I should be a republican, but I'm not....

[jeffrey_X]

I'm a 36 year-old white male who grew up in North Central Indiana. I was a republican (or so I thought) for the first 32 years of my life. My entire family is conservative republicans.

I work in an industry filled with 99.9% white people.
I make more than $100,000 a year.
I just bought a new condo in Chicago for $360,000

I should be a republican, but I'm not. I can not and will not buy into all of the deception and lies that have been fed to mainstream America over the last 100 years (specifically the last 30).

What changed it for me? My wife asked me 5 years ago..."So why are you a republican? Why would you have voted for Bush in 2000? What made Reagan such a great President?"

I stood there and couldn't give her an honest answer as to why I thought the way I thought or believed what I believed. I was still following in the footsteps of my father and conservative background. My wife didn't try and change me, she simply asked me to do my own research, search my own soul and come to the conclusion myself. Well after a few years of re-thinking and reading, nothing could be more clear. I am an open minded, progressive liberal who is fed up with the lies and bullshit I have been fed for the past 30 years.

I was back in Indiana this past weekend for Mother's Day. I don't have a close relationship with my family since my paradigm shift in social and political thought. I wanted to ask my parents what they were doing and thinking back in the 60's. The last time I asked my parents about the past or the history of this country, my mom said something to the effect of "why do you want to dwell on the past." Anyway, I proceeded to ask what they were doing/thinking back in the 60's. I really never got a good answer. They were so insulated from the real world (Vietnam, Civil Rights, etc.)that they really didn't have an opinion. They chose not to get involved and ignored what was happening, because it didn't effect their tiny, white conservative world.

Thanks to my wife, DU and authors such as Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky and Cornell West I have more conviction in my beliefs now more than ever. I understand why conservatives think the way they do thanks to my family. If you are on the liberal side of the fence you have to challenge the establishment. You have to ask why? You have to think independently and openly. Just because you are not effected (or think you are not) by the policies of this country doesn't mean you can't give a shit about the inequities and unlevel playing field created by the programs and propaganda of our government.

I should be a republican, but I'm not.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Kudos.

I hope some of your reflexively republican associates look at you and start their own self-examination.

[PKG]

2. Very nice post.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

3. Good post

Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Selteri]

4. Welcxome to the club, you're in good company. NT

[spooky3]

5. This is very refreshing! Thanks. And I've learned something

from your wife about how to talk to "conservatives."

[Lucky Luciano]

72. Indeed, but this strategy

applies to many situations that are sometimes apolitical.

The idea is that people like to always feel intelligent. So, if you try to knock someone down in any way by implying they are stupid or what not, then they will dig in their heels as a dfense mechanism.

The proper technique for sales is to let the other party kind of self-discover what you want them to discover. They have to feel that they came to an opinion doing their own research and not because someone shoved it down their throat - known to cause a gag reflex.

That is what his wife did very well. She is a real smooth operator. She knew how to play the game. She left it to her husband to figure out things for himself. Perhaps she left subtle clues as to how he should discover things...the subtlety made him curious - and he investigated....to his shock and dismay, he discovered that things were not as he had always thought...once he had that epiphany, it snowballed into the well informed person that he is today.

Everyone will require slightly different strategies when it comes to what will work for selling ideologies or cars for that matter, so it helps to be able to read people well and really try to put yourself in their shoes - even if you do not like their viewpoint. So much can be learned by pretending you are the other guy!

[ohtransplant]

6. Excellent post JX!

This is what popped out at me; "open minded"

In addition, you seem to be intellectually curious. Those two things - put together- spell trouble for the current pubs.

BTW, You should be a Democrat - and you are!:bounce:

[Catherine Vincent]

7. I am glad you're no longer a republican.

Thank your wife for me.:-)

[meganmonkey]

8. Thanks for sharing that - it is very encouraging

and well written.

I hope we can reach all the folks out there who are republican just because that's what they've always been - and make them THINK for themselves why, just like you did.

Cheers to you jeffrey_X!

:toast:

[Az_lefty]

9. I thought I was a Republican for a few years...

mostly because of the people I work with and my neighbors. It took a little while to come back to my senses, but thanks to DU and some new friends I finally came home.

[knowbody0]

10. now you need to spread the word

[paula777]

11. Welcome to the losing team!!! If only more people would wake up

like you did - we might have a fighting chance!

[riverwalker]

12. I will ask why

This weekend is the fishing opener in Minnesota, and I always spend it with my son and his "republican voting-only for gun rights" friends. (My traditional mothers day gift- a big fat walleye). I was not looking forward to any political talk while cornered in a boat. I will just ask why they just gave away the second amendment with the Real ID card?. Do they know it no longer exists, along with every other right, with the passage of Real ID? That the republicans just signed the most comprehensive back door gun control bill in the history of the second amendment? Do they know the NRA is a role over tool of the BFEE and they being duped and played like monkeys?
It's a good thing I know how to swim. ;)

[FreedomAngel82]

35. Maybe we can use

the Real ID act to wake people up. Of course they'll never know about it if it's not on the news and/or never believe you. :\ But it's worth a shot anyways.

[bonzotex]

64. absolutely!

The Real ID act will scare a pantload out of anybody once they know what was just passed.

[Celebration]

13. Me too

I should be a Republican. Parents were and many members of my family are Republican. On the cove where I live there were about seven *** signs and only one Kerry sign. I rarely have voted Republican in my life, but have felt mostly apolitical until the 2000 election crap. I remember before the election, my daughter was asking me about the two candidates, and she keeps reminding me of my answer. "Bush has no foreign policy experience and is not interested in the outside world. I had a dream that something happened which caused him to have to make major foreign policy decisions, and I awakened in fear. He totally screwed up." Call me a prophet maybe.

I'm still not a tax and spend Democrat, but worse is not tax and SPEND SPEND SPEND. Shades of the 70s, but with no manufacturing base to pull us out of it. *** is ONE WEIRD REPUBLICAN.

[RobertSeattle]

14. I should be a republican, but I have a conscience

Nuf Said.

[ComerPerro]

22. LOL

[OrlandoGator]

15. I am a strict fiscal conservative and 100% pro-Second Amendment.

I should be a Republican, but I'm not.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

84. The Democratic Party is the party of fiscal responsibility

The Republicans are the party of screw the little guy.

[caty]

16. You belong to the party of NO

Delay-NO. Bolton-NO. Tax breaks to companies that send our jobs overseas-NO. Dishonest elections-NO. Tax breaks to the rich, while the middle class and poor struggle to pay their bills and buy food-NO. Workers loose benefits and pensions while CEOs and top executives get rich-NO.

You are a Democrat. Hold your head up with pride. You are ethical and compassionate. You respect science and nature.

[Old and In the Way]

17. Well done!

Welcome aboard!

Ever wonder why there's no equivalent "Conservative Arts" to balance Liberal Arts? Because the whole point of education (and life )is about learning more, not less....

[redqueen]

18. God bless you for sharing that.

Recommended... what a great post.

You've defined something importaht which differentiates a conservative from a liberal - the ability to see things that affect others as important, not only the things that directly affect you.

:hi:

[Daphne08]

19. Great post!

Our life experiences often counter our upbringing.

I come from staunch Democrats and am one myself, but one of my sons (my oldest) is Republican. I haven't figured it out yet, but I'm working on him.

We have very heated debates, but he is my son and I love him. I think he just needs to see more of life and he'll eventually come around.

[movie_girl99]

20. what a fabulous post...thanks for sharing n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. Fascinating that the difference between conservative and

liberal can be put as simply as 'liberals ask questions, conservatives don't'.

Welcome to sanity -- I wish I could say you'll find it comfortable.

You took the red pill.

[Just Me]

23. Your concern for your fellow man disqualifies you as a Republican.

The Republican party is now ruled by an "each man/woman for him/herself" mentality which fails to build a strong society and nation.

I acknowledge you for making your own choice about who you are and what you stand for in spite of your background.

:hi:

[entanglement]

24. You belong to the demographic which is pretty much

'hopelessly republican' ;) so its an even bigger achievement for you to 'wake up' and come over to the good side. Congratulations and welcome!

:toast: :toast:

[Cha]

25. Props to you and your wife, Jeffery!

It's an amazing thing to have a life changing ephipany such as this!

Some enterprising Dem should write a screenplay about a story such as yours and take it to Sundance!

[jeffrey_X]

26. That's a great idea....and it's only the tip of the iceberg....

Some other tidbits about my life.

*I worked at an all men's, no minorities, private golf club here in Chicago. Some of the richest CEO's in Chicago are members there. Michael Jordan was allowed to play, but he couldn't join. :eyes:

*I used to hang out with white racist friends here in Chicago. (I haven't seen any of them in more than 7 years.) Bad decisions on my part.

*At my bachelor party (3 years ago), my best man invited one of my old friends from college as a surprise. 8 of us were out playing golf, 2 of which were African American friends of mine. They weren't in our foursome, but my friend proceeded to drop the N bomb while we were out playing. I told him to fuck off and get his racist ass back to Ft. Wayne. He knew my wife was AA, but unconsciously said it anyway. I sent him packing, but he still ruined my bachelor party.

[outrage]

38. Michael Jordan was allowed to play, but he couldn't join....WTF?

amazing...

[YankeyMCC]

27. Nice post

In a way I went through a similar epiphany. Only for me it was from the other direction.

My family was traditionally Democratic. I just followed along for the most part never really questioning. I started drifting to wards conservative (and I think I still have some Conservative tendencies in some aspects of my life) but while I was in the military I realized it mattered.

I ran an exercise that put my Group in the woods during the 1992 election. For a fun I put out two ammo boxes with "Clinton" "Bush" labels and told people to put pebbles in to vote.

At the end of the day mine was the only pebble in the Clinton box. I started asking myself why and within the year I was no longer just following family tradition I was someone who could articulate why I was a Democrat. Or at least why I tended to vote Democrat, for the rest of the time in the military I remained registered as independent.

[DeepModem Mom]

28. Husband and I vote against our econ. interest, which amazes Repubs...

many, if not most, of whom vote on that issue alone. One of my proudest moments was when a daughter's friend asked her why we did this, and she said people did this because they cared about those less fortunate than themselves, and about what we should be as a nation.

[seventythree]

39. ditto

Often folks have said to me -- why aren't you a republican given your position? I have always said -- because I have never forgotten where I came from (forgive ending in a preposition). I don't vote my wallet because some things are more important -- like civil liberties, but when I read people here say -- eat the rich -- (not that I really consider myself rich, but I know the folks saying that would think so)I begin to wonder why I should care about those who want to boil me in a pot.

[DeepModem Mom]

45. I hear you!

If some of us on this side didn't have a little money in the bank, our side would be in worse shape than we are --

[seventythree]

51. yep,

if you boil me, how am I going to donate?

[DeepModem Mom]

58. LOL!

[MockSwede]

99. Self interest

Versus communal interests. Bingo. The look on people's faces when we tell them this will probably 'cost me more' but it's the right thing to do for us all, so we do it! Incomprehensible to most Repukes.

[Stinky The Clown]

29. You're not alone

I am also a former republican and did much the same as you .... I posted it here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3555614

We all have stories to tell. And we all have a way of speaking to the soft edge of current republicanism. They listen to us because we know them. We were them.

I also always am put in mind of the newly naturalized immigrant to the US. It is often noted that our immigrant citizens are more likely than not to be better citizens than those born here. They're willing to pull more than their share of the load. And there's good reason for that.

They *chose* to be here. It was a conscious and reasoned decision.

The same can be said of the politically converted.

I'm glad you're here and I'm glad *I'm* here.

[Lucky Luciano]

75. I just read your thread...

Here is one quote you made that describes me rather well:

"There are many out there who hold long standing views. Once Republican, they're now, at least philosophically, squarely on the left side of the continuum. I'll risk some broad generalizations about them: They're fiscal conservatives, appalled at what's been done to out economy. They want smaller government and can't believe the bloat we're seeing. They're socially liberal and looking for a far more welcoming home than the Republican party. They're strong on defense, but appalled at using our national might to bully."


Yes, these radical right wingnuts have transformed me completely....the other transformation was 9-11 since I was politically disinterested and too cynical to take an interest in politics since we could never find any truth in it. I was buried in my other graduate work too....but 9-11 made me a news junky....now I am firmlyanti-b*sh, but with many fiscally conservative leanings.

[newportdadde]

30. On paper I should be.

But I have empathy and I'm smart enought to see how cutting back services etc can have so much longer term costs then any RW ever saves on their taxes. I'm just not selfish enough to be a Republican.

[BanzaiBonnie]

31. My father just doesn't get it

How I could have gone so far astray.

It's not I who went astray. I did not betray my ideals. The Republican party went astray and is betraying everything they used to stand for.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

32. Your story is very similar to mine

I grew up in a pretty conservative family (although my dad is liberal and we have a lot more to talk about now) in a conservative state. Culturally, conservatism was the only way to be. Liberalism was for commies and gays. So I definitely considered myself an R, and voted for dubya in 2000. But when Bush took his case to the supreme court in the aftermath of the election, it was over for me. It showed me that the conservative "state's rights" rhetoric was complete bullshit. Seeing Bush destroy the economy with his tax cuts and budget increases convinced me that the "fiscal conservative" rhetoric was complete bullshit. Watching as Bush lied us into an unneeded, expensive war was the final straw.

I still consider myself a bit of a fiscal conservative, but realize that reality is far removed from theory when it comes to the poorest among us. Being self-employed without health benefits has cemented that idea in my mind. The issue of healthcare and the implementation of a single-payer, national medical plan is what nudged me into actually registering as a democrat.

I can hardly remember the days when I was a ditto head. It's unimaginable to me now how stupid and uninformed I was then.

[Zorbuddha]

33. Extraordinarily insightful post

Thank you!

You might consider posting that on the Free Republic board.

Lucid, and telling.

[FreedomAngel82]

34. That was a great post

I enjoyed your story. I should be one too according to your story. Majority of my family are republicans and Bush supporters but I'm a hard-core democrat and very proud of it. I couldn't be a republican for anything. Not a now day republican. No way in hell. Thanks to my own research and Michael Moore I'm a democrat. The party might change on me but I'll never change on the party. I like being a free-thinker and caring about others besides myself and helping if I can. I hate the feeling of being helpless and watching other people suffer while my life is okay for the most part. Even though I'm a religious person my religious beliefs goes along with my political views. When I'm in a rut about something I do research and think long and hard and maybe even consult my Bible but I'd never force my views down someone's throat. This country may not be number one on being the best but it's my home and I'll do whatever I can to help us move forward. God bless you jeffrey_x. I'm glad your wife asked you those question's and you searched for what's right in your soul. :)

[outrage]

36. Awesome post. Frankly, I don't know how any thinking person

could possibly be a Republican. They're all on that Kool-aid.

[CTyankee]

37. No insult intended but

you're really not rich enough to be a "real" Republican. But you are smart enough to become a liberal progressive. It's great to hear that you've seen the light. But so many other Republicans are living in denial, thinking that if they vote Republican they'll be rich. When will they find out that the Republican Party has been screwing them at every turn?

[jeffrey_X]

41. Believe me....I know that I'm not that rich....

We don't even own a car.

[Brooklyn Michael]

40. This is me. Standing. Applauding.

And reminded of something my own mother said to me once, tongue partly in cheek.

"The best thing I ever did for you was to teach you how to think for yourself and not to just simply accept what you're told without questioning it. I also guaranteed your father and I 18 years of headaches for that."

:toast:

[bikesein]

42. Your Entire Family Does Not Think Like You Do?

Are they the ones who were feeding you the "lies and bullshit" for thirty years?

[jeffrey_X]

63. No....

Well maybe they were feeding me bullshit indirectly by not having the ability to look at life and society from a different perspective.

The problem with my family now, especially my sisters, is they are afraid to be different. They are afraid to think differently than the rest of the family. Of course, my mother would have never gone in an opposite direction of my father. She really doesn't have her own opinions. This is what's frustrating now, because she's a yoga instructor and I think she is moving closer and closer to having an open mind, but I doubt she'll ever change because of my father.

[abbiehoff]

43. Republicans haven't always been evil.

My family has historically always been Republican. My grandfather collected elephants and was a Republican prosecuting attorney in northern Michigan. He used to get in trouble with the Michigan bar association for trading legal services for potatoes or eggs or chickens which he did because the people really didn't have any money to pay him. But he was born in the 19th century when the republicans were still the party of Lincoln. My mother grew up thinking (with some justification) that the Democrats were the party of racists. Both my mother's and father's families were abolitionists going back pretty far, and that is why they were Republicans. My mother is now 81 and is still a Republican but no longer thinks too clearly. I've tried to reason with her with little success. Fortunately, she lives in a blue area of a blue state, so I mostly just try not to upset her. All of her children and grandchildren are Democrats, so I guess we were at least raised to think for ourselves.

[annabanana]

54. Sounds a bit like my grandparents...

What the parties stand for has changed dramatically over a couple of generations.

Just like the old Dixiecrats went Republican, the abolitionist families ended up in the Democrat's column.

[MODemocrat]

44. You are way cool Jeffry_X

A smart man who has it all sorted out. Thanks for the uplifting post. :thumbsup: :patriot:

[Turn CO Blue]

46. I too, should be a republican, but I'm not...

We are right at 40 years.
Combined income is up there.
We have a $300K home in the suburbs.
I work in management, the hubby too, and he has an MBA.
We both worked in music ministry in rather fundamental churches for years, together and separately.

We both had our "paradigm shift" about 10 years ago.
We are both independent thinkers and have become very liberal and outspoken on every social issue.

Thanks to DU and all the liberals and progressives for opening my eyes to what is going on...

I too, should be a republican
(by profile - since I get all the Repuke junk mail),

BUT I'M NOT!

[ginnyinWI]

53. I defected in 1992

:) I voted for Clinton.
I too, should be a Repub. White, exurbs, Repub family, nice house, good income, and from the age group that the chimp won by a bare margin (50-49% for the age group 45-59 yrs. old)

Yes, there are some of us on this side, as well, who vote against our own economic interests and vote for "values" instead--values like fairness, charity, peace.

[GOPFighter]

47. We are almost clones of each other!

I grew up in a conservative home in Elkhart, not far from you. I was a conservative for the first 22 years of my life. What changed me? Getting away from Indiana by joining the Air Force, the Vietnam War, and meeting a lot of kind, thoughtful liberals who gently challenged my thinking (there was no Internet or DU back then).

My fundamentalist, conservative family is still back in Indiana, and I have less and less contact with them. They are kind, bright, and oh so religious. I pity them, and they pity me. :)

[UCLA Dem]

48. Yea! And we're so glad to have you!!

[mpyle27]

49. I am too.

Very nice post from my home state. We could be clones. Let me give you a quick overview. I live in Lafayette. I have two brothers who are fundie preachers (AG). Our conversations took a turn for the worse when I started to offer my opinions. That is intolerable. My mother was a stay at home Mom who raised 5 kids. My dad passed when I was twelve. I was raised on social security literally. My mom has fundie propaganda all over her apartment even a Jesus light switch on the wall. I looked on the counter the other day and saw her RNC card with a nice picture of W and Laura. Here's the kicker...she has NEVER voted for a democrat. I was conservative the same way you were, just following my family's lead. Thanks for your post and keep fighting the GOOD fight. May I make a book suggestion? Daniel Quinn's Ishmael. I too have read Chomsky and Zinn.

[jeffrey_X]

62. Interesting...

My father and two sisters all graduated from Purdue. I went there for 1.5 years and then transferred to a small school in Michigan.

I have a great book for you. Check out "White Like Me" by Tim Wise. Being in an interracial relationship has had much to do with my transition.

I'll check out that book.

[Tafiti]

86. Well, damn!, if that doesn't sound familiar.

Oh, wait...:)

It's about time! :toast:

[mpyle27]

101. who is this?

Yes, I finally registered. I had to start venting.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

50. excellent post...usually a college education is the cure too

[noiretextatique]

52. no one should be a republican now

even my uncle, a life-long republican, denounced the neocons and the religious right before he died.

[VOX]

55. Thanks, jeffrey, for your kind heart and for caring about others.

And thanks for taking the time to think things through for yourself.
:thumbsup:

And a semi-belated welcome to DU. :toast:

[wildeyed]

56. My husband is a recovering republican, too.

He has tried to talk to his parents about Iraq and Bush. Not getting anywhere, he ask about Vietnam and what their position was on that war. They said, basically, they were scared and so they tuned it out. And they are doing the same thing now. Sad.

[EvolvedChimp]

57. Awesome

That is something only a handful of people ever do. You are obviously a bright and intelligent person. I just hope you spread the word.

[ClintonTyree]

59. I'm happy as a lark that you're not......

and welcome to the thinking person's Party.

It sounds as if our upbringing's were very similar. I grew up in a Conservative family in a Conservative community. However, the timing was a little different. I grew up during the start of the Viet Nam War and graduated during it's peak. One year of College was all I could stand and I was immediately called for my draft physical after losing my student deferment. Fortunately I was 4-F and never had to go, but I was prepared to move to Canada. Even during high school I knew that my politics didn't jibe with most others in my community. I remember staying up past midnight on a school night to see who would win the Nixon-Kennedy race. JFK was my role model. He was the reason why I decided to be a Democrat (beside the obvious reasons of fairness, truth and human dignity).

Just because we were raised in a Conservative environment doesn't mean we checked our brains at the door. You can break away from the brainwashing and use your intelligence again. It can change your relationships if you let it, my family and I don't discuss politics.

Welcome back from the dark side. Now let's all work together for a better country and world.

[carpetbagger]

60. A few points...

You live in a condo. If you were a republican, you'd be staking your 2800 Sqft. tent in Arlington Heights.

Interesting how you mention the 1960's. It's precisely because the GOP has been able to milk the image of 60's extremists that they've done so well on people who spent the 1960's, well, building the American dream on the real legacy of the 60's, which (besides the 1950's-60's civil rights movement) was a legacy of blue-collar prosperity and security thanks to the New Deal and Great Society. What were they doing? Going to school, enlisting, getting jobs, buying houses, paying bills, having children, that stuff. Same stuff as today, except that their parents, who remembered when things were a bit less bountiful, no longer are around to challenge the hooey that politics are about gay people and filmmakers.

[carpetbagger]

61. Oh, and what was I doing in the 1980's?

Well, I was looking at the TV and saying that Donald Trump was one degenerate puppy. And I still am, and will to the day I die.

So you see, I too came of age politically in opposition to the "values of the times".

[TwentyFive]

65. I'm an EX-republican too - I came of voting age during Reagan era.

As a teenager, I liked Reagan's optimistic 'can do' talk and bs about the, "I never left the democratic party. It left me."

However...everytime the republicans go down in the polls, they start bashing gays, immigrants, college professors, welfare recipients, journalists, Hollywood, labor unions, etc., or scare us about foreign countries, or use phony carrots like, "I'm going to look into eliminating the income tax" or "we need to restore respect for moral values" as Bush did in the last election.

The bottom line is, the republicans only get in office to produce favors for some very well connected people. The rest of us get screwed every time.

[DUBYASCREWEDUS]

66. SINCE NOVEMBER , 2004

I have had the following statement taped to my copy holder:

"I THINK, THEREFORE I'M A DEMOCRAT"

And when my "conservative" Republican co-workers try to taunt me with the standard Republican hate mantra: "you liberal Democrat" - my response is: "AND I THANK GOD EVERY DAY!"

WELCOME HOME! :thumbsup:

[faithnotgreed]

95. welcome dubyascrewedus - and welcome to DU everyone!

[ChristianLeftie]

67. Welcome aboard.

[Ysolde]

88. And welcome to you!

Good to have you here!

:hi:

[DrCorday]

68. This reminds me...

Someone recently discussed this concept with me. Eventually, they realized I sided with the so-called "Republican" platform (keep in mind this is no where near today's Republican platform) on many issues. Namely, gun control, where I take an often pro-Republican stance.

Ultimately, I found that I can actually understand Republicans' ideology, what they generally believe in, and why they act so crazy. I realized that their positions on various issues aren't really stupid or ill-informed, as many Democrats often think.

But ultimately I realized some overriding fact of my ideology - theirs just doesn't work.

I tried to expand on that, but I really cannot. Their ideas, as good as they may or may not be, simply do not perform. An excellent example is the death penalty. While the concept of "an-eye-for-an-eye" seems all well and good, and possible effects of deterrance would seem logical, none of it actually works. States without the death penalty frequently have much lower murder rates than states with it.

Another one is abortion. I mean, they are technically right, abortion does stop a beating heart. But outlawing abortion is clearly not an answer. In countries where it is outlawed, the infamous "coat hanger" abortion is exceedingly common. Often, due to clandestine practices, abortions in these nations end up killing both the mother and "child." Bill Clinton said of abortions "they should be safe, legal, and rare."

Even tax cuts aren't completely effective. With modern deficit spending, they neither effectively reduce the size of the government nor provide an economic stimulus.

I don't know. It just doesn't work. I mean, it doesn't.

[lonestarnot]

69. Nice.

[vard28]

70. Add me to the list as well...

... same story, different part of the country. I'm a few years older than you, and come from staunch Virginia republican parents. I have always taken my voting rights seriously and got to vote for the first time in 1980. Only problem was that my dad handed me a sample ballot the day before the election that had the names of the candidates he said were the "right" ones circled. I am the oldest of three, and we were good kids that were respectful and did what we were told.

I have worked from the age of 14, moved out when I was 19, and have luckily grown into an independent, intelligent, self-thinking woman who has seen the light. I have been voting and thinking politically on my own for quite a while now, but really didn't have many friends that I could talk politics with. We no longer talk politics at family gatherings... LOL! Mostly because my folks won't do what I did and start to question and research issues and candidates.

I am thrilled that I have access to DU with all the smart and witty people that express their opinions and pass along stories and information.

I am like a sponge these days, and learn something new here every day. I thank all of you posters for the time you take to keep us all enlightened. I hope to contribute more, as I become a better informed, PROUD Democrat!

[Renew Deal]

71. Smart and witty person here.

;)

Welcome to DU!!! :hi: :headbang:

[lostnfound]

76. Welcome to DU!

Being considerably to the left in a country that is falling off the right-hand-side of the road sometimes makes me feel even more radical. When you former Republicans hear some of us pushing to the far left, realize that many of us may simply be striving for balance.

Actually, I can see both sides of many values -- particularly social net vs. small government, restraint on corporate excesses vs. too much reglation, but also abortion, gun control/gun rights. But the voice of the left has been drowned out so much in recent years it's hard not to want to scream to overcome the right-wing-noise.

[newyawker99]

85. Hi vard28!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Ysolde]

87. Welcome Aboard!

Glad to have you here! :hi:

[seabeyond]

73. just about every way i live fits conservative

the basic to who i am. bush tax plan helps me, family. we own busineses. i could swing on voting depending on the candidate.

after watching reagan and iran/contra, then the kicker of the impeachment and the stomping on the constitution by the republicans, the very party that is suppose to protect the constitution, i could never vote republican again. 2000 election was the clincher for me

and everything since.

economically, lifestyle i should be a republican. ethically and with integrity i cannot in all good conscience ever vote republican

[Bouncy Ball]

74. You really should read Garrison Keillor's "Homegrown Democrat."

It's a short book, fast read, but OH so good. And laugh out loud funny at times. I think you'll love it.

I fit all the stereotypical demographic bits for voting republican: white, Christian, southern, married to a veteran, an Aggie, a gunowner, suburban mom, I could go on and on.

But I use my mind and I have a heart. And it doesn't hurt that I was raised by pretty liberal people.

I don't just care about my family, I care how all families do under a certain administration, etc.

Thanks for posting and thanks for thinking! :thumbsup:

[B Calm]

77. Next time you visit the family ask them: What has the GOP ever

done for workers?


WHAT HAS GOP DONE FOR

WORKERS?

CLINT C. GOLD
10/24/1999
Tulsa World


Not too long ago, my wife and I attended a TV football
party in south Tulsa. With a lopsided score, the
conversation turned to a livelier subject -- politics. The
crowd was, of course, top-heavy with Republicans. With each
point expressed their faces became more flushed, eyes
bulging a little more and veins popping in their foreheads
as they railed against the liberal programs.

Finally a lone, liberal voice asked: "Will you people
name me one bill your party ever passed to help the working
man of this country?" The question created much din and
clamor, and someone sputtered, "Well, what have the
Democrats done?"

The liberal responded with a few programs and was
interrupted by howling and disdain. He noted that he had
not promised they would like the programs and he asked to
complete his statement -- a difficult task to ask of
Republicans.

He spoke of Social Security; Medicare-Medicaid; Peace
Corps; unemployment insurance; welfare (for the poor and
corporate); civil rights; student grant and loan programs;
safety laws (OSHA); environmental laws; prevailing wage
laws; right to collective bargaining (which brought about
paid medical insurance, paid vacations, pensions, etc.);
workers' compensation; Marshall Plan; flood-disaster
insurance; School Lunch Program; women's rights.

He spoke of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which
established a minimum wage, instituted child labor laws,
and set up time-and-a-half pay for over a 40-hour week.

He mentioned FHA-HUD with its public housing, urban
renewal and 44 million residential homes (before WWII
almost 70 percent of our nation were renters; by the 1970s
this had been reversed). And farm-conservation
subsidies -- USDA programs, Farmers Home Administration (the
bankers didn't want to make rural loans), small
flood-control lakes (more than 3,000 in Oklahoma alone),
rural water districts, rural electricity (REA).

The GI Bill was passed, which the Republicans at the
time bitterly opposed. They were salivating over millions
of returning veterans to hire as cheap labor. More than 8
million have used college benefits, creating millions of entrepreneurs; most of us had never dreamed of college. For
the unemployed GI, there was $20 a week for 52 weeks to
help get started (a lot of money in those days). The
Veterans Administration provided more than 2 million home
loans.

For the bankers at the football party, it was pointed
out that the liberals saved their industry with the
creation of FDIC and FSLIC, insuring their deposits, and
saved Wall Street with the establishment of the Securities
Exchange Commission.

The oil men came on bended knees to FDR at a time when
East Texas oil was 4 cents a barrel and begged him to save
their industry. He did; prorationing overturned the rule of
capture and the days of flush production were over.
Prorating has served this great industry (and nation)
well.


And the list went on and on, but of course this group
didn't let him get halfway through. He noted they were
weary, inattentive, so again he challenged them to offer up
any Republican legislation examples.

"I'm sure your party has authored one or two comparable
bills from time to time, but I can't think of any, and
apparently you can't either. What it boils down to is this:
the liberals dragged you into the 20th century scratching
and screaming with your heels in the mud, fighting anything
that's progressive, everything that's made this country
great. You Republicans have never understood that the
spending power of blue-collar workers, obtained through
Democrats and unions, is what really made this country
great. You really believe "The Good Life" was obtained from
your own endeavors. You cloak your greed in religion and
patriotism, railing against any form of tax, never
comprehending that these programs have benefitted all of us
and our country."

Well, I almost didn't make it out of the house. My wife
and I didn't even get to see the end of the football game.


If Reps. Steve Largent or J.C. Watts had been there,
perhaps politics would never have come up, only the game
plan ... pity.
Clint C. Gold is former mayor of Moore and a retired
savings and loan executive.

http://www.MikeMalloy.com

[Ysolde]

91. Bet the Tulsa World

wouldn't print anything like that now!

[DrCorday]

94. that article is excellent.

thank you. :hi:

[bobbieinok]

96. where is this?? can't find it at mikemalloy.com (it used to be there)

this is extremely valuable and well written

[B Calm]

97. Mike Malloy read that on air years ago at WLS in Chicago.

He had it posted on his web site back then. I copied and saved it into my documents..

Glad you liked it!

[bobbieinok]

98. it ought to be a permanent link on some webpage so it can be easily

referred to

I remember when he read it at WLS.....I think BA ? listener/poster sent it to him

[Catchawave]

78. Thank you for sharing your thoughts....

I, too, live in that con$ervative world, and it's "hard work" trying to change that apathy. But I keep on keeping on despite all the head pats and "cute" little bleeding heart liberal comments. I just remind them, at least I have a heart!

[LiberalinNC]

79. You're wife sounds like a very smart lady!

And your story is probably typical of many children of conservative parents. Thankfully my parents were and still are democrats - me and my parents believe we should be democrats w/ our politics and conservative w/ our own money!

[mmonk]

80. Welcome

I think more and more people are realizing they are in a party due to family tradition whether than intellectual reasons. I think some who have been republican for intellectual reasonings (primarily fiscal) are realizing that the republican movement is more and more something cultural such as just being anti-federal government or anti-tax without any thought process of their position and in some instances, a brainwash job that claims dems that are extreme and they aren't. Whenever someone comes accross the democratic party intellectually (because they have thought things through and have done alot of fact checking), they seem to become dedicated dems. Good news.

[DemonFighterLives]

81. Nice story Jeffrey_X

About the only thing I can disagree with is the notion that anyone should or could be republican, Only non- thinking, non-human black hearts can truthfully fit the current republican mold.

I'm sorry to come off strong because there are a lot of middle ground people here. Welcome to all the new converts here! :woohoo:

:applause: Very encouraging. Republicans weren't always this bad.
My father used to call the evil side - Birchers. He actually voted for Nixon which was I think his only republican vote. He really felt fooled when the sh*t hit the fan. I asked dad recently if he thought Oswald killed Kennedy and he said "yes". That is about the only point that I don't think dad gets. The more I read about Kennedy the more I hated Nixon, but Johnson gets no pass either. Just so happens that the B*sh crime family has roots in many terrible things going back before Kennedy.
I think I will vote democrat until the day I die, unless something else better pops up.

DFL

[yellowcanine]

82. I supported Nixon over Humphrey but thankfully I couldn't vote.

Because I was too young. The only reason I supported Nixon was because I was pissed over Vietnam and I thought Humphrey was just more of the same and maybe Nixon could actually end it. Boy was I wrong. By the time 72 rolled around I was a yellow dog democrat and I cast my vote for McGovern. So my record is clean - all Democrats up and down the ticket ever since. I must admit I was tempted by John Anderson in 1980, but I stayed with Carter. I should, by all rights be a Republican, however. I am white male and grew up in the "Alabama" part of Pennsylvania. I really don't know what turned me into a Democrat. If I had to point to one thing I would say it was the Civil Rights movement - even though most of the Southern Democrats were on the wrong side by 1972 it was clear that they were moving to the Republican Party (and being welcomed.) I will always believe that the current Republican Party grip on the South is mostly a result of the Dixiecrat migration - that plus the Religious Right influence - and in many cases they are the same people, by the way. If you don't believe me, check out the civil rights records of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

[abbiehoff]

83. The moral question

When I was a philosophy student at the University of Michigan in the late 60s, I had a visiting professor from England for an ethics class. He had a theory called "Universal Prescriptivism" which gave the following advice for anyone making any decision (such as whether to embrace the Republican or Democratic party):

Take yourself out of the scenario and look at it as a disinterested bystander. You know that you will be affected by the decision, but you don't know which side of the result you will be on. In the political party case for example, you don't know if you will be black or white, gay or straight, CEO of Halliburton or a WalMart worker, or even if you will be an American at all.

I always liked this theory, and try to use it in my own decision making.

[Ysolde]

89. Great idea.

I might try it on my brother and my husband's sister. They've both ran away from their raising (due to religion) and really need to take a good look at their decisions. Maybe this way they could do it more objectively, instead of following the preacher.

I think my husband & I unconsciously do that in everything. Don't know how kids raised in the same family can be so different.

[Ysolde]

90. n/t

edited to delete 2nd post -- browser locked up during post and didn't think it had posted.

[Democracy White]

92. I should be too

My family is mostly Republican, the area that I live in is mostly Republican. My mother is the one who taught me to think for myself.
Although I can't understand why she thinks Bush is just great.

Dee

[guardian]

93. You made my day. EOM

[Massacure]

100. Nothing wrong with republicans.

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

Note the part I made bold. That is a quote from a TRUE republican. Can anyone name who?