The Alarming Rise of the Political Hate Comments on Every Issue

I recently wrote an article on Medium discussing a growing trend in the United States: the significant migration of people from states like California, New York, and Illinois to states such as Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. The piece was based on extensive research, including census data and insights from publications like CNN and the British newspaper The Telegraph. My intent was clear: to explore this mass migration’s economic and demographic implications. At no point did I frame it as a political piece.

Yet, when the article gained traction on Medium — garnering several thousand views and a flood of comments — the reactions were startling. Over half of the responses were overtly political. Some accused me of being a MAGA supporter, subtly undermining blue states, while others claimed, “What do you expect? If I lived in a blue state, I’d move too.”

This left me astounded. How had an article that focused purely on data and demographics become a lightning rod for political commentary? It was baffling that people felt compelled to interpret the migration trend — a multifaceted issue involving housing costs, taxes, and job opportunities — through a political lens.

But this wasn’t an isolated incident. I’ve noticed a disturbing pattern in the U.S.: the reflexive politicization of…