That's a good enough definition for me. Generalizations are generally true.
Sounds like a good t shirt slogan, but what practical conclusion can we draw from that?
And it's not true. Our politics and people can be broken independently. And politics can be improved without holding out for any utopian vision of "fixing" "the people".
That's absolutely wrong. Most Americans are moderate and capable of agreeing or compromising on most issues. The political system makes that impossible because such agreement does not convey any political power to any party. Division conveys marginal political power, so we get division and the fires of the culture wars are stoked specifically to feed this dynamic. The culture war is a forever war that is unsolvable and is not designed to ever be solved.
Explain how reforming a nation's culture is any more utopian than reforming its politics. Neither assumes or relies upon the notion that the perfect society is attainable.
You describe culture war as an endless conflict that divides and weakens us. And of course it is. That's why I'm saying the Left's culture war has to be countered by the Right, or by conservatives, whatever you'd like to call them. Are you saying we can stop the division by just letting the identity politics practitioners run roughshod over everyone in their path, while we focus on progress? OK, but you've declared that our politics makes agreement or compromise impossible. So what do you suggest? I know you said we need "progressive reform," but isn't that just a t-shirt slogan?
zahc,.I'm curious what you think "culture war" means. Do you assume I'm suggesting we outlaw vices, willy-nilly, or that I think law and politics is the chief instrument for bringing about a virtuous citizenry? Because no.
Also, "Your politics is a t-shirt slogan" would be a great t-shirt slogan.
