My mother, when she was alive was a Republican, my father's a Republican (even though he broke with his party and voted for Hillary in 2016), and I have some friends and some extended family members that lean Republican and will defend Trump.
So I grew up in a Republican family, registered as a Republican in 1997... but voted Libertarian for President in 2000 (which is something I would NEVER do now). After that I changed my registration to "Unenrolled" (that's Independent in Massachusetts) and unofficially became a Democrat in 2003. To this day, I'm "Unenrolled" technically but I virtually always vote Democrat.
That's okay, as people learn and grow it's okay to change beliefs. Nedither being consistent on something for decades, or realizing something new and only recently adopt is suggestive of anything by default.
After the 2004 Election my father asked me who I voted for (he didn't ask in 2000 and I never said), I tensed up, told the truth, and said "Kerry". Yeah, there was an awkward tension for a few moments after that, since he obviously voted for Bush (so, yes, Middle Eastern Republicans exist).
Of course political differences in the early-2000s are nothing compared to what they are now. So, back to the present.
True. Especially with the popular vote vs electoral vote when, compared to 2000, there were no major issues such as hanging chads or other obvious issues. And the popular vote was not considered as evidence back then either. So there was less reason in 2016 -- there was no reason, unless any state had a disproportionate amount of votes leading in one direction over another.
Among my friends and extended family who lean more toward the Right, they and I have made a mutual agreement to just not get into talking about politics. It will not be an enjoyable experience if we do.
Ideally we should be to get into political discussions without it getting heated but that's just not the reality of the situation and I'm not absolving myself from sharing the blame at all. I can admit this.
How do you deal with political differences within the family? Do you argue about it, debate it, or just not talk about it?
I usually sit there and listen. I like listening. There might be a counterpoint to known beliefs not previously known or considered. And most of the people aren't going to listen to others' points anyway:
Especially as most people say "that's on the internet so it's bs", even if the source of the article read online comes from the same entity that brings them the TV nightly news (e.g. ABC, NBC, anyone else who isn't CSpan, which is okay since I don't watch CSpan)! As if people on TV are somehow less capable of error when they often get their information from the same sources... but, especially if they are Simpsons fans, never mention the scene where - was it not Homer? - who said "it was said on TV so it must be true!". Which doesn't mean what's said on TV isn't true, of course.
And most of those people I listen to are usually "Democrats", who sometimes say others call them "Republican".
All I know is, "Everybody Tells The Truth" - great episode of the TV show "All in the Family" too, BTW...
). But my dad has a collection of shotguns - which he used to use to go pheasant-hunting - and now has a concealed carry permit and a handgun. So I shut my big fat yapper when the subject of guns comes up, because my dad is pretty much God to me and I say NOTHING that would offend him.
