2016 Postmortem
Showing Original Post only (View all)Fuck the braindead notion that we can say "Fuck the white working class." [View all]
The election of Trump had many causes: A qualified but nonetheless flawed Democratic candidate marred by the email scandal; the electoral college; racism; sexism; SHIT corporate media; a completely piece of SHIT Democratic National Committee; a flawed Democratic strategy and lack of the right message; a general desire among some people simply for ANY kind of change; failure of too many of our voters to actually come out and vote.
However, the MAIN reason is because of the working class economic anxiety in the upper midwest, and that is the indisputable fact. The party and our candidate simply did not connect with these voters, many or most of whom were traditionally Democrats and many of whom still are by party registration. And they have left us.
The economy, as always, was the NUMBER ONE ISSUE of the campaign, and working class small town America has been economically RAVAGED. They are rightfully angry, and many of them feel they have no future and that we do not understand or respect their plight nor their culture. Again, MANY of these people, in some places the majority, used to be Democrats. And the party forgot how to talk to them. The party needs to talk to them again and offer compelling ideas and economic hope for them again. AND, the party needs to respect and support their culture. It is just fine to respect and support the very long hunting heritage in rural and small town America.
Working class America doesn't give a flying shit about pure food laws and solar power when it needs JOBS. JOBS JOBS JOBS is the NUMBER ONE ISSUE. And they also want straight STRONG talk and leadership, not meely-mouthed pathetic wimpy WEAK SHIT that is not leadership.
And this is by no means an either/or situation. The Democratic Party is and will always be the party that fights for the rights and betterment of EVERYONE in America, full inclusion, and will always stand strong against bigotry wherever it exists. BUT, being the "Party of the People" means, in fact, ALL THE PEOPLE including white rural and small town people.
JOBS JOBS JOBS and creating an economy that works for EVERYONE is the issue that transcends all else because social justice can not happen without economic justice. Social justice matters little if you don't have a job and can't make a decent living. And ALL people, regardless of race, color, gender, or creed are deeply impacted by the corporate oligarchy that works for the 1% and doesn't give a damn about anyone else.
Want to know how to win? Listen to Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren today and FDR and Harry Truman in the past. BE STRONG! SPEAK WITH CONVICTION! SPEAK CLEAR! MAKE THE ECONOMY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE ACROSS THE BOARD! AND BRUTALLY ATTACK THE CORPORATE OLIGARCHS AND THEIR REPUBLICAN SERVANTS AT EVERY TURN. These are the issues that BIND us all.
Offer people JOBS JOBS JOBS and tell them just how you are going to create them so they feel they have a FUTURE instead of economic DESPAIR. Do that, and we win again because right now the party is like a self-inflicted deaf, dumb, blind, and brainless person wandering aimlessly through the political desert without a message for ALL the people.