My Plea To Democrats: Give People Something To Fight For

A few months ago I wrote about how returning to the norms is not good enough.

A system that gave us a housing crisis, denies universal healthcare, can’t increase the minimum wage even after almost two decades, stifles worker unions, and fosters bigotry against marginalized groups is not a system we should want to return to.

Instead, we must find a way to create a new and better system, one that makes things better for every American and provide a clear path towards making it a reality.

Right now it’s perfectly normal to be horrified by the things King Musk and Vice President Trump are doing. The clear intention is to take a sledgehammer to institutions and norms and obliterate any chance of bringing them back.

What we need to ask ourselves is why Trump’s supporters are so eager to go along with these blatantly illegal moves?

Yes, there is a component of cult of personality attached, but pinning all of it on Christian Nationalism and a free pass to be a bigot ignores some key points the Democrats must acknowledge if they want to take back power.

Trump supporters view themselves as anti-establishment, counter-culture activists who are fighting against an elite power structure that has held them back economically.

The “woke” and “DEI” attacks work so well because it gives them a justification for their economic stress. If companies weren’t so obsessed with DEI initiatives, they reason, then inflation wouldn’t be out of control and their wages would be higher.

One of the big issues we face as the minority party is this populist streak among the GOP faithful has roots in reality. Wages have stagnated against inflation, credit card debt is up, and savings are down or simply nonexistent in American households.

Pair that with a healthy dose of bigotry and suddenly the billionaire real estate developer, the wealthiest person on earth, and their tag-along venture capitalist hillbilly from Ohio (allegedly) can set themselves up as an anti-elite A-team here to kick bubblegum and chew ass.

The Democrats cannot fall back to the corporatism that has steeped the party to this point. It simply will not provide enough contrast, especially after Elon and his Boglins have finished shattering every piece of the federal workforce they can get their pythons in.

Additionally, Democrats cannot sit back and simply do what they’ve done before. Casual appearances on Fox News aren’t going to reach the voters they need to talk to.

Here are the 3 things I think Democrats need to do as soon as possible:

1. Provide a clear, solid plan for voters to rally around, akin to a Project 2025 for the party

   1. This should include a constitutional amendment providing universal healthcare

   2. It also needs a concrete, state-by-state plan to address affordable housing, especially breaking up large, corporate landlord companies both domestic and foreign

   3. This will dry up some corporate donations and the Democrats as a party should reject them. We’ve allowed this money in the party for too long and look where it’s gotten us

2. Engage voters where they are, not where you’d like them to be

   1. Far more people consume podcasts than ever watch MSNBC, CNN, or Fox News. While the DNC and DCCC may not see those spaces as political, their audiences do. Challenge Charlie Kirk to a debate. Sit down with Tim Pool (if he’ll do it). Go into these very antagonistic places and make your case.

3. Embrace populism in a big, big way

   1. Stop making the Bernie Sanders and AOCs of the party the internal enemies and instead see them as a bridge to the future.

   2. Progressive policies are wildly popular with the American people. Use that instead of leaning toward the Center to get likely voters

Now I am aware of the risks involved. Trying to drum up voters who don’t typically vote instead of working to galvanize the middle to get likely independents goes against modern political theory.

But the old way got us here, with Trump in the White House, King Musk and the Boglins rifling through personal information at Treasury, and the GOP in control of both houses of Congress.

Returning to the norms will only get us more of the same, and that’s not good enough to win anymore.