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.
May 1st, 2024
Dear Bridget,
I'm relatively new to your podcasts but I love them - especially Dumpster Fire. That's my Sunday morning jam.
I'm a fellow gen-x'er and love your sense of humor and wit!
I'm writing about your "Politically Homeless" series - which I love.
Here's what I've been politically in my life (this list is in chronological order and starts in the mid-90s when I was graduating high school):
1990 - 2006: Typical neocon
2006 - 2009: Big "C" conservative
2009 - 2012: Small "L" libertarian
2012 - 2020: Libertarian-Anarchist
2020-2021: "Still a Libertarian-Anarchist but considering becoming politically involved"
2021-2022: "Ok, I'm still an anarchist but I the world is going to shit and I gotta do soemthing"
2022-2023: "Fuck-it, I like cannabis and don't care for Trump or Biden but RFK, Jr just might get my vote"
2023-Present: "Is "Old soul hippie" a political identity?"
So here I am today - a Minnesota Vikings fan who came to admire former Green Bay Packer Aaron friggin Rodgers because he took a stand against the Covid vaccine madness. (If you're a football fan you'll understand the significance of this).
I can't make sense of anything these days.
In my life I've watched liberals/progressives rise up against George W Bush and his administration's downright evil actions then saw them swoon over Barack Obama and his Hope & Change. Then I watched them make excuses for - or stick their heads in the sand - when Obama really didn't change shit but actually continued many of Bush's policies.
Then I watched them not only support but gush over Hillary Clinton - a person who, if she had a friggin' "R" after her name, would be vilified in their minds.
And then, in the wake of the 2020 summer BLM protests I watched many of these same liberals/progressives run to the voting booths (or was it the mailboxes?) to support none other than Joe "Racial Jungle" Biden and Kamala "I kept non-violent offenders in jail to use them as cheap labor" Harris.
And don't get me started on conservatives/republicans. One minute they talk about how bad our national debt is, how precious the Constitution is, and how little trust they have in government yet they routinely fawn over the likes of Mitt "Fuck that 4th amendment?" Romney or Donald "CARES Act & Operation Warp Speed" Trump. They're just a dumbed-down version of their liberal/progressive counterparts.
Then there's the libertarians. I was once a member of their party but no more. Especially in the wake of the news that they're going to have Mr "Operation Warp Speed" speak at their national convention later this month.
Yet, here I am - staring down the barrel of another presidential election where everyone who lacks common sense and wisdom will lose their shit when their candidate doesn't get elected.
Pass the bourbon... And the weed if you got some.
Again, thank you for all that you do.
You're an awesome gal!
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.
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Can't Make Sense of Anything These Days - Politically Homeless