My own experience has taught me that there will always be people in need of help. - Steven Perez

I grew up dirt poor in a rural area where my father had to drive almost an hour to get to work. It was hard to feel sorry for the well to-do who worried about their possible 3% tax increase when they refused to give even a cost of living raise to their employees. Still is - FFing Enigma (aka Tina)

By not having been born into wealth and having wage-earning jobs since I was 10, I appreciate earning a good wage and the pride that goes with accomplishing things myself instead of relying on others for hand-outs. - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

Just because life may have been relatively easy for me, I don't think it is true for others. - JoEllen

It's definitely shaped my political views. - Alex Scoble

100% Because of the struggles I've had this year because of the economy I've been paying intent attention to Obama's and McCain's economic plans. And I feel that Obama's plan would create new jobs (thus getting me back into my career sooner) unlike McCain's plan. - Mathew™ one of a kind

My dad is a vet & was a small biz owner & teacher. My mom was a nurse who became a Exec Director in Healthcare. I grew up in a semirural community with a big immigrant community. The political landscape in my home and locality are rich and nuanced. It's really interesting & inspiring, actually. - Clay Newton

Most definitely. I grew up in a very rural area (still no stoplights, supermarkets, McDonalds or 7Elevens within 25 miles) among a wonderful community of folks who were searching for an alternate lifestyle (hippies, if you will). Most of them 10-15 years older than me, I inherited values that are seldom shared by the political party opposite that which I have chosen to register. - jcunwired

I was born into upper middle class suburbia. I've been able to recognize how lucky I was to draw that lot in the birth lottery, and how that's positively impacted my ability to get ahead in everything I've done in life, especially compared to friends and peers who weren't born into families as stable or wealthy as my own. - Eric P

@Eric, I agree that my stable, loving family has been a huge influence, but also made me realize that others haven't had and could never have the same experience. - JoEllen

Significantly. I grew up in a town with 80% minorities. My Dad was forced out of this area during WWII but avoided internment camps. I've worked since 10. I've worked in gay populated areas in big and small towns. So I'm very sensitive to civil rights and discrimination. - Rodfather

Grew up poor, father started selling real estate straight commission to support a family of seven, everyone went to college, all five siblings small business entrepreneurs ... We would all prefer a lot less government, in our small businesses the government is the "partner" we never wanted, who takes no risk, costs us more every year, and penalizes success. - Daltonsbriefs

Until I was 17 I grew up in a rural county in central Virginia that was at the center of school segregation issues. Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County was initiated by students protesting segregation, and became one of the cases that was combined to the US Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education. I never understood what was going on as a kid - my parents taught me that everyone was equal. The only fights I ever got in were to protect either my black friends or my siblings. - jcunwired

By the way, this is great stuff - I'm loving learning about the experiences of others, and how our individual values and experiences framed who we are today. I hope more contribute. - jcunwired

Was really hoping to see more personal stories, any more? - Daltonsbriefs

my parents would call themelves socialist while I was growing up, my father had a poster of Marx next to a poster of Sitting Bear in his office - he came from the former Yugoslavia, my mother from Kansas. I grew up thinking MLK-day was the most important holiday for our country, partially cuz Christmas gifts = books and new socks ;) Both parents were professors, spoke with great care and precision. Clearly this childhood set my views along a particular direction. - Marko Bon from fftogo

I was raised by a very giving mother, and a very strict grandmother. Now i'm a conservative democrat :) - Patricia

My Family: Upper Middle Class, Mixed Race (asian/white family). Socially- I had to deal with taunts and racial slurs throughout growing up which lead me to embrace ideals that are more left leaning (you know - the whole equality thing). Economically- when my parents separated/divorced, my mom was left dirt poor having to work two jobs to scrape by while my dad eventually retired at 45. This let me see the disparate lives of people with/without money and how hard working people can be left behind... - George Smith