Our friend Chunkstyle has an idiosyncratic view of the left-right divide (as, I suspect, do all of us). For me, I see the opposite of "social"ism not as capitalism, but antisocial-ism.

I posited this on another forum, along with this observation: I think that is the primary distinction between our two major political parties: one bends toward the societal good, the other pushes against it.

More arc bending

Hmm, I've heard it said liberals, the left want more government control over a person's daily life whereas conservatives/right want less. The old big government vs. small government argument.

Growing up in the 1950's, the amount of government control over one's daily life was very limited as I also heard that Washington might as well be on Mars for the amount of control, interference etc. that the federal government had. But back then, we had what, a third of the population. More rural than urban, more self reliance or family, neighborhood reliance and very few government programs.

Today, it's impossible to go back to the size of the government in those days. Way too many people. Times change and so too does government. The need to control industry, have safety rules, the need to try to make everyone equal, at least at the starting line is a must. Someone to make sure our food and water are safe to eat and drink. That we don't send miners into mines just to have a cave in. Car safety, insurance, all are necessary. Times change, but many political views haven't. The world of today is vastly different from the 1950's. so too are the needs and capability of the people to meet those needs.

I lived on a 120 acre farm and my family made a good living. Now the family farm is a thing of the past where one must have a thousand acres or so just to break even with massive farm equipment to plant and harvest.

Still, like most Americans I view the Democratic Party as the party of the left and the Republicans as the party as the right. Still, it all depends where one begins on the political spectrum. I'm sure those on the left view themselves as moderates as do those on the right. So the democratic party may be viewed as far left to them whereas the GOP is viewed far left by those on the right.

I think a very important factor in the The Working Man's Party's decline, is the decline of The Working Man! Post-war, trade unions were a very powerful force in America. Not so much anymore. This is the age of the gig economy. Fewer employees and more contractors, so many of the Democratic Party's natural constituents consider themselves as "businessmen" and gravitate to Libertarian and Republican ideas.

Very few people have lifetime employment, a strong union that looks out for them, a pension, etc. If you want to move the country to the left, first you have to convince voters that is in their best interests.

The other decline is in the Christian idea of taking care of the poor and broken. Instead we have Republican Jesus, preached from pulpits across the land and on the media.

Yep, loss of industry and manufacturing since the 1950's has turned us into a tech and service economy. Like the family farm, the working man has become obsolete. Doesn't really exist.

Perhaps I'm living too much in the past and not in the present. where the historical norm doesn't apply anymore.

Yes, you are.

You grew up in a mixed economy with full employment goals and much more regulatory oversight and are now living in a FIRE economy with low interest rates and asset price protection. Not an accident.

There’s plenty of work for workers. They’ve been getting called essential during the pandemic lately. Work has shifted from a productive manufacturing economy to a neofeudal ‘service’ economy without the guaranteed days off or housing under the old feudal system.

Boomers hold most of the wealth, commodities, assets, etc so guess who’s been voting for our current arrangements....