Combating the "handouts" myth?
Combating the "handouts" myth?
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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What does she think about receiving unemployment benefits if she dislikes handouts so much?
I'm sure that in her mind she chalks it up to her (an honest, hardworking American™) being persecuted by dems who hate big business (if only that were true!). She's only ever worked factory jobs and retail, and I've tried to explain deindustrialization to her, and it's like she agrees but as soon as I quit talking she goes back to "handouts bad. jobs good. work ethic good. complaining bad. millenials and gen z bad. gen x and boomers good." Etc.
Thanks for your response. This is just a supremely frustrating situation all around.
Personally, I wouldn't try changing her views unless you're willing to ruin your chance of a smooth relationship. You could change her mind but it's unlikely and it doesn't sound like your relationship is starting in the right place for it. Just focus on things you agree on and ignore the rest. It's not your job to make sure everyone around you is right about everything. If you take up that burden, you are likely to become unhappy about it because you won't win, unfortunately.
I don't bother arguing with people over electoral politics IRL. Whether someone votes or doesn't vote for the 'right wing' party isn't going to make a difference. If there was a concerted, class conscious campaign to change millions of minds, it would be different. But literally nothing will change if you get one person to change their mind. Remember, the Republicans lost the popular vote when Trump became president.
If you do want to try to convince people. Best to take a non confrontational approach. As soon as you make it personal in any way ('your vote will harm me', 'you get handouts') they'll get defensive and you will have a much harder time. People don't like to feel like others are having a go at them. Maybe some of the following ideas will help.
handouts bad. jobs good. work ethic good. complaining bad.
I don't entirely disagree but still this has class characteristics.
When ordinary workers get 'handouts', it's really a gift to employers, who gets to pay lower wages and still have functioning employees turn up every day. People like Musk get more handouts than workers ever will, in the form of direct subsidies, tax relief, lower taxes, etc. Keynesianism was implemented to save capitalism, not to benefit the working class.
Jobs are good. Everyone should have a job. It's not possible under capitalism, which needs and creates unemployment.
Work ethic is good. The problem is that under capitalism, we're expected to put that ethic to use for the capitalists. We aren't going to build a better world without discipline and work ethic, though. The question is, who does it benefit? Having a good work ethic as an officer in an immigrant detention centre? Not good.
It's great to have a good vent. But as Parenti argues, we need radical critique not liberal complaints.
This is how I would build common ground. It's hard, though, especially when you don't feel heard.