Post 20 - Unity in America
Unity is a word that has been bandied about a lot in recent weeks but has not been put into practice much (if at all) by many. Democrats have been the worst offenders. Unity to America’s ‘Left’ party has become a word that is essentially meaningless, as establishment politicians deride progressive voters and grassroots activists who challenge the hold corporate interests have over the party.
The argument for unity is an important one for the Democrats. If they want to challenge the GOP for control of the House or even Senate in the 2018 midterms, their only chance is to enter voting season behind a common message in opposition to Trump. Of course, this is all well and good in theory, but it isn't going to be easy to achieve in practice. The party right now has no true leaders. Tom Perez is an Obama era tool of big money who's sole purpose in entering the race for DNC chair was to cut off the progressive push for party control before it began. The other leader, Bernie Sanders, while still the most popular politician in America, has lost most of his movement's momentum. By aligning his message more with the party establishment (rather than holding firm, further left, and using his movement as leverage to wrestle control of the party away from big business), he has lost much of the power he wielded at the height of his political assent during the primaries.
From a strictly political standpoint, Russian hysteria combined with Trump hate makes a ton of sense, but this isn't a strictly political problem. The people that make up the Democratic party simply are not on the same page about what it is they stand for. This is an identity crisis. They are divided by opinion on nearly every issue and much to the surprise of those in control, Donald Trump has failed to prove a big enough boogie man to bring both factions of Democrats together. Making matters worse for establishment Democrats is this reality: the longer Donald Trump goes without being literally as bad as Hitler, the better he will look in the eyes of the electorate, who for so long were told Trump was an unhinged, Machiavellian monster-buffoon hybrid. Democrats have to wise up now, for the good of the country. Donald Trump is winning over the working class one day at a time and without a viable party to serve as opposition the GOP will continue to run roughshod over DC politics.
As a Trump supporter, you would think I'd be rooting for the Democrats to continue to fumble over themselves as they accuse each other of simultaneously being too corrupt and too pure. Strangely enough, that isn't the case. If you have been a reader of mine for awhile you probably know I am a big fan of Bernie Sanders and was (until last August) a lifelong Dem. Watching the slow death rattles of the Democratic party gives me no pleasure. As they hyperventilate about Russian goose chases they lose ground on every issue that could possibly win back voters in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and other working class strongholds. How much coverage have leftist media outlets like MSNBC and the NYTimes dedicated to real policy matters such as single payer health care, Medicare for all, free college tuition and other issues that we know appeal to lower income and younger voters, the two groups Democrats need to maintain success?
Donald Trump will lead a better America once the Democrats smarten up and stop playing obstructionist, taking a cue from their strong progressive wing. This is about unity, but not just for one political party. The Nation as a whole is fractured deeply and in many ways. The first step towards healing the divides is by changing our political rhetoric. Forgetting about political gamesmanship, dangerous Russian conspiracies and constant charges of racism, sexism, and all the other isms those outside the mainstream opinion are labeled without a second thought. Instead, we need the Democrats, led by the new agers and progressive thinkers, to force a change of focus on to policy. Good, strong liberal policy working together with the Trump administration can bring true progress to all of America.
Infrastructure, health care, union jobs, fair trade are all areas that Democrats can overlap with the Trump administration. That will be the only way the ‘Left’ can build a case that convinces voters to come back in 2018. Russia fear mongering won't be enough. Trump vilification won't be enough. What will be enough is unity, not just within the Democratic party, but with the rest of America. We are not two separate nations fighting for different goals, we are one nation made up of a diverse ocean of individuals that, for more than two centuries, have used our vast differences to establish one of the most remarkable societies the world has ever known. Let's continue this tradition to build our own vision of the United States of America together and proudly pursue the best world imaginable for generations to come. Democrats and Trump supporters do not have to be bitter rivals. In fact, it behooves both factions to move forward prioritizing our the special bond we all share as Americans.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say. Please consider reaching out to me here on Twitter. I'd love to further this discussion.