Just found out that a nice person I know is a Republican

[Anonymous]

OP -- I get what you mean, but some people are Rs because they grew up that way and some (especially women) do what their families did. I have some R friends ... you just have to avoid talking about politics OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the nice people you know are Republicans, OP. They just keep quiet now because two years of being called racist scum, Nazis, white nationalists, and uneducated morons by Democrats is more than enough.

I agree with this.

And, this thread is more evidence that for many liberals, life revolves around politics. Conservatives are more likely to find meaning in life outside of politics.

[Anonymous]

OP, a lot of studies show that liberal vs. conservative is largely about differences in psychology. If you have a stronger fear or disgust response to disturbing images, you are more likely to be conservative. If you think in global rather than national or local terms, you are more likely to be liberal.

Along these lines, one of my very nice Trump supporting friends is concerned about national and local identity - wants strong borders strong defense and limited federal government.

One.of my relatives is very conservative. We get along fine. But she has a strong fear response, she is afraid of all kinds of things in life that don't bother me nearly as much. Politically, she is afraid of MS-13 and terrorists, so Trump's rhetoric played directly into her fears.

These are just examples from my own experience. The main point is that your conservative friend is likely having a different emotional response to political issues than you are. But how you treat your friends is not a political issue (unless you want it to be) so you can have a good friend with different politics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the nice people you know are Republicans, OP. They just keep quiet now because two years of being called racist scum, Nazis, white nationalists, and uneducated morons by Democrats is more than enough.

I agree with this.

And, this thread is more evidence that for many liberals, life revolves around politics. Conservatives are more likely to find meaning in life outside of politics.

Life doesn't revolve around politics. I will still be friends with this person and maybe I will get out of my own "bubble" by doing so

But actively supporting policies that will make millions of people suffer in different ways makes it harder for me to take someone seriously as a friend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the nice people you know are Republicans, OP. They just keep quiet now because two years of being called racist scum, Nazis, white nationalists, and uneducated morons by Democrats is more than enough.

Silence is complicity.

You are making the point.

[Anonymous]

Staying silent in the face of the overt racism and overt mysogyny is saying that you accept it in our leadership. That it is ok.

Well, it isn't ok, and if you are willing to accept it, then frankly, I don't have a lot of concern or compassion for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the nice people you know are Republicans, OP. They just keep quiet now because two years of being called racist scum, Nazis, white nationalists, and uneducated morons by Democrats is more than enough.

Silence is complicity.

You are making the point.

So the republicans who are silent about Trump are being complicit in allowing him to continue his anti-democratic behavior and damage our institutions of government. Yeah, I agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the nice people you know are Republicans, OP. They just keep quiet now because two years of being called racist scum, Nazis, white nationalists, and uneducated morons by Democrats is more than enough.

Silence is complicity.

You are making the point.

So the republicans who are silent about Trump are being complicit in allowing him to continue his anti-democratic behavior and damage our institutions of government. Yeah, I agree

x 1 million

[Anonymous]

I like being silent and complicit about illegal immigration. Wonder how long this game can continue...

[Anonymous]

OP, republicans are not bad or evil people. They view things from a different perspective disagree with you on many things but that does not make them evil. Your characterization of Republican positions, such as "taking away people's healthcare", is grossly inaccurate and therefore is the cause of your mental state of incredulity. Republicans don't want to take away people's healthcare, they just want people to choose and pay for their own healthcare. But if you choose to continue to believe that Republicans indeed want to take away people's healthcare, well, living in ignorance is your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, republicans are not bad or evil people. They view things from a different perspective disagree with you on many things but that does not make them evil. Your characterization of Republican positions, such as "taking away people's healthcare", is grossly inaccurate and therefore is the cause of your mental state of incredulity. Republicans don't want to take away people's healthcare, they just want people to choose and pay for their own healthcare. But if you choose to continue to believe that Republicans indeed want to take away people's healthcare, well, living in ignorance is your choice.

trying to revert to the time when insurance companies can boot people off due to preexisting conditions is taking their healthcare away

yes, there does need to be some limit though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, republicans are not bad or evil people. They view things from a different perspective disagree with you on many things but that does not make them evil. Your characterization of Republican positions, such as "taking away people's healthcare", is grossly inaccurate and therefore is the cause of your mental state of incredulity. Republicans don't want to take away people's healthcare, they just want people to choose and pay for their own healthcare. But if you choose to continue to believe that Republicans indeed want to take away people's healthcare, well, living in ignorance is your choice.

Republican proposals will take away people’s access to healthcare. So....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, imagine the shoe is on the other foot. "I had a friend at work and I can't believe she is a Dem. How can she not support our police? How can she be for open borders? How can she support a confiscatory tax structure? How can she foolishly not try to keep potential terrorists out of our country? How can she tolerate government bloat and waste? Why did she support Bill Clinton but now Kavanaugh and Trump and evil? Why doesn't she see the importance and value of traditional marriage? Why does she think people should be forced to do things that go against their conscience (gay cakes, birth control). Etc. etc.

I agree with your OP; I don't agree with any of the things I just wrote. But I comprehend that what I wrote is where the minds of Repubs are. I have two Repub parents. I avoid talking politics with them. But I think what I wrote summarizes how they feel.

That would be an incredibly stupid person saying those things about Democrats, wouldn’t it?

Many dems are indeed quite stupid, so it would be entirely fitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like I said, my post is sincere

I don't think all Republicans are horrible people but I also think almost all Republican political actions are horrible

How can I make sense of this?

Maybe start by developing some other interests and hobbies so you don’t see everything in a political light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, republicans are not bad or evil people. They view things from a different perspective disagree with you on many things but that does not make them evil. Your characterization of Republican positions, such as "taking away people's healthcare", is grossly inaccurate and therefore is the cause of your mental state of incredulity. Republicans don't want to take away people's healthcare, they just want people to choose and pay for their own healthcare. But if you choose to continue to believe that Republicans indeed want to take away people's healthcare, well, living in ignorance is your choice.

Republican proposals will take away people’s access to healthcare. So....

By that logic, does the government not paying for your gas preventing you from accessing gas? How about college education? Why is the government taking away my kids' access to college education by not paying for it?