How Do You Spell That?

For years while I was growing up in the quiet suburbs of Chicago, I was a democrat. Yup, a 100% "I Wanted Dukakis To Win!", "Daley for Chicago" leftie who loved to debate about why abortion needs to be kept legal, why the government should help out those less fortunate, and keeping the rich in check is good for society.

Then I grew up.

It started about six years ago. Just after I had the bad taste in my mouth about voting Clinton in again (but like I really had a choice with "Mr. Viagra" Bob Dole); it started. I started wondering about economic policies, about how we as a nation present ourselves to the world, and how we really help less fortunate countries join the world community. When the democrats took credit for the economic boom, I knew that it was a load of crap. When the left lobbed a few cruise missles at Osama and Saddam, it was another gutless "lets not take care of the problem, just make it look good for the media" try.

Then Monica hit, then the whole Florida election came about when democrats conveiniently forgot about the Electoral College (and still do to this day). By that point, I had voted for Bush (since I absolutely coudn't stand Al and Tipper, remember the PMRC?) and didn't look back. Now I look at names that I used to revere like Kerry, Gephardt, and Hart; guys who know better, but choose to defend ideals that reek of garbage.

But now that I'm a "righty", does that mean I think abortion should be illegal? That corporations should run amok? That we shouldn't take care of the environment? Hell no. And it doesn't mean I found God, Jesus, or anything else in the "deity-of-the-week" range.

It just means I grew up.