Good piece.
I think the two-party system in America has produced a lopsided view of politics, which is also reflected in the typical 'left-right' talk. Republicans, as you correctly point out, are barely (if at all) able to distinguish between center-left neoliberalism and socialism a la Marx.
On the other hand, many on the left do not distinguish well between the Bush-ite neoconservatives and the more nationalist brand that has almost become the norm under Trump.
Being 'on the left' does not immediately imply Marxian economics, and you'll find many 'on the right' who have serious issues with capitalism as well.
We're stuck with a dialectic stemming out of the French Revolution, which is muddying the waters of modern (meta-)political discourse
Left and right are smokescreens - it authoritarianism v liberty.
Neither of the political wings/smokescreens pursue liberty.
Thanks so much for this response @pieternijmeijer ! I agree with most of it because I agree that the whole left-right debate is about gradations and always in flux; Obama was basically a 1990s Republican. Still I wouldn't call this debate antiquated or irrelevant or confusing. On the contrary; it gives us the basic rhetorical tools to have a meaningful discussion about opposing basic world-views. Leftists aren't automatically Marxists, but they are always concerned about "the common good", and right wingers aren't automatically fascists, but their concern leans much more to the individual, individual freedom and individual responsibility.