The primary issue is that over the course of the last ~50 years the two major parties have worked harder and harder on eliminating any overlap, any level of even-possible compromise, on social or economic issues. That’s what the “bipartisanship” of 50 or even 20 years ago is a reference to: it’s not that people used…

This may be true for YOU and YOUR political views, but there are plenty of people out there who aren’t on the fringes of politics and prefer a more centrist, moderate approach. There is nothing wrong with wanting, say, pro-choice rights for women, marriage equality, AND lower taxes and smaller government.