I was listening to Talk of the Nation on NPR this afternoon and the topic was where our politics come from. It was intresting.

I was just talking to a girl friend about that. I grew up thinking that everyone went door to door with Mom or Dad to get out the vote, or walk along in parades promoting so and so for Governer. I thought every family had lively debates during dinner. It wasn't until I hit about Jr. High and started going to more sleepovers that I realized not everyone is that active. My Mom took my Sister and I to Town Hall Meetings and to the polls with her. There was very little my Mom and Dad did not encourage us to participate in. I am now a Mom and try to do the same. I think every family needs to be open and honest about their politics and enjoy the fun and debate that goes along with it.

So, where do your politics come from?

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You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one

My Mom and Dad never really talked about politics. I have always been the one in the family that challenges the system. I am more outspoken than my parents.
Years ago when we started homeschooling our children we become more interested in politics. We encourage lots of open talking about politics/government in our home.
Actually this year the children helped pick out the political ads that we ran in the newspaper. They also had input in the letter to the editor we wrote concerning our candidate.
We watched some of the debates both Dem. and Rep. The kids are encouraged to read the different political news and make up their own minds about the issues.

Good question and I really do not know what influenced my political ideals.

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I was young during the McCarthy hearings and I can remember my mother at the ironing board, with the TV on watching the hearings. She went to work full time not long after and there was seldom any discussion of politics in our house. At least that I can remember. But the hearings were discussed and that probably stuck with me.

I was in high school when JFK was running for office and taking a class in government. We ran a mock election at our high school and also got the chance to see him speak here in St. Louis. After the speech I was by the exit at the front of the cordon line when he exited. I was so excited to be so close to him. I could have reached out and touched him. He was my Obama. Also it didn't hurt, for a 16 year old female, that JFK was really good looking. Thankfully, I quickly learned to look beyond appearances.

Oddly enough, I went to see Horton Hears a Who with my grandson a couple of weeks ago and it hit me then, that at least some of my political standards were set by Dr. Seuss. "A person's a person, no matter how small." kind of says it all. A good man, that Dr. Seuss.

I actually hesitated about writing that last paragraph. I have a feeling that certain people will now call for a ban on Dr.Seuss and not allow their children to read his books. Or who knows, maybe they already have.