My great grandfather came to the United States from Eastern Europe and worked in the Pennsylvania coal mines.

He died in a mining explosion at the tender age of 39. No welfare. No social safety net. Nothing. Buried alive before his time…

That’s probably why his son, my grandfather, became a violent alcoholic and was rough on my dad and his mother, besides drinking and pissing all the money away.

My dad used to play accordion in bars at age 10 for tips, to help make ends meet for his mother and his younger brother. Again, no welfare.

I learned my politics from him at an early age. I’m not new to the game. He always discussed adult things with me ever since I can remember. He was in North Africa at age 17 with Airforce intelligence, so he had a lot to say about many things.