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Why I See The World The Way I Do, Part I: A Call For Understanding
A biographical summary of who I’m not, who I am and what I believe to help people understand my political worldview better
People frequently misunderstand my perspective on politics and current events.
Over the past several years, these misunderstandings have increased and I believe this is largely because of the polarizing incentives of the propaganda landscape we are living in. In this landscape, people too often categorize others with simplistic dichotomies, a version of then-President George W. Bush’s statement in 2001, “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”
Nonsense. I can be against you and against the terrorists. In fact, I was and still am.
A more recent example that I’ve repeatedly experienced is when I have criticized a Democrat or the Democratic Party and someone will assume I’m therefore a Trump supporter and a Republican. I’m not and I never have been. I’m an independent and I’ve never felt loyalty to any political party.
I’ve tried not to let these misunderstandings get me down. When they are said by people who don’t know me at all, I don’t take it personally.