10 years ago I started drifting from the Right side of politics towards the Left.

It started with caring for the homeless. Compassion was my gateway drug of choice. Followed by a chaser of Empathy and the second half of The Great Commandment. Man, what a rush!

About 4 years ago I really started going heavy on the Indigenous issues, I even read a book or two! History, truth… It’ll get ya!

2 years ago I began surfing again, and travelling around my state more. Next thing I know I’m at a rally about salmon or something, I dunno, it was a wild ride…

And somewhere in there I crossed the midline, and I definitely started swimming in the crisp, clear waters of the Left.

It was nice! It felt good. I felt smart. I gave a damn about stuff I previously hadn’t cared about. I read Scripture differently, I noticed things I’d never noticed before. I got an earring, and a tattoo. I bought crocs!

But the current that caused the drift seemed to be picking up speed. And I had the feeling I was heading for a waterfall, and not a cute one…

One thing I noticed as I drifted deeper into Leftist territory was that everything started to become a package deal. If you wanted to save the Red Handfish, you also had to support LGBTQI+ issues. If you wanted Tasmania to accept refugees, you also had to be against the building of a stadium. If you wanted to Keep Tassie Wild, you also had to home school your kids.

It was a bit like when someone convinces you to go bushwalking, and they say it’s only an hour’s walk. So you go along, even though you’re not really into it. And every time you think you’ve had enough, they say “Oh it’s just up here” or “It’s just over that hill”… And six hours later you’re cursing your guide because you never signed up for this, you just wanted to see a nice view. But they’ve kept forcing you to go one more hill, one more corner, one more descent…

So I think I’m tapping out of the bushwalk.

The guide has over-promised and under-delivered. And whilst I don’t want to go all the way back to where I came from, I do need to rest a while. It was nice to visit the land of the Left, it was nice to get a break from the Right, too! I do not miss those guys… But I think I need a rest. I’m gonna try being empathetic and loving and environmental just here. You go ahead though, you have fun. Take photos. But I’m gonna wander back down the hill a bit.

I wasn’t prepared for all that walking… I’m wearing crocs, after all.