Jon Stewart tapped into the right-wing meme.

[Baitball Blogger]

I had written yesterday that my right-wing friends were repeating nonsensical soundbites and when I asked them where they got their information, the conversation died. So it's obvious that they're indoctrinating each other through conversations.

What I experienced myself were comments such as "Obama is the most unethical president" or "the worst president." Or that he's trying to put an end to the middle class. But outside of those soundbites, they have nothing substantial to support their beliefs! Except for one thing: They do see themselves as rich! I'm talking about people who have chosen jobs which will never make them rich, see themselves as rich, white Republicans. They even told me that I'm more Republican than a Democrat because of the house I live in, and then overinflated the price of my house by 400%!

I think I'm beginning to see the disconnect. They rely on surrealistic perceptions of themselves. Which explains the corruption factor that goes along with Republican policy. Their motto: I deserve to be rich, therefore nothing gets in my way to be rich.

[1-Old-Man]

1. I think you may be onto something here

Every poor Republican I ever met thought they were walking in tall cotton or if they weren't it was the Democrat's fault. If it rained just right and their crop came in they thought they did it all themselves by hard work and if the rains didn't come it was because Democrats were gonna raise taxes or take away their guns.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Exactly. They're like gamblers who already think they won the Jackpot before they

pulled the handle down. And if they lose, it's because the machine is rigged.

In fact, I think we're dealing with the kind of mental confusion which is the source of Interventions. Let's just hope they don't come down to reality all at once, or it will be like trying to navigate around slow moving, hollow eyed zombies.

[WilliamPitt]

2. 70% of the country, when asked,

thinks they are part of the 1%.

Fact.

[tavalon]

8. No fucking way!

Really? This Horatio Alger shit has got to stop.

[WilliamPitt]

9. "Americans Don't Resent Super-Rich Because They Think They Are Super-Rich"

Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kiriblakeley/2011/08/16/americans-dont-resent-super-rich-because-they-think-they-are-super-rich/

[tavalon]

13. Well, I will admit that before RMoney cleared it up for me, I thought my family was firmly

in the middle class. That we have four incomes does help but it turns out we're about $100,000 a year short.

[Fawke Em]

16. How does anyone believe that in this day and age?

I have a house, two cars and am a member of a two-income family. I'm probably MORE middle class than some of these bafoons, but I think of myself as lower middle class/upper working class.

[SomethingFishy]

46. I don't see that stat anywhere in the article

and I have a seriously hard time believing 70% of Americans think they are "super rich"...

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Yup, fact

[Marrah_G]

11. that is shocking........

[riderinthestorm]

36. That's just... wow....

Unbelievable. No wonder some folks are simply impossible to reach.

[ehrnst]

4. Americans see themselves as rich people temporarily delayed from getting their money.

When my mom asked my dad why he voted republican, he said, "I'm going to be rich one day, and I want to keep it."

[SemperEadem]

22. if one doesn't have a money mentality

they will never be rich long enough to hold onto it. It's rather like those who win the lottery and are broke within 10 years.

[justiceischeap]

5. I make a decent wage... I'm not part of the 1% and unless I win the lottery

(which I never play), I will never be part of the 1%. I'm not one of those American's who think that richness is somehow going to be thrust upon me like a stripper from a cake. I'm happy I'm doing better than my parents did but let's face reality, it's more likely than not that if you don't start well-off, you're never truly going to be part of the 1%.

[deutsey]

6. I know someone who's similar to me

From a poor, working-class background. Struggled financially to put himself through college (earned a Master's). Very talented at what he does (develops websites, teaches intro to algebra part-time at the community college). Decent guy, in general, but back when I saw him regularly, he was a big-time right-wing, FOX-watching, Bush supporter (not sure where he is in his politics today because we don't see each other as much anymore).

We were friends, though, and would have discussions (sometimes very heated ones) about our politics (I'm way over on the left).

When I'd point out how damaging Bush's tax policies were to people like us, he told me he expected to be wealthy one day and expected to benefit from these policies when he is.

But he also believed Hitler was a socialist, MLK was a Communist, and that Iraq had WMDs...

[mac56]

7. Reminds me of the John Steinbeck quote

“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”

[gollygee]

10. Ha! I love that!

I hadn't heard it before but it's so true!

[mmonk]

12. A Republican friend told me recently I'm voting against my own interest.

Come to find out he believed I belong to the 1%. Yes, the disconnect is real and sharp and at delusional proportions.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. This is so true!

[spooky3]

26. Voting Dem. IS in the best interest of the 1% (as well as of the country in general).

They own most of the stock in this country (and other assets around the world). Since Obama has been Pres., their holdings have skyrocketed in value - for many their portfolios are worth nearly double what they were during the meltdown. Researchers have shown that stocks tend to do better during Dem. Presidencies than during Republican Presidencies, so it is not a fluke.

Further, business profits are at an all time high.

What would you rather do - double your wealth and pay maybe 3-5% more in federal income tax, or lose half your wealth--or stay steady? Most rational people would pick the first, but many of the 1% seem to be delusional about this.

[mmonk]

45. Yep, true in that regard.

Real estate is dragging ass though as well as building but has started back recently.

[Fla Dem]

15. Is this your post or are you quoting Jon Stewart? I saw no quote marks or attribution.

So am assuming these are your thoughts. I could be wrong, and I am getting on in years, so I confuse easily.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Jon Stewart started out his show with newsclips from the right news media that said that Obama was

the worst president ever. It was a show that revealed the major disconnect between the propaganda and the reality. That set off a parallel thought-process that matches my own observations with my friends.

[Fla Dem]

21. OK, Thanks for the clarification. n/t

[LiberalArkie]

18. In 2 words, "Prosperity Theology" teaches that you envision wealth and God will provide.

If you think you are poor, you will become poor.

[SemperEadem]

20. exactly

[SemperEadem]

19. I'll bet the attend

churches that preach "Prosperity Gospel". That's why they think they deserve to be rich--and not taxed over it.

but the one they serve and worship said "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's"...

[snort]

23. The 1992 RV that I live in?

It's worth 7 no 8 hundred thousand dollars. Maybe 9.

[Mopar151]

38. A Newell? That's awesome!

Oh, a Coachman? Please return to your assigned seat, sir.

[HenryWallace]

24. Economic Stockholm Syndrome?

[Gold Metal Flake]

30. Welcome to DU.

[Mopar151]

39. No, not really - I think the "when I hit Powerball" consensus is correct.

But my experience is mostly with hobby/vintage racers. To illustrate, some of my piratical friends went to Sebering , Fla. to crew for Sim - who went from an orphanage to VP of a huge defense contractor. He has an Ex-Greenwood Corvette, arrives on an open trailer behind his good/not fancy pickup. They started to pitch tents, etc next to a big-bucks motorhome. One of the gang goes around to knock on the door of the Motorhome, to make sure they are OK with campers (It's not fun having to relocate AFTER you've been to the Patron Tequila tent). "ANYBODY gives you guys shit, send 'em around to see us! We came to race, just like you guys."
And I haven't seen a great increase in money-grubbing or social climbing among those who associate with decent folk who have done OK for themselves. The vintage folks I know invite me over 'cuz I like and appreciate their cars and know about them. I started wandering that way 'cuz they have the best cookies.......

[HopeHoops]

25. I'm not "rich", but I'm certainly not in poverty. I feed my family, including the pets.

We've got a 2-level house with four bedrooms, a full basement and a garage on .42 acres of land. The rooms are sufficient but not much more. It's not a huge house by any means, but it isn't an inner city flat either. It's only valued at $180K, which isn't much in many places but it's pretty good around here. We don't earn that much right now but we're getting by. I used to earn significantly more.

Most of the houses in the neighborhood are pretty much cookie cutter clones, but we do have a couple of ranches. I only know three diehard Republican neighbors and one of them is a very close friend. There are a lot of small, older houses in the area, some in desperate need of repair. That's where I see the signs for Republicans. We've got a "rich" area not far from here (3 and four car garage $400K McMansions) and even there the signs are somewhat evenly split. What gets me is why those who aren't as well off as me vote Republican. I doubt I'll ever understand that.

[spooky3]

27. But you still understand more than does Romney.

He doesn't seem even to understand who his base is.

[HopeHoops]

41. His real base is the 1%. That's why he'll lose.

[proReality]

28. I call them the "Vicarious Rich"

If they can see it somewhere and dream about it, they pretend they are rich or will get there one day.

All of us have wondered what it would be like to be filthy rich, but we move on. Unfortunately they do not, they keep on pretending like little children are wont to do. The rich are their imaginary friends.

[Baitball Blogger]

29. That's a good name for them.

[patrice]

31. They either do not know or do not care what makes a fact a fact. This is dangerous on so many levels

[Tikki]

32. Try using the term 'Hard Working Americans' around them...they go crazy..

"What does that supposed to mean?"..some ask me when I use the term.






Tikki

[Richard D]

34. Fox

They all sound like walking soundbytes.

[Caretha]

35. Bill Clinton nailed it

Arithmetic is not a Republican strong point.

[Viking12]

37. Chaos on Bullshit Mountain. Nail. Hammer.

[tavalon]

40. That was the best 10 minutes of seriously hilarious punditry I've seen in years.

Faux "News" is now permanently renamed Bullshit Mountain.

[Gregorian]

42. It all revolves around "I was abused as a child". But their actions are a means of protecting their

parents.

It's all unconscious behavior. Minimize what I've just said at your own peril. It's what not only brought Hitler to power, but caused his power, and helped him do his evil.

[Maven]

43. Republicans like to pretend that how things should be is how they actually are.

Democrats try to make the way things are a little more like they should be.

[RedSpartan]

44. The poor in America see themselves as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.