I had a professor (an exchange from the University of Mumbai(Bombay) who taught History of the British Empire.

He stated that the British Empire and the US needed both the liberals and the conservatives.
He said the Liberals kept coming up with new ideas but seldom had the practical government skills to finance and implement them or distinguish the good from the bad ideas.
The Conservatives were usually content to not change things that already worked but would carefully observe, decide which ideas were good and then had the skills to implement them.

He also said that as long as the two sides just thought of the other as "different" things worked fine. It was when they started to see the other side as "the enemy" that the real problems started.

When I turned 21 I registered as a Republican. I did so because I grew up in a Republican household and my father had a sole-proprietor business. He wanted the independence and freedom to succeed or fail on his own. After the Air Force and Viet Nam and then college, I remained a Republican. Even though I went to work in the corporate world I tried several different ways to start a business and become independent. Sometimes my attempts succeeded and other times not, but my growing alcoholism forced me to "keep my day job". After getting sober, I started my own business, owned several income properties and did quite well, without government help. Not exactly rags to riches, but from paycheck dependent to successful.
If I had adopted the Democrat dogma, I would have lost my job, gone on disability, continued my alcoholism, been dependent on government programs, remained on the bottom rungs of the economic ladder, and blamed someone else on my condition.
I believe the Republicans on the lower levels of the economy remain republicans because they still believe they can move up, or at least independent and not become attached to and dependent on the government teat. I have over-simplified this and know that there are many stories from the left wing and the right wing.
But the right wing and the left wing both belong on the same bird!

Congratulations, first off. Well done.

I was brought up in a democrat family. JFK was the last democratic president I supported, though too young to vote and would be until 1969. So, the election of 1970 was my first shot at voting. After voting for or against winners over the next several elections, I changed to being an independent. More recently, I've observed the democrats seemed to look at me as a source of income for the government and found "better" ways to spend it than I could.

Recently, we received a reduction in taxes and I could actually purchase a few things I'd like to have and put money into savings. That worked out well. I dread to think about what it might cost me to see a change in the current government. I'd probably seriously think about retiring, as then I wouldn't have the tax burden with which to concern myself. So, I'll continue to be independent but most likely vote for the republicans.
--Bob

Congratulations, first off. Well done.

I was brought up in a democrat family. JFK was the last democratic president I supported, though too young to vote and would be until 1969. So, the election of 1970 was my first shot at voting. After voting for or against winners over the next several elections, I changed to being an independent. More recently, I've observed the democrats seemed to look at me as a source of income for the government and found "better" ways to spend it than I could.

Recently, we received a reduction in taxes and I could actually purchase a few things I'd like to have and put money into savings. That worked out well. I dread to think about what it might cost me to see a change in the current government. I'd probably seriously think about retiring, as then I wouldn't have the tax burden with which to concern myself. So, I'll continue to be independent but most likely vote for the republicans.
--Bob

The premise of my statement is in response to those who wonder why, if the Republican party is the one of the 1%, why are poor people Republican. The only way to comment on a large group of people is with generalizations, sometimes sweeping. Everyone, including me, can give countless examples of people who don't fit that generalization. But I believe the answer to the question is that a whole bunch of people, regardless of economic status still want the freedom to succeed or fail on their own merits, without government intervention!

I was a JFK "liberal". Today his politics would be closer to republican, than democrat. I am offended by far left (todays) liberal, progressive, democrats. THey can't or won't see the difference between good intemtions and good results. War on poverty had good intentions, but terrible results. It took away incentives and pushed more people into poverty. And the money (over 1 billion) was sucked up by the bureaucracy. The liberal welfare program--Devestated the black familly and abortion has virtually destroyed it. I am in favor of less government. Todays far left (Most current democrats) want more government control. Free public education, free (single payer) health care, higher taxes. I know that these are generalizations, but they are closer to the truth than I am willing to accept. The hatred on either side is self destructive. And it comes mostly (but not all) from the left.