Great article. Really applies to so much happening during the covid times, and explains why there seems to be so much cognitive dissonance with the educated population.
There is also another major factor behind why there is so much disagreement between the educated population: there are multiple ways to solve most situations, but there is only one way to tow the line. Republican strategy is to tow the line, whatever that line is, so they are consistent. While the opposition seeks an optimal solution, and that process appears as in-fighting.
in this comment you are doing the exact thing the article talks about, positioning groups as good guys/bad guys and thus signaling your status as either a good guy or someone who at least knows the difference.
I don't think that it's good vs bad, but that a fundamental part of conservatism is keeping things the same, or returning to some sort of prior tradition. That is going to be more cohesive and consistent by its very definition.