A repub coworker today shocked me...

[Deja Q]

I played Devil's advocate and mentioned Wal-mart. He in turn told me to shop there as little as possible.

There are other examples about his convictions, but Wal-Mart alone was the shocker.

He (as with other repubs I respect from the bottom of my heart) is why THE PEOPLE need to reclaim America. Reclaim it from the corporate pimps and from the elected whores.

Many more Republicans than I ever knew and I agree on far more things I'd ever admit possible.

So why the hell aren't THEY in power? They're at least human and respectable and worth voting for. The creatures who vie for office are anything but and are not.

The reason some of us end up being 'socialists' or whatever is because we see the opposite-side (fascist?) exploitative extremists in power and have had enough.

[pmbryant]

1. The reason the scum are in power

is because people like your coworker vote for them.

Why do they do so?

:shrug:

Peter

[Deja Q]

8. Because they've been CONDITIONED to see the opposition as we see our

opposition. (on edit: we're all conditioned; and most of us also believe the conditioning that to listen to the other side's perspective is wrong.)

We're all pawns in the game that has been manufactured by those in power.

Those in power WANT control. Especially with all the perks they get. What better way, especially when in control, to start saying untruths and spin about their opponents?

They don't want to see people working together. They want to see them tearing each other apart.

Those in power also pray to a false deity, but that's another story.

The fact is, we're all played for as chumps. By both sides. If Kerry and * didn't each us anything in 2004, then we will never learn, let alone evolve.

[OhioBlue]

2. Repugs often surprise me too

by agreeing on issues that aren't currently in the media. Discuss something that is currently a "hot topic" and they just recite the pundit talking points. We will be having a civil discussion on issues and they are agreeing with Dem positions. I just want to scream......Why in the F did you vote for the shrub??????? Why, why why?????

[redqueen]

4. I had the same conversation with a TX repub

they wanted to know why I voted for Clinton if I was against NAFTA.

:shrug:

[TheDebbieDee]

6. Before it was ratified, NAFTA was supported and touted

by Bush I and every former President of the US. It was heralded as a minor redistribution of the wealth and a way to give potential immigrants to the US a reason to stay in their home countries.

[redqueen]

7. I know

but it's nearly universally despised by Texan Republicans one of the planks in their platform here is to abolish it.

Of course it's touted by every former president... it pleases the corporate class. They don't bite the hand that feeds them.

[Salviati]

12. To them I would point out:

The republicans have complete control of the government, If voting for republicans is the solution to NAFTA, why is it still around?

[OhioBlue]

9. I'm sure people here have a lot more insight than I

I wasn't really involved in the political discussion until the last couple of years, but what seems to me is that 1. the motivation was different. For Dem's it was about soft power and a way boost trade and the economies of poorer nations. 2. Once it was obvious that big corporations were abusing the trade agreements and the American workers were being hurt, it was looked at again by Dems, some of whom saw the need for environmental standards and worker protections built into the deals in order for them to be viable. And to me.. the repugs were totally on the side of corporate greed. I may be off base, but that is my perception.

[redqueen]

3. Because it's the corporate suck up candidates of BOTH parties

that get the support from the powerful.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Go figure.

The other day I got into a discussion with a devoutly Republican co-worker, who said he was worried about how overburdened the army is and how awful it is that they are recalling 70-year-old doctors to active duty. Later, on another topic, he said he thought the airlines should be re-regulated by the federal government and that the executives made too much money and it's unfair that the employees are getting screwed and losing their pensions. When I pointed out to him that he was getting to sound kind of like a Democrat he said he was just trying to take a rational look at things. And I responded by pointing out that it's the Democrats who belong to the "reality-based community." Why would such a person ever vote for Bush? I don't get it. And how do we get people like that to defect from the extremist wing of the Republican party that is now in control?

[mcscajun]

10. Did he say WHY you shouldn't shop at Wal-Mart

I mean heavens knows WE know why not...but what were his reasons?

I wouldn't be shocked until I knew them.

[Deja Q]

11. What other reasons are there? Plus, I do know

he is not pleased with the the jobs situation overall, especially with IT and he does not like the offshoring trend either.

He is pro-America and pro-American. Sounds like good values to me, :shrug:

Now if Dems (or any political party that's worthy) can reclaim the veneer of "pro-America" that the repukes hijacked and are about to crash into our skyscraper of a country, then we can turn this mess around.

[mcscajun]

13. Who knows? Maybe he just thinks they carry shoddy goods

and aren't worth the money. Maybe it's not political at all.

That was my only thought when I questioned his reasons.

[mr_hat]

14. "The Big Tent" myth is sufficient for some friends >

I otherwise respect.

I think this tent must house a maze of two-way mirrors.

[bigwillq]

15. Hi, Toad!

:hi: