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somebody in the campaign with influence will make use of it.
Somehow we should have an extra FAQ list with all the right wing memes & myths we can think of with a rebuttal as the answer.
I've learned from experience that rational discussion is only one part of persuasion, especially with something so emotionally-laden as politics. It has to convince them personally and emotionally (and probably experientially) before it starts to make a difference.
That said, I also think that some of these myths/beliefs are so ingrained within people that they aren't going to change until they are transformed into something new they can believe in. Sounds like a farfetched example, but a theory I have about spousal abuse is that the abuser believes, consciously or subconsciously, that he (or she) is entitled to abuse others because the other person is somehow less than they are. White supremacists actually believe they're better than people of color, who don't "deserve" equal privileges & lifestyle. Many wealthy people believe they're better because they work hard like God wants them to so they're reaping the rewards. Conversely, they really believe the poor don't deserve God's blessings because they haven't work as hard or they're lazy. These wealthy are so prideful about themselves and are scornful of the lower classes, either with their social attitudes or in the policies they support. They are relieved of the guilt feelings because they think their scorn toward the poor is justified. It's almost like, "I'll be damned if I'm gonna let my tax money reward lazy people. What have they done to deserve it?"
There are some pretty decent people out there who haven't examined the underlying beliefs & false myths that they have picked up from somewhere. They'd probably be appalled, because many consider themselves to be Christians, yet have never been taught the "liberal" aspects of their faith (i.e., the teachings of Jesus). Most or all the rightwing memes & falsehoods are totally contradictory to those teachings. (Sorry, it's a pet subject that I launch into often.)
If you can think of how we can work on that, let's keep posting about it.
Thanks!
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