I was hit by a barrage of talking points today at work.

[livingonearth]

Myself and about 7 of my co-workers were sitting in our company's break room this morning. Everything was peaceful till I asked everyone what they thought about the Bush tax cut deal Obama and the Republicans had come to, and how it was going to affect Social Security with the payroll tax holiday. I was honestly seeking some opinions and maybe a little discussion on the subject.

But,...Oh...My...God!

They all started talking at once, and none of what anyone said was actually about the tax cut extension deal. Instead, it was a continuous stream of forcefully proclaimed negative talking points about Social Security. They had them all too.

"It's a "Ponzi scheme."

"It's broke." etc.

Plus, there was one I'd never actually heard before: did you know all the Social Security money is gone now because "Obama gave it to the illegal aliens so they would vote for him"?

I really learned something from the experience. I learned that people really can become programed to believe almost anything. It's sad and scary when it becomes this hard to have an intelligent discussion in this country, especially about something which affects so many.

[leftstreet]

1. How did they react when you explained how SS works?

Hopefully, they were relieved

[livingonearth]

3. I never got a word in edgewise.

The way they say it they were schooling me.

[leftstreet]

5. Hmm

Well, now that you know their tactics I'm sure you'll be ready for them the next time you bring it up

[livingonearth]

13. If I dare bring it up again it will be from the standpoint of

Medicare. I believe that is partly funded by the payroll tax as well as Social Security. I know many of them are waiting to retire and have expressed eligibility in Medicare as a concern, since their company health insurance will end at retirement they will need it.

[jtown1123]

22. SCHOOL them. Here is an excellent link with a bulleted list of points:

http://www.ncpssm.org/news/archive/ss_toolbox/

You should also tell them how CATO devised a "Leninist Strategy" in the early 80s for Social Security. Meaning, they would come up with lies i.e. "it's a ponzi scheme" "it is broke" so people wouldn't be as likely to fight for it if they thought they would never receive it.

Here is a better explanation: http://www.angrybearblog.com/2010/04/deficit-commission-cbo-scoring-and.html

[Philly219]

2. Its really shocking and

I see it more and more on various message boards. Its unbelievable the crap that people are led to believe to score political points. It just means we have a misinformed electorate who would be willing to vote for the likes of Sarah Palin without batting an eyelash. After all, Bush was in power for 8 years. Thats got to tell you about the mindset of the American voters.

[kentuck]

4. We are in dire need of educational improvements.

in order to get ourselves out of the stupid ditch.

[livingonearth]

11. You mean the stupid ditch where

people believe Obama is simultaneously a Nazi, Communist, Muslim, non-flag lapel wearin', illegal alien?

[pa28]

6. Shocking isn't it?

Next time ask them for their views on privatization. I'd be curious about the response.

[Mimosa]

7. Shouldn't our President be defending Social Security?

Sending out people to educate the public about its origins? And the poverty before Social Security?

[leftstreet]

8. That would be an excellent job for OFA

Are they still up and running?

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. No, not really, he accepts that world view

Many of us have concluded this a while ago. We knew he wasn't a liberal, but at this point, it is the ELITE view. Oh party, shmarty... power elites have ways to do things, and when they agree, they do it.

[pscot]

17. That's asking a lot

[Canuckistanian]

9. A "Ponzi scheme"?

Do these people not have parents or family on SS? Do they want it killed outright with no replacement?

Did you at least tell them that SS has been a part of American life since 1935 with very few fundamental changes? Or even that it's self-funding, completely independent of the General Revenue stream?

Oy, of course you did. It's just disappointing that people will listen to, and believe absolute CRAP rather than discover the REAL story.

[Mimosa]

19. Glenn Beck, Mark levin and Limbaugh call it a Ponzi scheme frequently

And the poor half educated shmucks who believe these multi-millionaires -almost billionaires- are on the side of the ordinary working men (mainly men and old people listen to those talk shows) hear the Ponzi scheme reference to Social Security all the time. They seem to think Rush, et al, wouldn't lie to them! *gag*

[madmax]

12. They get all their news from Faux, right.

Take this to work: http://www.alternet.org/story/149193/study_confirms_that_fox_news_makes_you_stupid

[Initech]

16. That was my first thought on reading this too.

Fox rots your brain.

[nckjm]

14. Would not recommend having political conversations at work

[DragonSlave]

21. No, I think your duty in that situation is to patienty correct their misunderstandings

Don't forget that you're a real person and that these things these people have heard are just stuff they saw on TV. Everybody knows that you shouldn't confuse television with reality, right?

[Speck Tater]

15. People believe exactly what the corporate media tells them to believe.

The American news media is pathetic, and this another bit of evidence to support that charge.

[CoffeeCat]

18. This is all VERY deliberate...

Make no mistake--this whole right-wing radio/tv nonsense--is a very deliberate
attempt to divide America to the point of no return.

If America is divided--the corporatists and the neocons win. They can continue
to destroy our democracy, amass power, rob us blind and turn our government
into their own little playground.

If you listen to Beck, Limbaugh, and the rest of them--it's like being on another
planet, with a new reality. That's intentional. I have tried to have reasonable
conversations with Beck fans, and it's absolutely impossible. We're not even
speaking the same language any more. You can't refute their points, because the
logic is so twisted and Beck has them believing new history (that is absolutely
bizarre).

Republicans and Democrats disagree on many issues. However, the neocons and corporatists
have orchestrated deep, anger- and hate-based divisions in this country.

And they do it because it helps them continue the heist.

[jtown1123]

23. Don't forget Peter G. Peterson who spent billions brainwashing the media to repeat these lies

[undeterred]

20. Some of this crap comes from viral emails

like the thing about illegal aliens and social security.

They may say it on Fox too, but I've seen this in an email that was being forwarded around by people who weren't all that interested in right wing politics. Originally they were blaming Bush, then it was changed to Obama. If anyone paid the slightest bit of attention to the real news they would know it was baloney. But very few people have a clue what is going on in Washington.