Topic: Mother's Day's discussion on social security

[LadyVirginia]

It got a little testy during our otherwise lovely lunch.

I'm not sure how it happened but I'm sure someone mentioned that man currently occupying the White House and off we went discussing current affairs.  But my mother who considers herself a conservative is adament she paid in everything she's getting back in ss.  When I pointed out (since I do her taxes) that I know what she gets and there's no way she paid that much in (not even including the health benefits she's got paid) she gave me her "face".  I didn't even want to argue!  But she thought she had me by firing back that if she didn't have ss my siblings and I would have to pay her (take care of her) and I wouldn't want to do that.  I said that families should take care of each other and I said yes, we should be taking care of you not the government.  But since that wasn't the answer she wanted she announced she didn't want us to help her.  At this point one of my adult daughters said, "But we are!  We're the ones paying in so you get ss!"  Then she claimed she doesn't live off ss that she's really living off her pension plan from work.  At which point I said that's the way it should be --you prepared for your retirement.  And by the way could you give me your monthy ss check since you don't need it and that money is my tax money?" 

No yelling was used in the making of this discussion but oxen were gored.

 She changed the subject and stated complaining about "other" people who live off the government.  Hahahaha we let her off the hook--it is Mother's Day after all. lol

[charlesoakwood]

Kinda' like taking the fish off the hook but not putting it back in the water.   

[Pandora]

No yelling?

It isn't "testy" with my 'uns unless there's yelling.  It's, like, normal.

My Mother keeps insisting corporations don't pay their fair share of taxes.  We've been over the same ground on this about ten times; the middle several involved yelling.  Now, I just sigh and say "what did I tell you last time?"

Some people, especially observable in older people, once they get something in their heads -- that's it.

[Glock32]

I always like to retort with "You mean you don't pay a fair share of corporations' taxes?" There really is a lot of people who simply don't get the concept of crap rolling downhill. Costs to doing business end up in the final product, borne by the customer. Last time we had a surge in gas prices (back when it was reported as un-awesome) I can't tell you how many times I tried explaining to people, 'til blue in the face, why a tax on the oil companies' "windfall profits" would just be a tax on themselves every time they pulled into a gas station.

[John Florida]

No Yelling?? Amateurs! Why have a family day if nobody's yelling.I called my Mother this morning and she yelled at me because I'm not in Connecticut to change a wall plug that went bad at her house.And that's a good day I only got a tea spoon full of guilt. Some days I get it in quarts.

[warpmine]

Had similar arguments about electric cars. The old gal said how great it was not having to buy gas with one and of course my step-father and I retorted about how much it would cost to charge the batteris using utilty power. Shut her right up

She claimed years ago that she was a libertarian to which I told her that libertarians want government out of the picture not forcing itself upon everyone mandating this and that. Low and behold, she's no longer a libertarian. You see, it sounded so good to use that word but in practice, it was the complete opposite.

I didn't say it this time but I usually force guilt upon her for killing her grandchildren's future by voting for this really great guy, Obamakov.

[Glock32]

I didn't say it this time but I usually force guilt upon her for killing her grandchildren's future by voting for this really great guy, Obamakov.

That's pretty much exactly what they're doing too. I've seen interviews with older people, and many of them more or less say they don't care how much the 20/30/40 generations have to pay in taxes.

Liberalism, it's great at pitting different segments of the population against each other.

[AlanS]

Sounds like some of the conversations I have with my father when Walmart comes up for discussion. He thinks Wally World is the work of the Devil himself.

[Libertas]

No yelling?

It isn't "testy" with my 'uns unless there's yelling.  It's, like, normal.

My Mother keeps insisting corporations don't pay their fair share of taxes.  We've been over the same ground on this about ten times; the middle several involved yelling.  Now, I just sigh and say "what did I tell you last time?"

Some people, especially observable in older people, once they get something in their heads -- that's it.

That's my Mother, God love her.  Sometimes if I come in at right angles and finish on the same point I can make some headway.  But it's a pick your battles kind of thing, especially since it takes so much effort.  But thankfully our politics are almost 99% alike for most in my family...it's the all the other stuff we argue about.

[Libertas]

Sounds like some of the conversations I have with my father when Walmart comes up for discussion. He thinks Wally World is the work of the Devil himself.

Heh.  You should ask "What did Obama do with Wal Mart this time?" whenever he says that!

 

[Weisshaupt]

 Sometimes if I come in at right angles and finish on the same point I can make some headway.  But it's a pick your battles kind of thing, especially since it takes so much effort.  But thankfully our politics are almost 99% alike for most in my family...it's the all the other stuff we argue about.

I've picked my last battle. I spent the last ten years trying to convince my family they are fighting against freedom, individual rights and the rule of law. . Finally quit. I even told my mother that if she can't get the ideas that her rights end where mine begin and that stealing is wrong she has no business being around or influencing my children.  She has since told me she had no idea how much she depended upon me for her happiness. Of course that is the only time a liberal will pay attention to what yo uare saying.. when they feel some pain themselves.  I am a much happier person without her around. And if she is unhappy, well, then she shouldn't have voted to declare war on me and mine.

[Pandora]

 Sometimes if I come in at right angles and finish on the same point I can make some headway.  But it's a pick your battles kind of thing, especially since it takes so much effort.  But thankfully our politics are almost 99% alike for most in my family...it's the all the other stuff we argue about.

I've picked my last battle. I spent the last ten years trying to convince my family they are fighting against freedom, individual rights and thew rule of law. . Finally quit. I even tol my mother that if she can't get the ideas that her rights end where mine begin and that stealing is wrong she has no business being around or influencing my children.  She has since told me she had no idea how much she depended upon me for her happiness. Of course that is the only time a liberal will pay attention to what yo uare saying.. when they feel some pain themselves.  I am a much happier person without her around. And if she is unhappy, well, then she shouldn't have voted to declare war on me and mine.

This is unfortunate, but not unexpected, and I believe it will escalate as more folks realize that, for all intents and purposes, we're already in a civil war.

We've had discussions with our friends on the issue of who in our families resolve as friendly, undependable, or enemy.

[LadyVirginia]

This is unfortunate, but not unexpected, and I believe it will escalate as more folks realize that, for all intents and purposes, we're already in a civil war.

We've had discussions with our friends on the issue of who in our families resolve as friendly, undependable, or enemy.

BTDT.

It's not easy.

 Sometimes I wonder what would it be like to be passive and stupid but I just don't have it in me.

 When I told certain family members about our decision to homeschool I was called every name in the book.  That was 25 years ago.  I think that was when I realized I was out in the cold.  When I found me and my baby in a high risk pregnancy and I was told by family members that maybe a miscarriage would be for the best (the doctors suggested an abortion).  That's when I knew I was made of sterner stuff.   Had to be. 

Those weren't political choices I made but the treatment I received revealed character.

The reality is that not many will choose to stand with you, most, if they bother at all, will pat you on the back and say just go home as if they're giving a friendly suggestion.  The truth is they don't want you to stand firm because it highlights their inadequacies.  I've told my kids to do three things--stay spiritually strong, keep financially fit and maintain good health. If one of those is lacking their attention may be diverted from staying the course.

[RickZ]

The truth is they don't want you to stand firm because it highlights their inadequacies.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner.

Cowards always hate to be shown up by the brave; the unscrupulous always hate to be shown up by the principled.  Unless you're a lefty.  Then there is no sense of shame about anything.

[Glock32]

The truth is they don't want you to stand firm because it highlights their inadequacies.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner.

Cowards always hate to be shown up by the brave; the unscrupulous always hate to be shown up by the principled.  Unless you're a lefty.  Then there is no sense of shame about anything.

This also explains the "appeal" of socialism. When the most intelligent/ambitious/dedicated are handcuffed as a matter of official policy, it allays the anxieties of those who are lacking in those traits and helps them to subconsciously give themselves permission to be content with a lack of achievement.