Very interesting personal story. But may I suggest Jeff that probably a more apt title would be:

At 69, I'm Now on Neither Side

On to my comments. Several of your points are well taken, but a major EXCEPTION is the statement; "I do think the liberal left news media and politicians are worse". I think you have to dig deep to come up with any convincing evidence that Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnel and Anderson Cooper are individually or collectively more toxic to the American socio-political milieu than Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham individually or collectively.

Full disclosure: I am a registered Independent —a fierce one indeed— and have been so for several decades.

I am several years north of you in age Jeff and I have been "interested" in politics all my life. Not only national politics but international geo-political issues.

As a transplant from another continent and culture with its own monumental problems, what saddens me most about the worsening poisonous state of politics in the world's most powerful and wealthiest nation is the withering of the very foundation — Its intended Democracy and danger of non preservation for future generations.

I think a critical mass of non-fringe elements of the voting block — Independents, Moderates etc., — whatever appellation you wish to assign to the group, has to come up to remedy the current toxic ideological situation in the country.

As a music enthusiast including Gospel music, we should all be reminded of a few lines in the lyrics of the great song Chain Breaker by Zach Williams.

"……………If you've been hearing the same old voice tell the same old lies, …… There's a better life

.................We've all run to things we know just ain't right

And there's a better life

Oh, if you need freedom ……………

if you've got chains (the chains of false ideology —my addition)

He's a chain breaker.

Hopefully, the True gospel would be that chain breaker.