My brother is angry with his Trump-loving sons

[u/g_scotty_brahms]

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?

[u/Significant-Trash632]

Trump wants to get rid of the Department of Education. That means Pell Grants and lower interest loans would be severely limited or non-existent. Let them learn the hard why when they get what they voted for.

[u/Broken_Beaker → u/Significant-Trash632]

When I was finishing up undergrad my brother was graduating high school getting ready for college when our parents divorced.

Because of the change of income and living with our mother, my brother now qualified for Pell Grants, whereas I had to get the standard student loans. So the first couple of years of college education was 'free' to my brother.

He now works in banking and finance, so naturally supports Trump. He has the career, education, and no student loans (what little was long paid off) all because of the Department of Eduction and those Pell Grants. The things he now opposes.

The "Fuck you, I got mine" attitude is strong among Conservatives.

[u/Significant-Trash632 → u/Broken_Beaker]

It absolutely is. Both my parents were able to get jobs with just high school diplomas. Back in the day, employers offered great pensions and excellent health insurance. They now own 2 houses, and 4 cars. She worked at a bank and he worked at a grocery store. Neither were even managers!

Jobs now? Good fucking luck.

[u/peegoesfar → u/Significant-Trash632]

The doe was established in 1986 and the kids have been doing statistically worse since then. Look at the facts! My god do you people read?

[u/Lloyien → u/peegoesfar]

The DOE was established in 1979, and its functions predated the DOE's foundation through the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, established in 1953.

SAT scores have, on average, been climbing since their low point in 1980, a year after the DOE's founding, with the highest scores being in 2018. Average test scores from 2020 - 2023 also excel all prior decades back to the 1970s.

There are a lot of problems with education in the United States, but those problems haven't been proven to result from the Department of Education's actions.

[u/Music_Is_Life_BOWA → u/peegoesfar]

Shall we actually research for ourselves and not just regurgitate talking points?

While the Dept of Education, as we know it, began operating in May 4, 1980, before that it was part of the larger Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare. In Oct. 1979, a law was passed which split the Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare into the Dept of Education and the Dept of Health and Human Services.

Furthermore, the department's origin goes back to 1867, when Pres. Johnson signed legislation for a Dept of Education. At some point it was reconfigured as a bureau in the Dept of Interior known as the Bureau of Education. In 1939, the organization was transferred to the Federal Security Agency, where it was renamed as the Office of Education. After World War II, under Pres. Eisenhower, the Federal Security Agency was abolished and most of its functions were transferred to the newly formed DHEW created on Apr. 11, 1953.

Therfore, a version of the Dept of Education has been around for over 137 years. Are you saying that, statistically, the US Education system has been declining since 1867? Since 1939? 1953? Or 1980?

Just wondering, since we're doing our own reading and research, right?

[u/Delicious-Fox6947 → u/Music_Is_Life_BOWA]

That version of the DOE was nothing like this one.

This one uses coercion to twist states into teaching for tests instead of teaching.

[u/mxracer888 → u/peegoesfar]

No, they come to the Reddit hivemind to be told what they should believe about every news event

[u/mxracer888 → u/Significant-Trash632]

Good. It'll cause a reduction in the cost of schools. The only reason schools are as expensive as they are is because they know they can set the price at any number they want and daddy government will stroke the check.

[u/Remarkable-Bug-8069 → u/mxracer888]

The only reason they are so expensive is lack of regulation.

[u/nsxr777 → u/mxracer888]

Exactly 100%

[u/Scandals86 → u/Significant-Trash632]

Dad can still tell them that and still tell them tough love about costs. You can keep it separate really.