I had an encouraging conversation in a bar

[GulfCoast66]

A couple of time a week I get together with 3-5 other guys to drink different beers. How we met is an interesting anecdote but not relevant. I find the group attractive because we are from very different walks of life...a professional manager(me), a heavy equipment mechanic, a retired computer guy, a chronically underemployed guy who cannot wait till he can get on Medicare, one who sells brewery components. You get the idea.

And we never talk politics. Just beer and bullshit.

Last Friday, 3 of us were talking and the guy waiting for Medicare(he is 62) commented that his health care is from the ACA(he called it Obamacare) and that he is worried he may lose it. I kept my mouth shut but he computer guy asked if he voted for Trump to which he said no, he did not vote because both parties are the same. I that point I asked him why he did not vote for the Democratic Party if he was dependent on the ACA. And here it came...because Democrats are too Liberal.

At that point the beers got to me and I asked him what program the Democratic Party supported that was too liberal. I mentioned the ACA, Medicare, Social Security, Marriage equality, Abortion rights, Civil rights, etc. He agreed with all of them. He then said that he has been hearing for years how liberal the Democrats were but he had never really thought about it. He admitted that maybe he should be a democrat.

But that was not the best part of the conversation! The computer guy, who is from Canada commented that he was a huge Trump fan and he and his wife had voted for him even thought their grown kids about disowned them. I was floored. After all, he is from Canada!

What he said next is why I am writing this. He said it was the worse vote he has ever made and that Trump and the Republican are truly crazy and we will be luck not to get into a war. And that he could not wait until he can undo that vote. He is a buddy so I did not shoot back that he cannot undo the vote because that would have been rude. But I thought it.

I know this is a long post, and I very seldom do OPs, but I found this conversation very encouraging. We always say that the Trumpers will not change and I agree most will not. But some are. And we do not need them all.

Have a great evening

[Mediumsizedhand]

1. Good to hear. I do not discuss anything with Trump voters, so dependent on others.

[GulfCoast66]

2. Did not know how he voted till then.

We truly avoid talking politics and I guess I am the only one of the group that follows it closely. The others never bring it up and I would not be surprised if most of them did not vote.

[Mediumsizedhand]

11. A lot of the biggest mouths do not vote.

I am surprised, but it is true. I have people in my family that are damn close to white supremacists and are always mouthing, or Fox news watching Republicans. All he does it talk politics. I tell him if he wants to talk to me, NO politics. He doesn't vote. None of them do. So as much as they mouth, it is pretty weak, all being said.

[Beartracks]

14. If they're in red states, they probably feel "safe" not bothering to vote.

Last edited Thu Oct 26, 2017, 09:49 PM - Edit history (1)

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[Mediumsizedhand]

15. No, they are just lazy asses that spend their time mouthing off.

[riversedge]

3. Lovely story. Thanks. yes, a bit of encouragement.

[Canoe52]

4. The guy says maybe I should be a Democrat

lmfao!

[GulfCoast66]

5. Its sad

So many Americans just do not follow what is going on. Most people agree with our policies.

But we are too Liberal! Fucking right wing press.

[JHan]

6. The ignorance is so painful.

[fierywoman]

7. Ya did good by staying calm and real and paragraph 2 !!! Thanks for the story.

[Raine1967]

8. How long has your Candian beer buddy been a US citizen?

I am just curious.

We are homebrewers and are members of a few clubs -- so there are monthly meetings.

Until this past election, there was very little political discussion. I never hid where I stood on the political spectrum but I never talked about it.

Now, there is discussion in hushed corners. Usually, it's people talking to me about what I think.

I am fine being a conduit and letting people know that they can talk about this mess.

Baby steps are still steps.

[GulfCoast66]

9. Over 30 years. He is a US citizen now.

We are not brewers but frequent local breweries and other beer centric locations. The irony is that I really like wine more than beer! But like like this crew I hang with. It is refreshing to hang with people not from my work circle, if you know what I mean.

We do not discuss politics. But I travel to Europe yearly, mainly France, and do not hide my admiration of their system. Plus I smuggle, errr, bring back really cool cheeses and sausages that I share with the guys. And they love that, as do I.

I agree with the baby steps, and think I might be able to make a difference with a few of these guys. But do not want to make it a political group.

Have a nice evening.

[USALiberal]

10. So many of m GOP "friends" telll me that they agree with......

all sort of Democratic stand, Gays, ACA, Etc. And never can explain why they are republicans. Maybe they are lying to me.

[Initech]

12. That's the thing - they don't know why they hate democrats. They just do.

They have been brainwashed by AM hate radio and Fox News into hating democrats. That's what pisses me off.

[LiberalLovinLug]

17. THIS!

In some areas of the country, it is all that is on when they turn on their car radio going to and from work. And Fox News is the only TV station on in restaurants and bars. So even if they did not set out to be brainwashed, did not even seek out right wing opinion, it is always there, like an obscure virus, in the background. After a while, years, it just becomes clear fact that the Democrats are all evil, and liberals are hell bent on destroying the country.

[Aristus]

13. The one guy had heard all his life that 'liberal' was a bad thing.

Rather than investigate for himself, and discover that he supported the majority of liberal policies, he just droned ahead brainlessly and fucked everything up for the rest of us...

[NBachers]

16. Here's a slogan: "Next time, vote Democrat."

[flying-skeleton]

18. You should have thanked them ...

For killing democracy as we know it today !!

[Hortensis]

19. Thanks, love it. And you're right -- we need a few percent

to stay home. it'll be nice if any vote Dem, like those foolish previously Democratic white male voters who went trumpian for a few different reasons, but none of them admirable. But it's not critical.

To cement that, we need those who voted last time, plus a few shamed that they did not.

That's all, and that many only because of gerrymandering. A majority of Americans vote Democrat already, in spite of phony depictions by infiltrated and profit-seeking media.

[lunatica]

20. I love it when DUers write their thoughts and experiences

And I agree that you heard some very encouraging things.

[DFW]

21. So many people using reasoning for which I would have told off my daughters at age 6

And yet here they are, voting for the future of our country, thinking through the consequences of their actions only after being more or less forced to, and after it's too late to do anything about it.

I swear, I feel like asking these people what they think will happen if they drive their cars off a cliff, and then explaining that with their votes, that's pretty much what they just did--with us and their families as passengers. If they thought their cars would fly, then they should have voted for Trump. If they thought something gravity-related would happen, then they should have voted for Hillary.

[Doitnow]

22. I think it's a great idea to ask people which policies they think are too liberal because

they can only stumble on and on about how they like each one of the Democratic ones when discussed individually. I think a major problem is that so many problems have been neglected and the pile is so high now and growing that when Dems talk about correcting them, it can be made to look like Dems are far out left-wing-nuts. It's just the quantity of needs that need to be addressed that is becoming so overwhelming. And guess who keeps in the way of progress. The only thing rethugs can think to do is cut taxes and they ought to be reminded daily about how Kansas has fared under that idea. I'm sure there are more than a few other red states that can be shown as examples.

[Honeycombe8]

23. Very enlightening, GulfCoast. It gives me hope. nt

[YOHABLO]

24. It just goes to show you that when it comes to politics people are terribly misinformed.

The only time they pay attention is right before a presidential election. Screw state and local politics .. they're too busy to keep up. They take some sound bite on FOX and that determines their vote. It's so pathetic and so disturbing. People just take their freedoms for granted. That is until it's too late and all of their freedoms are taken away.

[Locrian]

25. nice jujitsu

I bet if you (or anyone) had - without having drank beer with them for a time - came out and attacked them you would have gotten a vastly different response.

People are more open after they "bond" - ie drinking beer, whatever.
They also are protective of their "reputation" - defending with whatever nonsense can be used as ammunition in an argument if attacked, reinforcing their belief system in the process.

I think this - bonding, calm, discussing, role model etc is THE way we need to work reach people.

[GulfCoast66]

26. It was calm discussion which helped

The Canadian computer guy just joined us about around 6 months ago.

I have know the other guy for 3 years and he is an interesting guy. Weighs maybe a 130 but loves high alcohol Belgian beers. Not a great combination which may explain why he brought up a political issue. I would never attack or be rude to him even in repayment for the same.

I will not bring it up again unless they do. I like having non political friends who are not in my normal social circle.

[moonscape]

27. We need to send you on a cross-country drinking tour! n/t