During a round of golf with a long-time friend, I asked him if he watched the VP debate and what he thought. "I didn't watch but I heard that Biden laughed the whole time". I was incredulous. I detailed some of the key issues they talked about and how I thought Biden did a great job explaining things and how Ryan failed to give details about things like their 20% tax cut for everyone. We had a back and forth and it got heated. His primary argument was that it didn't matter because "because all politicians lie, will say whatever it takes to get elected and that they're all the same".
This friend has been a lifelong Republican. He's 60, white, Christian, comes from a small town, etc. Typical. We've been golf buddies for about 9 years and sometimes play 4 or 5 times a week. Plenty of time for discussions between shots. Outside of the typical guy banter, talk about our wives and kids, our businesses, I've slowly brought up political issues over the years. We've both worked hard and saved over the years. We're in very similar financial situations, not rich but comfortable. So I've often talked about how policies have affected us financially. We both got creamed by the 2008 collapse.
Those conversations have turned to discussing social issues as well as conservatives have increasingly attacked women, the poor, people of color, workers, etc. My buddy is typical of a lot of people. His day has consisted of rising early, exercising, breakfast, a full day at his small business that he runs with his brother, home after 5, dinner, a quick glance through the local rag, maybe some sports on the tube, a few beers and trying to stay awake past 9 o'clock. He has opinions about politics but they're just that, opinions. Whenever I've tried to push past conservative talking points, I ask him to show some facts, I'm open to other ideas. He's what I would call a low information voter. Intelligent but he doesn't read. He has no idea what the Citizens United decision is, who is on the Supreme Court, how death threats against the President exploded after Barack took office, voter suppression, who Todd Akin is. It's a long list. The call for facts is met with silence, the "everyone has facts, yours can be just as wrong as theirs are" argument, or I don't read like you do!" Ok, got me there. Don't get me wrong, he's come around somewhat on some things. Gay rights, how hurtful racism is, women's rights. He's not all the way there but I see changes. Through the years I'd explain how the right is behind most of the problems I see. His comment that all politicians are the same made it seem as though my efforts had been in vain. I hate to admit it but I lost my cool, we barely talked the rest of our round. I couldn't understand how something so important could be trivialized in one sentence. I refused to admit that our best representatives can't make a difference and that some of them don't have American's best interests at heart.
I thought about how I could convince him that they're all not the same. I believe that I could send articles all day about the hatred and injustice I see and it probably wouldn't matter. Hell, I've been doing that for years to little avail. The more I thought about it, the more I can came back to one way of looking at it. Right wing policies kill people. 1. Restrict birth control. Outlaw abortion. 2. Add moe guns to the population. 3. Restrict financial aid and health care to the poor. 4. Be at war with the world. 5. Give tax breaks to the wealthy and increase income inequality. These all have dire consequences.
Update: yes, update. I never published this back in 2012. Wasn't sure where I was going with it and just needed to vent at the time. Since then, my buddy has changed dramatically. He HATES Trump, and he admits that all politicians aren't the same. He's come to grips with same sex marriage (his daughter came out last year, amazing what happens when you personally know someone in a marginalized group). He occasionally posts liberal memes on Facebook. Wow. What changed? I think the ongoing discussions that we have (and me being armed thanks to DKOS) has made a difference. One voice changing one person.
I often get frustrated and want to give up the battle. But, I'm glad that I haven't. I'm sure I've lost a few friends over the years but it's worth it. We can make a difference, we have to. This election has shown perfectly that all politicians AREN'T the same. We have to be vocal and keep hammering away.