For the record, I think that a "push-and-pull" approach to progress and democracy is probably helpful. If every progressive policy of the last 150 years was act

For the record, I think that a "push-and-pull" approach to progress and democracy is probably helpful. If every progressive policy of the last 150 years was actually enacted it would be pretty terrible - eugenics, prohibition, reeducation, de-industrialization, etc. To the extent that a democracy is still healthy good ideas should still win out in the long run over bad ideas. One side applies the gas and one side applies the breaks. But I also don't think that's a great description of current politics in the US either. Both parties are in alignment on a lot of key issues, especially economic: both support de-globalization, both fight for entitlements (for different groups though, of course), both are fighting for government expansion. A lot of the "culture war" issues are kind of a political window dressing for the actual war over the economy.