The good only being capable of good actions, the evil only being capable of evil actions even when what they two are doing is exactly the same actions.

Buried deep in any wisdom tradition is the knowledge that every person is capable of good or wicked acts, (e.g. in Christianity, the cognitive separation between the sin and the sinner) but in practice so many ignore that completely, and cling desperately to the narrative of "good guys" vs. "bad guys", an intellectual state so failed in practice that people actually pay to see Hollywood movies where it holds true, just for the sense of escape from the real world.

The ideology of good guys and bad guys cuts off entirely the ideology of good actions vs. bad actions, with all of us struggling to learn the difference, and posits the arrogant believer in the former as being absolutely right, despite all evidence to the contrary. (How COULD he be wrong? After all, he's a GOOD guy, right?) But the rational thinker interrogates all actions and deeds, including his own, ever seeking for a more pure moral state, ever seeking to be doing the right thing as its revealed through more accurate information, never considering himself/herself to be perfect.

The last election was telling. There was a point, after the first debate, where Obama was actually losing. Then he took off the gloves, he laid down a rational critique of what Romney was doing, and Romney crumbled. We on the left must never forget: reality doesn't go away when you stop believing in it: rationality is what wins, when we care enough to fight for it. The battle between the rational laws of science and the people who call themselves unconditionally good, already happened, between the Church and Giordano Bruno, between the church and Copernicus. They burned Bruno at the stake for claiming the sun was a star that earth revolved around, and claiming the existence of other intelligent life in the universe. And today, we know at least the former is true, and listen to the mighty song of this universe that contradicts the arrogant church but hums along with likes of Copernicus, Bruno, Newton and Einstein. The humble and rational will always win when they stand up boldly against those mortals who believe themselves like Gods, to be infallible. And this battle very much continues to this day.

Those of us who love reason, who love the beautiful and ethical will always prevail if we are willing to overcome our irrational fear that we live in a world that does not favor these things. (when it so clearly does) So let us hold our flags high, with our hearts welling with compassion for those we battle against, and continue to march in the direction of the greatest good for the most people.

Peace