The basic error is treating ideals as absolutes.

It started with monotheism, but now everyone's particular sets of ideals cannot be questioned, examined, dare I say, satirized.

Even education has become an institutionalized ideal, rather than part of the process of larger socialization. More about feeding egos, rather than thickening skins. The inmates have taken over the asylum.

Liberal and conservative are two sides of the coin of any society. The anarchies of desire, versus the tyrannies of judgement.

As foundational as the energies of youth and the lessons of age. Those who look to the future for hope, versus those who look to the past for wisdom. Too far in one direction and everything is dead. Too far in the other direction and there is no memory.

The real problem is that while it might be politics all the way down, it's economics all the way up and the rip in this ship is that exponential public debt.

The rest is just fighting over the deck chairs.