Some notes on recently having a right wing house guest for a few days

Last edited Tue Jun 10, 2014, 06:47 PM - Edit history (1)

But first a little background is necessary: I've known this person for about 15 years and he's a mutual friend of mine and some others near me due to common interests and we get together for certain events every year or so. Back when we first met I was then a moderate republican but I often tried to forestall political talk in the name of keeping peace. Though he's a right wing ideologue, he basically thinks I am on his side politically but I just don't express it enough, or with enough enthusiasm. This ruse worked for years even as I drifted left as he did even further to the right. Anyway, he was in the area for an event, and as he's most certifiably a member of the working poor ( or poor-ish ) and as I have an extra guest room I offered it instead of spending money on a motel.

The reason I brought all this up was to say that knowing that, make clear my ability to counter his RW bullshit as a "concern troll". He does know I'm much more well read than him and does often defer to my knowledge, especially since he thinks I'm basically conservative. He does know however, that I'm a unionized blue collar worker and that I am not on the GOP's side in regards to that. I sensed an opportunity to plant seed of RW doubt. It did work I think, but was frustrating too.

A few observations of this guest's views, and boy is he one brainwashed dude:

Anti-government everything, except the military. Absolutely buys the notion that everything but that should be privatized. He deliberately spouted out loud ( with the intention of being overheard ) in public every time something didn't go smoothly. "Yeah..Looks like this place is run by the GOVERNMENT!". "This is what you get when GOVERNMENT gets involved!" etc. He gets stopped by a traffic light: "I'll bet a DEMOCRAT" put this light up!".

Believes absolutely that the economic crash and basically bad economy was caused solely by sub-prime mortgages to low income people. As I explained the housing/credit bubble ( and other bubbles ) he seemed amazed. Seriously; he literally leaned forward to take in my explanation. It's like it's the first time he's ever even heard of the concept of a "bubble". I underscored this by saying the loss of good working class jobs and it's resultant negative effect on the economy was briefly masked due to credit. again he seemed amazed. I knew damned well he gets his "news" from Fox and Rush Limbaugh, but I resisted mentioning it so as not to blow my cover, so to speak. Seeds of doubt no-doubt sowed.

Said something that blew my mind: That the apparent need for the acquisition of every electronic gadget or product is "pushed on us by the liberal media" and tried to tie it to the "the poor today have it so good with their cell phones, TV's...." etc canard. I confronted him directly, as in "you gotta be fucking shitting me" As in, "do you mean to tell me it isn't corporate PR bullshit to push all this stuff on us? If anything it's business friendly conservative handiwork". My bluntness stunned him and he conceded....much like a disgruntled 5 year old would when he learns he has to eat his vegetables before he can have cake.

Sarah Palin is smarter than Barack Obama. Again, I played it like I wasn't exactly the president's biggest fan, but come on! She's an airhead and utterly unqualified to be quoted, let alone a vice-president. More grumbling. He basically dug in and said, in as many words, that she's smart and he's dumb because she's a republican and he's a democrat, and that's that. He said to me ( knowing I have some interest in guns/recreational shooting ) "Did you know she's a member of the EN - ARE - AY?" "Yes, and I don't give a shit". "You don't"? ( flatly/deadpan ) "No....I don't". ( incredulously ) "HHHMMMM!"

The last, and most frustrating: Hates hates hates labor unions, and has an extraordinarily parochial pro-business view. Constantly bashed unions and still does so loudly and at every opportunity, like he does the government. All the more bizarre since he works for low pay for a shitheel employer ( which he complains about ) but somehow thinks it's his duty to just plug along sullenly for "the man". I don't get it at all....Or do I? I know in his home town there is a large and unionized industrial plant and he's constantly bashing the place, well the unions and the employees in general. He said he even hopes the place shuts down! My guess is he tried to hire on but was rejected his anti-labor origination, which he probably thought would be a plus, but in reality would just brand him as a troublemaker to management. Either that, or he had an ugly run-in with the union or some employees. This is the one issue I had the hardest time moving him off. He seemed unfazed when I gave lots of examples of unionized companies that are doing financially very well, and that the good wages are a good influence on the economy..and plenty of examples of non-union business that suck.

OK, one more: Though he's not at all a fundamentalist or evangelical type, he's really big on spouting the "christian nation" BS and hatred of anything muslim, hell, ANYthing middle-eastern at all. Question he asked: "Do you think there's a place for christianity in this country?" "Sure....as far as I know no christians are barred from practicing their religion". "Ummmm, I meant, is there a place for it?" "Whaddya mean? Yeah, there's a place for it provided it has zero influence on outside the home or church itself". "So, you're OK with the muslims taking over?" "How the hell is not wanting a christian theocracy the same as having some muslim caliphate take over?" "You don't think they are a problem?" "I don't like muslims or anybody that blows shit up and kill people, but no, I have no problem with the existence of them as such". ( incredulously ) "HHHMMM!". I used my authoritative sounding "you must be an idiot if you believe that shit" tone, but was not directly insulting. More of a "please don't make me think you're an ignorant jackass" tone.

In closing can sum up that I know i planted some seeds of doubt but what really puzzled me was the disconnect between his socioeconomic station and who he supports politically. this is NOT some "fellow traveler" type who purports to support an issue just to avoid admitting he's really after a single social issue, like so many others who do. All that right wing trickle-down BS,..he really really believes it.

Sorry for the length, I wanted to be complete in my description of the experience. Though frustrating, I knew I got further than if I would have "come clean" with just how far to the left of him I am.