Which is the true litmus test issue for progressives vs authoritarian conservatives

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

55. Two big tents

I guess the poll is making a point, a meta sort of thing, about discussions and attitudes on DU lately. If the point is to protest the idea of litmus tests, I agree. If I've myself missed the point and the poll should be taken seriously, I feel I can't respond to the poll itself.

Given that our system always seems to tend toward two monolithic parties, both parties end up representing a wide range of ideas, goals, and agendas which may not always fit together comfortably. I spoke to an intelligent conservative recently, who felt that their side is the sensible one, because they all share one common goal, whereas our side is a collection of factions with conflicted goals and nothing in common. I think to some extent he may be correct, insofar as the Right has been able to retain its longstanding goal of promoting Capitalism, whereas the Left may have lost some focus with the decline of Marxism. (Note: this poster has only a vague understanding of what he's trying to state.) We're left (as a party) supporting Also-Capitalism, a kinder variation on the same system with regulations and restraints added. Maybe that leaves us a bit less focused and driven on the economic front, where we can't wholly distinguish ourselves from our opposition.

So what unites our side? What is our common goal, ideal, or interest? The conservative to whom I spoke felt that we have nothing, aside from a rejection of the Right. He saw us as the reactionaries, defining ourselves only in contrast with the active, forward-driving goals of the RW. Is that true? Maybe in some areas. I am pro-science, which seems like it should be a non-issue, but the Right bafflingly becomes anti-science and I favor the Democrats because I am against anti-science. Maybe with any set of dualized opposites, you could assert that either side is meaningful only as a reflection of the other. Umm. Maybe it's just a framing issue.

I'm afraid I'm starting to babble. Sorry... lack of sleep. What unites us? What do we have in common? Support of societies run by elected governments rather than corporations and their investors? Support for science and education? A belief that we should make society as kind as possible rather than as mean as possible? A "nurturing parent" rather than a "punishing father" worldview? Something else entirely? Since we self-identify with one big party over the other, we must have some reason to have done so. I wish we would focus on that, whatever it is, and stop fighting with each other.

Editing to note that I am not a Democrat solely because I am pro-science. That was meant to serve as an illustration of my point, but, as noted... I haven't had much sleep the past few days. I may not be fully coherent at the moment. Umm.