I was reviewing the places I’ve lived based on this mapping tool prepared by the NYT. By my anecdotal analysis, things felt more neighborly where there was +20% or more lean with one political candidate/party over the other. In the last couple of decades, places have changed dramatically (politically speaking) with the influx of new businesses, worker migration, social media, and even climate change.

The conversations in various neighborhoods back then may not reflect what it would be like in 2020 or today. What I do remember are effortless conversations in a neighborhood, supported by welcoming third spaces. I also recall the other extreme: limited conversations and a clear lack of belonging. Try this tool out and think about how you felt living somewhere based on local voter preferences: Link

I’ve been least comfortable, civically speaking, in areas where there was less than a 10% difference in political partisanship. It seems like the most tension and avoidance of communication is where the citizenry is divided 50/50 for the GOP and Democratic political candidate. Not surprisingly, I’ve been most comfortable in areas where the neighborhood trended overwhelmingly Democratic (or Republican). My childhood was spent in an overwhelmingly Republican neighborhood. Life during college and my professional life have been in overwhelmingly Democratic neighborhoods. The boomerang back to Texas was partly to see if I can get the best of both worlds as a moderate independent.

I live in one of those swing 50/50 neighborhoods just outside of Austin where people tend to shy from conversations and get used to living around well-heeled strangers. The silence is quite discomforting. I believe this is also a reflection of the overall divisions in America created by the two party system, not allowing for third parties. People are all-in and prefer one team over the other.

As a remedy of being stuck in one of the 50/50 areas, people are leaving to places where it won’t be hard to find their tribe. NYT shared a compelling article about this trend moving to places favoring one’s politics: article.

I wonder what will happen to my suburb which is receiving an influx of coastal transplants as well as conservative voters relocating from liberal Austin, while losing original Texas residents. The diversity is very much welcome. However, the challenge remains trying to talk to neighbors too scared to engage with others who might be politically opposite from them.

The partisan yard signs are everywhere to highlight preferences and to attract (or scare away) those leaning the other way. The ‘my way’ or ‘highway’ approach to America’s politics has created a population that wishes to huddle with their tribe only, conveniently gerrymandered by the architects of America’s two party system.

I supported Andrew Yang’s presidential candidacy in 2020, along with efforts to create a third party based on the shared values which all Americans might agree upon. I voted early for one of the two mainstream candidates this year.

In a country filled with great options for education, restaurants, travel, jobs, and romance, why are Americans given only two mainstream options to select for president? 😂

Great podcast on this subject..