Seems like this is something the democrats really need to put a lot of work into figuring out. But it doesn’t really seem like the mainstream of the DNC is all that interested. It seems like they think they already have it worked out, and that people should just follow along…
Re: “progressive” and “socialism”, sure, I get you. I think that there’s potentially a LOT of scope for simple reframing that would resonate though, like Gary’s Economics’ “tax wealth not work” frame. But I don’t think the DNC would pick that up, because too many of them are wealthy, or mates with wealthy people…
Yes dem leadership and many of the voters are affluent and hardly the people we should look to for economic revolution.
Many more are middle class and trying to become upper middle class. They think they can gain more from capitalism itself than by trying to tame capitalism.
A lot of working class people are in exactly the same mindset. They want to make it, not restructure the government to support them at their current level.
I think there’s a huge psychological barrier there in the US. Everyone believes they are better off than they actually are, and on the way to do better. NO ONE thinks “I’ll always be working class so we should pass some laws that will make it more tolerable.”
Many working class people are too busy with survival to even figure out how to vote. Others are so soaked in religion that they either don’t care about politics or just go along with conservatives because of abortion. Others are swayed by the racist nonsense from the Right. And a few minority voters HATE the way they democrats talk to them as a category - a few of these go for Trump as if to prove to everyone that they are a maverick, not a demographic.
Nowhere in there is there any great center. Union workers may be pro working class but they may also be anti-immigrant or transphobic. Black voters may be pro-working-class but they may also love Trump’s anti-China shtick. I have a pet suspicion that a lot of Hispanic voters are not at all supportive of more immigrants from Mexico, and combined with their religion, easily break for Trump.
Tell me again: where are these people eager for progressive policies? I can get pretty down about it at times.
I agree that just dumping progressive policies on top of that is a recipe for failure. I don’t know the best way forward, but I’m sure a better way forward is possible, and I’m also sure that existing Dem policy platforms haven’t managed it… I suspect the answer lies in embracing and communicating different core values, but I’m not sure which combination would work with (or against) America’s crazy slant toward individualism…
FWIW, I DO think the brat vibe was a good thing to try, even if it didn’t pan out. I wonder if it might have with a man (e.g. dark Brandon vibes)…
Seems like this is something the democrats really need to put a lot of work into figuring out. But it doesn’t really seem like the mainstream of the DNC is all that interested. It seems like they think they already have it worked out, and that people should just follow along…
Re: “progressive” and “socialism”, sure, I get you. I think that there’s potentially a LOT of scope for simple reframing that would resonate though, like Gary’s Economics’ “tax wealth not work” frame. But I don’t think the DNC would pick that up, because too many of them are wealthy, or mates with wealthy people…
Yes dem leadership and many of the voters are affluent and hardly the people we should look to for economic revolution.
Many more are middle class and trying to become upper middle class. They think they can gain more from capitalism itself than by trying to tame capitalism.
A lot of working class people are in exactly the same mindset. They want to make it, not restructure the government to support them at their current level.
I think there’s a huge psychological barrier there in the US. Everyone believes they are better off than they actually are, and on the way to do better. NO ONE thinks “I’ll always be working class so we should pass some laws that will make it more tolerable.”
Many working class people are too busy with survival to even figure out how to vote. Others are so soaked in religion that they either don’t care about politics or just go along with conservatives because of abortion. Others are swayed by the racist nonsense from the Right. And a few minority voters HATE the way they democrats talk to them as a category - a few of these go for Trump as if to prove to everyone that they are a maverick, not a demographic.
Nowhere in there is there any great center. Union workers may be pro working class but they may also be anti-immigrant or transphobic. Black voters may be pro-working-class but they may also love Trump’s anti-China shtick. I have a pet suspicion that a lot of Hispanic voters are not at all supportive of more immigrants from Mexico, and combined with their religion, easily break for Trump.
Tell me again: where are these people eager for progressive policies? I can get pretty down about it at times.
Pretty good analysis, for sure.
I agree that just dumping progressive policies on top of that is a recipe for failure. I don’t know the best way forward, but I’m sure a better way forward is possible, and I’m also sure that existing Dem policy platforms haven’t managed it… I suspect the answer lies in embracing and communicating different core values, but I’m not sure which combination would work with (or against) America’s crazy slant toward individualism…
FWIW, I DO think the brat vibe was a good thing to try, even if it didn’t pan out. I wonder if it might have with a man (e.g. dark Brandon vibes)…