Oddbean

Conservatives and Libertarians know exactly how Leftists think because, by and large, we used to be them. Yet Leftists have not the slightest idea how Conservatives or Libertarians think. They’re stuck inside The Matrix. https://image.nostr.build/51f45abbfbc9113948330786fc54c0c4ca566a1c83d48c9c86ed539ffa714571.jpg

What distinguishes progressives from conservatives? Progressives exhibit traits of subservience, weakness, self-pity, victimhood, and resentment towards anyone who is stronger, more successful, or individualistic. They do not seek to exert their will by improving their own situation but through careful subversion, inverting values to drag others down to their level. Conservatives agree with slightly diluted versions of everything progressives push for. As progressives push the Overton window further left, conservatives begin to agree with the progressives' original positions and claim their new stance is based on principles. Meanwhile, progressives claim to fight oppression and inequality, moving even further left. Both groups resent individualists for not participating in this ever-changing shift of values and seek to corrupt them by inverting their values, convincing them that their virtues are actually vices. Conservatives accuse them of not respecting tradition or authority and advocating chaos, while progressives accuse them of being selfish, racist, oppressive, or capitalistic. In our minds, the right wing remains conservative, and the left wing remains progressive, but this is merely a matter of semantics. Both groups move in the same direction, with progressives in the front and conservatives following not far behind. As Michael Malice said, "Conservatives are progressives, driving the speed limit."

One thing I think is interesting is : libertarians are now so close with conservatives. I don't think that's how it was in the 90's. That shows how much libertarians have been winning. Or how far left the left has gone... Or both.

This is true for me. I once identified as a communist without actually understanding what it was i claimed to be. I’ve heard Thomas Sowell say something similar. Mises, Rothbard, Sowell, and Hoppe saved me from my ignorance.