I Am The 53%, Too
I come from a lower middle-class family.
My grandfather was a blacksmith. He taught his grandkids that honest, hard work would keep a roof over your head, shoes on your feet, food in your belly.
My parents divorced when I was 13. I started working at age 15 in a tax-paying job to offset expenses and ease the burdens on my single mother, who was raising three boys -- one of which is mentally disabled.
I waited a year after high school to start college so that I could earn money to get started. I have paid all my student loans.
While in college, I worked. I worked hard, I worked often. I sometimes slept an hour a day so that I could both earn an income and still attend classes. And, yes, it took me ten years to get my degree. It was hard, but I worked for it.
I am 48 years old, working a fantastic job for which I am absolutely grateful to have. My income is better now than it has ever been, but I don't forget the years of debt and struggle. I continue to learn new things that help me be more productive for my family and for society in general.
I don't want the government to hand me anything. I don't want big government solving problems for me.
I don't blame others for the struggles I have been through, I made my decisions, I lived through my choices.
I am the 53%.
