We Are The 53%

13th November 2011

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I was born into a poverty stricken family. My single mom was married six times and had five kids to different fathers. My father was an alcoholic that abandoned my mother and I. We lived in a trailer home and my mom worked at a convenience store. No one in my family ever graduated high school, let alone college. Although our lives were not easy, we never received any kind of government assistance.

I dropped out of high school when I was 17 and joined the military. I served my country proudly for 5 years and earned the GI Bill which put me through college after I obtained my GED.

After leaving the military I started a career in the retail industry. My first job paid $5.50 an hour. By working hard, being smart and having a good attitude I excelled. I met hundreds if not thousands of people over the years and worked hard to make many positive connections that would last a lifetime. I didn’t burn bridges. I didn’t get myself fired with reckless behavior or poor performance.

After 15 years in the industry I had grown to a Senior Management position where I earned over $135,000 a year! Wow, all of that from a high school dropout who used to live in a trailer!

Along the way I used my VA loan to buy my first house for my wife and I as we started our family that consists of two boys.

My personal circumstances are because of the choices I made in life:

I don’t need welfare.

I don’t need food stamps.

I don’t need free healthcare.

The United States Government doesn’t owe me anything.

It is me that owes a debt to my country.

I carry my own weight and that of my family.

I am the 53%

8th November 2011

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