Reading this, I’d think it impossible that a 32-year old w/2 young kids,$80K in student loans &teaching at STU could join a party, run and be deputy leader a year later. Except it was me.

Knock on doors. Make an effort to reach people besides those who think just like you. Work. https://twitter.com/blightedstars/status/1299696638903177216

And no, I‘m not poor, or a scion of political wealth. Like most elected, I’m boringly ordinary.

I’m tired of lazy structural critiques that see conspiracies where there’s just individuals. The system wasn’t built to keep you out. Or get you in. It’s not all about you. Work.

I’m seeing many activists who (IMO) are right on issues like choice, diversity, police reform. If they lose, they seem set to blame “the system” instead of learn from campaigns spending too much time tweeting contempt for contrary opinions and too little time building bridges.

And before the “Right, Gen Xer” crap starts — I didn’t make the world perfect, but I used my time to raise literacy rates, double SA payments, freeze tuition. Had lots of help on all that - people who didn’t always agree but we found common ground. Takes work. No substitutes.

Mock us Breakfast Club kids all you like, but Gen X learned something from that.

“You’re not special. It’s not ever all fair, or all about you. But you ARE an individual. Surrounded by other individuals. Learn about them, you grow. Treat difference with contempt, you shrink.