"A Confounding Collection of Contradictions" or "How I Became Me"

Pretty much everything in my background would tell you that I shouldn't have the outlook on the world that I do.  I grew up in a solid middle class, blue-collar family. We lived in a solid, middle class, blue-collar neighborhood. The highest level of education that either of my parents completed was the 11th grade; that was my mother. The highest level of education my dad completed was the 9th grade. I was raised Catholic, in fact at one point in my life I seriously contemplated becoming a priest. I, of course, ended up becoming a high school social studies teacher and am a proud member of the teachers union. So, everything seems to point to my being a true blue, through and through Democrat, right? Middle-class blue collar upbringing, born and raised Catholic, parents never graduated high school, educator, active member of the teachers union. It all seems to fit the mold for a solid, loyal, faithful Democrat. This is where the stereotype begins to fall apart.

Despite the fact that my parents are Baby boomers (although my dad will insist that he is not a Baby Boomer since he was born in 1944 and technically he would be correct as the Baby Boomer generation are those born between 1945-1964, I still consider him to be a Baby Boomer) neither one of them ever identified with the social and political unrest that resonated throughout the mid to late 1960's. My dad was in the military at that time, my mom was attending Lincoln High School and neither of them were at all enamored with the protests, civil unrest, hippy movement, rejection of American life and standards that seemed to be oozing from the pores of their peers. My mom's brother served two tours of duty in Vietnam as a Green Beret and she bristled at the accusations that her brother was a criminal.When my dad came home from the military in 1968 he was shocked and dismayed that he was called a "baby killer" by fellow Americans because during his two years of deployment in Germany he had never killed a rat let alone a person or a baby. To my parents, this was a very uncomfortable time featuring politics that they never subscribed to. Luckily, they managed to find one another, because it certainly didn't seem in 1968-69 that anyone else their age were looking for them.  Their shock and horror at the seeming disrespect of America and its institutions shaped my parents political views. And of course, children either become reflections of their parents politics or in a fit of rebellion, the antithesis of their politics. I choose to be a reflection.

The 1970's brought my brother and I to my parents along with a weakening economy and a government in taters from endless scandals and ineptness. My parents bought the house I grew up in in 1976 and because of their good credit history had an interest rate of 9% on their mortgage. My parents were convinced that the good times were over for good in America. In 1979, I was just beginning to develop some very basic, simple political beliefs when the American hostages were taken in Tehran and the American government under Jimmy Carter seemed extraordinarily incompetent. How can this be? I thought. Why is this happening? I wondered. Perhaps my parents were correct, the good times really are over for good.

My real political awakening took place in 1980-81 with the candidacy and election of Ronald Reagan. My parents were excited which made me excited. It felt good to be an American, I was proud to be an American. This was great! I remember watching the inauguration and then literally minutes later the hostages were released. What presidency ever started off that well? I believe it was in that moment that I decided I was a Republican. I was 9 years old and I had become Alex P. Keaton before there was such a character. I was truly a product of the Reagan presidency. It's funny, people my age who grew up in the 1980's have the same feelings about Reagan that people who grew up in the 1930's had about FDR; they either revere him or revile him. I revered him. He shaped my views of the world and politics. One of Reagan's core beliefs has become one of my mantra's "Government is rarely the solution, it is usually part of the problem."

Over time, my political views have softened, I am no where near as conservative as I once was. My political views have become more nuanced and my political leanings have moved to a more moderate stance. I support gay rights, I support universal background checks for gun sales, and my views on welfare are more in line with Bill Clinton than they are with Reagan.

I am a registered Republican and I have been since I turned 18. However, I have begun to feel as though my party has abandoned me because it has been hijacked by extreme idealists in the Tea Party (but that is a totally different discussion). The crazy thing is, that in today's Republican Party, Reagan would be ostracized and labeled a RINO. Very weird... I have never voted a straight party line ticket. I usually vote for Republicans in national elections (although not always) and I usually vote for Democrats in state elections (because unfortunately since the time of Al Meiklejohn, state Republicans have cared very little about public education). This year will be the first time ever that I have not voted for the Republican nominee for president. I'm also not going to vote for Hillary. I am going to vote, I just don't know who yet.

So, that is a short (or as short as I could make it) explanation of my political beliefs, influences and evolution. If you made it this far, yea for you (or maybe I'm sorry- you decide). I know I am a ball of contradictions but aren't we all?