A friend of mine, I’ve talked about her before, is a wingnut. A real friend, not just a facebook “friend.” We’re talking about one of the smartest people I knew from my high school and college days, a Ph.D no less. But what makes it tragic instead of enraging is that she’s had some serious cognitive trauma, at least one tumor and a couple of brain surgeries. She’s come back rather well, considering, but I think during the most vulnerable recovery phases she was bombarded with non-stop financial conservative / selfish libertarian dumbshittery by her parents, family, a few “friends” and other caregivers. We’ve been out of touch for a long time but she wasn’t like this before, the change is just shocking.

Anyway today I got the old Obama executive order myth, mixed with a record size of government and a side of looming budgetary apocalypse.

I’m trying to be gentle and just provide unambiguously documented evidence addressing each misconception and outright falsehood, because this is someone who’s once formidable critical thinking ability has been palpably damaged, and she’s just repeating things she honestly believes because people she trusts have convinced her they’re true. So frustrating though seeing how the conservative lie machine cynically uses and manipulates the most vulnerable among us.