We live in the bluest part of DE and there are a surprising number of wackos around here.

[woodsprite]

Daughter works at a home improvement store (not a big box). Just started there, only the 2nd week on the job. They have a sign on their door that says only 6 people allowed in the shop at a time, masks must be worn, etc. She said over the last 2 weeks, they've had 'regulars' come in and refuse to wear a mask. Several were spouting all kinds of weird stuff last week (QAnon). Today, she said she had a few customers who were discussing the 'deep state' and how what happened in DC on the 6th needs to happen all over the country. When she asked another guy if he had a mask, he laughed and said "Oh, I never wear a mask. You must be new here." One was saying that you only need to take your vitamins to guard against COVID. Don't take the vaccine because it makes you inhuman.

My mom instinct totally wants to tell her to get out of there even though these are customers not coworkers, but she has had issues with anxiety in the past and this is the first post-college job she has sought out on her own.

She said she is totally surprised by how many (she estimated maybe 35-40%) of the customers she's seen in the last 2 weeks said questionable things regarding politics, QAnon, conspiracy junk, the insurrection, Pres. Biden, refused to wear masks or wore them as chin diapers, etc.

[mr_lebowski]

1. Propaganda works ... this country used to understand that from the top down

Russia and China DAMN SURE sure know it works.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Russia and China are probably behind our propoganda.

They are the ones who benefit.

And yes, they know how successful it has been in terms of population control.

[stopdiggin]

7. one of the CHIEF propaganda organs

probably by far the most influential on these shores -- is run by an Australian.

(I think you need to be looking more closely at the 1% -- not that nation-states can't be players ...)

[Irish_Dem]

8. Oh yes, I should include the corrupt corporate elite. They are global and represent their interests.

Many forces came together to bring down the US.
Crime of the century and no one sees it.

[elleng]

5. right

[unblock]

2. The wackos tend to be more vocal.

But yeah, anyone can fall into the right wing trap, in part because their crap is everywhere, and it's not met with sufficient scorn and ridicule.

[Walleye]

3. ☹️I live in Greenville. And for the last year I've basically only gone to Walgreens and Janssen's

Groceries are a little more expensive, but everybody follows the rules and I haven’t caught anything yet, knock on wood. Maybe because we live in Joe Biden’s neighborhood😷😎. Good luck to your daughter. This will all be over someday

[Delarage]

6. Sounds like the owner

Allows his "regulars" to ignore the rules

[quickesst]

9. I live in a mid-sized city....

....in Louisiana. My wife makes a trip to the grocery store once a week. Her usual stops are Walmart and Kroger. I ask her about her shopping experience all the time. Her answer is always the same. Everyone is masked up, and, as best they can, socially distant. I had a fleeting thought that it might be because we live in the northern part of the state, but that can't possibly have anything to do with it since north of us is southern Arkansas.

[58Sunliner]

10. Maybe someone should report the store for allowing it.

That is dangerous. Your daughter might do well to wear an N95 and wrap around clear eye protection. I read that Europe was going to start asking citizens to wear N95's to get infection levels down.