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KPN

(15,642 posts)
50. Great OP. I read this the other day but time was tight so I've come back to it just to say
Mon Jun 17, 2019, 10:28 AM
Jun 2019

how much I enjoyed and appreciated what you had to say. Probably because to a significant extent it was my story as well. Blue collar, eastern MA, ancestors on my Mom's side arrived in 1620 (Plymouth Colony), Dad was a Marine and served in both WWII and Korea, local truck driver (Teamster's Union member), he and my Mom raised nine kids on that one income largely because my Dad worked all the OT he could get -- often worked 60 hours a week) in order to provide for us, but my stay-at-home Mom was the stalwart in the family -- she was the boss no question, etc., etc.

My parents taught me that I was a Democrat ... and why: because the Democrats worked for the working and middle class. There was never any question about that. If the candidate was a Democrat, that person would get our votes. ....

Long story short, I too watched knowingly over the past 40 years and repeatedly had my heart broken by a political center that consistently drifted right starting most obviously with Reagan and fueled by big money interests and Republican rapacious ideology that struck me always as "Me First".

It makes me angry that today I am considered "far left" or "socialist" as a result of the long rightward drift. It makes me angry that some -- even here at DU -- seem to think my views are radical or at best too much to hope for.

But I refuse to give up that hope and will continue to do what little I can to help shift the needle back to the middle.

"They call me the Far Left"? [View all] shockey80 Jun 2019 OP
... Turin_C3PO Jun 2019 #1
Kicking and Recommending Dennis Donovan Jun 2019 #2
Mandatory registration for the draft began in 1978. MasonDreams Jun 2019 #30
I registered in 1974. It was mandatory then. House of Roberts Jun 2019 #37
There was a little gap. Men born from March 29, 1957 MasonDreams Jun 2019 #43
madness Hermit-The-Prog Jun 2019 #3
K&R onecaliberal Jun 2019 #4
Sidenote: My parents have passed on and I miss them, However shockey80 Jun 2019 #5
K&R musette_sf Jun 2019 #6
You are the center, the core of America Martin Eden Jun 2019 #7
So true, So many Americans like myself were conned and took the path of self destruction. shockey80 Jun 2019 #10
I feel your pain, eom LittleGirl Jun 2019 #8
LOVED reading your story and thoughts. I feel honored that you shared this post with us!❤ Karadeniz Jun 2019 #9
I exposed my heart, guts and soul in this post. shockey80 Jun 2019 #17
K&R Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jun 2019 #11
That is the point, and unfortunately a lot of liberals oblige the Right and move toward their center Caliman73 Jun 2019 #12
You understand the meaning of my post. shockey80 Jun 2019 #18
An excellent addition to shockey80's post. Thank you both so much. erronis Jun 2019 #20
Kick n/t hibbing Jun 2019 #13
great post study war no more Jun 2019 #14
K&R gtar100 Jun 2019 #15
I'm likely further left lambchopp59 Jun 2019 #16
I'm proud to wear that badge! ananda Jun 2019 #19
The Truth For Sure colsohlibgal Jun 2019 #21
Great post Shockey, you too Caliman. NoMoreRepugs Jun 2019 #22
The Repukes have gone over a cliff FakeNoose Jun 2019 #23
To the Greatest Pate CanonRay Jun 2019 #24
too bad we can't be.. stillcool Jun 2019 #25
Huge kick and rec. love_katz Jun 2019 #26
Great post malaise Jun 2019 #27
if cons paid $1000/hr for radio time to move the center right, 1200 stations are worth $5BIL/year certainot Jun 2019 #28
Closer to 40 years but you're right misanthrope Jun 2019 #31
EVERYONE who does not agree 100% with a repug is FAR LEFT Ferrets are Cool Jun 2019 #29
You said it! I can't count how many checkout line conversations I overheard that reflected this. Ford_Prefect Jun 2019 #32
K&R Paka Jun 2019 #33
Thanks for sharing your story, Shockey80. A lot of parallels to mine. KY_EnviroGuy Jun 2019 #34
..except for the names and a few other changes, my story is the same..... joanbarnes Jun 2019 #35
It's atrocious. I actually am the Far Left ck4829 Jun 2019 #36
I love this!! mountain grammy Jun 2019 #38
Please consider sending this wonderful piece JudyM Jun 2019 #39
Great post. But far left and far right have to do with ideologies, not general goodness & fairness. Honeycombe8 Jun 2019 #40
Yes, but to the OP's point, Trumpists are deliberately erasing those delineations... VOX Jun 2019 #42
Uhm, everyone has ideologies, saying otherwise is being Humanist_Activist Jun 2019 #45
False equivalence between far left and far right. Turin_C3PO Jun 2019 #48
Again with the "false equivalency" thing. Honeycombe8 Jun 2019 #52
I guess I was just thinking out loud. Turin_C3PO Jun 2019 #53
Recommended democrank Jun 2019 #41
K&R suffragette Jun 2019 #44
ding AllaN01Bear Jun 2019 #46
K&R for thread excellence! dchill Jun 2019 #47
This should be read by everyone in America. 😔 BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2019 #49
Great OP. I read this the other day but time was tight so I've come back to it just to say KPN Jun 2019 #50
Thank you...K&R BlueJac Jun 2019 #51
That makes me burrowowl Jun 2019 #54
Great post. I have a similar experience and my Dad provided for 5 with 1 income. Evolve Dammit Jun 2019 #55
Great post ! DashOneBravo Jun 2019 #56
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