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 82:
December 19, 2023
My politics are probably right of center but I'm fairly pragmatic about things and my views on city politics will be different than state or federal. What infuriates me is how the media is complicit in being as divisive as possible. If the media did their job we wouldn't see as many crazy things happen because most in media are publicists for their preferred candidate.
My criticisms in regards to this probably are more critical of 'liberals' in that when it comes to the corporate press liberals tend to be more represented in media. The fact that some journalists are really pushing that the economy is great, we won't get a more 'sane' policy because journalists convince politicians that their views are much more mainstream than they really are.
When it comes to 'right wing' media, they are as bad though also more honest about their bias. I realize that all media outlets have to fight for an audience and sadly viewers seem to want partisan news. I know republicans who watch Newsmax because they think Fox News is too left wing. I know Liberals who think MSNBC is full of cowards who aren't going after the right as much as they should. It is all absurd.
That being said, the cable news audience isn't nearly as large as many think. fewer than 20 million are watching (I think it is actually fewer than 10 but I'm too lazy to look it up). All I want is for the NY Times journalists to own up to their own bias. Look at David French, they reward him with a prominent position just because he hates Trump and Trump voters yet someone got fired for a Tom Cotton op ed. Where were all the good liberals when it comes to Bennett getting fired?
I don't like Trump but he isn't the Antichrist. He is a doofus but one thing I realized long ago is that the media has LIED about his appeal. They lie and they lie and they lie ignoring how they are one of the main reasons a Trump is popular. Instead they make it all about racism and misogyny and bigotry. They are desperate to create a civil war.
They allow the guilty by association when it comes to politicians on the right but are far less comfortable applying the same standard to the left, and for the record, you can't blame a politician for who supports them as most of us vote as much against a candidate or policies as for them. The fact is that the media chooses to frame all things in the most narrow prism possible, until we hold them accountable I only see things getting worse and worse.
Our country is fucked regardless of who wins. Even if my most perfect candidate won and we had majorities in the party I'd support most the media and academia has found a way to have as much power as possible. They've convinced wealthy white liberals that if they are opposed an open border that they are racist. Then they'll call the working class men and women racists who actually will criticize things like our immigration problems and even though those working class men and women are in the majority the media will use their power to tear them down.
I'm long winded so I'll just stop here but I think the goal is for everyone to be politically homeless and demand politicians care about the voter more than the party.
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.
The Goal Is For Everyone To Be Politically Homeless