Do they really believe their own B.S.?

[DissidentVoice]

Over on Yahoo! there was a story about people being priced out of the ACA.

Of course, that brought all the far-right wackos out of the woodwork, especially the "Repeal And Replace With Nothing" lot.

I tried to pose several what I thought were intelligent questions; i.e., "Do Republicans really think they can never lose coverage," "Why hasn't the GOP posed anything beyond so-called 'tort reform'," and one they really hated, "Why has the GOP disowned a plan very similar to what they were pushing in the 1990s?"

Naturally, I got nailed with all sorts of comparisons to Stalin/Lenin/North Korea/USSR/China, "Marxist," "Socialist," et. al., as well as a few personal threats. I expected that, and I actually find the personal threats amusing given that chances are very good none of them would say in person what they threaten from behind the safety of a keyboard in Mom's basement.

My point is: do they really believe their own bullshit? Do they really believe that a nebulous concept of "personal responsibility" (which I asked them to define objectively...loads of thumbs-downs on that) and "the market" is going to fix health care in this country? Note I did not say the health care system. We do not have a health care system.

Are the Republicans really that cold and heartless (remember the "let them die!" shout at a GOP primary?) or do they just believe what is being fed them by the likes of Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, etc.?

[el_bryanto]

1. I think what they generally believe is that yes, people should take care of themselves first

They don't see themselves as having taken a lot of money from the Government (even when they have) - and they think "If I can take care of myself without the Government getting involved, why can't other people?" That builds resentment against those they see as cheating within the system. That's why Bill Clinton talking about helping people who "Worked hard and played by the rules" struck such a cord.

Bryant

[DissidentVoice]

2. That's a lot of generalising

They generalise a lot if they judge an entire populace based on just their own experiences.

I was a state welfare intake counsellor some years ago. Each case is different...vastly so.

In any case, does it excuse the incendiary bomb-throwing at the less-fortunate?