I don't think that's quite right. I think over the last 10 years a lot of the anti-corporate energy of Occupy Wall Street has been funnelled - by means of the culture war - into "identity" issues that have little potential to harm corporate power or profits. I would argue that this did not originate on the right or left but was the result of a political class that's beholden to endless donations.
To me, one really clear example of this is immigration. As recently as 2016, Bernie Sanders was saying that mass immigration is a Koch Brothers strategy for keeping wages low[1]. I think he was right. But the left has been cajoled away from this position over time because it had the potential to harm their corporate donors.
> I don't think that's quite right. I think over the last 10 years a lot of the anti-corporate energy of Occupy Wall Street has been funnelled - by means of the culture war - into "identity" issues that have little potential to harm corporate power or profits. I would argue that this did not originate on the right or left but was the result of a political class that's beholden to endless donations.
No disrespect, but that makes no sense.
This version of the Culture Wars have been with us for decades. Before the Trans Panic™ there was the Gay Panic. Abortion was a non-issue (even for Republicans) until they realized they could rally the troops around dead babies. And racism? That's been part of the very fabric of the US since the beginning.
Immigration has been well-documented in how waves of newcomers have been despised until a generation later when they're settled in and they can turn around and hate on the new crop (Irish, German, Italian, etc). Hating newcomers is a veritable tradition.
As to the donor class etc, yes, the Democratic Elites are looking after the elites and not the people (shocking!), but it doesn't mean rank and file Democrats are that way (note: I am not a party member).
The "both sides are the same" bit has traditionally had a fair amount of truth in that (the elites thing), but now that the GOP is the Party of Trump that can longer be said.
To me, one really clear example of this is immigration. As recently as 2016, Bernie Sanders was saying that mass immigration is a Koch Brothers strategy for keeping wages low[1]. I think he was right. But the left has been cajoled away from this position over time because it had the potential to harm their corporate donors.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf-k6qOfXz0