Bringing me to tears

My family is one of the few things right now that could possibly bring me to tears. When I say family I should just say my father, but my mom seems to follow him in his political views regardless. I didn't know what forum to put this in but rant seemed appropriate seeing as that's what it will be.

Me and my dad got into an intense political discussion tonight about conservatism. It seems to him that conservatism means big government, high taxes (the welfare state), more wars, and on top if it all, nuking Iran(if necessary he added). He called Ron Paul a socialist, an idea he could have only gotten in one place, as he told me; quote "Rush said it." I don't know what happened to my dad, he used to be a conservative in the 90's. No interventions, no welfare, no big government, and less taxes. Now, as he is voting for McCain, he seems to have flip flopped, but still calls himself a conservative. This makes me angry because I am a conservative, I know this because my values are mirrored by that of William Howard Taft, Barry Goldwater, Edwin Vieira, and of course Ron Paul. I try to convince him that this is not the republican party he was a part of in the 70's and early 80's, he simply shuns me off as a moron. It literally brings me to tears, my own father pissing his vote and conscience away on another one of these side shows who bear no resemblance to what the republican party traditionally has stood for. He calls himself a Christian but has no problem nuking Iran. I can not understand it at all and it is keeping me awake at night and killing my work and social life. I sometimes question anymore whether or not he has a conscience.

My question to your father is this; if he calls himself a Christian, why the political posturing in the first place? Christ never called anyone to vote for politicians but to put your trust outside of mortal men.

Seems to be a conflict of interest which is destroying your family, so why not make that choice first so you know what it is you actually believe in.

I don't have much to say. My own dad turned from socialist democratic party into right wing, for which there is no clear translation available. Suffice it to say that it is a party that runs mostly for economy and nothing else.

He is completely seduced by Fox News is the problem. It's the only place he gets his news besides the local talk radio station, which hosts Rush Limbaugh by they way. He doesn't see the hypocracy of being pissed off when Clinton did it in Kosovo and not being pissed off as the current administration did it in Iraq. He seems to have a very short term political memory, though that's the only kind that exists in politics. He truly believes that Iran, a country that can't refine it's own gasoline, is a threat. My uncle, a former Army drill instructor, sees right through it all, and he's a strict southern baptist republican. My dad was an NCO in the Air Force during the Cold War, how come he doesn't? He is an educated man, not gullible or stupid at all. That's why I can't figure out how he falls for the media garbage spewed out daily.

reply to post by ludaChris


Some people are just more susceptible to media clap-trap than others. I agree with a good bit of what Rush has to say, but I never forget for a second that he gets paid to rile up the right-wingers. I haven't listened to him in a while...Did he really call RP a socialist? LOL that's just crazy.

If your dad considers himself a conservative, why would you be mad that he is voting for McCain? Many people don't feel comfortable voting outside of the big two because they consider that to be throwing their vote away. So for them it's down to Obama and McCain, and McCain is more conservative than Obama, even though he's hardly conservative at all. It really comes down to the lesser of two evils this time around.

Hi ludaChris,

It seems a lot of us are going through this very issue with our parents. It's a very hard thing to go through when it's your own mother or father who say things to you to get you down. I used to be very close to my mother, yet recently...we are not getting along very well together. It truly does bring back to remembrance the words that Jesus said:

Think not, that I am come to send peace into the earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: And a mans foes shall be they of his own household.

And again here:

I am come to send fire on earth: and what is my desire, but that it were already kindled? Notwithstanding I must be baptised with a baptism: and how am I pained till it be ended? Suppose ye that I am come to send peace on earth? I tell you nay, but rather debate. For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father. The mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother. The mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Guess that's the way the world is turning these days

reply to post by ludaChris


"If you are 20 and conservative, you have no heart. If you are 40 and liberal, you have no brain." - anonymous quote

The older one gets, the more conservative one usually becomes. Sometimes it is the opposite, as in the OP's case.

There should be the old Archie Bunker rule at home:

Never discuss religion, politics, or anything else!