I used to be a Republican

I grew up in the conservative city of Cincinnati within the swing state Ohio. I was Republican by default.

Earning It

I grew up aligning with a Republican platform that rewarded people for working hard. If you make good money, save, and invest, that money should grow and be protected — it’s yours and no one else’s. If you want a good life, you have to earn it. There are no handouts.

My family was poor and I started working when I was very young. I contributed to the household by umpiring baseball as an early teen and I began working fast food the day after I turned 16. A year later I got a job at an engineering firm and I got my first software job just a few months after that. I was making $7.50/hour during my junior year in high school — wow was that a lot of money!

By the time I was in my early twenties, I owned a business, a new house, and a new car. I had a ping-pong table in my basement and I played lots of golf. I was working hard, making good money, saving, and investing. That money was mine; it should grow, and it should be protected. I surely wouldn’t vote for any candidates or propositions that wanted to take away my money and hand it out to others. I voted Republican up and down the ballot.

Nothing to Break the Cycle

I described my business as “writing software to run other businesses.” In a handful of years we completed around 200 projects. Our work spanned a broad spectrum too. We built an application to manage eBay listings for a group of people who resold collectible game pieces. And we also built a complete point of sale and store management system for Proctor and Gamble. I worked with lots of people and many of them shared my political positions.

Through one business relationship, my company ended up sharing office space with John Boehner’s campaign headquarters in West Chester, Ohio. I even built the Friends of John Boehner website — “Say Bay-ner!” The campaign manager gave me tickets to attend a George W. Bush re-election rally and fundraiser.

I hung out with a Republican crowd and we all reinforced each other’s positions. Without diversity, there was nothing to break the cycle.

Considering Different Viewpoints

We moved to Seattle in 2008 so I could start a job at Microsoft. I was accustomed to talking politics (a lot) at work but I quickly learned that was going to be way off-limits. Not only was it just a general no-no at Microsoft, I recognized that Republicans were in the minority and it wouldn’t be “safe”.

Over time I slowly realized something far more important though. I realized that my views were narrow-minded and weak. In the rare occasions when political topics arose, I kept my mouth shut and observed how well-versed others were. These people were studying the issues and considering different viewpoints. The Republican platitudes I had regurgitated thousands of times in the past were worthless here.

Am I a Democrat?

It’s now 2016 and I’m embarrassed by the Republican party and that I used to be part of it. I know I’ve changed a lot but I think the party has too. I moved left and the party moved right. I no longer identify as a Republican.

Does that mean I’m a Democrat? Perhaps. Or maybe it means that I’ve opened my eyes and realized that it’s more important to have thoughtful positions on issues than to have blind devotion to a party.