I am pretty new here.... I need answers

[lynndew2]

I work with guys that are not Hard-core RW but do agree with most of it. They are attentive to my beliefs and do turn the radio on to democracy now and NPR. They even listen and dont give me sh@t when it is on. They do sometimes put on Rush and Hannity and it makes me sick so i get my headphones and listen to whatever to tune it out.(If the boss doesnt switch the radio) My fellow RW employee either listens or grabs his headphones. We have a good relationship as the fact that we do enjoy each others company.

My boss seems to lean to the right but he only gets involved if he has to work on the floor with us.

Can I complain since they do what they can to accomidate me? ( I want to just go to music after democracy now). Or, do I feel good that I work with people who disagree but even on their own. Listen to both sides.

I do know that mike(fellow worker) puts on democracy now when he comes in, if he is there before me. I think he is a really great person.

Do I just accept it as it is? Do I try to change him(them)? He and the boss both question lots of what bush is doing but, They have asked me to give them anything besides repealing the tax cuts that the Democrats have proposed. Health care they say is a sorry joke, look at France, now Italy.

WOW, Its late sorry, I could have ranted on forever but I need to go to bed. Please tell me how I should react. I think they do try to keep it balanced. But, oh well, sorry, thanks for any thoughts. Thanks Lynn(going to bed right now) Thank you DU

[oldleftguy]

1. Put you feet in their shoes.

How would you feel if they tried to "change" your mind to their right wing beliefs. Play it by ear, when a constructive conversation comes up, let them know how you feel about what ever the subject is. Get them to feel what it is like to wear someone else's shoes. Just a thought. Good luck.

[lynndew2]

6. Thank you...caught me on sign off

They really do not try to offend me but I feel offended when they put on their RW speakers. Does that make me the predjudice party?

They even put my station on before i get there. And they listen.

I need to be in bed now.

The other shoes thing is where they destroy me every. Night all

[dofus]

2. Is it even necessary to have the radio on at work,

especially to turn on potentially divisive programs?

[not systems]

3. just let it be

If someone is open enough to listen to other ideas
then they will learn and make their own decisions.

The real problem is when people dismiss any other
ideas as treason. Just let it be and be glad that
your situation is as good as it is.

If you have a favorite canidate drop the name once
and a while.

People hate to have their ideas challenged directly
the best you can hope for is slow change through
the exposure to diverse views.

I verbally fought with a co-worker in the lead up
to war and came to the conclusion that it does more
harm than good to come to real disagreement with
people in the workplace. I can't always keep from
getting into it with people but slow effect is the
best bet I think.

[GreenEarthAl]

4. read books...

I think that if they are willing to be fair and let you listen to Democracy Rising, you should just listen to Rush or Hannity. Right Wing radio can't really harm you, it is full of illusory arguments and self0interested propaganda.

Democracy Now will give you a lot of the arguments you need to make your case. Books and progressive media can give you the rest. I happen to agree that the Democrats aren't much for offering alternatives, they aren't even especially good at identifying what's wrong with the present administration.

Don't hitch your belief system to a political party. Develop your own worldview and then support the people that align most closely with it. Hopefully you'll conclude that the human family has a lot of potential and could really be something if they could start to sincerely care about one another and unplug themselves from the Matrix which has them convinced that they already care more than they should.

Americans have a million Hannity type programs using stats to convince Americans that their lifestyle is justifyable and that they are so much more altruistic than could reasonably be expected and more philanthropic than any people who have ever come before. Behind the statistics lurks the reality that American life is not sustainable and it is hurting a lot of people and Bush's administration is the personification of that reality.

Electing Democrats helps a bit but it's only the beginning.

Hope any of that helps, or even makes any sense.

- Read, Black & Green -
- green.earth.al -
http://www.DoingSomething.com

[salin]

5. Sincere discussions always work better than attempts to persuade.

Why, is health care a joke as an issue? Probe it further. For example, there was an HUGE spike in costs after the market tanked in 2001-02. Was that due to risings costs, or fraud (as suggested by Republicans), or was it due to funds to cover payouts were invested in the market - and greatly diminished? If the latter - is it likely that after cost hikes (to make up the depleted payout funds) that they (insurance companies) will lower costs once those are replaced - or since it is what "the market will bear" with the costs (with big profits for insurance) remain the same? If considering the amount of increase in health care - for the companies that actually still pay - how long will they be able to pass the increased costs on (as in higher monthly payments, higher copays etc)?

I would bet my money - on the topic of health care, that it will be the business community itself, that in the end, fights for and wins, changes in our system. It is just taking far too much money out of the companies resources. When/if reform finally happens - it will be due,imo, (to a great extent) to the companies lobbying for it.

[WaterDog]

7. Well, I'm even newer

than you, though I've been around longer than my post# suggests. I'll go ahead and put in my $0.02 anyway.

I think that whenever people get along like you and your coworkers do, it's a good thing. We have nothing if we don't have respect for each other. And certainly, no one will ever listen to you if you don't give them respect.

It sounds like your coworkers are respecting your beliefs and desires by letting you listen to "your" shows then they expect you to let them listen to "theirs". It sounds like at least a somewhat friendly arrangement and you should be able to speak up about the things that make you uncomfortable.

They seem like somewhat open-minded people. Educate yourself about the issues that we progressives care about and you may find ways to introduce them to our ideas in ways that they can understand. I don't think it ever works when it becomes a fight to make the other person sound wrong. But if there's ever an opportunity for us to have a real discussion with people, we should take it. They don't know it, but they are basically being told what to think by highly funded right wing think tanks and their propaganda machines. It takes a while for such victims to begin to wake up.

As far as ways to stimulate the economy besides tax cuts: I'm a Dean supporter and he's said several things. These include supporting small businesses, investing in renewable energy and infrastructure in our country, and renegotiating free-trade to include labor and environmental regulations. You could go to his website www.DeanforAmerica.com and click "On the Issues" to find his full economic policy. Or do that for any of the other candidates.



:hi: Let us know how it's going.

[Adjoran]

8. ezmo jason and greenearthal are pretty close

You never "convert" anyone by pushing a candidate or party or ideology on them. Talk about one issue at a time. Let it come up naturally. Just give your views, and your reasons behind them. Don't aggressively challenge the other person's views if different, avoid confrontation. Just say, "Wow, guess we disagree about that, I see your points, though - I hope you see mine, too."

The old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" is very wise. People won't be forced to change their minds. If they perceive other views as non-threatening, they will be more willing to consider those views.

[Scairp]

9. Well...

I think you should stick to a music station you can all agree on. I have found that discussing politics at work can cause problems.

[elfin]

10. If you are a "Clarkie"

Bring a basket of Clark bars to work and smile "sweetly."

[Skittles]

11. Y'all need to stick to music at work

it makes for better coworkers

[G_j]

12. my opinion

in the interest of the decent relations you seem to have with these folks, I would say putting up with Rush is a small price to pay (I know it's like somebody raking their fingers accross a chaulk board!)
It's rare indeed for a Rush listener to listen to Democracy Now.
It sounds like a very positive situation. I would continue to foster a respectful relationship by showing you respect their views. It's all about education, if people are allowing diverse view points to be expressed, that's great!