This question’s on my mind because my coworker today mentioned they would vote for Trump if they could (mind you this is 2023, in Canada). I don’t generally have the talking points or the desire to fight about it, so I just deflected the conversation. But I often wish I was more strong-willed and could try to figure out why someone believes what they do and, if it’s invalid, then convince them otherwise.
Thus, I’m curious what you all would say or what you’ve done in the past!
As someone who tries to rationalize and come up with arguments for multiple family members who would vote for Trump even if I would consider them quite smart from day to day, I will tell you that having convincing arguments won’t get you far.
There is some fundamental differences in thinking between myself and conservatives. For example: Someone must lose in another for another to win.
The thinking is so black and white and simplistic most of the time. They use Econ 101 to prove their theories, pretending that’s how the world works and refuse to listen to any realistic nuance.
When you point out a contradiction, they say, “Oh, that’s an outlier” “Oh, I’ll look into it” “Oh, let’s move onto something else”. I don’t discuss it much anymore, but I try really hard to listen and make arguments that acknowledge their beliefs while presenting my own.
If you can keep level-headed, other more progressive relatives of mine have recommended/gifted readings that might be able to broaden the horizons of conservatives.
The irony in saying that literally everyone who voted for a certain party has “black and white and simplistic” thinking…
Thanks for ending the quote directly before I say “most of the time”. I do think trends exist, but I do my best to qualify what I say, because oftentimes in the real world it’s not all or nothing.
Maybe he edited, but he said a particular mindset is black and white. And it is. If you want to apply that to all conservative voters, that’s on you