It just hit me like a dart... I am a Democrat.

[elperromagico]

I was raised in a household where Democrats were the closest thing to Satan this side of hell.

Yet here I am, a Democrat. I believe in everything politically that my parents disagree with. I disagree with the majority of the residents in my state when it comes to most issues.

How did that happen? I wasn't even conscious of it.

How did those of you who grew up in GOP households - in GOP states - become Democrats? It can't simply be a growing-pains rebellion; what else influences it?

[SharonAnn]

1. I grew up in a moderate Republican household and was one for

a long time. Then Reagan came along and in his first two years he seriously violated just about everything I hold as a priority in morality.

-Women's rights (equal opportunity and the right to choose)
-Environmental issues 9and national parks)
-Mixing religion and religious extremists into government and policies
-Budget deficits as high as one could imagine back then
-Cutting social programs and pouring uncounted amounts of money on the military.

So I left. I thought of myself as independent for a while. Then I realized that as the Republicans became more and more extremist, I couldn't ever vote for one of them and I realized that every voting choice I Made was for a Democrat. Figuring there must be some reason for that, I checked into the party and its platform.

Then I realized, well fiddle-dee-dee. I'm a Democrat!

[elperromagico]

3. I went through the independent phase too,

thinking that I would judge each candidate on their platform. I wouldn't be one of these straight-party-voting hacks. I'd vote platforms, not parties.

But then I started looking at GOP platforms...

[snacker]

2. Read this

http://www.tompaine.com/print/the_flickering_light_of_america.php
This might explain it.

[pstans]

4. Your parents raised you to think for yourself

and they should be thanked for that. In the nation populated by Sheeple, a person who is paying attention and can formulate an oppinion on their own is becoming more and more rare.

Ronald Reagan's son is very liberal, so your not the first person out there.

[xray s]

5. and read this

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/9/14548/78617

[Aristus]

6. I respect my parents.

My mother's a good liberal and my father's a left-leaning moderate. They did a good job raising me. O8)

[elperromagico]

8. I don't disrespect my parents. I simply disagree with them.

And I'm glad, as another poster said, that they made me feel free to think for myself... even if my thoughts have driven them crazy at times.

[Aristus]

10. No, no NO! That wasn't a judgement call, my friend. Sorry if it

sounded that way. I respect them for being good lefties, and rasing me to think of others. No, I'm sorry; I didn't mean it to sound like you should disrespect your parents. :dunce:

[Ladyhawk]

7. I grew up steeped in fundamentalism.

I don't know how I finally learned to think for myself, but it's been a hell of a ride.

[Not_Giving_Up]

9. I was mostly raised by my grandparents

Born and raised in Texas by Reagan loving repubs. I spent half of my teenage life trying to explain why it was inappropriate to say that if the football was green with black stripes, the (nasty word for an African American) wouldn't drop it...My grandfather loved C-Span and CNN, so I was very exposed to politics, but we were definitely opposites.

Prior to that, I lived with Fundie Democrats...my mom and stepdad. They believed Dobson's theory that if you wanted a kid to listen, you had to beat the ever lovin shit out of them. They are Democrats for financial reasons...but they agree with the "values" crap of the repugs, although they know that the repugs themselves have no values.

I am proud to be a Texas Democrat...no matter how I got here!

[kmla]

11. I was born and raised in red country....

... by sane parents. Dad of kmla was a 30year UAW member, who were traditionally Democrats. Both mom and dad raised us to be independent thinkers, have a genuine interest in learning, and most of all, have compassion for those who aren't as fortunate as we are.

Actually, I believe I am at least a 4th generation democrat...

Must be genetic...

:D

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

12. It just hit you? After all this time here, it just hit you?

Man, you must be good at ducking, bobbing and weaving.

[bugslsu9]

13. Moving to the south

I grew up in an all repub household and family. All of my family, save 4 of us now (there are over 25 in my family) are repubs. I went south for college (LSU, geaux tigers!!!) and then found out what repub policies really do. I witnessed first hand racism for the first time in my life, I saw how the schools in the poorest areas were funded, and I saw the religious right out in full force for the first time.

This changed my idea of what it was to be human, let alone my political beliefs. Granted, after I left my parents, I found some good liberal friends, and they helped turn me from a member of college republicans my freshman year to a co-founder of college democrats my senior year. To them, I will be eternally grateful.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

14. They were sloppy. They let you get edjakinated. (nt)