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In childhood my family stood for less government and individual rights. Watching the metamorphosis of the Republican party has been a tragic observation of the demise of individual rights and the protection of big business.
Along with being anglo-proper, caring for other Americans and humans was a big part of the mores taught by family and associates. I now understand that we would have much more likely been labeled "bleeding heart" then, even with some tough conservative principles my father and grandfather taught..
After college I enjoyed a career in the medical field and saw an unnerving and alarming transformation happen from the late seventies to late nineties. Some physicians saw what was happening, but, as today, too many were too busy doing what they did to take enough notice to DO something about it - and so, here we are in the mess we are in - and we need government intervention.
It was through this process that my party orientation needed to be modified. No longer could one participate in the medical profession, make a decent living and have the option of helping those that needed it - on a case by case basis, making that individual choice. The idea of a hospital making money was foreign - those institutions were there to serve the public. . Many hospitals were church run sharing a mission mentality of actually helping people. There were no bill collectors for hospitals. (difficult as it is, I refrain from really get on my soapbox, at this point). There was a convenient massive campaign staging physician against attorney distracting the public and professionals from the fact that the corporate giants of all time, insurance companies, were taking over! The initiation of the national mentality of corporations being more important than the individual.
That's when I became a people's advocate (and animals' advocate). That's when corporations began the takeover of American. The process was so subtle many American did not even realize it and it was insidious - it was difficult to even get physicians motivated to do something - those that were astute enough to see the trend were not organized enough to do anything or know or have the time to know what to do. The individual rights and care-taking became the Progressive's mission. Republicans did not know or acknowledge the needs of those less fortunate.
So, I am an active outspoken advocate for those that cannot help or speak for themselves and helping support those who can (speak for themselves). A "Bleeding Heart" wearing that label proudly.