In many debates I’ve participated in, people argue through abstractions and unfalsifiable claims, which often makes the entire discussion pointless.
Sometimes it feels like a certain kind of Marxist analysis is built precisely around this:
“People spend hours and hours on buses getting to work, and the bourgeoisie want it that way because tired workers are easier to control.”
Then I try to suggest an alternative explanation:
Maybe housing near major employment centers is expensive because land is scarce, demand is concentrated, construction is costly, and regulation restricts supply—
“YEAH, AND ALL OF THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF CAPITALISM.”
Okay, shut up.