I work a job where I end up taking to a lot of people. When politics come up I usually hear a lot about how workers aren't getting their fair share and are being screwed over by the government (a good start) but then veers off into "the government doesn't pay nurses enough because we're giving it away to other countries!!"
Why is this misguided talking point so common? How do you respond to it without being dismissive and calling them dumb and wrong?
you should ask them if they really think that if this money was not being used in a foreign aid it would be used for workers like the problem is not that even that there is enough money for it is just there is no political will towards workers
on the why this is so common imo: it is easier, we don't have to change, the only reason this is like this is because we are helping those foreigners the problem is not us but that we are too good to everyone else or something like that