Anyone else here have to deal with right wing family members?...

[Joe the Liberal]

how do you act around them? I know many will say "I just don't bring up politics and we get along fine" but that's not the case with my totally right wing, tea bagging, libertarian, Ron Paulinite, conspiracy nut brother of mine. I posted about this a long time ago but he's only gotten worse since then.

When he's not doing anything he sits around listening to conspiracy nut kingpin extraordinaire Alex Jones. When he's not doing that he reads a whole plethora of libertarian blogs and books which he regurgitates to me later and then claims they are "facts". As a result of doing those things he thinks he is now some kind of grand intellectual above all those other "sheep" who are democrats/repubs who are supposedly brainwashed (he may be right about repubs) and that he is somehow "enlightened" because he supports Ron Paul (REPUBLICAN) and knows how "the system" works :eyes:. Basically he has adopted the holier-than-thou attitude that most libertarians seem to have.

On top of that he has pretty much become a republican himself with the exception of about 3 issues (pot legalization, federal reserve and war). As with most libertarians whom are just republicans who disagree on about 3 issues with the GOP which is enough for them brand themselves as something else. Yet still he calls himself an "independent", you know the type, hard line republicans who call themselves "independent" :eyes:. He's not religious though, it's one of the only areas where we see eye to eye.

Some of the conspiracy theories he believes are so ridiculous and outlandish that they would make fiction writers envious for not having thought of them first and written a story around them. The rest of the things he believes are basically just the GOP platforms of zero government because government is bad no matter what, Obama is socialist, Marxist, Nazi ect, private EVERYTHING is good, zero regulation is good ect you know the rest. He calls social security "socialist security" and thinks the government is horrible at EVERYTHING but the private interests are perfect and the free market is an almost godly entity.Also that any woman in office or running for office who happens to be a democrat is automatically a "feminist", overall pretty sexist. I normally just avoid talking politics with him but he always brings it up and spoils the conversation. If there is anything to blame for him becoming like this I'd say it's the internet hands down it has seriously poisoned his mind. Anyone else have to deal with tea bagger family members similar to this?

[Zoeisright]

1. Ask him if he enjoys getting water out of his tap and flushing his toilet.

Both of those are provided by 'socialist' government entities.

And then there are the roads he drives on, and the groceries he buys at the store, and the car he gets into to drive to the store, and public schools, and police, and fire ... well, you know.

I'd avoid him as much as possible. Sounds like a real dipshit.

[jljamison]

4. actually not necessarily

there might be a well on the property as well as a septic tank (though that could be kind of gross unless the proprty is large...)

[Joe the Liberal]

7. That's what I usually say when he goes on an anti-guvmint rant....

He just responds to it with "we don't need the guvmint for those things though, local communities usually handle it" or some other nonsense along those lines, so frustrating. I can't really avoid him either because he lives here.

[slackmaster]

2. Blood runs thicker than politics in my family

We love each other, and respect each others' opinions.

The last time we had a divisive political debate at a holiday meal was about 1973, when my stepfather and his oldest son got into an argument about the Vietnam War. Both men were devout life-long Democrats. Dad was a World War II veteran who grew up poor.

[Joe the Liberal]

10. Same here.....

I guess I gave off the impression that politics is more important but really blood does run thicker than politics for us too. It's just that he seems obsessed with it, he's pretty decent otherwise.

[notadmblnd]

3. not anymore. I made them see the error of their ways

by relentlessly bringing up politics every time they complained about something in their daily lives. High gas prices, thank the republicans, pissed cause some of your kids have to move back home, thank the republicans, bummed cause you cant find a decent part time job, thank the republicans. After 8 years of harping on them like this, they voted democrat in the last election.

[JuniperLea]

5. Yep... yours isn't so bad, really...

Mine types in all caps, can't spell/use proper grammar/punctuate, etc.... says things like Obama's degree is just a piece of paper and we don't need no Constitutional scholar in the White House... death panels, etc. When I told him that the new health care bill would keep medicare from going bankrupt, he said there's no way it's going bankrupt... now he says the HCR is going to kill medicare... aaaaiiiiieeeeee! Blames political violence on Obama and the Dems because we all MADE those Teabaggers so angry they couldn't stop themselves... whatever. You know, Obama is spending his great-grandkids' money... I keep trying to tell him that those kids were broke already thanks to Bush II... he thinks it's all Obama's doing.

Where was the outrage when W was breaking the world?

Thankfully, this is a second cousin... a whole bunch of them actually... two of my three siblings are lefties... the third is an unknown... I'm afraid to ask... her SO is pretty... interesting in the way he thinks about things... mildy put.

[saracat]

6. All the time. I have several who think women ought not to be allowed to run for office!

and "feminists are evil" and leading to the downfall of society.I have a friend who is in the Admin and They contemptuously referred to her as likely no better than a file clerk with a fancy title. Not so.I no longer talk politics or religion with my family, what is left of it.They are loons. BTW, wear an IPOD or some device to dinner .They don't notice and it will save your sanity!

[treestar]

8. Yes. I usually just agree with them in general and change the conversation

Or leave, when someone is persistent.

[Joe the Liberal]

15. I sometimes do that, a lot of times I just say I don't care and walk away. n/t

[Johonny]

25. I've gone to that approach

It's increasing isn't worth my time I find. If they want to believe Obama is from Africa on a secret mission to bankrupt America so he can convert it into a communist country, then they basically are beyond the listening to reason stage. I find no amount of being wrong before changes them from their tract. Such as ~5 years ago they couldn't get enough Iraq war no matter the cost. Now they hate the war, but still listen to the same idiots that told them how important to war at all cost was. They now fear the budget deficit, yet could of cared less 2 years ago about it. Etc.. Some people it appears need a nearly infinite number of lessons in being wrong before they wise up.

[LiberalLoner]

9. I just sit there and listen and fume inside and then come here and vent

my anger here. I don't know what else to do, honestly.

[HelenWheels]

17. Confront them

If you let it all slide it is like agreeing with them. You could at least say something like, "You are not correct and I will not ague with you."

[elfin]

11. yes, have a niece and nephew in law -- teabaggers

LOVE Sarah the Quitter. Niece is a nurse with union health care, her husband is a teacher with great benefits as well, thanks to union. Neither sees the hypocrisy that they live. Both otherwise smart. A mystery to me.

[Kerrytravelers]

12. My story isn't for everyone, but it was only way to keep sane.

Mr. kt is the only non-mouth breather on his side of the family.

His brother called us baby-killers. That was the final straw. We simply no longer spoke. It wasn't worth it. We didn't live in the same town. He passed away, and while others would have regrets, we don't. It was best for everyone. He didn't like us and we didn't like him. Simply going our separate ways was the best for everyone.

My husband's parents were sending us political hate mail that got personal. We asked them to stop, and they didn't. So, we took a break. They saw how we cut the brother off and were terrified that we'd do the same to them. They made the decision to change their behavior.

In the end, you have to look out for your own well-being. Taking a break from family and friends isn't wrong, evil or unacceptable. It may not work for you, but it was the key to our sanity. We are now in charge of the relationship. If my in-laws decide to lose it again, we'll happily take another break.

[LiberalLoner]

14. I think you made a wise decision. n/t

[Missy Vixen]

19. Cutting them off is sometimes the best thing to do

DH's sister is a rabid Republican. Of course, she forgets the part in which she draws unemployment, tuition aid, etcetera due to extended unemployment. If anyone here needed even more evidence that she's out of her mind, she belonged to a union that would have (most likely,) either gotten her a transfer or fought her layoff. She said that she hated being in a union so much, she "didn't need their help". She also forgets the part in which she attends Burning Man, etcetera. I wonder how many people at the local GOP have ever been to Burning Man, huh? Plus, we all know that the GOP is oh-so-accepting of alternative lifestyles.

My younger sister tried to tell me she is a "Republican". I asked her to name three planks in the Republican Party's platform. She couldn't name one. She then started bitching about property taxes. I asked her how much she paid in property taxes the previous year. That number would be zero. She doesn't own a home or property of any kind.

We are currently dealing with the fallout from the pro-life, right-wing aunt and her husband involving themselves in our grandma's situation. It's life at any cost, despite the fact that Grandma has NO quality of life after a massive stroke a month ago. This is going to degenerate into a huge fight that will create even bigger problems in our family.

There are multiple people on both sides of our family that are never going to change. They can't separate their political beliefs from dialogue of any kind. Sometimes it's just better all around to walk away.

[napi21]

13. My BIL gets into a RAGE, glassy eyes & all, when the subj.

turns to politics. The last time, I was only asking for his opinion and he scared me with his reaction. Since then I maker a concious effort never to discuss politics of any kind. Other than that, I really like him & we gat along fine If he happens to bring up some political subj. I simply say "We always disagree and I will not discuss that with you."

[frebrd]

16. I only dealt with right-wing relatives......

until I was sixteen and left home.

Many years later, I became acquainted with my kid brother (as an adult).

I was delighted to learn that Reagan had changed him, in his forties, "from a partisan Republican to a partisan Democrat".

[Warpy]

18. My parents had a very brief Limbaugh infatuation

when the asshole was on TV. They'd start to rant and I'd just leave, jump in the car and pick a few things up at the grocery or just take a nice walk to the park at the end of their street, watch the wildlife and listen to the birds sing.

I'd get back half an hour or so later and ask if they were done.

They got the point really fast.

Perhaps that would work with your brother.

Nobody can use you for a verbal punching bag without your permission.

[krabigirl]

20. Honestly, I'd have no problems if my parents were libertarians. They are full-on religious right ro

which is sooo much worse in my opinion. I can handle libertarians, heck we even agree on social issues and the wars. But my parents are full-on Hannity/O'leilly/limbaugh loving, and extremely religious and it's hard for me to deal with at times. We just all agree not to discuss politics or religion when I am around.

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. Best strategy: Avoidance.

Can't win on this one. Avoidance is the best option, but anything is causing a strain on the marriage because even avoidance creates issues.

[tabbycat31]

22. yes my sister and BIL

I normally do not bring up politics with them (they were Mitt Romney campaign workers). HOwever at Thanksgiving they decided to rub the NJ governor election in my face. So my comeback was "how did your Red Sox enjoy the golf course this October?"

That was the last time they ever brought it up with me.

[elocs]

23. Simple: with mutual respect we avoid talking politics. To do so is pointless both for them and me.

There is so much else to talk about, but unless both sides agree to respect the others point of view and simply avoid politics it won't work.

[lonestarlib]

24. I avoid them like the plague--

afterall, that's what they are. I'm increasingly concerned that focusing on these idiots is directing Dems' attention away from more pressing issues, especially the fact that a coup has taken place, and our government has been ursurped by corporations.