.

And yes, your brother deserves being shut out of your life.

My husband is quickly becoming one of the last of a family of 10 children. He is 20 years+ older than I am.

Would one of those Do it Yourself will kits work?

I'm slim on $ believe me!

Thanks and I appreciate your advice and thoughts and yep, my brother is a total awhole.

A lot depends on what state you live in.

Go to your local library and ask the librarians to help you. They aren't estate attorneys, but they know how to research such things.

Yes, Meals on Wheels would be wonderful if you are eligible and they deliver where you are. I'm trying to persuade my brother who is blind to consider Meals on Wheels as it's somewhat difficult for him to prepare meals for himself. So while your situation is somewhat different, I understand.

And bless you for taking care of your mother's dog. People who dump pets deserve the worst circle of Hell, if there is such a place. I wish I could offer some useful advice about your three cats. Right now I am without any pets, although I'd love to have a cat or two again. Right now I'm doing a fair amount of traveling and feel it would be irresponsible to have any animals. Someday, perhaps. I have told my son that if he ever needs to put me in a home be sure to find one that has resident cats. No matter how senile I might get I will never lose my love for cats.

A quick internet check says that California does allow holographic wills. And yes, your local Senior Resource Center should be helpful here. Just make sure that several people are very aware of your will and provide copies.

and green party members are very susceptible to it too. I made another thread saying we're got to educate people about propaganda; this should be our biggest concern.

She's pretty quiet about it and I think that's because she only supports tRump because she doesn't like Obama or Clinton, not because she approves of tRump. We managed to keep politics out of our discussions until recently when she made a comment on FB during the Kavanaugh hearings that my wife took issue with and responded to. The response upset my sister who then cancelled her plans to drive to Wisconsin and visit us.

This is the first instance where political differences have driven a wedge between people in my family. I don't blame my sister as much as I blame tRump. He is dividing this country. Not for the good of the country, and not for the good of his party. tRump is dividing this country for the good of himself, because that's really all he cares about.

long before I ditched FB altogether. That seemed to help a little. Now I just have to endure while I'm in her presence and hope she someday comes to her senses.

does not give her a pass. She's supporting a wretched excuse for humanity who does not give a flying fuck about her.

He was a Democrat in his youth. Decades of hate radio and Fox News have brainwashed him into a scared, mean old man. His Facebook page looks like the MAGAbomber's van.

My god!



Sad sick old man indeed!

Time to dump his dumb ass as well! Who needs these sorts? I do not and neither do you!

He's married to my favorite aunt.

Almost everyday he posts on Facebook about how Dems and everyone against Trump and the GOP are ruining America. My family on his side is heavily Roman Catholic so I guess that pushes him toward rightwing values. He also was arrested for assaulting his wife
and lost custody to his kid when they eventually got a divorce. He probably distrusts and hates women now because of that. I still have him friended on facebook because he is family and I'd still like to talk to him, but at the same time I don't really want to because of all that has happened with him.

.

He would either sit in his chair or pay the TV so he could hear it in the other room.

FOX shows those RED ALERT messages every 10-15 minutes, and sometimes plays an alert sound.
Every time they would do that, he would stop and see what was going on. It was Pavlovian.

He was a human incarnation of Pavlov's dog. The endorphins would give him a runner's high and it would energize him, but when those alerts popped up, he was effectively trained to drool, like Pavlov's dog to hearing a dinner bell ring.

Those endorphins, from the alerts and the stoking of fear, would become addictive. It's a tough drug to break.


The only way to free someone like that is to take them on a vacation for a week or two without TV. They will go though a withdrawal period for a couple of days and snap out of it. The problem is, when they return home, it's back to the same rut.

.

such confabulation runs smack into the "Inconvenient Truth". I'm more amazed almost daily how high the BS can pile up, even in the face of multiple catastrophes. I grow impatient with those who have chosen the childish, fact-free universe they've built around themselves as well, and it's ungratifying for now to accept that, as my cousin is fond of saying "It all, eventually, comes out in the wash".
It saddens my near-retirement soul that the reality of consequences of industrial greed likely won't profoundly effect our generation, but certainly many of our progeny will see, feel and initiate unprecedented massive cleanup efforts in attempt to reverse the inevitable at this point. Yet, those who survive the next 30 years or so will certainly witness the unraveling of the fakery.
History will not look at the Trump era denials and Koch-polluters kindly. A century from now, either humankind reshapes it's personal way of living or we'll be a dying breed.