One up side of the Covid moral panic is that it may have irrevocably shaken up the historical “Left” / “Right” constituencies. Because the U.S. Left happened to shift to a position of authoritarianism, many folks historically on the Left have had to re-think their alignment.
This is absolutely the key issue--who is authoritarian and who is not. Since libertarianism versus authoritarianism is the foundational value for most people, and since the current Democratic Party is nearly as right wing as Republicans (who are authoritarian themselves, just on different issues), the "left-right" divide has collapsed. It's no longer left and right, but up and down.
I'm glad you are calling it a moral panic and not a 'mass formation',which is so ridiculously vague and academic that it cuts ordinary folks out of the conversation. Moral panic is better aa expressing the human experience and recurs quite frequently in American history.
This is absolutely the key issue--who is authoritarian and who is not. Since libertarianism versus authoritarianism is the foundational value for most people, and since the current Democratic Party is nearly as right wing as Republicans (who are authoritarian themselves, just on different issues), the "left-right" divide has collapsed. It's no longer left and right, but up and down.
whatever axis im on now, i'll never go left again. talk about burning bridges!
i guess im libertarian right for now but i fear the right going down the same rabbit hole of crazy authoritarianism
america needs a real 3rd choice and there isnt a better time
I'm glad you are calling it a moral panic and not a 'mass formation',which is so ridiculously vague and academic that it cuts ordinary folks out of the conversation. Moral panic is better aa expressing the human experience and recurs quite frequently in American history.