Yes, agreed, but claiming that historically both sides were the same I think is doing certain administrations a disservice. The New Deal and Great Society, while obviously working within a capitalist system, were radical and anti-free market. Using make-work to help unemployed workers provide for their families while setting up state-owned hydroelectricity projects (Tennessee Valley Authority, which was not without its problems re use of native lands of course), or setting up Medicare and Medicaid, are both unequivocally schemes that many leftists would support (though obviously like to see go further).

I worry that ‘both sides’ rhetoric results in ‘all or nothing’ style political apathy that allows the overton window to be dragged inexorably right. We have had better leaders, and we can have better leaders in future, than we currently do have, and they do make a material impact on people’s lives when they do get into power.

Okay, well, I 100% agree with you here.