Bernie Sanders wrote a New York Times Op-Ed: How Democrats Can Stop Losing Elections. It’s more or less what I’ve been saying for a while, so of course he’s exactly correct. This is the start:
In 2016, the Democratic Party lost the presidency to possibly the least popular candidate in American history. In recent years, Democrats have also lost the Senate and House to right-wing Republicans whose extremist agenda is far removed from where most Americans are politically. Republicans now control almost two-thirds of governor’s offices and have gained about 1,000 seats in state legislatures in the past nine years. In 24 states, Democrats have almost no political influence at all.
If these results are not a clear manifestation of a failed political strategy, I don’t know what is.
Yeah, like that.
Bernie reminds us that multi-year, record-low voter turnout means nobody likes you. Really. And that’s despite the well-documented fact that most working people have been losing ground economically, politically, and socially for decades. After Republicans gutted the middle class, most money goes to the rich, and poor people live an average of 15 years less than that rich guy.
And yet, even knowing all that, most people won’t even bother to vote for a Democrat, the purported saviors of the working class. Hard to take that two ways. I’d have to say that most people think Democrats aren’t worth spit.
I can’t say I’d disagree.
What does Bernie do? He goes on to list what he things the Democratic party should be for. It’s his list of goals from his campaign, so it’s no surprise, but it still feels wonderful to see in print. Hell, even if it’s reactive, I’d like to see a broader Democratic position.
Republicans don’t want poor people getting healthcare. Still can’t figure that out. Democrats should be for good, universal healthcare. Get specific. Back under Obama, Democrats tried to compromise, and suggested they’d abandon a Canadian-style single payer system if it made Republicans happy. Republicans rejected so much as the appearance of a deal. I can’t quite see why Democrats aren’t taking that as a ‘no’ and moving on. Putting single-payer back into the mix still makes sense, at least as an option.
If income has skewed to the rich, we should make taxes more progressive. That’s not a tough sell, is it? Republicans argue that this will inhibit ‘job creators.’ Right. Does anyone really think that if a rich guy has to pay five cents more on each new dollar he earns, he’s still not scooping up as much money as he possibly can?
Our Republican masters are suggesting they want to sell critical public assets to their oligarch buddies. I don’t know many details, but the Republican plan includes selling the local DC water supply. Right now it’s run by the Army Corps of Engineers at a reasonable price. Trump would sell it to some private, politically-connected somebody-or-other. The soon-to-be Water Oligarch would be given monopoly power over a critical regional resource — water, for god’s sake! — and is guaranteed to hike up the price for everyone in the region. Tons of cash for some lucky goober, but not my vision of a fair governance.
Why aren’t Democrats promising they’ll invest in infrastructure if they get power? It means lots of good jobs, it gives us cool stuff to play with later, and enriches everyone. Shouldn’t be a tough sell during a time of almost zero interest rates.
We’ve let Republicans run our educational system into ruin, pushing the price of education way out of most family’s reach. A year of private elementary school can cost more than my entire undergraduate education cost me. Seems like “Lower priced, better education for our kids,” would poll well in focus groups, don’t you think?
Bernie goes on, and I recommend reading his article for yourself. It feels good, in ways most new Democrats can’t seem to manage.
The American people are perfectly aware that they’re being screwed by the system. Every year, they see themselves dropping a little more. And despite the obvious Republican collusion in that decline, around a third of them voted for a Republican plutocrat who they knew was a lying bastard, and who benefited from Russian support in his semi-rigged election. And who they still give full-throated support whenever he asks.
How lame are Democrats, that so many people deeply and truly believe Trump is their best possibility of changing the system?
Is it time to start a new Progressive party? Doesn’t seem like the Democratic party really gets it.
