I think the question they ask is more like "why are people voting for the other side?" ...leading to "we need to be more like them"

In the larger picture the rightward trend is kind of true on economic fronts.

But yeah, since the 90s we've slowly moved left.

not saying i disagree, but people always link this article as though it even has a section on partisan politics. it doesn’t, or really even pose any evidence that suggests the effect applies to the overton window. would be curious if there are any sources that pose evidence.

That's an important issue, but if Democrats ever see power again, it'll be important to focus on re-enfranchisement (RCV, instant runoff, or anything fairer than FPTP; NPVIC; national mail voting; mandatory voting), on judicial reform to undo the corruption and incompetence that has been packed there. Without those, keeping any gains will be impossible.

Then, triaging existential threats is critical, which will mean fighting climate change, investing in public transport (trains), and breaking up trusts will have to be pursued simultaneously. Stopping any support for genocide needs to happen as soon as possible.

There will be plenty more structural changes to fix beyond that: Protecting whistleblowers and protesters, improving FOIA, replacing norms with laws (Emoluments Clause enforcement, financial records disclosure, no insider trading for Congressmembers, &c), and all manner of civil rights protections and police reform.

After all that, it'll be time for the stuff I've been hoping for: nationalizing healthcare and Internet access, and copyright reform.

So, everyone's hoping for the bit overflow

Yup, we just need to accelerate and we totally won't end up in a fascist dystopia

Ah, so they are doing horseshoe theory in real life?

Only if America will implement proportional representation

It could if we weren't locked into a two party system.

That's actually false. When it comes to policy preferences, the actual electorate swings pretty far left compared to the right wing and far right parties they can choose between. Universal health care, parental leave, paid sick leave, higher minimum wage all enjoy broad and firm popular support, and neither party is even talking about this.

There is also the Whig party for reference. They were one of the two parties until they refused to take a meaningful stance on slavery. They were the 'bipartisanship states rights solves it' party versus the 'pro-slavery' party.

There is no longer a Whig party and the slavery party went to war over a decade or so after the anti slavery parry formed.

So there's that alternative to Party switch.