I don't understand it

[MissMillie]

I don't understand how anyone who touts "logic" votes Republican.

All the economic data indicates that Democratic Presidents and legislators instill policies that promote the well-being of EVERYONE.

And the democratic efforts at dealing with moral issues give FREEDOM, which is what the GOPers say they want.

I get so weary trying to explain to people about the logic of voting in their own interests... only to have them worry about what FOX News tells them.

Even my own guy, who is a union man, insists he will vote GOP. It doesn't make sense.

[Downwinder]

1. I know a fellow whose father told him:

"You vote Republican, you will lose your job."

He voted Republican and, sure enough, his father was right.

[TexasProgresive]

2. Many don't want to raise the well being of EVERYONE.

All the economic data indicates that Democratic Presidents and legislators instill policies that promote the well-being of EVERYONE.

Race is a factor- not the only one but LBJ it right:

If you can convince the lowest white man that he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll even empty his pockets for you.

[MissMillie]

3. I'm only reminded of Anne Frank

who say she believes in the goodness of mankind. Do these people really believe it's okay to give 1% of people a HUGE raise, and let 90% of the people struggle?

How about Joe Schmoe gets a 5% raise on his $40,000 a year, and then puts his money back into the economy...

and Richy Rich gets a 1% increase on his $200,000,000 and he gets to stow his increase into some foreign country where that money never pays for cops, or teachers, or roads, or WARMONGERING.....

[jeff47]

5. They do not believe they are the 99%. They believe they are temporarily embarrassed 1%. (nt)

[Populist_Prole]

7. I have a very RW acquaintance

He's categorically, certifiably, poor. Religious but not at all a fundie or dominionist. Works a shitty job and complains what a jerk his boss is.

You know what views he speaks most passionately about? "Speaks" is putting it mildly; he effusively spouts. The virtues of supply-side "free market" capitalism and a burning hatred for organized labor, and also government.

I've tried to deconstruct and reverse-engineer his arguments, but I never could figure him out. As far as I can tell, he feels being a cog is the moral or noble thing to do.

[jeff47]

9. Ya see, one day he won't just be a cog, he'll be the billionaire!

And then he'd be hurt by those commie policies!

[Matrosov]

11. If he's poor, it's because of the government

We have too much government right now, and that's why some people are poor. Government wants to keep people poor, because poor people are dependent on the government.

If we gave corporations more power and reduced the size of the government, fewer people would be poor. That's why you have to vote Republican.

Voting Democratic will increase the size of the government and reduce the power of corporations, which will lead to even more poor people (and the eventual creation of the United Socialist States of America, comrade).

Such is the crazy and illogical thought process of right wingers...

[Populist_Prole]

12. I guess

Doulbling....tripling down, in the face of repeated failure must get tiring even though it underscores the huge amount of faith he has in that system.

Could be righteous indignation ( however misguided ) is more personally satisfying than admitting he's "throwing away good money after bad" so to speak.

[Matrosov]

13. It's almost like a cult

The degree to which many right wingers can ignore and reject reality and the strength of their belief in the right wing lies and myths almost makes conservatism seem like a cult of sorts.

I did have a conservative acquantaince, who's apparently a little more self aware and honest, confess to me that, even if there were some form of government that could without a shadow of doubt do everything more efficiently and more fairly than the private sector, he would STILL oppose this form of government and push for more privatizing. Why? Simply out of principle.

So reality doesn't matter to them, they'd rather stick to their quasi-religious political beliefs.

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. Union man voting republican....

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. “To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason,

“To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.”

― Thomas Paine, The American Crisis

[lpbk2713]

8. And how can anyone say they are for Family Values and still vote (R) ?

I'll never see how they coincide.

[One_Life_To_Give]

10. The brain refuses to see facts contrary to our perception

Espesially true for those of us who follow politics closely. We are all suceptible to our brains selectively ignoring any facts which are contrary to our political views.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128490874

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/11/how_facts_backfire/

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