There's a lovely woman I know in the lake community in which I have the privilege of enjoying. She's 80, Catholic and has 5 children in varying degrees of "living in sin," divorce or horrifying marriages. That's the way things go for many of us. She's a hardcore Republican, despises Obama and still uses the word "colored" in polite company instead of what I'm sure she uses in like minded company.
I do like her -- because she is kind to my 90 year old friend, thoughtful of everyone on the road and funny in the older Irish kind of way. She's basically what the elders in my own family are (except my mother).
Well, today she brought up the Ryan pick -- generally, we never talk politics because some of us are far left -- most are agnostic and a few far right. No sense in upsetting an otherwise beautiful location.
Lillian (not her name) said: "Oh, I heard Mr. Romney picked that young man -- Paul Ryan. He really wants to turn things around from the last three years of disaster." (Har!!!)
I couldn't help myself. "Lillian, do you want your children and grandchildren to have the same kind of Medicare and Social Security benefits that you have?"
Lillian: "Of course, dear, why do you ask?"
"Well, because Mr. Ryan's budget basically guts those two benefits that your kids have been paying into for decades." I then explained the voucher plan/privatization -- raised eyebrows.
"Do you mind that Mr. Ryan bases his entire political and personal beliefs on a woman that hated religion and promoted abortions?"
Done -- that was all I needed. Of course, some of her children were there and a bit irritated that I irritated her. Tough. Lillian is a strong old broad and she needs to know who she plans to vote for -- or why she will sit out the election. She's a Florida resident.
She had zero clue about Ayn Rand -- and I didn't mention the harpy's name once. Last few minutes of the gathering, Lillian said to me: "We have to talk, dear."
Oh, yes, yes we do, Lillian.
One senior citizen at a time.