How have your political views changed over time?

When I was younger, my political views were like my teenage haircut—bold, messy, and completely unmanageable. I thought I had it all figured out. “Let’s save the planet, end world hunger, and make everything free!” Easy, right? Then life slapped me with taxes, gas prices, and grocery bills, and I realized that idealism doesn’t pay for avocado toast.

In my 30s, I became that person who says, “I don’t trust any politician, but I’ll vote for the least shady one.” Watching elections felt like choosing between two bad Wi-Fi networks—both frustrating, but you pray one will get you through Netflix without buffering.

Now in my 50s, I’ve become more practical. My biggest political hope is that someone will finally solve parking problems and stop sending me spam about extended car warranties. Forget big promises—I just want streets without potholes and politicians who talk less and do more.

In short, my political views have grown up like me: hopeful, skeptical, and just trying to survive without breaking down. At this point, I’d probably vote for my neighbor’s golden retriever if it promised a quieter world.