I was raised in conservated family as most are here in Eastern Wasington. Always supported the republican side as I tended to agree with most of their stances. The majority of my family and friends that I grew up with lean to the right, way right in some cases. It’s been hard to maintain relationships. I can’t bring myself to throw those away in hope of a brighter future. We just avoid talking politics at all costs. The struggle is real.
I became a firefighter and started to see that many people in need were in that position due to outside influences, not decisions that they made as often claimed by conservatives. I soon learned most of us were one bad day away from needing help. My compassion for others grew dramatically. It was then reinforced in the master’s program I took from a Christian University. (I’m not sure how they reconcile project 2025 today with their values.)
The first time I voted for blue was Obama for his second term. I didn’t care for what seemed to be the beginning of a very angry and conflicting style of politics by the other party. My fire department was being attacked by Tea Party (far right wing) people as being too expensive and unnecessary. That is, until any of those people needed our help! As with many government programs, they are unnecessary until you need them, then it had better be there before you hang up the phone.
Then came the run up to the 2016 election. Name calling, bullying, making fun of people, childish behavior and outright lies. They didn’t even try to spin partial truths, they just out and out made stuff up. Anyone with critical thinking skills could see right through them. Then they blamed everything on migrants. Was this 1936 Germany?
Even before the election, the example being set nationally was emulated at the local levels during city and county council meetings. Yelling, accusing, flat out disrespect and total lies appeared to be the accepted style by one side. Nothing bipartisan happened anymore. Whoever had the majority, decided the day. I was absolutely disgusted by what was happening. This was not the America I loved.
The lack of ethics, moral compass, compassion, along with racism and what seemed a desire for autocracy by Trump cemented my choice. If I had done those things as a Fire Chief, I would have been fired. And I held my firefighters to standards much higher than those seeking the highest office in the land. That, and the extremely poor example Trump sets for our children, and even adults, should not be tolerated. His actions are abhorrent.
So, in 2016 I voted blue. That was hard for me, as I was no fan of Hillary, but at least she seemed to have compassion. I’ve voted that way ever since.
Bud
