The two main American parties are not QUITE the same

[Politruk]

The Democrats are owned by Wall Street, the corporations and the 1% -- but, unlike the GOP, not wholly owned. There is a difference that matters. The Dems will at least pay lip service to organized labor and working-class interests.

 

[Politruk]

Also, of course, the Dems take the liberal side on all the culture-war stuff -- racial equality, feminism, LGBT rights, identity politics, etc.

Not that any of that helps the working class as such.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

Might have been better to write, Democrats are owned by wall street, and the Republicans by Russia. That truly illustrates the difference between them.

 

[Escierto]

The biggest difference. The Republicans are ruthless and will stop at nothing to seize power. The Democrats are spineless candy ass chicken shits who kowtow to anyone with money.

 

[Politruk]

No, the biggest difference is that after the birth of Movement Conservatism or the New Right in 1964, the GOP evolved by gradual stages into an ideological party - while the Dems remained a coalition of interest groups.

 

[Politruk]

One of the Kennedys, I think it was a woman, remarked in the early 1960s, "I would hate to have to explain to a foreigner the difference between Democrats and Republicans." In those days the difference was more a matter of regional political culture and ethnic background than ideology -- each party had its liberal and conservative wings.

 

[YDB95]

Also, of course, the Dems take the liberal side on all the culture-war stuff -- racial equality, feminism, LGBT rights, identity politics, etc.

Not that any of that helps the working class as such.

I'm not sure if I agree. Supporting the rights of the disadvantaged at least sends the right message to the working class that they want to do right by them. The bigger problem isn't so much that the Dems don't want to implement economic policies that will benefit the working class, as it is that doing so simply isn't politically feasible and won't be until the white working class stop voting against their own self-interests. I would, though, agree that the Dems could and should start pushing a lot harder on that point, explaining that no, it is NOT "good for the country" if you shoot yourself in the foot to give your boss' boss' boss another tax cut.

 

[Politruk]

The bigger problem isn't so much that the Dems don't want to implement economic policies that will benefit the working class, as it is that doing so simply isn't politically feasible and won't be until the white working class stop voting against their own self-interests.

It's not all the voters' fault -- the Dem pols really are deeply beholden to moneyed interests.

Partly because they can never win any office without first winning a "wealth primary" of campaign fundraising.

So? Cut that knot!

 

[BrightShinyGirl]

The Democrats work hard to appeal to the working class, but the white working class cares more about white identity than class issues. The progressive left would get more traction in the Democratic Party if they did more to connect with the black party base.

 

[Politruk]

The Democrats work hard to appeal to the working class, but the white working class cares more about white identity than class issues. The progressive left would get more traction in the Democratic Party if they did more to connect with the black party base.

They seem to assume they've got a lock on that anyway, because what are the AAs gonna do, vote Republican?!

 

[YDB95]

They seem to assume they've got a lock on that anyway, because what are the AAs gonna do, vote Republican?!

That's what the concern trolls always say, but is it really true? Seems to me the Dems try plenty hard to reach out to Black voters. The sad truth is, they alone aren't enough to get progressives elected.

 

[Politruk]

The real problem is, neither party really represents working-class interests any more.

 

[YDB95]

The real problem is, neither party really represents working-class interests any more.

I don't disagree, but I also can't entirely blame the Democrats for abandoning voters who long ago turned hard against them, based mostly on bigotry.

 

[Politruk]

I don't disagree, but I also can't entirely blame the Democrats for abandoning voters who long ago turned hard against them, based mostly on bigotry.

The working class is not only the white working class.