An Enlightening Morning Conversation
This morning, I had an interesting conversation with some coworkers. I’m currently working a gig job in the transportation sector between career jobs (and hopefully not for much longer—wish me luck on a potential job I’m almost across the finish line on). My coworkers are mostly high school educated and some are not far out of high school.
Keeping a Low Profile
I’ve had these gig jobs before, and my general approach is to not volunteer a whole lot about myself. I’ll certainly contribute on what I consider “safe” topics but try to avoid certain subjects that lead to questions about my background. I have 11 years of undergraduate and graduate work, have worked at M.I.T., on the human genome project, as a minister, social worker, and a few other things. Sharing these things too quickly can set me apart. We work with heavy machinery in a potentially dangerous setting. I’m hesitant to put myself in a place of “other.” None of my current coworkers would ever do anything deliberate, but I certainly don’t want to create unnecessary animosity which may lead some to not put that extra effort into keeping other people safe (like checking in when they don’t strictly have to).
Standing Up for Kamala Harris
This morning though, I didn’t let the anti-Harris statements pass. I don’t even remember what was exactly said. But it was one of those “Can’t believe Harris said this again” type brief references with an assumption the other person was similarly like-minded. It wasn’t directed at me so I could have let it go by, but I chose not to. I don’t even remember my immediate response other than something along the lines of Trump being pretty poor with communication. (By morning, I mean this conversation was happening around 4 AM, so if my recollections aren’t very good, please forgive me).
Debating Trump vs. Biden
The conversation then proceeded into a pretty standard Harris is blah, blah, blah and Trump is blah, blah blah. These two individuals seemed to think Trump showed no sign of cognitive decline compared to Biden. They thought the economy was far better under Trump. They seemed to have no problem with Jan 6th, 2021. Thankfully, everyone was staying fairly mellow through this.
Discussing Minimum Wage
Then things started to get a little more interesting. We started to dig a little deeper with regards to minimum wage, specifically around restaurants. They had the standard conservative lines of minimum wage simply causes inflation. I replied that sure, there is some inflation related to it, but that studies have shown when people have a living wage they tend to have a little extra cash and are able to visit those restaurants more often. So the restaurants have better business overall. I compared the states with higher minimum wages than others to show that the best economies were mostly in those states.
Talking About Equality
And then we shifted to equality. We talked about earning a fair amount for an honest day’s work. They brought up the standard line of “but the lazy people” to which I responded that lazy people will be lazy in ANY system. People who work at McDonald’s don’t necessarily want to work there but that is the job they can get. When you’re desperate, you don’t have the choice. I broadened out to explain that I wasn’t even convinced that minimum wage was the perfect way to solve the issue of inequality and fairness in compensation. But that inequality was a problem and I’d be happy to go with other solutions if they could work.
Gun Control and Safety
We talked about guns. I read them the entire 2nd Amendment including that little bit about well-regulated militias that is often left out. I told them that sure, I know some people who do want to ban all guns. But I also told them that most people I know don’t really care one way or the other about hunting and target shooting, but really just don’t want their kids getting shot at in school. This last point actually landed and I got a “I can see that.”
Building a Better World
At one point in the conversation, both guys were honestly looking at how to build a better world as well. They weren’t interested in preserving an extraction economy. They weren’t utterly convinced of small government for the sake of small government. They weren’t hardcore MAGA. They simply knew that things weren’t as good as they could be and they wanted things to be better. It just seemed that while we started at the same place, we diverged quite wildly after that.
A Spark of Curiosity
As work interrupted us, I heard one guy say to himself he needs to read more. He had also asked me where I get my information.
Hope for Change
My general impression was that these guys wanted a better world but were in a cultural place of expectations for males to have the republican “pro-business” viewpoint. They listen to Joe Rogan (who I dissed). They weren’t Fox News people but YouTube watchers.
Conclusion
This is in a safely Democratic California district so my conversation didn’t move mountains for this election. But I mostly wanted to share this basic interest in improving the world. It’s just that they’ve been sucked into this world of misinformation. They had bought into the guy culture dismissal of democrats. Hopefully, I showed them a different possibility.
FAQs
Here are the top 10 FAQs related to the conversation with pro-Trump coworkers.
1. What is the context of the conversation with pro-Trump coworkers?
The conversation is set in a workplace where some employees are openly supportive of former President Donald Trump. The discussion revolves around their political views and how they navigate these differences in a professional environment.
2. Why are some coworkers openly pro-Trump?
The article suggests that these coworkers may have been influenced by various factors such as personal beliefs, family ties, or exposure to conservative media. It also highlights how political polarization can affect workplace dynamics.
3. How do pro-Trump coworkers respond to criticism of Trump’s policies?
The responses vary, but some common themes include defending Trump’s actions as necessary for national security or economic growth, while others express frustration with what they see as unfair media coverage and political opposition.
4. What are some common arguments made by pro-Trump coworkers?
Common arguments include support for Trump’s immigration policies, his stance on law and order, and his efforts to reduce government regulations. They also often criticize what they perceive as liberal bias in the media and academia.
5. How do non-pro-Trump coworkers react to these discussions?
Non-pro-Trump coworkers may express concern about the impact of divisive politics on workplace morale, question the accuracy of certain claims made by pro-Trump coworkers, or simply choose not to engage in political discussions at work.
6. Is there a sense of tension or conflict in the workplace due to these political differences?
The article suggests that while there may be some tension, many coworkers manage to maintain a professional relationship despite their political differences. However, it also notes that such discussions can sometimes lead to heated debates and strained relationships.
7. How do managers handle political discussions in the workplace?
Managers often emphasize maintaining a neutral stance and encouraging respectful dialogue. They may also remind employees that workplace discussions should focus on work-related topics rather than personal politics.
8. Are there any specific incidents or events mentioned in the conversation that highlight the challenges of navigating political differences at work?
The article mentions instances where coworkers have brought up sensitive topics like impeachment proceedings or social justice movements, leading to intense discussions that sometimes blur professional boundaries.
9. What role does social media play in shaping political views among coworkers?
Social media platforms are often cited as sources of information and influence for both pro-Trump and non-pro-Trump coworkers. The article notes how curated online content can reinforce existing beliefs and sometimes lead to further polarization.
10. How can coworkers foster a more inclusive and respectful work environment despite their political differences?
The article suggests focusing on shared values like respect for differing opinions, maintaining open communication channels, and avoiding personal attacks or inflammatory language during discussions. It also emphasizes the importance of setting clear boundaries between personal and professional conversations.
