When I was younger and more impressionable about politics, my grandmother and my aunt told me why they voted for Democrats.
For my grandmother it was matter of how she grew up. With an immigrant father from Scotland, she found out it would be easier to vote for Democrat than a Republican.
When she was older, and the Great Depression hit, she stood on bread lines, waited for food and watched as rich people became richer, while the poor suffered in breadlines and soup kitchens.
My aunt, who wasn't really my aunt we just called her that, but she was more of grandmother to us than anything else.
My aunt and her mom were a Republicans before Hoover and the Great Depression. When breadlines and soup kitchens became normal, and rich people became richer, her mom decided to change parties, rather than see another crash like the Great Depression, which was brought on by rich people making more money and putting the burden on the poor.
Now that I vote in elections, and have for a while now, I think back to what they said about Republicans and the rich.
When it comes time to talk to my son about politics I will tell the story of two ladies who made the biggest influence on my life, politically and personally. They were always the first to tell me I could do anything I wanted, and never criticized my decisions, even if they didn't agree with them.
We've come a long way as a Country, don't call it a Republic or a Democracy, it's neither.
Our values are not what they used to be, they're nothing like they were when my aunt and grandmother first started voting.
I miss my aunt and grandmother every day, especially around my birthday. They taught me wrong from right and showed me which party to vote for. I trust what they said more than I will ever trust anyone else.
When you're watching the debate this week, think about my aunt and grandma and why they voted Democrat.
