a very short personal anecdote that has me relieved AND worried

[Syrinx]

It involves a conversation I had with my mother today.

My mom has never been anything resembling a political activist. I think she voted for Carter in '80, but for Reagan in '84. She voted for Clinton both times, and thought the impeachment was crazy. And she's never been crazy for Bush Jr, but has before expressed admiration for Poppy.

But today we were having a little chat. I said something about how Bush has taken Reagan's "teflon presidency" to a new level, and that no matter what he did, he was never held responsible for any of it.

She shocked me when she said, "I think Bush and Cheney and Karl Rove are trying to make themselves dictators. That's why I don't like to watch the news anymore. It scares me."

I was relieved that someone I trust feels the same way I do. But it also makes me even more worried because a non-partisan person that I trust sees what I think I see.

Of course, I guess insanity can be hereditary. But I really don't think that applies in this case.

EDIT: My mom didn't immigrate from Nazi Germany or anything that extreme. But she did grow up in the segregated South, and I do think that gives her a little added perspective. I'm not old enough myself to remember but the last vestiges of official segregation, but it's ingrained in the psyche how things once were here.

[Flubadubya]

1. I think the tete-a-tete with your Mom sounds very hopeful...

Just think... more folks just like her may be waking up too! :hug:

[Syrinx]

3. thanks for the hug

I hope that thought is correct! :hug:

[Flubadubya]

4. Back at ya...

:)

[McKenzie]

2. This is why you should NEVER give up

There's a thread a bit lower down that asks if the US is worth saving. That's a daft question imo - OF COURSE it's worth saving.

Your post shows that people will eventually wake up if the egregiousness (is there such a word?) gets so bad those people who don't normally enter political discussions notice something just ain't right. It's for that reason I wouldn't be too worried about the fact that your mom has noticed something bad is going on; better she notices than not being aware of this shower's antics.

While there is life there is always hope and all that. NEVER surrender until there isn't anywhere left to go.

And thanks for your post.

[Syrinx]

5. Never surrender!

I like that. And I believe "egregiousness" IS a word. If not it should be! ;)

[mcscajun]

8. Yes, "egregiousness" is a word.

Spellings right, too. :)

[flordehinojos]

6. your mom is a wise woman.

you seem to have inherited her wisdom.
:)

[OKDem08]

7. you are fortunate

I wish my mom had similar insight. We avoid the subject of politics altogether due to stringent opposing viewpoints.:kick:

[no_hypocrisy]

9. Since your mother's from the "Old South", maybe she remembers

Huey Long of Louisiana. He started out looking like a populist, but after he bypassed and ignored the Legislature and the courts, he began looking an awful lot like a dictator.