• ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world
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      11 days ago

      Yep, and wars ain’t free.

      Take a quick look through these reports from this month alone and then add sooner-than-expected loss of Medicare and Social Security to your arguments.

      “Well, Granddad, did you know that the money for all these military actions at home and abroad are depleting your Social Security and Medicare funds far more rapidly than ever before, and that one of the major trusts funding your Social Security is expected to dry up entirely in 2032, only six years from now, because of the way Trump and his Congress is spending your cash?”

      I mean, use your own wording, and your strategy of just asking the question is a great, non-threatening way to approach it. But add the detail about how soon the losses are coming now if you can, because this alone might rouse them from their stupor: NOTHING gets the Silent Generation and older Boomers up and onto their walkers faster than threats to SS and Medicare.


      Medicare
      Feb 23, 2026: In less than a year, Trump erased 12 years of solvency for the trust fund that pays for Medicare Part A – Fortune.com

      Direct link to CBO report on the HI trust fund that backs Medicare:
      https://www.cbo.gov/publication/62165


      Social Security
      February 27, 2026: Social Security faces earlier depletion date, report finds – USA Today

      Direct link to the CBO report on the SS trust funds:
      https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2026-02/51309-2026-02-trustfund.pdf

    • Cris_Citrus@piefed.zip
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      11 days ago

      I definitely agree with asking questions first. I’ve tried to open by explaining how I see things in an effort to get folks to open up and share how they see them, and people are so used to that being an attempt to tell them to think something different they can kinda shut down and get defensive even just from that

      Try to get them talking and engage with them sincerely. If we want to fix the problems we have to do the work to build a bigger coalition

    • whosepoopisonmybuttocks@sh.itjust.works
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      11 days ago

      I would like to do this. The problem is that these disagreements have become sensitive issues and addressing these topics seems like asking for trouble.

      Simply put, how does one approach this topic without inviting an argument? Pointing out the simple items you’ve presented will surely make them defensive to the point of hostility.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      Do not be dumb and try to start an argument, don’t accuse, don’t talk about identity or race or gender or any other issue they’re already distracted with.

      :-|

      “Whatever you do, don’t mention the G word. You’ll just hand Trump more supporters.”

      ~ Average American Liberal