As a school administrator and parent of six children I am economically conservative. I believe that all able-bodied citizens should be working and paying taxes, not collecting taxes from hard working citizens.

Many times, in my 67-year life, people have asked me why I am a Democrat. The answer is quite simple. When I look back at history, it was members of the Democratic party that voted for and passed Social Security under President Franklin Roosevelt. It was the Democratic party that voted for and passed Medicare and Medicaid under President Lyndon Johnson. It was the Democratic party that voted for and passed the Affordable Care Act under President Barack Obama.

Since I have paid into Social Security since I was 14 years old (53 years) I am looking forward to collecting my retirement. If you are collecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or receiving the benefits of the Affordable Care Act you need to thank Democrats.

Therefore, I am voting for Tim Walz for governor, Dan Feehan for U.S. Representative, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith for U.S. Senator and Terry Gjersvik for State Representative. These Democrats will protect these programs that citizens have paid for.

Joe Brown

Austin, MN