You Might Be Right Is the Political Left and Right a Myth? – with Hyrum Lewis and Verlan Lewis
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Sep 24, 2024 Hyrum Lewis, a history professor, and Verlan Lewis, a political science expert, dive into their groundbreaking book, arguing that the political labels of 'left' and 'right' are more about tribal loyalty than coherent philosophies. They explore how political positions shift over time and how polarization is fueled by media and online interactions. The duo also discusses the limits of the left-right spectrum, using Trump as a case study, and shares practical steps for fostering healthier political discourse.
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Labels Flip Over Time
- The meanings of "liberal" and "conservative" shift across time and issues, so labels mislead more than they reveal.
- Hyrum Lewis shows foreign policy and many other issues have flipped sides repeatedly, exposing spectrum limits.
One-Dimensional Spectrum Is Inadequate
- A single left-right line can only model one issue, but politics contains hundreds of distinct issues.
- Verlan Lewis argues that using a spectrum falsely compresses political complexity into one axis.
Spectrum Thinking Fuels Tribalism
- Spectrum thinking turns politics into tribal identity, fueling affective polarization and demonization.
- Verlan Lewis links the myth of ideological unity to increased hostility and moralizing across parties.
