What shaped your political leanings?

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by wnewberry22

What made you lean whichever direction you do?

I'll start....I'm very liberal on most issues with exception to environmental regulations. I grew up in southwest virginia in Appalachian coal country. My grandparents, great grandparents and parents were/are involved in coal. The UMWA was very influential in shaping safer work environments for my family members. Coal is such an integral part of the economy in Appalachia and strict environmental regulations are detrimental to their employment. I consider myself very much a labor democrat.

What shapes your beliefs?

I am socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I was involved in a very good youth group at a church growing up where a few people instilled in me the idea to actually care about people less fortunate. I also was a product of an alcoholic father and mother who spent too much time defending dad, so I learned to be independent pretty early on. I have always done whatever it takes to be a success myself, including selling everything that couldn't fit in my car and driving across the country for a job that promised a high salary when I was 19 as well as working 90+ hour weeks to make something of myself when I got out of college.

I personally want to help everyone I can, but I see people collecting from government welfare programs and wonder how much they can really want to make their lives better if they aren't spending those 90-100 hours per week trying to make themselves better. I really have little sympathy for people who could try harder but choose not to (don't move to find a new job, don't study/work more than 40 or so hours per week, etc.)

[wjtwet]

My parent instilled a sense of self reliance.They never did my homework for me and allowed me to fail .As a child this showed me that i control myself. It was up to me therefore to help others. Self reliance means you are so comfortable with yourself that reaching out a hand is easy. But self reliance showed me that the solution 99% of the time depends on my attitude, my beliefs and my empathy for those with less.

[alphamale]

Common sense, life experience and the constitution.

[scarabchuck]

Common sense, logic and not letting my emotions rule my life. Also knowing the only person that is going to look after me is myself. If I want to succeed in life I'm going to be the one to make it happen. If things don't work out so well, I look in the mirror for the person to blame.