So much of my political life has been spent arguing with my ex-naval-officer, evangelical, fiscal conservative, father. My sisters like to say we're opposite but come around in the middle.. which is sometimes true, but when it comes to how to handle our beliefs we come around with our backs to each other, ready to march out for a duel. I'm used to crazy remarks and such, but the forward he just sent me took me off guard. I'm trying to figure out how to respond (beyond the "you've got to be friggin kidding me" I already sent as a knee jerk) I'll post the entire message below
Seven & a half years!
George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years. The first six the economy was fine.
A little over a year and a half ago:
- Consumer confidence stood at a 2-1/2 year high;
- Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
- The unemployment rate was 4.5%.
- The DOW JONES hit a record high -- 14,000+
- American's were buying new cars, taking cruises and vacations overseas, living large!
But American's wanted 'CHANGE'! So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress & yep -- we got 'CHANGE' all right!
- Consumer confidence has plummeted;
- Gasoline is now over $3.75 a gallon & climbing;
- Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
- Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 trillion dollars & prices are still dropping;
- 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
- THE DOW is probing another low ~11,300 -- $2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
YEP, IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE! AND WE GOT IT!
A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, NANCY PELOSI. HARRY REID.
Now the Democrats' candidate for president -- and the polls say he's gonna be 'the man' -- claims he's gonna really give us change! Just how much more 'change' do you think you can stand?
Have a very nice day.
His addition:
"Yes we can debate a lot but the record below really tells the story - Congress is really in charge and controls much more than the president."
So I'm flabbergasted, naturally, and my fingers are all in a knot over how to respond here. I'd love the community to help me come up with some well reasoned, rational responses to send to my family -- even if they don't break through my dad's thick skull, I need something to counterbalance this with the rest of the crew!
Update: snopes and factcheck have me covered, and others have some great points too.. I should have checked those sites before writing a diary .. **slap on wrist**
Still not sure why factcheck is not working from my connection (two computers..same network) but thanks, Bob Love, for posting the body of that site.. the links along with summaries have been forwarded to all the receivers of this tripe along with this message:
"Please, fact check crap like this before you spread it around. It's not that hard! If you like forwards, I'd love to send you some that are properly fact checked, with links and references, rather than this type of easily debunked propaganda."