I agree with your column. The entire thing. And have campaigned, voted and written about it (in my small way). So, here's the thing: 45 years ago Reagan started supply-side economics, started the breaking of unions, the erosion of the middle class. His election paved the way for the rise in housing costs since corporations started seeing it as a way to make money. Privatization leads to expensive health care, housing, everything. Yes, Democratic politicians, including (Bill) Clinton and even Obama fed into this. But the only - and I mean only - Republican policies are tax cuts (for the wealthy), privatization and military budgets (for more contracts for the wealthy). They have opposed every useful worker-related thing over the years: health Care, minimum wage increase, good working conditions, fair pay, unions and on and on. If Republicans had their way - and they probably will, we'd be living in the 1890s or some techno-feudal society. So my question is: Why is it only the Democrats that pay for it? Why is it that Republicans aren't blamed; that they are the party of the workers; the better economic party (despite crashes and deficits)? Why? Because RW media is so strong and powerful that they've convinced the lemmings of it . Brainwashed them daily for 40 years. JVL mentions it as asymmetry; that the media give Republicans a pass and go after Democrats. And they do, and have done for years and years. What would even new leaders of the Democratic party do to fight that?
They would have to succeed. That's how Democrats change the messaging.
In my article, I call out the horrible things Republicans are doing. The GOP is destructive to working and middle-class Americans, and has now begun tearing apart our democratic foundations. Republicans are criticised constantly.
The reason Democrats are hounded so much on healthcare, education, unions, and wages is that it is their platform. They always talk about raising the federal minimum wage, but fail to do so even when they have both chambers of Congress. They talk about universal healthcare but never deliver it. When you fail to meet your promises or the goals of your party's platform, you take the hit for it.
Republicans specifically campaign on not raising the federal minimum wage and on privatizing healthcare, so they're not going to take a hit for when the federal minimum wage is too low and healthcare is too expensive.
Democrats need to show the people, not the politicians, why Democratic policies also advance their wants.
Do you want fewer people to rely on federal assistance? You want to lower the deficit? You want food and housing to be more affordable, or for people to have more children? Then you raise the federal minimum wage. Democrats have to show the country why their policies aren't just for the benefit of progressives; they benefit everyone. Then the people will demand those policies, and Republicans will be forced to support some aspect of them.
"We put forward a bill for a $15 minimum wage, and Republicans voted it down. Oh well, maybe next time." is a losing strategy.
The Republican version of "just say no" means if Democrats don't succeed, Republicans don't actually need to be successful. It's been a winning strategy for a party that has done nothing - and I mean nothing - for most people.
I agree with your column. The entire thing. And have campaigned, voted and written about it (in my small way). So, here's the thing: 45 years ago Reagan started supply-side economics, started the breaking of unions, the erosion of the middle class. His election paved the way for the rise in housing costs since corporations started seeing it as a way to make money. Privatization leads to expensive health care, housing, everything. Yes, Democratic politicians, including (Bill) Clinton and even Obama fed into this. But the only - and I mean only - Republican policies are tax cuts (for the wealthy), privatization and military budgets (for more contracts for the wealthy). They have opposed every useful worker-related thing over the years: health Care, minimum wage increase, good working conditions, fair pay, unions and on and on. If Republicans had their way - and they probably will, we'd be living in the 1890s or some techno-feudal society. So my question is: Why is it only the Democrats that pay for it? Why is it that Republicans aren't blamed; that they are the party of the workers; the better economic party (despite crashes and deficits)? Why? Because RW media is so strong and powerful that they've convinced the lemmings of it . Brainwashed them daily for 40 years. JVL mentions it as asymmetry; that the media give Republicans a pass and go after Democrats. And they do, and have done for years and years. What would even new leaders of the Democratic party do to fight that?
They would have to succeed. That's how Democrats change the messaging.
In my article, I call out the horrible things Republicans are doing. The GOP is destructive to working and middle-class Americans, and has now begun tearing apart our democratic foundations. Republicans are criticised constantly.
The reason Democrats are hounded so much on healthcare, education, unions, and wages is that it is their platform. They always talk about raising the federal minimum wage, but fail to do so even when they have both chambers of Congress. They talk about universal healthcare but never deliver it. When you fail to meet your promises or the goals of your party's platform, you take the hit for it.
Republicans specifically campaign on not raising the federal minimum wage and on privatizing healthcare, so they're not going to take a hit for when the federal minimum wage is too low and healthcare is too expensive.
Democrats need to show the people, not the politicians, why Democratic policies also advance their wants.
Do you want fewer people to rely on federal assistance? You want to lower the deficit? You want food and housing to be more affordable, or for people to have more children? Then you raise the federal minimum wage. Democrats have to show the country why their policies aren't just for the benefit of progressives; they benefit everyone. Then the people will demand those policies, and Republicans will be forced to support some aspect of them.
"We put forward a bill for a $15 minimum wage, and Republicans voted it down. Oh well, maybe next time." is a losing strategy.
The Republican version of "just say no" means if Democrats don't succeed, Republicans don't actually need to be successful. It's been a winning strategy for a party that has done nothing - and I mean nothing - for most people.