I had to bite my tongue really hard today....

[borlis]

I was talking to one of my close girlfriends from college and she and her hubby are republicans. Although recently she has said she does see my point on some things. Anyway, she told me years ago that they are republicans because they work hard and are sick and tired of paying for all the "have nots." So today she starts telling me about how both of her kids are having speech development problems and need therapy and how they are eligible to do an "early intervention" kind of thing through the school system. It will be much cheaper than if they had to pay for it privately. I was soooooo tempted to throw it back at her "Aren't these the kind of social programs that you are tired of paying for for everyone else?" And now it's so great because YOU need it!! Argh!!! But I chickened out and just did a lot of listening.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. The government is full of republican workers.

They are the first ones to complain about "freeloaders".

[Clovis Sangrail]

2. it's cause you're a friend

n/t

[cobalt1999]

17. I agree with you...

I do that all the time. Sometimes the friendship is more important than politics.

[tenshi816]

3. This is the reason

America doesn't have a national healthcare program, because of supremely selfish people who are obsessed with the idea that someone, somewhere, might be benefitting from the system without actually paying into it (the "have nots"). It always makes me think of the phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face."

If I had been in your place, yes, I definitely would have pointed out to your friend that she and her family were going to benefit from a social program they would resent paying for for other people. People need to be called on this kind of bullshit.

[magellan]

4. Isn't the hypocrisy infuriating?

It's okay when they do it -- then it's "Well, I pay taxes into the system, I should get something out of it" -- but when it's someone else they resent it. I think Repubs have control issues. Like, it's okay if you're a bad driver as long as YOU'RE driving.... ;)

Probably just as well you didn't call her on it...I'd bet "I pay my taxes" or similar is the response you'd get from her.

[borlis]

8. She is driving me crazy lately

About a year ago they got transfered to South Carolina. Well, she now has her "DREAM HOUSE" that they paid just under 800k for and that's all she does is complain about how expensive everything is. $5000 to power wash the house and deck??? I'm like maybe you should have bought a less expensive house then. :shrug: She exhausts me. Maybe I am secretly glad she moved? :evilgrin:

[magellan]

10. Poor little rich girl

Doesn't your heart just bleed for her? :sarcasm: :)

See, if it were me I'd be busting her chops left and right. (Which is probably why I don't have any well off friends!) But she's going to need a real friend like you if the economy tanks the way it looks like it will. Then you can suggest she buy her own power washer and get out and do it herself, like the rest of us peasants!

[Random_Australian]

14. *ahem* might I point out that unless I am mistaken as to what a power

washer is, buying your own seems a bit... y'know.....

Like not what you'd do if the economy is going to go the way it is.......


*ahem*

Well, I TRIED to make it snark free.......

[magellan]

26. Buying one is a heck of a lot cheaper than paying someone else

...$5000 to do it for you. My point was if having a clean house and deck is such a priority that one would be willing to pay such an exorbitant sum for it, there's plenty of room for economizing if needs be. Power washers adequate for the job go for $60-140. (We have one ourselves.) People are simply lazy and would rather pay someone else to do it.

[Monk06]

15. Must have killed her to hand a 5K check to the 'illegals' who .....

undoubtedly "power wash the houses that Americans
are unwilling to power wash."

My SO has a friend whose married to a wealthy Sci Fi
writer. She makes sure the government pays for as much
care for her high functioning autistic son as she can.
Meanwhile she lives in a $1.5 million mini mansion with
two Filipino servants.

She knows health plan policy and entitlements better than
the bureaucrats at the Ministry of Health and Education.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. Maybe if she got off her lazy ass and power washed her house

she'd have the money to pay for her kids' therapy without sponging off the "have nots" to could really use that program. She is taking away from those who can't afford private therapy and really need the taxpayer funded program.

[walldude]

28. So they can pay $5000 to "power wash" their house

but can't afford speech therapy for their kids. Wonderful people. I wonder if they realize that somewhere some poor kid isn't getting his speech therapy so they can afford to power wash their deck. Sounds like Republican logic to me....

[rodeodance]

11. I would try to think of some way to say--Is this taxpayer funded? (we know

it is).

[justice1]

5. Don't be nasty, but if it comes up again say something.

[NightOwwl]

6. Tell her you are sick and tired of your taxes....

paying for her kids developmental problems. Then tell her that her kids should pull themselves up by their bootstraps, just like she expects the "have-nots" to do.

(I know you wouldn't really say this because I'm sure you are too nice, but even so, I'm getting a great deal of pleasure imagining the look on her face.)

[borlis]

9. LOL

:rofl::rofl: I wish I would say that too!!!! Thanks for a good laugh.

[rodeodance]

12. sometimes a jolt like you speak of is what is needed!

[earth mom]

7. Maybe next time you see her you should say something along the lines of

"I'm glad that there are good social programs in place in school so your kids can get the help they need." :evilgrin:

[NoSheep]

13. Explain Corporate Welfare...and then take the advice of all these other

kind people who have suggested you make nice with her.
If this is someone you'd like to remain in your life...I'd think you could say, "Y'know..this reminds me of something we discussed earlier. Maybe you can see my point of view in that it is better to further the lives of our children and those who are less advantaged than to waste our money on unnecessary war."

I do think there is a way to discuss these things. No. Really I do.

[livvy]

16. During the last "selection" in 2004...

I was working on my best friend at work to vote for Kerry. One day she, in exasperation with my constant badgering, said, "You realize you are asking me to vote against my own interests?" She was referring to the tax cuts she and her small business hubby were the beneficiaries of.
I looked her straight in the eye and told her how many of our soldiers had lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan,and to divide her tax breaks among them. I asked her if that's all each of their lives was worth.
I thought she was going to implode, but she voted for Kerry.
Sometimes "tough love" is the only recourse.

edited for grammar

[LunaC]

18. You missed an educational opportunity to open her eyes/heart

Sometimes a direct one-liner jolt is a necessary evil to open one's awareness that they're not the only people on the planet deserving of assistance. Of course, I'm known for my brashness and I realize you may not be comfortable taking on that role.

[rock]

19. Good call. It would have been pointless.

Repukes are irony challenged. It comes from being a hypocrite.

[NewJeffCT]

20. My 3 year old daughter speaks very well for her age...

So, tell this woman that she & her family should suck it up... I don't want my taxes and my daughter's education to suffer because I'm fucking paying for her "early intervention" therapy for her kids. Tell her to do it privately like a good Republican.

Wasn't it Limbaugh who once collected unemployment?

And, how many high profile Republicans have run to the ACLU when under investigation?

And, if they go to trial, I bet they use trial lawyers, a group famous for supporting Democrats.

Oh, hypocrisy, thy name is Republican

[Minnesota Libra]

21. You wouldn't have had to put it to her directly, instead you could........

....have said something indirectly like, "Isn't it nice that we have such social programs? Some people dislike paying for these things with their taxes because they view it as having to pay for the have-nots of the world. Yet these same people are just hypocritical enough to use the have-not social programs when it's to their benefit instead of paying for it themselves. Of course they depend on the rest of us having very short memories."

I think hypocrisy bothers me more than anything else in life.

[yellowcanine]

31. Or you could have said. "Well that's wonderful. You know I don't mind

paying my taxes when I know they are going to help people who need a little extra help." That would be direct but nuanced enough that it wouldn't sound like "I told you so." And unless she is completely out in left field she would make the connection. It is amazing how progressive some conservatives get when their ox gets gored.

[Justice]

23. you know, her kids may just become friends with others in speech class,

meaning play dates and sleep overs and lots of opportunity for her kids and for her to get to know some of the have nots -- and finding out that the have nots are really flesh and blood people just like her and not some alien creatures.

[elehhhhna]

24. wail ti she applies for the fed monthly checks for her "dsiabled" kids--

we had a freepy neighbor who collected on both her kids--one diabetic, the other just spoke baby talk at the age of 11--but could not shut up about the lazy welfare people.


She learned all her ignorant predjudice from her dad, a doctor, who WOULD be retired now if his uber-reep partner hadn't STOLEN every penny he had. (I note this fact to demonstrate what an excellent judge of character the Doc is. LOL)

[zbdent]

25. The next time your snooty "haves" friend makes some snide remark

about whatever, knowing that it raises the hackles on your neck, ask her this:

"How are your speech development kids doing on the taxpayer-funded, socialist program therapy?"

[rpgamerd00d]

27. DO THIS !!! (read)

Next time you call her, say exactly this:

"So, how are (name of her kids) doing in the Early Intervention program?
(wait for response)
Boy, you sure must be glad that a program like that exists! I know you used to be totally opposed to having your tax dollars pay for the "have nots", but programs like this were created with exactly those tax dollars. I'm glad you changed your mind on that issue, because I know you would never be so hypocritical as to make use of this program while continuing to speak out against it."

[gratuitous]

29. You don't have to bash her over the head

But gently point out that they, through no fault or planning of their own, have a special need. Isn't it nice to have a taxpayer-funded program available to help you out? If she's still a little dense on the point, begin drawing the line that similar programs are made available to other folks through taxpayer funding. If she's still resistant, remind her that she doesn't know everyone's individual circumstances, and that passing judgment without cause is a big Christian no-no.

If she's still slow on the uptake, then bash her over the head for being a dummy. Well, not literally, of course.

[RagingInMiami]

30. Anytime somebody tells me they vote republican because they

don't want to fund the "have nots", I ask them if they prefer to fund the corporate "haves" instead.

Whether it's social welfare or corporate welfare, they're tax dollars are still being used to benefit somebody else.

I'd rather fund the "have nots" than the "haves".

[Jed Dilligan]

32. It's easy to see how a kid growing up around Fox News

would have speech development problems.

[Bake]

33. So why did you "have to" bite your tongue???

I wouldn't have! And you had the perrfect reply. Shame to waste it.

Bake