53%

 I am 27 years old, and an 11th generation American, a libertarian living in a blue state. Our family has never prospered. I moved out of my father's house 10 years ago. I was raised for half of my life, by one of each my dysfunctional parents. My childhood was traumatic, and we lived on welfare in a time when it was something to be ashamed of and learned from, instead of taken for all its worth, to 'get what you deserve'. I got my first job when I was 14 so I could have new clothes for the first day of school, for the first time in my life. When I was 20 and working two jobs, I decided to get an Associates Degree in Science. No one helped me. I found loans and grants on my own, and I am still paying them off. Due to medical reasons, I had to leave the Horticulture field for which I trained. I went on unemployment for three weeks, in a time where people were starting to hit their 52 week benchmarks. I went back to the restaurant industry when the economy started crashing down around us. I have been (bartending) for 5 years now. I don't make as much money as I would like, but I can afford my rent, a cell phone, to feed myself, and every few years I save enough for a new laptop.  I work for tips. My hourly wage from my employer is $2.63/hr ~ you can bet the government takes 100% of that. If I have a slow night, well I make less money. Our local "occupy" movement will cost my state $2Mil if they stay through the month. This makes me angry. I am not demanding a pay raise. I am not demanding lower taxes, higher taxes, I am not yelling at the wealthy. I admire them, their opportunities. I do want reform, and I will never be one of the 1%, but I will never be represented by the 99%. I am the 53% and I don't make excuses.

Part II

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