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I just got into a 30 minute argument with a homeless Republican.

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woolldog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 06:53 PM
Original message
I just got into a 30 minute argument with a homeless Republican.
Edited on Fri Oct-07-11 06:54 PM by woolldog
I kid you not. We discussed politics, jobs, socialism etc.

His biggest concern: The national debt. Despite my arguments to the contrary, he believed the national debt was behind jobs going abroad and the lack of jobs in general. He railed against socialism as well. He collects cans to make ends meet and stays in shelters. Said he was tired of people getting handouts. Sounds like a joke but this really happened. I'm still in a state of shock.

Dems are definitely losing the message wars.
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DJ13 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 06:58 PM
Response to Original message
1. You argued with Newt Gingrich?
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Kennah Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:01 PM
Response to Original message
2. Or, perhaps we're just losing the mentally impaired voting block.
Seriously, I gotta wonder about the guy's mental state.
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woolldog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:03 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. He wasn't crazy.
I didn't get his story, but he was smart and living by his wits. He was actually being paid by someone to watch their parking space.
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Kennah Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:14 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. There was a great line in "NYPD Blue" about the many strains of crazy
Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) refers to a woman as crazy.

Rodriguez (Esai Morales) retorts:
"Crazy like the green aliens tell her what to do, or crazy like half the people we arrest?"

I think one can be walking free and legally sane yet still exhibit behavior indicative of mental health issues.

There are some we aren't ever going to reach, but I have to give you major kudos for reaching out and trying. Sounds like you really did go above and beyond.
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sammytko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-08-11 02:53 PM
Response to Reply #3
21. Ugh. Doesn't sound too bright....
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ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:06 PM
Response to Original message
4. Interesting!
"I just got into a 30 minute argument with a homeless Republican...Dems are definitely losing the message wars."

Sounds like you, not Democrats, lost the argument. Still, you expected a Republican to be logical?

ABC News/Washington Post poll: Obama Gains vs. GOP on Jobs as Congress Hits a New Low .
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bbinacan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:14 PM
Response to Original message
6. You've got to admire him
for keeping to his beliefs.
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treestar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:18 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. True, it's not totally inconsistent
If he thinks less regulation would create more jobs and really believes that, it won't change that he thinks that his getting a job depends of less regulation and if he really believes that if the rich were taxed less they would hire him - it doesn't make him right but from where he stands it could still seem reasonable.
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Papagoose Donating Member (361 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:16 PM
Response to Original message
7. I have an entry-level employee who is a die-hard conservative
He is by nature of his inexperience in this field, the lowest-paid person in my office. I don't set wages for my company, or have much say in them really, but he is frankly paid very little, just slightly above minimum wage. He constantly spouts off about why taxes should be lower for the rich...he honestly believes that eventually he will be in the top 1% of wage earners and doesn't want to be punished for his success. He rails against the debt and deficit, against government spending, and "handouts". It drives me crazy that I really can't argue with him...all I can do is tell him to not discuss politics in the office.
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RBInMaine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:19 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. Hard to speak reality to the hopelessly brainwashed. Ah well.
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woolldog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:37 PM
Response to Reply #7
13. is it just me
or have republicans gotten bolder in expressing some crazy views as fact. They don't realize how crazy they sound to someone who doesn't listen to re talk radio 24/7.
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COLGATE4 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-08-11 03:59 PM
Response to Reply #13
26. They didn't do it openly before, but they are emboldened by
listening to their 'heroes' on RW talk radio, who 'show' them that well, they're not crazy after all. "See, it's not just me - Rush said the same thing".
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bbinacan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:47 PM
Response to Reply #7
14. Does he do a good job and
is he interested in growing in that job and getting raises? The only time I was on minimum wage it lasted very briefly because of my work. Does anyone stay on minimum wage for very long?
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Papagoose Donating Member (361 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 08:39 PM
Response to Reply #14
17. He does an average job...just what it takes to earn his paycheck
No initiative, no drive, no ambition other than to be rich someday.

He'll get raises, my company does give Cost of Living increases every year, but will not earn merit raises. He is not actually minimum wage, just not much above it though.
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Mimosa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 09:13 PM
Response to Reply #7
18. They hear that propaganda on Limbaugh, Beck, Levin and Faux News.
Odd how they believe it, isn't it?
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Patsy Stone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:17 PM
Response to Original message
8. This subject line is comedy gold. nt
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Ikonoklast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-08-11 02:06 PM
Response to Reply #8
20. I believe it! I'm sure this really, really, happened!
In the OP's imagination of course, not anywhere in the physical world.

OP thinks everyone here is gullible and easily fooled.
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woolldog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-08-11 03:01 PM
Response to Reply #20
23.  it really happened.
I can understand why you wouldn't believe it, hell, I didn't believe it while it was happening. But I swear it did.
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Ikonoklast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-08-11 03:08 PM
Response to Reply #23
24. I learned long ago not to question the beliefs of delusional people.
So, I believe you think it happened.
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woolldog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-08-11 04:02 PM
Response to Reply #24
27. Whatever.
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Cali_Democrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:19 PM
Response to Original message
10. LOL
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arcane1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:27 PM
Response to Original message
12. He "stays in shelters"????
That's SOCIALSIM!!!11
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bbinacan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:49 PM
Response to Reply #12
15. I'd check to see if
they are government shelters or charity based shelters before getting too cocky.
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arcane1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 07:59 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. More parody than cockiness :)
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demosincebirth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-07-11 09:45 PM
Response to Original message
19. Where does he eat? Probbably accepting handouts at local soup kitchens.
The nerve of the guy.
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Hoyt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-08-11 03:01 PM
Response to Original message
22. Sounds like a homeless Joe the Plumber.
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COLGATE4 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-08-11 03:57 PM
Response to Original message
25. Cognitive dissonance. Not just a label anymore...
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