My election experience, and first thread

[Batt1eRatt1e]

Hey all this is my first thread. Been a random DU reader since 04 election but just created an account.

Alright so I'm an active duty Army SGT. During this election I "liked" a lot of liberal pages and pics on FB. Some people didn't like it. Mainly my Dad and Air Force/child hood friend. Some other people complained too but not as vocally. I had to deal with hearing coworkers bash Obama daily. I kept my mouth shut. I'm new here at my job so I didn't want to ruffle feathers. Plus I'm not gonna change their minds.

At work I dealt with hearing about Obamaphones which I read that program is years old. About how Gallup and Rasmussen are the correct polls and all others are skewed because they are liberal polls.

With my Dad all I've heard is that Obamacare is gonna tax healthcare, supposedly including TriCare which is what the military uses. My Dad said who cares about what Romney did at Bain Capital it was years ago. Also he felt the 47% comment was true. He feels he will be paying for illegals and others healthcare and that's not right. He thinks Papa Johns can do what he wants but he should just raise prices. My AF friend and him both seem to just turn away from any post I had. AF friend always claimed its from liberal websites so it didn't count but then he would send me links to Fox News stories.

What's your comments on that? Will healthcare be taxed? How do you deal with family, friends, co-workers disagreements in politics?

[elleng]

1. Welcome.

I have few disagreements w friends and none with family, those distant friends on FB I tend to ignore the disagreements, have recently provided facts to them when they were spouting clearly erroneous crap. I don't pick fights, tend to stay away from politics w them.

You (and they?) may be interested in this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021804212

[iemitsu]

2. Welcome to DU BattleRattle.

I'm glad to see that we have an Army SGT. who can think for himself and who is willing to share his thoughts with those he loves, even when they disagree. Thinking for yourself is not exactly encouraged while one is in the service.
When your folks and friends send you links to Fox News stuff you should go and read it, then you should read other articles about the same topic and visit snopes.com, or another debunking site, to see if what Fox says can be verified.
Usually what you will find is that the Fox version of a story, verses other mainstream media outlets versions, and versions one can find on the internet differ mainly in their interpretations of an event (sometimes Fox makes stuff up out of whole cloth).
Fox is on the extreme right of the Cable news spectrum, the voice of the republican party.
CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC are just to the left of Fox - center-right, not liberal - (they won't criticize a Fox presentation so you can't count on them to help you ween someone off Fox).
MSNBC is next and it is the voice of the democratic party. Also center-right but left of the MSM.
Then there is the internet, where one can find any voice they might want to hear. Usually you can find the truth somewhere on DU. DU is a good site because many visit and they check each other's assertions. DU posts generally site the sources of the information being discussed. Because of this, you can find good information on the topics your folks talk about, on DU, then go to the actual source of the information to further study the issue and bring evidence to your dad and friend.
You will become quite knowledgeable and impress them and yourself.
Good luck and again welcome.

[Grey]

3. Hi and welcome.

This is a really friendly place and I hope you find comfort here. i really like these people, but they are opinionated & argumentative, which in my opinion is not a bad thing. We all just want to find the "truth", what ever that is. I have been here for more than 10 years but have mostly lurked to listen and learn. My family has its share of 'right wing people' that I have learned to ignore, some are Lefties that make my heart sing. We all have to learn what is right (or left) for us, in our hearts. Mostly you have to be comfortable, in your own skin, not whatever you have been told you must believe.
Some of my family came over on the Mayflower, (different voyages) and I have had combat troops in every conflict since then, however, I don't believe any of them have ever considered
not caring for their neighbours. That is just not how we are. Yes, I am now a Canadian and just so proud to say this, however, I have hundreds of American relatives that I love and care about. Life is just too short to carry all that bitterness, Just 'understand and let it go' is the best advice I can give. Hugs an Cheers, from Canada

[HopeHoops]

4. You can't change their minds, but that doesn't mean you can't disagree.

I find it usually shuts down the argument rather quickly. Boycott the asshole companies - money talks, as they well know. Thanks for posting. DU has good people.