People sometimes ask me how I became conservative. What happened was I got married and set up house for the first time while Carter was president.
My first entry into life was accompanied by mortgage rates of 17%, superhigh unemployment rates (unable to find a job even at a grocery store), and finding a box of cereal cost 5 cents more every week I went to the store stayed with me. All of this while being told I was "selfish" and "materialistic", and the US should be ashamed. (Remember the "malaise" speech?)
It's a lesson that stayed with me. I look at superliberal Kerry, and if our personal safety wasn't so much at stake, I would say people need a good lesson of 4 years or so of the wonders of socialistic presidency to make them understand.
Lifes lessons well learned.
Keep caring.