# These town hall meetings have been interesting **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 23, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549 "2017-02-23T13:53:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/161 "2017-02-26T23:03:16Z")
So Mr. Christie is telling the Republicans that they should find out what people actually want instead of telling them what they should want and then acting as if they already do. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/162 "2017-02-26T23:56:13Z")
I guess Christie has finally realized that no amount of sucking up is going to get him an office in the West Wing, and the only thing that might save some shards of his shredded reputation is telling the truth for once. But hey, [he got Springsteen to sing about him](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKHV0LLvhXM). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/163 "2017-02-27T01:58:14Z")
> [@SingleMalt](#): > > I know I’ve only recently joined, but I have been reading this board for years. As I recall, you are collecting SSDI, correct? Why, exactly, should my taxpayer dollars be handed to you, but not others likely more deserving? I think I don’t want to be paying MY taxes to support Curlcoat. Take care of your own shit, Curlcoat. Damn leech. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/164 "2017-02-27T02:04:27Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I didn’t used to know this, but during the Obama years, conservatives have informed me with great regularity that Social Security Disability Insurance - that’s what you’re collecting, right? - is just a big scam to pay for not having to work. > > They wouldn’t lie to me, right? Perish the thought!!! ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/165 "2017-02-27T02:05:48Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > Back to the OP… > > [Chris Christie tells lawmakers to put on their grownup pants](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/02/26/chris-christie-tells-gop-lawmakers-to-hold-town-halls- **you-asked-for-the-job-go-do-it** /?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_pwr-christie-1156am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory) and **do their jobs**. > Y’know, I don’t agree with Christie about much, but this gets a thumbs-up from me. Christie is right. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/166 "2017-02-27T02:11:25Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > So Mr. Christie is telling the Republicans that they should find out what people actually want instead of telling them what they should want and then acting as if they already do. Good luck with that. Right now though, Republicans are focused on blaming others. Obviously, these are not REAL AMERICANS turning up to these rallies. Prolly Obama’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/167 "2017-02-27T02:33:18Z")
Bottom line is that the Right has perfected Psychological Projection. “Psychological projection is a theory in psychology in which humans defend themselves against their own unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others. For example, a person who is habitually rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude. It incorporates blame shifting.” Butthurt over everything? Call Liberals “snowflakes”. Racist? Claim Liberals are the true racists because they insist on talking about race. Getting called out on your shit? Whine about how Liberals just like to insult people. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/168 "2017-02-27T10:55:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Well, yes, but now those people don’t have any freedom! > > It is important that people have the freedom to be denied healthcare, and die prematurely. Thank you. It gets tiresome to listen to all the foreigners on this Board tell us about their Marxist dictatorship “utopias” — North Korea, Sweden, etc. — when they know nothing about Freedom. The Land of the Free™ saved their asses when they were fighting Hitler, Genghis Khan, Pete Seeger etc. but we’re never properly acknowledged. And The Land of the Free™ is also called The Home of the Brave™ for a reason. You have to be brave to get into a knife fight to defend Freedom when you know you’ll have to stitch up any wounds all by yourself if you don’t have $1000 in your pocket. (Maybe that’s one reason Americans bring guns to their knife fights, unlike you pusillanimous foreigners. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/169 "2017-02-27T13:50:02Z")
Is there a GQ or GD thread where Republicans can explain to us lesser mortals what The Obamacare repeal/replace will look like? I’ts been a highlight of the GOP’s “We know what’s best” platform for 7 years, yet when I Google, the details don’t seem quite finalized. **Bricker**? **Mr. Hump**? Any of you Republican geniuses? — What are we missing? Why hasn’t Obamacare been repealed already? No response? Let me go on record then: Since hatred for Obamacare has been the single most consistent unifying ideal of Republioturdism over the last 7 years, _**I hereby denounce the GOP and every last one of its apologists for [SIZE=“5”]demonstrating hypocrisy by refusing to repeal the “horrible” communist plan that that teleprompting fascist from Kenya inflicted on us.[/SIZE]**_ ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/170 "2017-02-27T14:12:43Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > [TRELAINE, SQUIRE OF GOTHOS] You _must_ try harder, this is too easy! [/T,SoG] > > Answer: Nothing. We The Taxpayers pay for his insurance. > > Now, do you have an actual tricky trick question for the audience? Tom Cotton pays for his insurance with his money. He may draw a paycheck that is funded by taxes but that money stops being government money once it is paid to him. The notion that his paycheck is still the people’s money is strange, no? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/171 "2017-02-27T15:12:14Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Republicans should probably attempt to mentally reconcile their anger over poor people having children they can’t afford and their staunch resistance to women’s reproductive rights and, of all things, **birth control**. > > Don’t want to pay for extra kids? Pay for the damned birth control. Preventative care is always cheaper than managing the results. Don’t be silly. It’s so much more direct to insist that only people who can afford to raise children be allowed to have sex. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/172 "2017-02-27T19:43:43Z")
Since I had the gall to go away for the weekend and not have time to deal with the (purposeful?) misunderstandings of what I post, I’ll just pick up here … > [@RTFirefly](#): > > We aren’t. Liberals are for free availability of birth control, including the much more reliable long-term methods that don’t require taking a pill every day. They’re more expensive than The Pill, though, and **conservatives** have been upset that they’re ‘paying for people to have sex.’ You gotta talk to your own side about this one. What “side” do you think is mine? I am certainly not concerned that I am paying for people to have sex, my obvious point is that I am tired of paying for people who CHOOSE to have children, and other expensive things, when they have to know they cannot afford them. > [@](#): > > I didn’t used to know this, but during the Obama years, conservatives have informed me with great regularity that Social Security Disability Insurance - that’s what you’re collecting, right? - is just a big scam to pay for not having to work. > > They wouldn’t lie to me, right? Of course they would. Choosing to not work will not earn anyone SSDI. > [@Nava](#): > > Are you shitting me? > > Generations of people worldwide used to expect their children (if they had any, and if they lived nearby, and if they were themselves in good health and otherwise capable to do it) to take care of them. Later, people in many countries came up with these national healthcare and pension schemes by which the duty to care for the elderly and the weak is moved in part or in whole from individual relatives to larger groups. > > Generations of people worldwide expect to be cared for if they are weak or sick. And generations of people worldwide have been and keep being cared for. It isn’t the weak or sick I am talking about. I wonder how many times I have to state my point before people believe it, instead of what others claim I am saying. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/173 "2017-02-27T19:50:55Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Well, yes, but now those people don’t have any freedom! > > It is important that people have the freedom to be denied healthcare, and die prematurely. And according to curlcoat, those people should get SS - just not UHC. OK then… it’s like some sort of weird combo of craniorectal inversion and foot in mouth, do you think one of our docs could get an article out of it? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/174 "2017-02-27T21:43:35Z")
nm…my mistake ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/175 "2017-02-28T00:39:56Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Bottom line is that the Right has perfected Psychological Projection. > > “Psychological projection is a theory in psychology in which humans defend themselves against their own unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others. For example, a person who is habitually rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude. It incorporates blame shifting.” > > Butthurt over everything? Call Liberals “snowflakes”. > Racist? Claim Liberals are the true racists because they insist on talking about race. > Getting called out on your shit? Whine about how Liberals just like to insult people. You forgot one… Get caught trying to bribe people to make trouble, like O’Keefe did? Accuse the other side of doing it. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/176 "2017-02-28T00:41:14Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Since I had the gall to go away for the weekend and not have time to deal with the (purposeful?) misunderstandings of what I post, I’ll just pick up here … > > What “side” do you think is mine? I am certainly not concerned that I am paying for people to have sex, my obvious point is that I am tired of paying for people who CHOOSE to have children, and other expensive things, when they have to know they cannot afford them. > > Of course they would. Choosing to not work will not earn anyone SSDI. > > It isn’t the weak or sick I am talking about. I wonder how many times I have to state my point before people believe it, instead of what others claim I am saying. So get yourself off of SSDI and get a damn job. Freeloader. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/177 "2017-02-28T01:26:14Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Since I had the gall to go away for the weekend and not have time to deal with the (purposeful?) misunderstandings of what I post, I’ll just pick up here … > > What “side” do you think is mine? I am certainly not concerned that I am paying for people to have sex, my obvious point is that I am tired of paying for people who CHOOSE to have children, and other expensive things, when they have to know they cannot afford them. You accused us liberals of being against temporary sterilization: “At least temporarily [sterilization] would be a good idea. You all are supposed to be the ones who care so much about children - why are you OK with them being born into poverty and probably stuck there for the rest of their lives?” I pointed out you needed to ask conservatives that - that they were against paying for such things. And you’re certainly taking the conservative side of this argument, spouting conservative talking points. It’s your side. Maybe you think of yourself as a special snowflake who’s miraculously arrived at the same talking points through his own sheer brilliance, but it’s still your side, whether you own it or not. > [@](#): > > Choosing to not work will not earn anyone SSDI. Well, no. The conservative argument is that people are easily able to scam Social Security to claim disability when they’re not all that disabled, and there are still plenty of jobs they could do, but they’d rather be ‘disabled.’ So why should we accept that you’re not similarly scamming the system to get a free ride? > [@](#): > > It isn’t the weak or sick I am talking about. I wonder how many times I have to state my point before people believe it, instead of what others claim I am saying. Because that’s the ‘free stuff’ that the ACA helps with - medical care when you’re weak or sick. Plus regular annual checkups to catch sickness before it becomes expensive, and contraception (like we were talking about) to not have babies, because babies are a lot more expensive than their absence. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/178 "2017-02-28T20:48:57Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > So get yourself off of SSDI and get a damn job. Freeloader. The reason I’m on SSDI is because I cannot maintain a job any more. Do you understand SSDI at all? > [@RTFirefly](#): > > You accused us liberals of being against temporary sterilization: “At least temporarily [sterilization] would be a good idea. You all are supposed to be the ones who care so much about children - why are you OK with them being born into poverty and probably stuck there for the rest of their lives?” I pointed out you needed to ask conservatives that - that they were against paying for such things. The conservatives, as I understand it, are against any form of BC for any reason. Liberals, as it appears here, are against people getting welfare having to have temporary sterilization while on welfare. So asking conservatives why it is that they are against BC in general seems to have nothing to do with the subject. > [@](#): > > And you’re certainly taking the conservative side of this argument, spouting conservative talking points. It’s your side. Apparently you are completely unable to understand what I am saying. Or that it’s possible to have both conservative and liberal beliefs at the same time. > [@](#): > > Well, no. The conservative argument is that people are easily able to scam Social Security to claim disability when they’re not all that disabled, and there are still plenty of jobs they could do, but they’d rather be ‘disabled.’ > > So why should we accept that you’re not similarly scamming the system to get a free ride? a) I’m not a conservative. b) It is in no way that easy to get SSDI. c) One loses quite a bit of income going on SSDI and if you have paid attention at all, the basis of my concern is that when my husband retires, we will not be able to live here on our pensions. Do _you_ understand understand SSDI at all? I am beginning to think that no one here does. > [@](#): > > Because that’s the ‘free stuff’ that the ACA helps with - medical care when you’re weak or sick. Plus regular annual checkups to catch sickness before it becomes expensive, and contraception (like we were talking about) to not have babies, because babies are a lot more expensive than their absence. Which has nothing to do with what I said. Try again. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/179 "2017-03-01T01:45:22Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > The reason I’m on SSDI is because I cannot maintain a job any more. Do you understand SSDI at all? So you say. Seems you can write and you can type, and you’re capable of some semblance of thought. That’s what a great many jobs consist of, nowadays. You can’t do that? Seems you can. > [@](#): > > The conservatives, as I understand it, are against any form of BC for any reason. There are a few fundies who take that position. But pretty much all conservatives are OK with barrier contraceptives. Some are OK with contraceptives in general, others only with barrier contraceptives. But they’re united in not wanting to **pay** for others’ birth control. > [@](#): > > Liberals, as it appears here, are against people getting welfare having to have temporary sterilization while on welfare. Yes. Liberals believe in things like consent, and a woman’s right to have control over her body. But if a woman wants birth control, including long-term forms of birth control that are probably what you mean by temporary sterilization, then liberals believe the insurer or the taxpayer should pick up the tab, because preventing the conception of unwanted children promotes the general welfare. In terms of the population as a whole, there isn’t much difference, because the vast majority of poor women would be happy to use birth control if they didn’t have to worry about choosing between birth control and more immediate necessities like food and rent. > [@](#): > > So asking conservatives why it is that they are against BC in general seems to have nothing to do with the subject. I don’t see how. Liberals advocate a solution that, at the population level, is nearly as effective as your proposed solution, but without the punitive, choice-denying aspects. Conservatives, OTOH, are against anything of the sort. How do you see anybody besides them as being the obstacle here? > [@](#): > > Apparently you are completely unable to understand what I am saying. Well, it certainly doesn’t make much sense. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549/180 "2017-03-01T06:21:10Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > So you say. Seems you can write and you can type, and you’re capable of some semblance of thought. That’s what a great many jobs consist of, nowadays. You can’t do that? Seems you can. The operative word in what I said was _maintain_. On any given day I won’t be able to go to work or have to leave early. No employer will put up with that. I’m not even going to address your idea that one only needs to be able to write, type and be capable of some semblance of thought to get a job. > [@](#): > > Yes. Liberals believe in things like consent, and a woman’s right to have control over her body. Seems to me that if the woman wants someone else to fund her housing, food, education, etc, that someone else should have a say as to whether or not said woman creates more mouths to feed. Also, it isn’t like anyone is forcing her to get the implant or whatever it is these days, it is merely a choice she gets to make. Seems to me if she is legit trying to turn her life around, being given the option to not get pregnant would be a plus. > [@](#): > > But if a woman wants birth control, including long-term forms of birth control that are probably what you mean by temporary sterilization, then liberals believe the insurer or the taxpayer should pick up the tab, because preventing the conception of unwanted children promotes the general welfare. Why do you keep bringing up things that have nothing to do with the subject? Especially non starters like that. > [@](#): > > I don’t see how. Liberals advocate a solution that, at the population level, is nearly as effective as your proposed solution, but without the punitive, choice-denying aspects. Conservatives, OTOH, are against anything of the sort. What solution are liberals advocating that addresses the issue of people having children they cannot afford? > [@](#): > > Well, it certainly doesn’t make much sense. I suppose it doesn’t to someone who sees no problem with anyone and everyone reproducing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-town-hall-meetings-have-been-interesting/780549.md?page=10)