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My godchild is a good kid and recently got a fast food job to save money to buy a car. She won’t get any help from her parents or other family. I was planning to give her $5000 on her 17th birthday in a few weeks to help with the car. She doesn’t know. (I realize she’s not even old enough to vote.)
Last weekend I found out she’s a Trump supporter, and it’s making me think twice about giving her the money. I’ll most likely still give it to her, but I felt the need to confess that now I don’t really want to. I live in a very red, southern state, so I can’t really talk about this stuff with many people.
mksu
I don't think it's radicalization to respond appropriately to the unusually terrible event that is Donald Trump. It's definitely hard though when so many people are desperate to believe everything is fine and get upset at you for refusing to go along with that charade.
ShadeWisdomCrafts
If you have the patience and energy to educate please do that.
But it’s okay to cut people out and take care of yourself first.
Joad111
Let her fend for herself, that is what her party is advocating, don't care about anyone but yourself.
A1ekazam
I wouldn't give it to her. It's against her beliefs.
BlastyMcBlastblast
an adult? sure, stop helping them! but for a kid (and one you care about) you should make the effort to open their eyes & change their mind
Ragebrew
Good kids don't support the guy who wants to remove the whole "Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" aspect of the country.
RICHARDJOKES
You wouldn’t believe how many kids in the South are Trump supporters. You have to remember they all are more than likely going to vote the same as their parents because that’s who they keep being told are the good guys. Same goes for religion everywhere, etc.. my cousin was the same way and then she moved to Virginia after she got married and basically turned very liberal after a couple years of seeing through the bullshit.
spookyu
Kids across the board are generally products of their environment, they are still forming their personalities, values, and beliefs. Until that happens (or for some people, if it happens) they are likely to parrot what they hear from the people that they feel influence their life, be it their parents, peers, educators, or otherwise. Surprisingly, they often listen if you talk to them, not always going to change their mind or be rational, but they do absorb what you say, in my experience at least.
DukeDarkwood
She's growing up in the Deep South; she's got to be surrounded by that stuff. If OP can get her out of it before she's brainwashed, I wish them all the luck. She's only sixteen; it's not like someone middle-aged who has been breathing Trump's hot air for years.
Marsupialmessiah
Well, dont. Your help to them is optional, not a "duty". Help someone else.
Puppies717
Tell her why you don't support Trump and then ask why she likes him. Genuinely listen. Make sure she knows it's okay to disagree. You can't force her to change her mind but being a bigger person might be your best bet.
everythingzed
She’s young and very impressionable. Talk to her about politics, ask her about her values and point out things she might not have realized. When I was a teen my close friend and cousin started dressing like and express opinions like the new nazis (90’s), he had a few pretty rough years in school among other things, but after some quick thinking from my uncle and inviting the young man in for some beer and late night discussions on the porch, he abandoned those ways pretty quickly.
luvinjuelz
I get that, but that’s freedom, it’s none of your business. Example, I’m atheist & my daughter is Christian. That’s not my belief & I disagree completely but I’m a supporter of her. As she has gotten older she has tried to convince me to change my beliefs etc. I try to teach her what she believes is okay for her but it’s important to respect the beliefs of others. She tells me about her relationship with God & I tell her it’s great and I’m glad that she found that.
YouAreTheInsultMaster
There is a pretty big difference between that and supporting fascism.
lapus
I'm there. Until after the election, I'm going to show those people what it feels like. Oh, you're a republican? I'm sorry I can't help you. (You have to, you can't hate me because of of my beliefs)
Why, you hate people of color and ppl sexuality.
I'm over it.
drunkcat
All that money will now get directly donated to Trump. So congrats on becoming a Trump supporter by proxy I guess.
lucidity4all
My new neighbor in my apartment building is a Trumper and I don't see why there's any reason to talk to that person
TrazynTheArchaeovist
Just a thought, but people who support trump seem to be very much against "handouts" and very pro "pulling your self up by your bootstraps" if free school lunch is too much of an entitlement then 5k is akin to crippling someone's work ethic or something like that. Slightly/s
sleestacks
Maybe help her pay for / encourage her to look into post secondary education. Or just a trip somewhere to expand her mindset.
SnarfyMcSnarferson
You have no obligation to help them
Margrave9000
Society must learn to shun Nazis. No exceptions.
pfunk81
There is no reason to stop trying to talk with them. Despite the faux neus brain wurms, most of them are recoverable. Preventing total disaster is better than letting shit just hit the fan.
DukeDarkwood
The deeper they get, the harder it is, but if you can catch them early, @OP, then by all means try to pull them back from the brink. Show them the facts while they are still thinking critically.
You say this is in a Deep South state. I get that this means she's surrounded by the indoctrination on all sides. No reason to abandon her to the wolves without a fight. Save her before the brainwashing takes root.
Madalchemist2018
If they support Cheetolini maybe they shouldn't be trusted with a car.
llortamai
Heck, as a woman, she's probably going to lose her right to drive if these clowns get into power again.
ShinyVulvasaur
Keep the money, let her ride a bike. But, as her godparent, it's your responsibility to guide her morally, so you should talk to her. If nothing else, you may de-stigmatize being a progressive.
I grew up in a red state and didn't meet any talkative Democrats until I was 17, and look at me now.
meganical
If she supports him, then she doesn’t believe in handouts for the working classes so don’t turn her into a hypocrite by giving her money like that. She has to pull herself up by her bootstraps, as is her party’s way
algoritham
Keep it in a savings account or a term deposit. You can give it to her later if she changes her mind.
mageoflime
Save your money, donate it to saving her future
scarabrae
If you're just giving money away, send it to dem campaigns instead
clearlyselfloving
teach her not to support fascists? and if she doesn't support fascists, she gets money! win win
Gayforbae
Thats very transactional and maybe not the best way to change beliefs.
RulesOfImgur
I tried to teach my dad but I got accused of being a left wing conspiracy theorist.
He doesn't know I'm trans yet.......oh dear.
Shift137
I think this is bad advice holding the money over her head will only cause resentment.
johndoejersey05
Don't even tell them about the money. Imagine the victimhood rants that young fascist would go on...
clearlyselfloving
well obviously this, yes.
SuperPickle17
"but...i thought you didn't want handouts?"
Metallica93
Nah. That's just teaching her to grift for the greenbacks.
clearlyselfloving
I said teach, not bribe, you don't mention the money first
LumpPump
you gotta put all that in the first comment. youd be surprised how easy it is to miss a step if said step is not included...
justfillingthespace
If they couldn't figure out how to go through the education phase on their own without it seeming like bribery, then I doubt they would have had the conversational aptitude for the education to have its intended effect anyways.
DVSBSTrD
By helping them you're ensuring that she'll go on to hurt more people. Either you care about helping, or you want to pretend you do.
ICampOntheFirstDate
I'll say the weird thing. Charity should have no conditions except universal love. The greatest teacher is by example, and how often do we remember Christians refused to aid a starving non Christian, all because they disagreed with their lifestyle? Dont be them. Be better. You be better by giving love without conditions.
acme64
there's room for both actions here, let the charity rock, and take the opportunity to inform them of what their favorite candidate is actually up to.
draek1
Blind charity is not a virtue when the world is full of fascists, do you really think you're making a compelling point here
Eridianne
Very well said actually.
Totallycasual
Politics aside, $5000 is a LOT for a first car gift.
MAN9000
They always wreck their fists car.
Affray
1)I had to get a new (to me) car right before the pandemic kicked off and couldn't find anything under twelve grand at any dealer. I lucked
Affray
2)out and found a guy privately selling a decent car for $6000 and I jumped on it because there was nothing else.Gone are the $2000 car days
gailforcewinds
Most kids first car is that or less
armagetz
Indeed. I didn’t get it in cash, and it was a hand me down car from my parents, but I know it was worth more than 5k, even in 2004
Totallycasual
That's how it worked in my family too, the family (primarily mother driven) gets a new car, father gets a new work car (the replaced primary), then the kid gets the retired work car to learn with.
justfillingthespace
That's a sort of generational/familial wealth that an unfortunately high number of people never get to experience.
Totallycasual
We were pretty poor, the old work car that we got was only really worth the scrap metal value, if it had even $1000 in value, it would have been used as a trade in or something lol
GroovyCrowley
Those comments make me Sick. The amount of people that are willingly write off a 16 year old as if her political beliefs are carved in stone is ridiculous.
The lack of empathy and stubborn idiocy and calls for division aren't far of the behaviour of magats
kozzillakilla
Yeah idk why but apparently all lib imgurians have always been perfect and lib… never grew up in a small town with aggressive “values” and societal pressure. Must’ve been cool!
SuperPickle17
I don't see why someone who doesn't belief in giving people "handouts" would want a handout.
GroovyCrowley
Yea and you understood everything about politics when you were 16...
I don't see how you ever want to change anything if are not even able to put in the effort to educate a child...
But at least you acted cool on imgur, bravo.
pixelsnader
Evertything? No. The basics of a social safety net? Absolutely.
GroovyCrowley
Great abandon all kids and teens that lean trump, I'm sure that will help fighting.
It will.fir sure show them to give up 🤦🏻♂️
GroovyCrowley
Y'all so busy hating the other side that you even throw children under the bus instead of educating them.
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ArcUlfr
HRT and even puberty blockers are typically only given after multiple sessions with a medical professional to assess the child, and yes, they typically do know their gender at a very young age. Jesus fucking Christ the disinformation and rampant ignorance is real.
bekkayya
yeah actually if a kid determines they're a girl at age 6 and then continues to express that all the way to puberty, exploring transition options and or hormone blockers (the thing kids get, you know) is actually the correct medical prescription yes. You would be a horrible person for not listening to a person telling you who they are, consistently, for years.
GroovyCrowley
And because of that it cool if you act the same way?
What kind of tactic is that? Beat them by being equally stupid?
gamer2k4
When did I say it was cool to act the same way? I'm just saying no one here should be surprised that OP is thinking the way he is. I personally think it's ridiculous, and that if this is what his "charitable" gesture is, it was never charitable to begin with.
GroovyCrowley
Oh sorry I misread your comment....fuck you very much.
Bystandr
If you want to help her, ask her why she is a Trump supporter. Point out the misogyny anti abortion & secondary education help he stands for
APassingPlasticBag
Are you trying to insert logic into something illogical
ameriki
Trumpists don't care that he is misogynistic, pro-life, homophobic, a rapist, a rumored pedophile, a con man, and a bankrupt, at least he ain't a ******-lover. (I've been booted a few times for this comment.)
hugemuffin
A godparent's role can be to mentor and guide. Don't make the help conditional based on the outcome, but it's kinda in the job description.
Marsupialmessiah
No. Your help doesn't have to be on anyones terms but yours. What you are stating is, in general, preaching, and no one has to abide to your beliefs. However screwed they may be.
acme64
this is a misguided youth on a slippery slope to a miserable life. at least give the kid the info she needs
Akistos
I was raised by Reaganite conservatives in a religious household. I didn't realize it but looking back, the pressures of that backwards-ass life were severely limiting and I have no doubt that I would have been miserable living the life I would have had, had I not had my mind expanded by education, critical thinking, philosophy, and a whole heaping helping of Liberalism.
Lampmonster
And that he'll raise taxes on her while giving himself and the very richest MORE tax cuts. And that he's against any kind of minimum wage raise. And any type of worker protections.
flacoloco
You can’t realistically ration with stupid
Svartsinn
It doesn't matter why someone supports racism and misogyny. Do you know why it doesn't matter? It doesn't matter because they support racism and misogyny. Ignorance is no excuse.
Zahnradfee
Ignorance in young people is an excuse.
I also believed some bullshit when I was young, because that was what I had been taught. (To be fair, though, I never was racist or misogynist or hostile towards LGBT+ people.)
It took me a decade more life experience to change my opinions on a couple of things.
pixelsnader
Ignorance can sometimes be. Willful ignorance isn't, but ignorance is just the absence of knowledge. Can't always blame people for not knowing. Especially young people.
migratingotter
Many young people about that age reflect their parents’ views and values especially when people around them have those same beliefs. Better is to say, would it be fair to you to lose your job when a guy comes along and says he needs it, and he needs it more cuz he’s a guy? Would it be fair to you that you get raped and impregnated while you’re at college and have to drop out and lose all that money you spent on that quarter/semester when an abortion would allow you to keep your chosen life?
whatpassesforclever
…and point out that giving her money would be FUCKING SOCIALISM!!
MadamPuddifoot
@op
ShamelessSeamus
This. "I'd help, but I'm afraid that'll just set you down the wrong path."
Comet260
"We can't encourage dependency."
ShamelessSeamus
These are the words I was looking for but for some reason could not articulate.
DarthPiette
"You just gotta pull yourself up by your bootstraps."
Beefkins
She just needs to pull herself up by her bootstraps.
ToonamiT0M
Don't simply point things out. Ask them to explain themselves. Pointing things out can be taken as accusatory and that causes people to double down. By asking them to rationalize their position to you force them to think about their position, possibly for the first time. Planting that seed of self reflection without the fear of external judgement is the only way to change the mind of someone who doesn't value facts and logic.
ELKronos
That still doesn't matter. I was born in an area that supports Trump. In 2016 I asked 7 friends what Trump would have to do to be considered a good President. They named a bunch of shit like finishing the border wall, repeal the ACA, etc. Then in 2020 I confronted them all with their own lists. Not a single person changed their mind about him, still voted for him again, and didn't care that he literally achieved none of the things they listed.
ToonamiT0M
I'm not saying this will work on everyone, but if someone is going to be able to change their mind, this is a more likely way it will happen.
ELKronos
I haven't seen it work on anyone. I know some people who supported him in 2016 no longer do, but those aren't the people we need to talk with. I think it's worth a try regardless but don't get hopes up as it's been my experience this is very unlikely to make any difference and perhaps there are better ways
FTUG
I would give her a list of all the policies that Project 2025 wants to enact and show her the Epstein files with him in there also
SirSmurfalot
You have to understand that those things are not scary to conservatives, they are a wish list.
vegivamp
At that age they're still malleable, she's a trumpie because everyone around her is. Radicalize her now and she'll be radicalised for life.
DukeDarkwood
She's 16 and in the Deep South; she's getting indoctrinated and doesn't yet realize it. The people around her won't be telling her all the bad stuff, not until she's one of them. If some cold, hard facts can snap her out of it while logic still works, then it is far better to try and snap her out of it than abandon her to them.
It's like cancer: late-stage Trumpers are incredibly hard to deprogram, and end-stage Trumpers are impossible, but if you catch it early, you have the best chances.
migratingotter
Not the ones where they take away women’s rights to women.
SirSmurfalot
I am sure they will totally stand up for what is right... aaaaaanny time now.
Holzter
Nah, some MAGA women want the handmaids' tale to be true
demoncatmara
Some do, but a surprising amount of MAGA women want abortions to be legal
Why they're still MAGA, I've no idea, probably brainwashed
migratingotter
Those are wannabe trad wives who are young before their husbands trade them in for a 17 year old because their bodies aren’t perfect after having 4 kids.