Sadly, I see a lot of the same at even the state and local level. Really, it comes down to branding with parties as a fundraising avenue, and only having Pepsi and Coke as the options concentrates both wealth and power as narrowly as possible.

Sure, that's not for me. I don't need to have a fit about it either, until I'm being force-fed one of them which, in my opionion, results in the detriment of the Constition and the nation. I'm happy to hold my nose for things I don't love for anyone that rounds up to close enough. I've pleasantly done that for decades.

Which doesn't mean that far-left folks mischaracterising anyone not as far left as them is fair or accurate. Incremental change in policy and political culture is how it works. Always has. That's literally PoliSci 101 after you define terms.

So when the far left folks demand everyone be where they are or it's a disaster, the rubber band they held snaps and they lose any momentum going their way by getting out too far to still remain in touch with the vast majority or voters. I want things moving father left than they are on ....well, most things, but the Left would rather push me away and move even farther left and act out about how I'm not chasing them.

Which is how we arrive at where we are, bifurcated with nothing left but contempt for anyone thinking with a sliver of rationality who never felt at home with either group.