Hmm, I think that the USA has probably shifted rightward since the 1970s/1980s.
While "cosmopolitan" positions on same-sex marriage, reproduction rights and race are all en vogue right now, there's a building neol-liberal corporatism in both major parties. Opposition to trade restrictions, increases in the minimum wage and truly progressive taxation is much more prevalent now than it was 40 or 30 years ago.
This, 100%. America is not shifting leftward in any meaningful sense. It has become a more educated, urbanized, cosmopolitan country, and the culture has shifted to reflect this, but America, like 90% of the world, has been hurdling rightward and neoliberalizing on basic economic issues for decades, with no real end in sight.
And, to the bemoan of many a liberal poster here, the long-talked about liberalism of the Millennials doesn't really offer anything different than what has already been the standard, White liberal way of thinking that's been prevalent in this country for the past 15 years or so.
