Saagar is right that politics is downstream from culture. And that is why I am so fearful for the future of the left

Saagar is right that politics is downstream from culture.

You have to relate to people culturally. Bernie Sanders does a great job of this by being a nice, kind person who keeps himself up to date on the struggles people face.

Unfortunately, some on the left think Bernie is weak because he refuses to engage in the culture war. Even though the culture war the "max left" participates in alienates people.

The "max left", SJWs, identity politics, all of these ideas make the left culturally alien. And it is a tragedy because the left has a ton of popular ideas on economics.

But that doesn't matter when you make people distrust you with max-left beliefs you consider litmus tests. And the litmus tests are so self-defeating.

Why is trans women in women's sports a litmus test? Why is using "unhoused" instead of "homeless" a litmus test? And why do so few on the left stand up to these counterproductive litmus tests?

Politics is downstream from culture, and the left continues to allow SJWs to define their culture. Even though Bernie was crushed in 2016 partially due to Hillary using SJW tactics to smear Bernie as a sexist.

But the max left doesn't seem to think critically aboht any of this. They don't have any defense to their litmus tests on 20% approval issues. I think they just want to fit in.

Cenk Uygur said the max left is being counterproductive so he was crushed by the SJWs like Bernie was by Hillary. Even Krystal has been misled a bit by the max left.

The left needs to abandon identity politics if we want to win. If the left only wants to be a boutique social club in blue cities, then keep listening to the max left.

And the GOP will continue to win & make life worse for everyone.