Understanding my (seemingly) contradictory self
Many of you may know that I have Asperger Syndrome (which is on the Autistic Spectrum). At the same time, many of you may also know that I generally vote Conservative. Several years ago, a social worker (who was an avid NDP supporter) asked me why, as someone with Aspergers, I would vote Conservative. I did give an answer that made sense, and that answer still holds true, but I have sporadically thought about it since and feel I have come up with a more definitive answer. Like I said, I have Aspergers, I am also on ODSP, which stands for Ontario Disability Support Program, meaning I get government support for my "disability". Now, I could just take advantage of that and not work, but I'm not like that. My "disability" isn't that severe, I am fully capable of working, I just have some difficulties due to my Aspergers. I could have also stayed with Woodview Manor (a group for people on the Autistic Spectrum, I was associated with them for 2.5 years, lived there for 1.5 years). They certainly helped me improve, but I could only go so far. I could have been complacent, taken the easy road and stayed there, letting them control the social situations and my work situation, but I wanted more. I still felt I could be independent, without their help. So I left, moved back in with my parents, got a job to build up some money, then got my own apartment, then got a better job. I also hooked up with an old friend, started going to Kingdom with him, met more people, and, through those new connections, I'm now a regular at A Better Place (One of the main characteristics of Aspergers is problems interacting socially). I wouldn't have progressed that fast if I was still with Woodview. Now, what does this have to do with my political allegiance? Well, in a word... Everything. The NDP, being promoters of Socialism, promote a reliance on the government to provide everything, while the Conservative are, well, the opposite. Since this is Canada, Conservatives are not opposed to some government help, but they prefer people to help themselves, which, as you can see from my diatribe, is the mentality I've used in regards to my Aspergers. I don't want to rely on the government for full support. I am happy to have the government play a supporting role in my life, but I prefer to do what I can myself. Yes, I have what can be considered a "disability", but for the most part I am perfectly able, and I prefer to utilize my abilities. That is why, even though I have Aspergers, I vote Conservative.