When a young person takes an interest in politics, it is usually the thing they find themselves talking about the most. After all, we are naturally more passionate about what we feel and are constantly learning new things. In addition to this, however, our elders always seem ready to question our views. I don't know how many times I've been asked why I want to enter politics, why I'm a Democrat, and why I came to support the candidates I support. The answer to all these questions, however, is the same: I want to help those who have less than I do. To many, this seems like an odd answer. In modern times, politics appears to be a field that liars and cheats enter. To me though, politics is my way to give back to the society that gave me all of the opportunities I've had, and it is the Democratic Party that is my vessel.
The Democratic Party is the oldest continuing party in the United States, originally founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1792. The Party has changed quite a bit in the last 80 years, from what it was in 1792. This is because around the turn of the 20th century, William Jennings Bryan really redefined what it meant to be a Democrat. Before Bryan, Democrats were largely racists who fought for smaller government (think Jefferson and Jackson) but, after Bryan, the Party began to advocate for a larger government that had the capability to help more Americans. FDR championed this drive and then JFK and LBJ completed the transition to full liberalism by making civil rights a part of the normal stance for Democrats. The desire to help those in need has gotten the Democratic Party dubbed the “Party of the People.” The Democratic National Committee defines the Party as follows: “Democrats believe that we're greater together than we are on our own—that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. Our party, led by President Obama, is focused on building an economy that lifts up all Americans, not just those at the top. That's why Democrats are working to make progress on issues like job creation, equal pay, education, health care, and clean energy.”
So, to me, being a Democrat is all about wanting to help others. Now I, personally, am a bit more conservative than many other Democrats nationally (which I think is fairly common for most West Virginia Democrats). I actually align myself right around my Senator, Joe Manchin III, who describes his beliefs as socially compassionate but fiscally responsible. I think that the most important part about being a Democrat is understanding that there are many people in the country and the world that I can’t help, but the government can. So, I’m fine with giving up some of my personal liberties to the government and some of my money in taxes, so long as the government uses that money and those liberties responsibly and ethically. I think there’s a big misconception that Democrats want a ‘big’ government. In reality, I and I think a lot of Democrats, want a government that is ‘just big enough.’ Big enough to help those in need, but not big enough to oppress. Just big enough to make sure everyone pays their fair share, but not big enough to make anyone pay anymore. In the end, if I was going to sum up the Democratic Party and how I think it’s different from the Republican Party, I think, I would say that my Party has one thing: compassion for those who have the least.
