Have we become a one-party country?
One of the advantages – or disadvantages – of being a student of history is that I get a sense of the way things were and how things could be different today. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the modern day Democratic Party and how, despite efforts to portray it otherwise, it has become almost indistinguishable from that of the Republican Party.
Support for Bush tax cuts? Check. Support for elimination of welfare? Check. Support for war? Check. Support for restrictions on women’s right to choose? Check.
What happened to the party that was the voice of the voiceless – the elderly, the poor, the disenfranchised, including women and minorities?
With few exceptions, that party no longer exists today. In its place are advocates for a “kindler and gentler,” to borrow a phrase, Republican Party. Once known as “tax and spend,” those elected under the Democratic Party banner are as tight-fisted fiscally as their Republican counterparts, and both like to spend – just look at the debt. Not that this spending is connected to the safety net, mind you, that was so carefully woven in the 1960s. Tax cuts, yes. The public option for health reform? Um, no.
I’m unwilling to place all of the blame on what happened over the first two years of the current administration – when Democrats held majorities in the House and Senate – on the Blue Dogs. The blame lies on the others who went along with their demands – those who are really Blue Dogs, anyway, except they haven’t joined the group.
The older I get, the more I see the need for a choice other than Republican or Republican-lite. Perhaps it is because I don’t come from wealth and will never be wealthy in a society which values it. Perhaps it is because I’m dealing with my 90-year-old mother being placed in a nursing home 110 miles from me, because we lack the wealth to cover the expense. Perhaps it is because I’m a triple minority in a society which values none of those, which makes nearly every day a challenge.
When Democrats support cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, it’s personal. When Democrats support restrictions on abortion, it’s personal. When Democrats support DOMA, it’s personal.
It’s no-man’s land in America for some of us.
And you wonder why I ignore national politics.
Not that state politics is any better. Virginia Democrats have historically been more conservative than their national counterparts. That is where, after all, the whole “Virginians for …” movement came from. It allowed Virginia Democrats to support Republicans, particularly national ones, without repercussion. And, of course, it was Democrats in Virginia that supported Massive Resistance, while the Republicans pushed against it. Virginia didn’t pass – twice – the Marshall-Newman amendment without the help of Democrats.
And don’t even get me started on redistricting.
Perhaps it is appropriate that the Democratic Party logo reproduced above has the head red. The color red has been associated with the Republican Party. Democrats thinking like Republicans sounds just about right.
But the body – and theoretically the soul – in that logo is Democratic blue. My hope is that a new generation of Democrats – those living, working and serving the local community – will reclaim the soul.
Because if they don’t, we might as well paint the whole thing red.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
We will be so screwed in November (again) when we lose seats in both houses, and some will say “I wonder what happened”?
The interest in supporting candidates or even fielding quality candidates is just not there in most cases.
Our situation as Democrats unfortunately starts at the top, not just now, but for years and years. It’s hard to support an operation that is a shell, one that fools people into thinking, “Oh, I am sure they will take care of it.”
Hard times are ahead for Democrats, and not only in Virginia. Sad state of affairs.
We’ve tried a top-down approach. It’s not working.
I was trying to say that the problem is the top down nature of the party now, and for years past. We desperately need more involvement on the low end, and I am not sure how we do that.
Yes, we need more involvement at the bottom. But the top has to put in place the mechanisms to allow that to happen. That’s what proudvadem is referring to below.
Two things that would go a long way to fixing the issue, at least in VA:
1. Standard bylaws. Committees could add but not subtract from them.
2. Term limits.
The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.
To put it crudely, local city Democratic organizations need an enema and then it would be nice to see a pair grown.
I’ve been involved on and off since ’93, the same players call the shots (with a very few exceptions), people are still told to “wait your turn” to run and the younger folks (which I am no longer one of) are tasked with field and yard signs…rather than groomed for future leadership within the party.
I wish, I really wish I had NOT worked in other states and seen that things could be better but the status quo will always reign in Virginia and frankly VERY little has changed since ’93
But organization doesn’t address what I see as an even bigger problem: the lack of electeds who are representative of the party plan.
It’s remarkably frustrating, which is why we need to take ownership of our local parties, and from there, rebuild and renew the Democratic Party from the ground up. We can, and should do it. The responsibility is with us.
I agree it has to start at the bottom. But we also have to figure out how to attract candidates who are truly committed (and not just on paper) to what the party supposedly stands for. I think we have to grow them.
You could just as easily replace the word Democrat in your article with Republican in many cases.. The two parties are used to divide and conquer us for political leverage, not to bring us together to help us solve common problems. Until people decide to look over the red and blue lenses and realize the way they have been played we will continue to drive deeper into the ditch with two parties fighting over the wheel.. If only they could drive it over the ditch together..
There is some truth to that, Turbo. And it is why local politics are so important to me. At that level, the parties really have a lot less control and the people have more. Unfortunately, far too many only view everything through red and blue lenses, even when the clear view has no tint.
We have a two-party “system” because of the winner-take-all nature of our elections, which is NOT a constitutional requirement.
REALITY!!
( Gov. Peter Shumlin: Real Healthcare reform — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yFUbkVCsZ4 )
( Health Care Budget Deficit Calculator — http://www.cepr.net/calculators/hc/hc-calculator.html )
( Briefing: Dean Baker on Boosting the Economy by Saving Healthcare http://t.co/fmVz8nM )
START NOW!
As you all know. Had congress passed a single-payer or government-run robust Public Option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one, our economy and jobs would have taken off like a rocket. And still will. Single-payer would be best. But a government-run robust Public Option CHOICE! that can lead to a single-payer system is the least you can accept. It’s not about competing with for-profit healthcare and for-profit health insurance. It’s about replacing it with Universal Healthcare Assurance. Everyone knows this now.
The message from the midterm elections was clear. The American people want real healthcare reform. They want that individual mandate requiring them to buy private health insurance abolished. And they want a government-run robust public option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one. And they want it now.
They want Drug re-importation, and abolishment, or strong restrictions on patents for biologic and prescription drugs. And government controlled and negotiated drug and medical cost. They want back control of their healthcare system from the Medical Industrial Complex. And they want it NOW!
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT, AND MUST NOT, ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE TO STAND WITHOUT A STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
For profit health insurance is extremely unethical, and morally repugnant. It’s as morally repugnant as slavery was. And few if any decent Americans are going to allow them-self to be compelled to support such an unethical and immoral crime against humanity.
This is a matter of National and Global security. There can be NO MORE EXCUSES.
Further, we want that corrupt, undemocratic filibuster abolished. Whats the point of an election if one corrupt member of congress can block the will of the people, and any legislation the majority wants. And do it in secret. Give me a break people.
Also, unemployment healthcare benefits are critically needed. But they should be provided through the Medicare program at cost, less the 65% government premium subsidy provided now to private for profit health insurance.
Congress should stop wasting hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money on private for profit health insurance subsidies. Subsidies that cost the taxpayer 10x as much or more than Medicare does. Private for profit health insurance plans cost more. But provide dangerous and poorer quality patient care.
Republicans: GET RID OF THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE.
Democrats: ADD A ROBUST GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION TO HEALTHCARE REFORM.
This is what the American people are shouting at you. Both parties have just enough power now to do what the American people want. GET! IT! DONE! NOW!
If congress does not abolish the individual mandate. And establish a government-run public option CHOICE! before the end of 2011. EVERY! member of congress up for reelection in 2012 will face strong progressive pro public option, and anti-individual mandate replacement candidates.
Strong progressive pro “PUBLIC OPTION” CHOICE! and anti-individual mandate volunteer candidates should begin now. And start the process of replacing any and all members of congress that obstruct, or fail to add a government-run robust PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! before the end of 2011.
We need two or three very strong progressive volunteer candidates for every member of congress that will be up for reelection in 2012. You should be fully prepared to politically EVISCERATE EVERY INCUMBENT that fails or obstructs “THE PUBLIC OPTION”. And you should be willing to step aside and support the strongest pro “PUBLIC OPTION” candidate if the need arises.
ASSUME CONGRESS WILL FAIL and SELLOUT again. So start preparing now to CUT THEIR POLITICAL THROATS. You can always step aside if they succeed. But only if they succeed. We didn’t have much time to prepare before these past midterm elections. So the American people had to use a political shotgun approach. But by 2012 you will have a scalpel.
Congress could have pass a robust government-run public option during it’s lame duck session. They knew what the American people wanted. They already had several bills on record. And the house had already passed a public option. Departing members could have left with a truly great accomplishment. And the rest of you could have solidified your job before the 2012 elections.
President Obama, you promised the American people a strong public option available to everyone. And the American people overwhelmingly supported you for it. Maybe it just wasn’t possible before. But it is now.
Knock heads. Threaten people. Or do whatever you have to. We will support you. But get us that robust public option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one before the end of 2011. Or We The People Of The United States will make the past midterm election look like a cake walk in 2012. And it will include you.
We still have a healthcare crisis in America. With hundreds of thousands dieing needlessly every year in America. And a for profit medical industrial complex that threatens the security and health of the entire world. They have already attacked the world with H1N1 killing thousands, and injuring millions. And more attacks are planned for profit, and to feed their greed.
Spread the word people.
Progressives, prepare the American peoples scalpels. It’s time to remove some politically diseased tissues.
God Bless You my fellow human beings. I’m proud to be one of you. You did good.
See you on the battle field.
Sincerely
jacksmith – WorkingClass 🙂
Tend to agree with Turbo. “Divide and Conquer” is an ancient strategy, and it still works. Electoral politics are a Punch-n-Judy show trotted out every several years to convince us that our votes still matter.
Nationally, the democrats have have become the party of Wall Street. No one available to look out for the interests of the working class.
Agreed. No one is looking out for us.
Don’t we get what we elect? It is not as if the representatives are not responsive to the populace. Given the highly divided nature of the electorate, I think this is what we get though. Politicians are fighting over nebulous independents. They need the base to do the work, but they need the unaffiliated to get them over the finish line. So issues that are divisive are left for either those in districts drawn for their lack of competition or those who care more about a value than getting re-elected. But I imagine being in power is pretty intoxicating, especially on the Hill.
And on top of that, there is just simply too much detail for the general populace to have an opinion on. And that void gets filled by policy elites and special interests. Look at public comments on regulation, there is hardly ever just some average citizen commenting. It’s all trade associations and major corporations. Is the public paying any attention to how Dodd-Frank is being implemented by the CFTC, the SEC, the Fed, others?
I don’t think you need different politicians though. It’s hard to see how you get different candidates without a different system. And do enough people really care about this anyway?
Yes, we get what we elect. The problem is the winnowing that takes place prior to us getting to the candidate we get to vote for, which, I admit, isn’t new.
We get different candidates in the current system by encouraging everyone who has an interest in serving to run for office, instead of handpicking them.
There are barriers though to just anyone who is interested in running. Besides ballot access, you have the financial hurdle. And for representatives, the financial cycle never ends. Outside of a party, you would need to be independently wealthy. That limits the field.
I don’t know what the barrier is on the party side.
I agree there are barriers. But again, thinking local, the financial barriers are not nearly as great. And if we can get some good local folks elected, the move to the GA or Washington is easier.
But money is just one barrier.
I live in the 2nd district. There is a church on most corners and jets screaming over my head. This place is support staff to the Navy. Lots of big box stores,burger flipping jobs, lots of federal dollars that come our way. It doesn’t matter if you run as a republican or democrat in this district it all works out the same. I wonder if Glen Nye were still in office would he be endorsing the end of medicare, medicaid and social security. I’m assuming he would after voting to kill President Obama’s efforts to deliver quality healthcare to all citizens of this country. Just my way of saying that it is really hard to be a democrat in this district. Show up as a warm body, contibute the money but at the end the agenda is decided by those who are comfortable with the status quo and the guaranteed federal dollars if you do not agitate for much.
I hear you.
Eh, there is a reason that the Democratic Party is really struggling. Quite simply, it ignores voters and allows itself to be dictated to by the right.
Mark Warner raised taxes and won election to the Senate in a landslide. Bill Clinton raised taxes and won re-election by 8 points. Obama campaigned on doing away with the Bush tax cuts and won.
Taxes are but one issue.
The point is that the Democratic Party allows the GOP to set the entire stage for almost every election and then has no where to go. It’s quite obvious that voters aren’t going to automatically vote against someone who raises taxes as long as there’s a cogent case made for taxes. But most Democrats operate with the assumption that any tax increase will be extremely unpopular.
On health care, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a more glaring example of allowing the right to control the entire set of terms of the debate. The Democrats just came off an enormous victory. Yet, they allowed the GOP to set the table on the “public option.” It became gospel that a “public option” would destroy the Democrats. Even though many opinion polls showed a majority in favor of such an option. Instead, after allowing the GOP to completely frame the debate, you ended up with a bastardized version of Romneycare that will be a boon to the insurers.
You will not be successful in politics when you allow the opposition to frame the terms and vocabulary of the debate on any issue.
The Democrats need to learn to get out in front of issues and frame debates instead of allowing the right to determine everything about the conversation b/f it starts.
sorry for the delay in this post appearing – it was in my spam filter.
Vivian,
The Democratic Party on the local level has limited resources and fewer members to work with which you are aware. Vivian we ask people to run and they say yes or no. that is all we can do- we can’t help them very much except in coordinating and letting them know who is who.Most people realize they can run for any office they want in our city and we will not stop them however we will vet them and if they don’t meet our ideals as a Dem I will as a chair refuse to let them run as a Dem. I would say that the committees to get real dems need to look at their candidates better and keep in mind they have a right under a supreme court ruling not to let them run as a Dem. Now if the chairs and committees are too wrapped up in the heirarchy then we have a major problem because they would find ways to keep their current constitutional or representative in office regardless of their conservative leanings figuring it better to have a dem.
Ghost — In a way you said what I was going to. The problem with the Democratic Party is that the leadership has internalized and fears, the criticism that Republicans have traditionally launched at the party. It’s made Democrats timid and afraid to exercise power, even when they have huge majorities as they did in the first two years of the current administration. There are too many DEMOCRATIC leaders who believe that single-payer, universal health care is somehow out of the mainstream — instead of completely in line with both the principles of the party and the expressed desire of most of the population. As the Republicans have moved farther and farther to the right, Democrats have let them drag the center with them.