I have been a long-time reader and this is my first diary. I had teapublicats for Thanksgiving. They just left today. Follow me below for the story and the help I need.
I knew a time would come that we discussed US affairs. The husband – Pat – really sees what most of the rest of us see, the corporation problem, the bank problem, the paid for politician problem. However, he is adamant that we should not offer public education. Why, says Pat, should I pay for kids to go to school when I chose not to have children? Pat continues, we are paying for the children of illegal immigrants to go to school. He says, I pay property taxes, which goes directly to education for these people, which is a waste of my money. I said that he was educated as a child – he said his poor, destitute mother (and drunk father – I think he has issues) scraped enough money to send him and his siblings to Catholic school. Doesn’t he want an educated populace? If they can pay for it. What is the counter argument?
His wife – Ellen – is a cancer nurse. Sometimes, they treat illegal aliens and she resents it. They treat Medicaid people and she resents it. These people leave with medical bills of thousands of dollars and when their cancer returns, we’re going to refuse them (Pat interjects – let them die) and they can go to the county hospital. What is the argument to this? I asked about our caring for mankind and they both said I am living in lala-land. She says she is a “constitutionalist” but can’t tell me one thing that is in the constitution!
They have a niece that had four children (they are anglo and she chose 2 Hispanic husbands in Texas). Her children are in the s-chip program. They are outraged that her children get to have braces. Pat lamented that his poor, destitute mother (and drunk father) couldn’t afford to put braces on his teeth. He said these people need to live with the teeth they were born with.
I can usually hold my own in these conversations. I feel well informed on the issues. I am a 99%er and so are they. What does one say to these unreasonable people when you are stuck with them in your own home for five and a half grueling days?