# NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2022, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018 "2022-02-07T00:52:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 247
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4922 "2022-10-02T22:17:37Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I can never quite wrap my head around R’s doing anything to alienate vets\*. They’re going to drive away a huge chunk of their base that way. Nope. We have evidence over the last few (aka many) years that is not the case. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4923 "2022-10-02T22:22:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > hurls a racist slur at a woman who was in his Cabinet for his entire term IIRC she resigned when Tan the Conman incited the January 6th insurrection. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4924 "2022-10-02T22:25:09Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > With the new anti-abortion law in effect in Arizona… … California pharmacies may see a large upswing in sales. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4925 "2022-10-02T22:35:26Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > > [@Smapti](#): > > > > hurls a racist slur at a woman who was in his Cabinet for his entire term > > IIRC she resigned when Tan the Conman incited the January 6th insurrection. - Too little, too late. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4926 "2022-10-02T23:53:55Z")
> **[Teen girl denied medication refill under AZ’s new abortion law](https://www.kold.com/2022/10/01/teen-girl-denied-medication-refill-under-azs-new-abortion-law/)** > > A 14-year-old Tucson girl was denied a refill of a life saving prescription drug she had been taking for years just two days after Arizona’s new abortion law had taken effect. I’d just like to thank all the Republicans that fought so hard to prevent Obama’s Death Panels from meddling in the patient/doctor that would have prevented us all from getting the medical care we need and only get the care that the government approved of. [/s] ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4927 "2022-10-03T00:02:12Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > IMHO this goes a long way toward explaining the decreasing interest in taking care of veterans-- over and above the “socialist” taint. Among many Republicans, I would suspect, is a perception that today’s all-volunteer military is _way too non-white_. “Those people” need to be put in their place–not helped with “government handouts” (etc. etc. etc.) > > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Gaetz, I think, is saying “everyone should be treated exactly the same, the vets can seek out care just like anyone else”. **But I have to assume there’s some lobbyists writing checks to him to lay the groundwork for moving the VA into the private sector.** BINGO. The ‘populist’ part of sticking it to veterans is encouraging GOP voters to think of veterans as The Other—‘them shiftless black and brown people’ (etc. etc. etc.) The very, _very_ practical part of sticking it to veterans is the massive wealth that could be shifted into a few pockets by privatizing all veteran-related functions. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ (My bolding in the quote.) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4928 "2022-10-03T00:06:19Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Among many Republicans, I would suspect, is a perception that today’s all-volunteer military is _way too non-white_. “Those people” need to be put in their place–not helped with “government handouts” (etc. etc. etc.) Yikes. I think you are absolutely right. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4929 "2022-10-03T02:09:01Z")
They filled it 24 hours later, but it should never, ever have happened in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4930 "2022-10-03T02:20:09Z")
Good to hear that. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4931 "2022-10-03T02:51:04Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Among many Republicans, I would suspect, is a perception that today’s all-volunteer military is _way too non-white_. “Those people” need to be put in their place–not helped with “government handouts” (etc. etc. etc.) I’m wondering what they think about those non-minority soldiers who, while on active duty, find they must rely on government assistance (“food stamps” and the like) to make ends meet. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4932 "2022-10-03T02:54:56Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > > [@Sherrerd](#): > > > > Among many Republicans, I would suspect, is a perception that today’s all-volunteer military is _way too non-white_. “Those people” need to be put in their place–not helped with “government handouts” (etc. etc. etc.) > > I’m wondering what they think about those non-minority soldiers who, while on active duty, find they must rely on government assistance (“food stamps” and the like) to make ends meet. - “They should have chosen a career that makes money.” /s ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4933 "2022-10-03T06:46:55Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > The very, _very_ practical part of sticking it to veterans is the massive wealth that could be shifted into a few pockets by privatizing all veteran-related functions. As always, follow the money. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4934 "2022-10-03T06:59:42Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’m wondering what they think about those non-minority soldiers who, while on active duty, find they must rely on government assistance (“food stamps” and the like) to make ends meet. Suckers and losers, as their former CiC said. > **[Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-americans-who-died-at-war-are-losers-and-suckers/615997/)** > > The president has repeatedly disparaged the intelligence of service members, and asked that wounded veterans be kept out of military parades, multiple sources tell The Atlantic. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4935 "2022-10-03T09:00:34Z")
Yep. He proved, over the course of four years, the only soldier he respects is [a communist general](https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.dd6d0a45310919e588424e0921c09448?rik=NBkBVdP3hYwcjg&pid=ImgRaw&r=0). ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4936 "2022-10-03T13:35:57Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’m wondering what they think about those non-minority soldiers who, while on active duty, find they must rely on government assistance (“food stamps” and the like) to make ends meet. That’s what they get for hanging out with a bunch of _them._ Probably a _them-lover_, I know you know what I’m talking about… ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4937 "2022-10-03T14:05:02Z")
I’m kind of disgusted and nauseated by the direction this discussion is going… but I gotta say I think it’s correct. 🤢 Take the fact that only 17% of current congressional members are veterans, so they don’t know what it means to serve in the military, and combine that with the impression (accurate or not) that the military today is the place where minorities and less-educated people go because they can’t make it in corporate America… oh yuck. Today’s military isn’t the Big White Army or past generations-- of middle-class white daddies, professionals, patriots who marched off to preserve the American Way of Life. Yeah, there were Blacks, but they were kept in their own groups, separate from the Real Armed Forces. I know this is a hodgepodge of inaccurate beliefs, but perception is everything. And now those minorities who couldn’t make it in the business world expect us to give them handouts when they leave the military? My Father/Grandfather/Uncles served their country honorably. Then came home, went to college on the GI Bill, got good jobs, and supported their families. Today’s soldiers are deadbeats who couldn’t get real jobs. I may throw up. **[Everybody understands that I’m hypothesizing about why congressional support for veterans is weak, right? I’m trying to analyze the thinking (excuse the expression)]** ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4938 "2022-10-03T14:16:52Z")
Isn’t the U.S. military like 60% white, and disproportionally Southern? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4939 "2022-10-03T14:22:10Z")
Maybe. But who cares? It’s impressions that matter, not facts. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4940 "2022-10-03T14:25:32Z")
OK, but that’s always been _my_ impression of your military - mostly white, mostly Southern, mostly Republican. That’s more or less how it’s depicted in American media. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018/4941 "2022-10-03T14:49:22Z")
I truly don’t know. “American media” is a pretty broad category. A source of impressions more than factual reality. Once all men of a certain age stopped being subjected to the draft in the early 1970s, the composition of the military changed. That’s almost 50 years ago. Military service had been the certain fate of virtually all able-bodied males, and when it became optional, boys/men with other options took them. People with no other options were more likely to choose military service. That had to have changed the composition of the military. This is a worthy subject for investigation and discussion, but probably not in this thread. I’m trying to figure out why congress, which has historically valued and supported veterans, has ceased doing so to the level that past generations did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018.md?page=246) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-2/959018.md?page=248)