I understand that discourse is conflicted and what we ought to do with society depends on where you may sit on the political spectrum and your vision of what society should look like - but some policies totally lack even a little bit of common sense.  They seem to completely bypass the fact that we are dealing with people, individuals and groups. Bush vetoing the welfare bill is an example.  What about people and their lives?  He can only see $$$$$$.

Never being able to start from a blank slate makes the process really complicated and so many things intertwine.
Psychology, sociology, economics, politics, anthropology, history... a narrow focus fails to make creative connections. So useless social policies.

But going back to the analogy of religion inspiring, banding people together, and politics.  Blair's '97 election win came about partly because of that strength of feeling, being inspired, following a leader who promised us that things can only get better.  

I think some of the lacklustre in the UK at the moment is because the 'left' have been in power for so long.   It's much harder to maintain inspiration and motivation  and a sense of belonging when you are actually running the country rather than rallying the crowds in opposition to the latest evils of a Tory Government.  

Now the 'left' are no longer much distinguishable from the right and where are the critical masses to oppose this in an organised way?  Who is rallying the troops from the left? Who or what am I meant to put my faith in now?