Gen Xer went from Progressive Left to Politically Homeless
Real people, real letters, real problems, no solutions.
Politics these days have become so divided and divisive that it’s become the norm to view the other side of the aisle as “the enemy”. People are being told to “pick a side” and that there’s no room for middle ground. We here at Phetasy believe that there are a lot more people in the middle than politicians and the media would have us believe.
We’re collecting stories from the ever growing number of people who are finding themselves Politically Homeless and posting them here on Substack. If you have moved from conservative to liberal, or liberal to conservative, if you feel you’ve stayed in the same place and your party has swerved drastically away from you, if you had a moment that awakened you to the insanity and hypocrisy on both sides, if you keep your mouth shut anytime a political topic comes up because you’re afraid your opinion will cause you to lose friends or your job, you’re not as alone as you might think.
Our goal is to shine a light on people’s earnest, individual experiences and show them they’re not alone.
Some letters have been edited for clarity and brevity. If you’re politically homeless and would like to share your story, please email us at iampoliticallyhomeless@gmail.com. All submissions will remain anonymous.
Letter 1:
Quick background, I'm a Gen Xer. Never was much into politics. Have always been conservative fiscally and socially liberal. Then in the fall of 2019, my town was considering legalizing marijuana (which I was not a user of, but felt it was a great revenue source for the city). I went and spoke at the city meeting and met some fellow minded people. I was upset with the conservatives and their emotional "won't somebody think of the children" mentality (I have 2 teenagers). After that, I started meeting with the local progressive group of citizens and decided to run for city council. What a better way to make a difference.
I joined the progressives because I thought that Democrats would end up being more open minded, willing to have a conversation, and looking to make a difference. As I talked with this group, I found the opposite was true. I talked about my concerns for the city, but we were quickly rushed into Covid and George Floyd. I kept an open mind. I supported and joined a local BLM march in my town. Immediately following George Floyd's death, these marches became popular but also "mostly peaceful" (more on that later). My town boarded up restaurants and small businesses in case anything went too far. It was sad. I saw ACAB signs. It was upsetting.
We as a nation then began the Defund the Police movement. Local politicians held meetings on this, stating that it was not about defunding but change. However, they never swayed from the phrase of Defund the Police.
I was starting to get worried, but I forged on. I read Ibram X Kendi. That was it. I found the hate and grift in that book too much. I tried to talk with progressives on this and was shot down. I was called a racist. I was told I was on the wrong side of history. This gaslighting took a toll on me.
Even as I continued to gather signatures to run for council (need 120 signatures to get on the ballot), I was open with my concern. I was even vocal with the local progressives (who I was running to represent, at least originally) that I was not sure if I should vote Biden or Trump. Even as I shared this, the hate and vitriol that came from the progressives was difficult to bear. I ended up voting for Biden because I thought that if Trump won, these "progressives" would get worse and continue their peaceful protests (eg, CHAZ, Portland, Colorado).
I ultimately never ran. I had lost my support group. I had become politically homeless. It was difficult, social media (which was a primary source of social interaction given COVID restrictions) had become so divisive. Was I alone? Was everyone so polarized?
I ended up finding Bridget, Maggie, and Sammy at Dumpster Fire. It was a sense that someone else felt this way.
I now identify as center. I feel there is no one representing me and my views, which is upsetting. I continue to try to hear both sides. I still listen to Rogan. I actually stopped listening to Sam Harris (too much Trump Derangement Syndrome) and Dave Rubin (feel he is playing up his frustration and not legit. He's closing in on grift, as I think Candace Owens has). I am considering bringing both back into my listening cycle to avoid echo chambers, but I feel these extremes may cause more frustration than resolution.
Anyway, that is how I got here. I'm not sure you'll read this, but simply writing it has been cathartic.
Thank you for all you do and I hope you enjoyed the story. Good luck with the baby! So happy for you.
Sincerely,
Politically Homeless
Some letters have been edited for clarity and brevity. If you'd like to share your story, email us at iampoliticallyhomeless@gmail.com. All submissions will remain anonymous.