The problem of Republican apathy and cynicism

[More Than A Feeling]

When I talk to Republicans, I get the sense that they would rather do anything but talk politics. They answer in single sentences, they do not engage at all. Has anyone else noticed that?

I believe it is for several reasons. First, the average republican: could vote republican because they buy into republican superficialities, rather than study the issues. So when they meet someone who knows more than them about what is going on, they shrink into their shell.

Second, they think of it in left versus right terms, rather than basic reasons. Anything someone they perceive as being "left" is automatically not to be trusted.

Third, the aforementioned cynicism. They don't expect much, so they don't get much, and then when you point out what is going wrong, moral and ethical lapses and so on, they say things like "all politicians are like that". Again, a unintellectual substitute for actually determining who is right and who is wrong, and this strange sense that upholding the law would be too much "hard work"

The last reason I can come up with is that inside, they know they are defending the indefensible. They could be unwilling to come right out and say "I am for myself, and everyone else can go live in the shit". This feeling naturally has been lessening as their kind of policies have entered the mainstream, but there may yet be some residual feelings like that, that polite, good people don't think like that.

These are my thoughts on why it is hard to engage and convert republicans. What are yours?

on edit: The problem is probably also on my end, that I do not come across as reasonable and credible for whatever reason. I need to work on keeping my cool, and spelling out in precised detail the assumptions and ideas leading up to the conclusions I make. Unfortunately, I feel rushed because they seem so eager to cut off the conversation, so I rarely get the time to do that.

[arendt]

1. Hannah Arendt described "a mixture of gullibility and cynicsm"...

so that one day the Fascists could tell the most outrageous
lies, and when they were revealed as lies the next day, the
masses could praise the tactical cleverness of the liars.

There is absolutely nothing new about the crowd running
America into the ground for their own personal profit and
power-trip. Its the same old shit.

Fascism breeds in the "superflousness" (arendt's word) of
unregulated capitalist excess. The masses feel lost, and
are willing to bow down before the most outrageous lies,
if only those lies play into the authoritarian, paternalistic
mindset of the lower class victims.

Yeah, they may be on the bottom, but they get to identify
with the winner. What dangerous losers!

arendt