I just got all the inside political dope today, here is what is gonna happen:

[dixiegrrrrl]

My annual Dr. visit, basically a quick checkup, no problems noted, with a small town GP.

But...my doc, a female, who is about 50, is an evangelical, and LOVES to share her opinions.
Once we have the vital signs and the scripts out of the way, I asked her who she is voting for.

"Well," she said, sitting back and counting off on her fingers.." We know Hillary can't be trusted, and Bernie is a communist, "

She did listen patiently while I defined "democratic socialism" but apparently knew someone in Canada who complained about too high taxes, so I was wasting my breath.

So I asked her how she felt about Trump.

" It doesn't matter" she said, warming up to the topic and getting slightly bug eyes "cause that Obama isn't gonna leave. He's gonna declare martial law and stay in place"

Really? How do you know? (Hard to keep a straight face, but I tried..)

"He has asked Congress for 1.5 billion dollars to fight ISIS, and we KNOW he is really supporting ISIS, because he is a Muslim like them!,
so what is he REALLY gonna do with that money???"

Things were getting a bit heated on her part, so I used the Southern safety valve....
" How's you family doing? Isn't your daughter out of college this spring?"

It worked, and I politely left the exam room.

Southern sociability relies on NOT talking politics or religion, and in most cases, works well.

[iemitsu]

1. I wouldn't trust a woman like that with my health.

[Skittles]

27. ditto

[iemitsu]

46. This Dr. sounds a bit like Dr. Carson to me.

What is with them? All that education and no smarts.

[jwirr]

66. +1

[ellie]

67. Agreed

These people are dangerous.

[tk2kewl]

2. I would not trust her to dispense an aspirin.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

63. I wouldn't trust her to SPELL aspirin. That doc is too f'd up to be near sharp objects like needles.

[narnian60]

3. You are brave.

I deflect the millisecond I smell a Republican meme. Yes, I am a wimp.

[dixiegrrrrl]

23. I am a pretty sophisticated "patient"

plus this whole damn state is swarming with Republicans, who are generally avoidable except for the ones I need for services.

[RichGirl]

4. I would find a new doctor.

No matter how far you have to drive. That's not just opinion...it's just plain ignorant. Not a quality I would want from a doctor.

[Depaysement]

5. Now I get the title

You were talking to the political dope.

[Hoppy]

6. Why would you go to a doctor that can't think?

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. She actually is a good diagnostician.

And prescribes well.
Anything beyond that we have outpatient tests for, and specialists.
So I get my annual meds scripts, don't need much else.
And I want a female doctor, there are no others in this area, closest one is 232 round trip away.

[flygal]

45. I can understand and sympathize with you

My RA dr has the bed side manner of Mussolini but he knows how to treat me and that's what matters to me.

[dixiegrrrrl]

48. My roofer is racist but does excellent work

and our plumber, white guy 60+ years, is illiterate, but came over immediately when a water pipe broke in the yard, even if I did have to fill out his receipt for him, is a Pentacostal.
the mailman who has been on the same route for 20 years is a bit...hmmm....slow on the uptake..... but will come all the way down the long drive way to drop off a big package, and wave cheerfully when I tlhank him,
and the fundy minister across the street who is wayyyy too saccharin for me, sends his sons up the street to care for the 90 year old widow's yard, free.

Can't afford black/or white with no shades of grey thinking in places like "Mayberry", where getting along is the Prime Directive.

Might be both our political parties could use more of that thinking, ya know?

[Lodestar]

49. Amen to that. But it does feel like parallel realities sometimes,

and it can be hard to bridge the gap. I try to find the places we intersect like the love
of animals, sharing garden tips, etc. I'm not especially curious about their political
beliefs because it's pretty predictable, much like the talking points I might hear if I turned
the radio to Limbaugh or someone like him. I am much more interested in what the fear is rooted in, etc.
So I might probe that a bit without being intrusive. Responding to another's humaness makes
the connection easier and potentially more rewarding.

[dixiegrrrrl]

55. I like you!!!!

You get it.

This why the South is such a polite society, cause people do not focus on the areas of disagreement, it is considered quite rude to do so.
Very much like Japan.
I do let the racist ones know, calmly, that I do not accept certain language, and we go on from there.

In truth, we all want the same thing....jobs, functional Gov't, not to be spied upon, good education for our kids, health, affordable housing, etc.
Focusing on those areas of commonality is so productive, even if I do poke fun at the locals down here from time to time.

[Lodestar]

68. Ditto! You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar...

as the saying goes. And if others see you as human too and feel that connection
it causes them to question all that negative divisive talk they've been listening to.
It doesn't match their experience.

Reminds me of this article:

You Can Catch More Flies With Honey
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charlie-maffei/you-can-catch-more-flies-_b_1676353.html

[Wilms]

7. She needs a doctor.

You need a new one.

[AngryAmish]

8. The best neurosurgeon I know is a Alex Jones follower.

I swear. He does nothing but anterior cervical fusions. Incredible speed. Never been sued. Does 20 a week or more.

I say he sits to close to the face and gets the fumes from the anestholgists second hand.

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. Mr. Dixie fell hard and broke his back.

We checked out neurosurgeons, went to the big city to see the best one in the SE USA, highly recommended by every one, impressive taining, etc.

and a born again Christian who used a lot of "Lord this, God that" in his speech.
Staunch Republican.
Recommended against surgery, gave good reasons why, and Mr. Dixe is following his advice, slowly getting better, mostly FEELS better after seeing such a highly reputable doctor.

Down here, one learns to live with the rather startling different aspects of people's personalities.

[AngryAmish]

25. Wow. When you go to the best you get the best advice.

There is no pressure to fill an operating room.

Of course this is the internet and I could be a total liar, but I am a trial lawyer. There is a lot of unnecessary back surgery. Especially lower back.

Good for Mr. Dixiegrrl. Back problems can cause folks to be drug addicts. And a word of advice: smokers always have the worst outcomes. And fat folks.

[dixiegrrrrl]

33. We WERE worried about the operating pressure.

He carefully explained the pros and cons of the 2 basic types of operations for that kind of injury, then the pros of doing no invasive treatment.
I was impressed.

Also glad to hear that Mr. Dixie's quitting smoking 5 years ago is gonna pay off.

[trueblue2007]

9. sounds like A STUPID DOCTOR. get a new one fast

[DURHAM D]

10. I have heard the martial law/Obama isn't going to leave

argument as well. It is something about a war over water rights in the midwest and far west.

[HubertHeaver]

13. I didn't think Bush would ever leave.

And if Cheney's health had been a little better, he might not have left.

[dixiegrrrrl]

56. Oh my, you are right. I had forgotten about that.

Might be why Jeb0 had such a hard time...Shrub and esp. Cheney were scary to the right wing too.

[HubertHeaver]

11. I was thinking we had the same doctor.

Mine said that if Bernie Sanders was to get in, she was headed to Canada. I thought "Huh?"

[treestar]

60. lol I love it when right wingers do that

I recall one who said he was headed for New Zealand. So I informed him they have health coverage. They were touting their capitalism but apparently they are a bit socialist in this one area.

[Brother Buzz]

14. Nine out of ten doctors would say all that....

then start laughing.

Sorry you drew the short straw.

[Cleita]

15. Betcha she doesn't know anyone in Canada.

Over the years when I talked socialism, the "I know Canadians who hate all their health care and other social programs" meme rears its ugly head. The fact is that I really do know Canadians because of several summers working at the Canadian border and being of service to Canadian vacationers as well as spending winters in various Snowbird havens at the other border near Mexico. I have never heard one complain about their health care, nor their taxes. They have complained about our sales taxes on purchases and other taxes they have come up against while in the US. They also think it's pretty awful that American seniors are going to Mexico to get dental, eye care and prescription medications because our Medicare doesn't cover those things. I don't believe anyone who tells me they know Canadians who hate their country and it's social programs and/or taxes.

[2naSalit]

16. I trust my mechanic to make sure my vehicle is safe...

yet we are politically opposed on nearly every issue that exists. We agree to disagree and talk, mostly, about anything else. See, he doesn't combine his political theories with his bread and butter potential.

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. "We agree to disagree"...exactly.

Thing is, she and I like each other, and would do well sharing lunch if I were not a patient.
When she switches to medical issues, she is very good, given that her job as GP is to diagnose and prescribe and refer out for tests and specialists.

I also have an excellent mechanic, everyone knows how rare they are, and he is a staunch Baptist.
too busy to talk about anything other than the car, thankfully.

Often I consider myself living inside of some sociological petri dish, and enjoy observing the natives.

[malaise]

18. Change your doctor

I wouldn't trust her with my healthcare

[Laurian]

19. I'm stunned when educated people talk such nonsense.

I guess book learnin' is no substitute for common sense and critical thinking.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Well to her credit

I was positive W was going to find a way to stay in office... by hook or crook. Damn I am glad I was wrong on that one.

This is working on both sides, it is part of the fear that currently permeates society.

That said, the leaving office and all that, there is so much continuity from one administration to the next, especially in foreign policy, that we truly are just going though the motions.

[beaglelover]

22. I would find a new doctor asap. Anyone with those loony tunes views is not someone I would trust

with my healthcare. Sorry.

[Warren DeMontague]

24. Egads

Thank the FSM I live in a blue state.

[milestogo]

26. Ben Carson has proven you can be both a doctor and a political moron

and your doctor has confirmed it.

[OldHippieChick]

29. It's odd, isn't it?

Could this be the reason Trump likes the "poorly educated"? Or is this further evidence of Mark Twain's comment that we aren't born stupid, it takes 4 years of college?

[elleng]

28. OY!

THANKS, Lee Atwater!

 Exclusive: Lee Atwater’s Infamous 1981 Interview on the Southern Strategy

The forty-two-minute recording, acquired by James Carter IV, confirms Atwater’s incendiary remarks and places them in context.

http://www.thenation.com/article/exclusive-lee-atwaters-infamous-1981-interview-southern-strategy/

[redstateblues]

30. I met an MD a few years back

That had moved to a remote area and was stockpiling weapons in anticipation of the coming race war. I had always though you had to be intelligent to be an MD. Not so much

[Jim Beard]

40. I know one exactly like that

but he was making money selling surveillance supplies plus ammunition. A baby doctor.

[Jim Beard]

41. Was that in Texas?

[Avalux]

31. Umm...I question her ability to make rational clinical decisions with that sort of thinking.

I recommend you find a new doctor, one who doesn't wear a tin foil hat.

[jeff47]

32. Of course. That's why Obama had Nemoy kill Scalia.

So that the supreme court wouldn't overrule Obama cancelling elections. Duh.

[dixiegrrrrl]

37. Damn! that makes sense!

How could I have been so blind????

[Wounded Bear]

34. Well obviously...

it's why he waited so long to pick up everybody's guns. Can't telegraph the end game too early.

Yeah

[matt819]

35. Find a new doctor. (Nt)

[valerief]

36. I'd never speak with a doctor about politics. If you disagree, they can do horrible things.

In the name of Jesus, of course.

[pansypoo53219]

38. gee, more obama? we should be happy.

[Jim Beard]

39. Greedy Doctors just plain hate democrats.

When I was first diagnosed with heart failure, I was sent to a specialist who was in a building with a group of other cardiologist.
The large waiting room had a large TV blaring FOX news and one of the smaller waiting rooms had a smaller TV blaring FOX news too but it had a note to not change the channel.

That really pissed me off. Another specialist ask how I was being treated at the facility and I told him I was just getting diuretics and potassium.

He got me into the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital and Clinic in Dallas and I have been with them since mid 2007. Although parts of the Dallas area are very conservative, the TV's are customer choice but in going there 14 times, I have never seen a conservative program.

It cost me a little more for a airplane ticket on Southwest and it lands about 10 blocks from the clinic. I get excellent service there. Screw the other one which is a cotton subsidy conservative welfare hating area..

[rurallib]

42. She a graduate of Ben Carson U?

[dixiegrrrrl]

43. I should have thought of him right away, but didn't.

Same syndrome, tho, sounds like.

Just goes to show, it is hard to quantify people.

[Mira]

44. I'm looking really hard

for a favorite face palm image and can't find it. This is so incredibly sad, albeit entertainingly well told.
And the woman is a doctor! This is giving me a bit more belief in that Ben Carson really operated on brains.

[dixiegrrrrl]

47. Yep..you can be a fundy and a Republican and still know how to do medical things.pretty well

Living in a red red state requires tolerance for the less well informed, esp. here in the rural areas.

[muriel_volestrangler]

51. Aren't you worried she'll blame a condition on the Muslim-communist government poisoning

the water supply? Or chemtrails?

It's not that she's right wing that's worrying, it's the belief in conspiracy theories. If she thinks Obama is a secret Muslim, in league with ISIS and planning to stage a coup to become a dictator, she'll be telling you to drink just grain alcohol and rainwater next, and warning about the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.

[dixiegrrrrl]

54. Oh, he's not a "secret" Muslin, he's well known to be one.

Grain alcohol and rainwater is actually a popular drink down here.......it's called moonshine....

[B Calm]

50. Seriously, if your doctor is that stupid I would be shopping for a new doctor!

[morningglory]

53. A big part of the problem with these right wingers is

That they are authoritarian personalities. They want someone to tell them what to think. Fox steps in; Limp Balls etc. They can function if they are doing their job, usually.

[JonathanRackham]

52. Time to get a new doctor and report this one.

Totally unprofessional and working whIle distracted. Unsafe.

[B2G]

57. Who discusses politics with their doctor?

Why did you even bring it up?

[dixiegrrrrl]

61. I enjoy listening to her nutty ideas.

Not much entertainment in this lil town.

[Jim Lane]

58. It's a good thing you have a female doctor.

Once Obama imposes Sharia law, it will be illegal for you even to be in the presence of a male doctor who's not a family member, let alone allow him to examine any part of your body that's normally covered by your burqa.

[dixiegrrrrl]

62. Very far sighted of me, I will admit.

[treestar]

59. in fairness you can find posts on DU2 that Bush was not going to leave.

interesting she is smart enough to be a doctor but not smart enough - well I guess she "educates" herself into what she wants to believe rather than reality on certain subjects.

[yellowcanine]

64. She was a dope and also inside so yes you did.

[Arugula Latte]

65. Holy crap! Get a new doctor!

She probably doesn't believe in "science" either, cuz it's against Gawd 'n' Jebus and the Big Hole-y Book of Silly Myths.