(Erica Neely) – The most common question I get asked is, “Why were you a Democrat?” and “What attracted you to the D party?”
It’s a simple yet profound question that has taken me years to unpack. Looking back, the answer is rooted in three main factors: culture, environment, and the perception of empowerment.
Los Angeles, California, was the backdrop of my upbringing—a city steeped in left-leaning ideology.
Hollywood, the media, the state government—everything leaned left. Aligning with Democratic values felt natural, almost inevitable.
Everyone around me did, so voting Democrat in L.A. was a given. No surprise there!
Coming from a family with roots in Mexico and El Salvador, the allure of the “American Dream” was powerful.
But as opportunities dwindled, many in my community turned to government programs like Medicare, WIC, free diapers, bus tokens, school supplies, shoes, coats, haircuts, unemployment benefits, SNAP, and more.
Don’t forget financial aid, free Obama phones, free internet, free abortions—the list goes on. Did I miss any? Probably. It’s scary and sad.
These programs, undeniably helpful, created a dependency that solidified loyalty to the Democratic Party.
For many immigrants, including my family, the promise of support in a new and unfamiliar country was a lifeline.
It wasn’t just the policies—it was the messaging.
The Democratic Party painted itself as the champion of the marginalized, the fighter for the underdog. It was a narrative that resonated deeply with me at the time.
Being a Democrat felt empowering—at least on the surface.
I believed in better education, women’s rights, and equality. The slogans were inspiring, and the idea of “my body, my choice” gave me a sense of control over my life and decisions.
It all felt good, but over time, I realized that the empowerment was superficial.
The Democratic platform promised help for all our needs, which sounded ideal. But as I matured and gained life experience, I began to see cracks in the foundation.
This “help” often came at the cost of personal responsibility and independence. For example, the idea that businesses are the enemy contradicted the reality that these same businesses provide jobs and opportunities.
It became clear that the narrative wasn’t about lifting everyone up but about creating division.
One defining aspect of being a Democrat, in my experience, was the emphasis on victimhood.
When you’re wrong, you’re a victim. When you’re right, you’re a hero. Either way, there’s a sense of power—power in being oppressed or power in being righteous.
It was a seductive cycle, but it also left me constantly angry and exhausted.
Instead of focusing on solutions, I found myself caught up in fighting—fighting perceived injustices, fighting systems, fighting people. It was a never-ending battle that left little room for personal growth or achievement.
Even basic milestones, like applying for college, renting an apartment, or buying a car, felt like monumental struggles because the culture ingrained in me a sense of helplessness.
The turning point for me came when I started asking questions and experiencing life outside the Democratic narrative. I realized that the country wasn’t as racist or broken as I had been led to believe.
In fact, it was working for many people, including immigrants. I began to see that opportunities were available, but they required effort, responsibility, and accountability.
During the rise of social media, I noticed a man—Dinesh D’Souza—on TV, in movies, writing books, and sharing opinions. He was an immigrant from India who came to this country with nothing, yet he achieved so much.
Watching him on FOX, I couldn’t help but ask: How is this possible? He wasn’t even born here. Yet, he wrote books, produced movies, owned homes, and made a name for himself.
Why wasn’t I taught how to write books in school? Or how to publish them? How did he accomplish so much in a country that was supposedly broken?
It wasn’t jealousy that drove my thoughts; it was genuine curiosity and, eventually, realization. The opportunities were clearly there, and they seemed to work best for those willing to put in the effort and take responsibility.
That was a lightbulb moment.
I realized that the Democratic Party had conditioned me—and many others like me—to believe we were victims, powerless without government intervention, and that systemic oppression was the primary reason for our struggles.
But watching someone like D’Souza succeed, despite starting with nothing, shattered that narrative. It proved that effort and responsibility could lead to success, even in the face of challenges.
Being a Democrat, for me, was about feeling empowered, even if that empowerment was based on false premises.
It was about aligning with a narrative that felt good but didn’t always reflect reality. It felt good morally, even if I couldn’t afford car insurance that month. It felt good to be a Democrat saving the planet, even as my son struggled with math.
It was about believing that government could solve all problems, only to find that this dependency always created more struggles.
Now, I value personal responsibility, accountability, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
Empowerment doesn’t come from government programs or victimhood—it comes from within. It’s about taking control of your life and working toward your goals, regardless of the challenges.
Closing Thoughts
I share this story not to judge others but to offer my perspective.
I know many people feel empowered as Democrats, just as I once did. But for me, the realization that true empowerment comes from within—not from a political party or government—changed everything.
If you find yourself constantly angry, fighting, and feeling like progress is out of reach, I encourage you to take a step back and ask: What am I fighting for, and is there a better way to achieve it?
For me, that question was the beginning of a journey toward true empowerment and freedom. Only in America!
Erica is a grassroots advocate, small business owner, director, community leader, and founder of the Hispanic Liberty Alliance. Deeply rooted in family values, she is passionate about empowering her community and driving meaningful change.
