Progressivism has always been a quasi-religious faith, whose doctrines center on the perfectibility of man if only the educated classes (its very own priesthood) are able to command sufficient authority.   Marxism, too, is a faith, one that denigrates other religions as the “opiate of the people.” Religions devolve into cults when they set themselves in opposition to the entire world outside their confines, and when they insist that their members hold unique insights and virtues, and so have a duty to shun and denigrate the “gentiles” (everyone else). Cult leaders understand that exposure to outsiders leads to a diminishment of commitment, and a decline of their own power. The American progressive left has been on a glide path toward cult status for a long time, but the election of Donald Trump has accelerated the process considerably. A famous 2014 survey: ...found that liberals are more likely to dump a friend than conservatives over...(Read Full Post)