I Love Social Security

[Oilwellian]

73. My paternal grandparents were FDR Democrats

Yet my father is a conservative republican as are my brothers, and that has put me at odds with them over the years. Ironically, my father became extremely successful in his field due to the very Democratic program, the GI Bill. He took advantage of that benefit after the Korean war and became a chemical engineer. Social Security allowed him the FREEDOM to pursue his very lucrative career, and prevented him from having to stay in small town Texas, because his parents were taken care of in their senior years.

I've always marveled over that disconnect through the years. How can one be a conservative when their very success in life was largely due to socialistic programs? I've thought it extremely hypocritical of my father to rally against socialism, when it was that very philosophy that eased so many of his burdens, and allowed him more opportunity to succeed.

In the past few years, I've been spending more time with my father due to his advancing age. The fiery politics between us has waned a great deal because I think he finally understands my beliefs, and I'm more forgiving of his. His health and well-being are my main priority, and the stress of politics is deadly at this point in his life. (He'll soon be 88.)

He recently told me he knows where my liberal roots began. He said his parents were FDR Democrats and his mother in particular was passionate about the New Deal and helping the poor and elderly. He said I reminded him of his mother and that we share those same passions. It was the highest compliment my father has ever paid to me, and I finally felt an acceptance by him that has been missing in my life for decades. My grandmother was an extraordinary woman who worked hard her entire life to make this a better world. I was too young to have been influenced by her politically before she died, and that makes this story all the sweeter. My very conservative father finally has come full circle and realized it wasn't the selfish in society who helped him become successful. It's people like his mother and daughter who inherently understand the human condition, and work tirelessly to relieve those burdens we face in each new generation. His mother did it for him, and I am now doing it for my children and grandchildren.

May our passions for improving the human condition never die.

Most excellent post Sabrina. Thank you so much.