My son was convinced I was a lifelong Republican because I believe in people's rights first, low taxes, low spending, and the constitution. He, of course, is a Progressive.
The Democratic party as it once was is no more. My dad the life long union man was a Democrat. I grew up in a Democratic union home and not southern Democrat who were foreign to us but rather Northeastern Democrat. How my family saw Republicans as the party of the big capitalist, mine owner, and railroad barons. Somewhere around the Carter Administration my dad became a Republican. My dad still believes in the Republicans at the age of 82.
McGovern, Humphrey, Jackson, JF Kennedy, and R Kennedy were once our leaders. We thought they believed in the things we believed in. But Carter distressed me so much when he showed how clueless he was on most subjects. And his essentially clueless manner and behavior killed my faith in the party.
I was a relieved Republican for one year during the Reagan presidency until I saw Reagan collapse under the pressure of Tip O'neill and the Neocons etc. and sign off to spend and tax....and keep certain departments that he had once promised to disband.
I finally left both the Democrats and Republicans in despair OR rather they left me.
I am unsure if my children know enough to understand what I have developed into over time. At one time I thought I was Libertarian but their beliefs do not include a country with a proper border. In my heart I suppose I am an American Nationalist Anarchist at this point and not sure if I fit in anywhere. At this point, despite my illness, possibly the rights laid out in the Constitution, and those of the American People are paramount to me.
