Has anyone here ever successfully deprogrammed anyone from believing in the myth of welfare fraud, that the dems are giving handouts left and right, etc.? Asking because I’ve been talking to my mom and…look, I’m sorry, but the elevator just doesn’t go to the top floor.
I graduated from college in May, and my parents have parent PLUS loans, and the monthly payment is $473. They’re both complaining about the payment but boast about voting for Trump. Obviously, no, electoralism won’t save anyone, but it’s like talking to a brick wall when I explain to my mom that if she wants any chance of debt relief (or cares at all about the future of her disabled lesbian daughter), she can’t vote Republican. But everything I say gets countered with “I don’t think people should get handouts.” When I ask what handouts Biden has given, eh can’t come up with anything. Ironically, she frequently gripes about how her unemployment checks are usually late.
It’s infuriating and honestly it’s looking like our relationship will soon become a birthday and christmas only type of thing unless she shapes up. I’m sick of having family who actively support politics that harm me. I suppose it shouldn’t be surprising when they both emotionally abused me for the better part of a quarter of a century. Having an actual support system irl seems so hopeless that I’ve been in a severe depressive episode for the past day.
Still, anyone had any luck with this? I keep explaining how the dems aren’t a left wing party, neither party is for an abundance of benefits, etc. But it’s like talking to a brick wall. I apologize if this post should’ve gone elsewhere.
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boast about voting for Trump
Electoral parties bad
You’ll never convince them the dems are good but you might convince them the republicans are bad too
Yeah, my goal isn’t to convince her that the dems are good. I don’t think they’re good. I just wish she’d quit pretending to be ok with gay and trans ppl, lending milquetoast support to BLM, etc. while also being like “dems give handouts, I’m going to vote R” while also being on unemployment and being on the hook with PLUS loans until 2048! I’d honestly rather her be a straight up queerphobe (like my dad) than the way she is now. I wish she wouldn’t vote Republican, since the hateful rhetoric is just unbelieveable now. I’m a white, cis, feminine lesbian and I feel unsafe…I can’t imagine how it is for people with more marginalized identities.
Socialist countries had much less welfare than capitalist ones. Turns out there is no need for unemployment benefits and most other programs when full employment for livable wage is the state policy.
I get what you’re saying, but I would still like unemployment benefits to still exist in such countries. As an extra layer of security.
In socialist Poland work was mandatory for everyone who was able to work, and people purposely avoiding work that were called “social parasites” (i remember some of them they were usually lumpens), but even they weren’t thrown under the bus, they recieved social help, housing etc.
If she’s complaining about the government giving too many handouts despite being unable to name any and being on unemployment herself then the issue isn’t about evidence. There’s probably no amount of statistics or explaining that will change her mind.
So what do you think is driving her to be that way? Is it just bigotry? (likely)
Right, it’s not about evidence.
It probably is some kind of bigotry. Racism (the myth of the welfare queen), ableism (the myth that people en masse lie about being disabled to get benefits), protestant work ethic, etc. No clue how to combat those things, though, other than explaining how these myths came to be, which I have. I’m just at a loss and would like to have at least one family member who isn’t a total reactionary POS.
