The Simple Truth Is Most Republicans Believe in a ‘Reality’ That Doesn’t Actually Exist
Once upon a time, my political debates with my conservative counterparts focused more on ideological differences on issues likeabortion, tax policy, the death penalty, or issues related to the use of our military. These were normal political debates between people who simply disagreed on some key philosophical differences on several issues.
Those days are long gone.
Now when I try to engage with most of my Republican friends and family, they don’t even seem to existwithin the same version of reality as I do. I spend more time trying to convince them that facts are, you know,factswhile they inundate me with a long list of talking points that aren’t remotely true.
If you talk to conservatives, theyhonestly believethat most illegal immigrants are criminals pouring into the U.S. at a record rate, and that members of ISIS have entered the countryby walking across our southern border. They believe this because that’s what theywantto believe, but it’s also what members of their party tell them is true.
Except, none of that is true.
Here are a few facts about illegal immigration and ISIS: Net illegal immigration has been basically zero since 2009. President Obama deported more illegal immigrants than any other president in history. Only about 7percent of illegal immigrants are considered to be “criminals” (though that doesn’t mean violent) — and they’reless likely to commit crimes than U.S.citizens. They don’t qualify for welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, and most other public benefits. There’s absolutely zero evidence that ISIS (or any other terrorists) have come across the U.S. border.
More: The Simple Truth is Most Republicans Believe in a ‘Reality’ That Doesn’t Actually Exist
Allen goes on to debunk the whole vast panoply of Republican misinformation: The collapsing economy, runaway crime rates, predatory transgenders, terrorist refugees, Planned Parenthood and the “abortion industry,” birtherism and Muslim Brotherhood influence, even the War on Christmas.