Something I’ve experienced traveling around the state is that there is a palpable fear of even letting your friends know you are a Democrat, or even in line with what Democratic politicians are doing. There’s vandalism that takes place here, and people are scared of that. Having your yard sign stolen or your flag taken down is one thing, but having your car keyed or trash left in your yard, that’s another. I know people who have been harassed after they are outed as a Democrat, and then people give them trouble. People hear those stories. They’re not fake. They’re not made up. I’ve seen and heard some really ugly language.
I’m not a Dem (I’m a Leftists), but this pretty much sums it up. The Right plays dirty. They aren’t bound by any sense of decency. I’d say the only way we can beat them is to respond with our own violence (which I, personally, detest). I don’t see us beating them because they don’t believe in rules of engagement. Sorry to be so demoralizing in this post.
I generally straight up tell people I don’t talk politics if they bring it up, and let them know they’ll be talking to themselves if they keep it up.
There is no point in listening to someone who wants to talk at you, not with you, and use you as a conversational whipping boy for whatever fucked up BS they’ve talked themselves into while they butwhatabout, JAQ, and move goalposts all over.
However, if someone is reasonable, even if they’re on a different political spectrum than I, I will unapologetically speak my beliefs and hopefully have a conversation. I never expect anything I say to change their minds.