I wandered onto YouTube to see what a couple channels I subscribe to had to say about all of the recent developments in the world and it was refreshing to see sane conversations being had. The comments sections were supportive and echoed much of the level and rational thinking that highlights how I try and view events.

Granted, there are always people with an axe to grind, and they will be the loudest, but it was a nice reminder that there is such a thing as a “home” crowd. Living in a historically red Midwestern state like Indiana, it is hard to find folks who aren’t the new brand of conservative. It seems like the version of Republican I grew up around is gone now in favor of the flag-waving, Bible thumping, autocrat-supporting kind of people and it feels impossible to reason with that kind of disconnection.

I am still outside of any party but have recently taken to researching left-leaning Libertarianism because it is where I fall on the political spectrum. Being left of center is a mark against you and you have to be careful to mention that out loud in mixed company. If I were to lead with Libertarian, most people around here would just see that as Conservative and as acceptable for that reason. But I’m not either one of those things, and I wouldn’t be able to leave well enough alone. I’d be in the political weeds almost immediately and given my surroundings, I’d be on the constant defensive. Or at least that’s how it feels.

But thanks to the power of this incredible communication tool that is the internet, I can seek out others like me so that I can enjoy the same camaraderie people enjoy in-person here. I felt something approaching this when I attended a 2020 rally for Bernie Sanders in Iowa, but it was all-too-brief and I knew that the very next day I’d be back where I was surrounded by folks who would threaten physical violence against me for attending such an event. I stay in my lane and only discuss political ideas with those I’ve confirmed will not make it about how wrong I am and that anyone who doesn’t agree with them is also wrong.

It is my hope that I can some day return to the state of affairs prior to 2016 when identity politics truly became the law of the land and we all set up shop in the “us versus them” mentality for the long haul. I want to be able to respectfully disagree with a viewpoint and have a conversation without it devolving into a meaningless tirade. The only thing that is in that direction is the death of discourse and I want to go the opposite direction.

Civility in D.C. has dissolved entirely and elected officials are just openly hostile to one another and encourage their base to do the same, further attempting to cement the “us versus them” contest. They will never let us in on the secret they are trying to keep and that is the fact that they’re just trying to keep their seats and will do whatever it takes to do so. If they were civil and attempted to come to bipartisan solutions, though, they could keep the seats forever as far as I’m concerned. My gut tells me I’ll never have to worry about that level of cooperation in Washington, ever.

But among the people I might call kindred outside of my own loved ones, I hope to establish a community and a rapport. I hope to affect change through the limitless ranks of folks online who I surely agree with. And more than anything, I hope to be a force for good through reasoned, level-headed discussion about common issues we all face, aiming to place party aside first and proceed as fellow human beings.

I’m a dreamer, for sure, and I’m always looking for others who dare to do the same.