Between a wild horse and a giant turtle

Europe seems to be swinging towards a more conservative, rightwing political ideal. The pendulum has reached its turning point and is now swinging back towards the opposite direction. Panic erupts among the left. Worried progressives see this as a step back into a world of racism, nationalism and possibly violence, while conservatives can finally take a breath of relief, knowing that common sense will prevail at last.

Who is right? Who is wrong?
The answer is "Yes".

"Conservative" and "progressive" are simply two forces that act upon mankind in opposing directions.

On one hand we have the conservative force, symbolized by the giant turtle. This force is highly suspicious of change. Things should be left as they are, there's no need to fix a system that has worked well (or well enough). Traditional values such as family, community, cultural identity, patriotism, religion and the rule of law give a clearly defined pace and direction to this force. Structure is paramount to overcome the rising challenges of today's world. The giant turtle moves very slowly, because it needs to make sure that every step is safe and the ground is firm. 

On the other hand, there is the progressive force, a wild and unbridled energy that seeks to shake loose from the restrictive structures of the turtle. "Forward" is the main slogan. Where to is not as important as long as there is movement involved. Pushing boundaries is its main driving point. This force values change, new ideas, seeking new solutions to old problems, breaking stagnant and ineffective structures that are holding back society from achieving its true potential. This horse is undomesticated because it rejects old structures and rules. All it wants is to rush forward at any cost.

We, individuals and societies, stand between these two opposing forces, wondering what we should do.
Should we rely on the old, tested but maybe not so effective ways of the turtle, or should we throw caution to the wind and let the wild horse take us, wherever that may be?

Again, the answer is "Yes".

The simple truth is that we need both forces, and both forces need each other. We need the turtle to provide a solid ground and we need the horse to move towards new ground. This is the nature of duality. One cannot exist without the other.

A pure conservative stance is doomed to fail. Like a lake without an inlet of fresh water, eventually it becomes a stagnant and putrid environment.

A pure progressive stance is also doomed to fail. Like a lake with an outlet that is too large, it will quickly drain the lake and make it an arid wasteland.

Our society is in a constant push & pull dynamic, which is necessary to ensure a balance. Like the Yin and the Yang of the Tao, these forces cannot exist without each other, and they must work together to form the Tao. 
Those trapped in duality will see one side as the "right" and "righteous" one and inevitably become a victim of their own shortsightedness.
Only those who can take a step back, who can disidentify with the partial truth and embrace the larger, all-including truth can effectively reveal the whole picture.