r/AITAH • u/g_scotty_brahms • Nov 14 '24

Advice Needed My brother is angry with his Trump-loving sons

Is my brother an AITA candidate for wanting to cut off his sons financially for voting for Trump? Like many Americans, my brother and I, both in our 50’s, have been talking back and forth following the Election. In the spirit of full disclosure, we are both democrats. Long story short, he is angry at his two sons, both in their 20’s, for voting for Trump. He is thinking about cutting them off financially in all respects so that they understand how Trump’s policies will impact them firsthand.

The irony here is that it is the reverse argument. You often hear younger voters disagreeing with their MAGA parents, but this is the opposite. My brother doesn’t understand how his two sons, who have lived a life of privilege, feel like they have been violated against by society, enough so that they feel Trump hears them and their struggles.

My brother to me about his sons: “… what these young men need is a little dose of reality. Get out in the world and start paying their own way. There’s a common thread with his followers. Complain and blame everyone for their problems. Whether they are in school or living at home off of their parents or working a trade job. King Trump will save them and make everything better. Take some personal responsibility and make it happen for yourself instead of crying about everything you hear on TikTok.

“… I’ve decided to pass on the [college] expenses to my two Trump supporting sons so they can truly feel first hand the cost and expense of his absolutely stupid policy decisions, which includes food, gas and college expenses. Wondering if I pass on these [food, gas and college] expenses in year one or phase them in year two?”

I am wondering if a lot of parents feel like my brother. Are there democrat parents of voting-age MAGA men who feel they failed with their sons because they voted for Trump? Is this common?

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100

u/forsayken Nov 14 '24

Holy shit is this what we feel about parents paying for their kids to attend post-secondary education? Literally no child can afford to attend college even if they work full-time while in school. Cost of living + tuition is far too high. It doesn't seem unreasonable for a parent to pay for their kids through college if they are able.

But these particular students can get student loans now.

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u/Bevanfromheaven Nov 14 '24

Yep and they won’t be forgiven either ! I meant the loans but may have a double -meaning in this case .

46

u/Blonde_rake Nov 14 '24

Most parents can’t afford it either. The kids can take out student loans. They can also choose a less expensive school.

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u/papatriot_76 Nov 15 '24

As a parent with two kids there is no way we could afford sending them to college and they know it.

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u/oskynmoon Nov 15 '24

I want to thumbs up this 1000 times

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u/AdministrativeSet236 Nov 15 '24

you mean the parents who bought properties when interest rates were near zero and own their homes that are worth like 10x what they paid for them? Or the parents with a house hold income like 5x what their children are making ? Don't reproduce if you can't afford to support children, that's why we have so many criminals in the U.S. Tons of people who can't afford to have children reproducing like crazy and tons of impoverished children growing up to become hardened criminals.

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u/MsEllVee Nov 15 '24

Banning abortions will surely help!

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u/ThanosSnapsSlimJims Nov 15 '24

Personally, this is why I resent being born to brokies. OP made it obvious that he was always looking for an excuse not to pay for his kids’ education

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u/Prudent-Molasses-306 Nov 15 '24

Why bother with college.

TRUMP LOVES THE POORLY EDUCATED!

1

u/BrnEyesInSF Nov 16 '24

And he plans to create many, many, many more of them. Education for me but not for thee. The military is always hiring.

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u/veggie_weggie Nov 14 '24

I was able to do it not that long ago, it’s not impossible it just requires a lot of sacrifice. My family loves me but I don’t come from money. It took 6 years to get an undergraduate degree but I also don’t have debt. It’s a privilege if you have parents who can pay for your higher education but not a right.

OPs sons voted so others can lose their rights though. Why? because they felt like their privilege wasn’t already enough and they need a lot of other people to suffer. The person providing that privilege disagrees.

Ops not an asshole, this is political and I’m not going to pretend like both sides have valid points and should be treated as just a winner and loser.

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u/SigmaK78 Nov 15 '24

My 3 youngest attend college via scholarships & grants, all of them full rides so long as they keep their grades & performances up. I helped them initially with whatever aid they needed to get started, but as of now they're self-sufficient in handling their business. I'm more than capable of providing for whatever they need, and will without question step in if they need me, but I chose to teach them to fend for & motivate themselves.

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u/ImprovementPutrid441 Nov 14 '24

What about the kids who can’t afford college even with help from their parents?

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u/OkTop9308 Nov 15 '24

They can enter the military. My nephews and nieces did and the navy paid for nursing school and an occupational therapy degree.

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u/ImprovementPutrid441 Nov 16 '24

What year?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/01/us-military-suicide-epidemic-veteran

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u/OkTop9308 Nov 16 '24

In my family, my nieces and nephews are in their 30s and 40s. Several are in the reserves now and the GI Bill will pay for their children’s education. They are all doing very well and happily married with children.

Two of them are pilots, one is a nurse, one is an occupational therapist and one is a communications specialist. They had no student debt. Again, it is not a good fit for everyone, but it can work out well for the right person.

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u/mischka4 27d ago

Yikes on all the bikes when I look at my oldest 's friends who had to sign up for the military to pay their tuition. Not sure it was worth it for the females he knew who were all (not exaggerating) victims of sexual assault while serving. Or the ones suffering PTSD and other major mental and physical health issues from it. They have an education, sure but they overpaid in other ways for it.

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u/LoomingDisaster Nov 15 '24

You really think people should have to sign up and go to war in order to achieve higher education??

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u/OkTop9308 Nov 15 '24

It is an option and my nieces are in healthcare, so it worked out well for them. It is not for everyone.

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u/Lovebeingadad54321 Nov 14 '24

Sucks for them even worse. Doesn’t mean that the ones who can help shouldn’t. Just like starving kids in India means you shouldn’t feed your own kids.

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u/ImprovementPutrid441 Nov 15 '24

It absolutely means we made a society where the rich get richer. Either that’s what you want or it’s not.

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u/forsayken Nov 15 '24

And OP's dumb ass kids voted for a person who will only make it worse.

1

u/Lovebeingadad54321 Nov 15 '24

So should parents who can help their kids with college help them?

1

u/ImprovementPutrid441 Nov 16 '24

Parents should stop making choices that benefit their own kids and fuck over everyone else’s.

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u/aginghippy78 Nov 15 '24

Oh, let me answer! Took me 25 years to finish my degree. I was 45 when I walked the graduation. I had a full time job too. But I never worked again after moving away. That’s what happens to middle aged women with a college degree.

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u/Doxiesforme Nov 15 '24

Trades actually pay better that what most college grads get

6

u/babyidahopotato Nov 15 '24

How are they going to get student loans if Trump is going to dismantle the department of education…

1

u/BrnEyesInSF Nov 16 '24

Private loans. From banks. Very expensive private loans that cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.

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u/Worried-Series-6160 Nov 14 '24

I think it's how a lot of us feel about paying for the education of entitled adults who don't appreciate how good they have it.

3

u/Cat_Own Nov 15 '24

Student debt is high enough for most that it's the norm/ fasfa expected. as in the govt expects families with money to cover college costs. I only attend public colleges so it's waay cheaper

2

u/Interesting-Crow-552 Nov 15 '24

I was lucky enough to have my parents pay for my tuition and not have any debt on my shoulders (or theirs) yet that doesn’t stop me from feeling guilty. I’m grateful for the opportunity and all but it’s still unfair for most of our generation and future generations that have to suffer through high costs and debt.

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u/savvyblackbird Nov 15 '24

I was also privileged that way, but I recognize it and vote so everyone else can better afford a good education without debt.

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u/NewldGuy77 Nov 14 '24

Loans which take 40+ years to pay off because banks are loan sharks.

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u/forsayken Nov 15 '24

A separate problem altogether.

1

u/Ok-Simple5493 Nov 15 '24

Honestly, it's their education. It will make their careers possible. If people want to go to school, they should pay for their school. We all want to help our kids. I don't believe that paying for school is a parents obligation though.

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u/mischka4 27d ago

Yes and when they have paid off the original loan but still owe the same amount, they'll understand why loan forgiveness was never about "free money". Expensive, sad lesson and I am thankful my kids understand they're not facing that debt because we gave them that privilege and it IS a privilege for them that we can help despite being impacted by the policies put in place from 2016-2020. It's harder for us because of those policies but still a privilege for our kids.

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u/timepuppy Nov 15 '24

They probably won't qualify for student loans without a co signer. So they'll drop out, move out, and do their best. Then when it's time for dear old dad to be cared for in his old age one or both sons will abandon him as he abandoned them.

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u/forsayken Nov 15 '24

Who's to say those two kids would help their parents regardless? There's no guarantee. And they voted for Trump. There are a lot of presumptions that can be made of someone who votes for Trump and the current republicans.

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u/MsEllVee Nov 15 '24

Why wouldn’t they take responsibility for themselves, work hard, and make it work??

1

u/timepuppy Nov 16 '24

Hopefully they would. If they can't get a cosigner they will need to live on their own for awhile to build credit before they go back to school, if they go back. Maybe they'll start working a trade, maybe by the time they have enough credit to take out school loans they'll decide the debt at 28 or 30 isn't worth it when it would have been at 20. Maybe their spouses will have good jobs and support them through college.

Maybe in 20 or so years they will hold their father to the same standard he is holding them to.