What viable alternative would you suggest?

Note, I think your article is dead on in most ways. This is not a snarky question.

I registered as a Democrat and voted for Bernie in the primaries. Got trounced, and voted for Joe in the general. Because a relatively sane old guy was better than a babbling baboon.

I would have preferred the "radical left" to get more traction, so we could move somewhat closer to what the rest of the world considers to be the center. I have little idea how to get there as things stand.