Marc, I like the forest and trees metaphor. It perfectly describes the corporate media’s response to Trump’s appointments. (Timothy Snyder also sees the dark and dangerous forest.)
I also totally agree that when the Democrats in the 1980s joined the Republicans in promoting the neoliberal globalism that decimated the American working class and its unions they started the process of losing workers’ votes. But Biden really did begin to turn away from neoliberalism—tentatively but definitely. This might have been enough to give Harris a win in the swing states that Trump narrowly won were it not for the factor that I think you underestimate—the power of the oligarchs to manipulate American public opinion. Decades of Murdoch’s media lies and propaganda have created a third of the country willing to believe anything negative about our institutions and the Democrats. Add to that hundreds of millions of dollars spent by Musk Thiel Mellon etc coordinated with Russian misinformation (Putin is the leader of world fascism after all) aimed at tearing down Harris and the Democrats. And don’t forget the the significant suppression of Black, student and other Democratic voters. I don’t think anyone could have beaten Trump and the oligarchs this year.
So you’re right about the neoliberal betrayal hurting the Dems, and you’re right about the Democratic ancients not getting the point about neoliberalism (except Biden which is why Bernie and AOC stuck with him). You underestimate the power of the oligarchy over the mind of America.
As for strategy I agree—we must wage class warfare against the oligarchs. Pelosi Schumer etc. have never been willing to do that and even now will not. They must be pushed aside. Vigorous mass organizing, especially of workers, is the only way to win. We can’t match the oligarchs’ media billions so we must promote organizing that develops grassroots communication. And in doing this we must continue to fight racism and patriarchy. That’s not just “identity politics”—it’s the only way to build a unified working class that can challenge fascism.
What a relief and pleasure to read well written, insightful, skilled commentary by a journalist. For too many years I have watched journalism being systematically dismantled by “media” barons.
Gone are the days of Sunday mornings with three different newspapers packed solid with concise news articles about the local, national and international news. Guest editorials. And most provocative—a special series of in-depth investigative pieces done by the best and courageous journalists about an issue that has great interest and meaning to Americans.
My now deceased husband (Vietnam veteran and amazing high school history teacher) and I ( humanities/writing high school teacher) were deeply aware of how fragile the democratic dream could and can be. Our kids grew up with vigorous discussions between their Dad and me about what was going on in the world!
What I want to make very, very clear to you Marc is my agreement with you about “what happened” to the Democratic Party.
What we all know is that there is a personal story behind your chosen party or affiliation. If you talk long enough with anyone in a sincere and curious conversation, eventually there is a shift in stridency or passion. They begin to go to the deeper heart of the matter. They tell you about their family. A tragedy. A drive to “make something” of themselves. There is where you find the wisdom of how to compromise or even agree about the “social contract.” The glue that has somehow held together our dear democracy.
I digress.
I grew up on a farm in western Minnesota. Rural America. My parents started with nothing and grew a successful farming business which took many years to build.
What we call the Democratic—Farmer—Labor Party was the party of every day working class people. NO ONE voted Republican in rural Minnesota. It represented the issues of rural Minnesota and much to a degree of the Metro area!
It had flaws as all parties do. The Republican Party was much more moderate than it has been recently. Practically, both parties responded to and worked at the Legislature to make government work for “the vast Middle.” We were and still are to a degree a state of moderation with a streak of progressive policies and vision.
Please continue to address what is at heart the needs of Americans—good jobs. Affordable housing. Healthcare. And an excellent public education for kids. I have within me the legacy of my parents and grandparents and the futures of my grandchildren.
It may have been said already but these current threats of off kilter persons is designed to scare long time civil servants to whom I wish they not be moved to leave their posts. Don't quit, jam.
"Democratic outreach continues centering race and gender instead of class." So we should have had Walz at the top of the ticket? Lower middle class white man. There's our guy for 2028.
Rereading the above makes me cringe, but I think it's an honest assessment of our country.
Marc, I like the forest and trees metaphor. It perfectly describes the corporate media’s response to Trump’s appointments. (Timothy Snyder also sees the dark and dangerous forest.)
I also totally agree that when the Democrats in the 1980s joined the Republicans in promoting the neoliberal globalism that decimated the American working class and its unions they started the process of losing workers’ votes. But Biden really did begin to turn away from neoliberalism—tentatively but definitely. This might have been enough to give Harris a win in the swing states that Trump narrowly won were it not for the factor that I think you underestimate—the power of the oligarchs to manipulate American public opinion. Decades of Murdoch’s media lies and propaganda have created a third of the country willing to believe anything negative about our institutions and the Democrats. Add to that hundreds of millions of dollars spent by Musk Thiel Mellon etc coordinated with Russian misinformation (Putin is the leader of world fascism after all) aimed at tearing down Harris and the Democrats. And don’t forget the the significant suppression of Black, student and other Democratic voters. I don’t think anyone could have beaten Trump and the oligarchs this year.
So you’re right about the neoliberal betrayal hurting the Dems, and you’re right about the Democratic ancients not getting the point about neoliberalism (except Biden which is why Bernie and AOC stuck with him). You underestimate the power of the oligarchy over the mind of America.
As for strategy I agree—we must wage class warfare against the oligarchs. Pelosi Schumer etc. have never been willing to do that and even now will not. They must be pushed aside. Vigorous mass organizing, especially of workers, is the only way to win. We can’t match the oligarchs’ media billions so we must promote organizing that develops grassroots communication. And in doing this we must continue to fight racism and patriarchy. That’s not just “identity politics”—it’s the only way to build a unified working class that can challenge fascism.
And Clinton's signing the Telecom Act destroying half of what was a vibrant retail music business, that which we've never recovered from in pop music.
"choke on and swallow"? Unlike you to mince words. He intends to "cuck" them.
I was trying to be polite but its hard!
What a relief and pleasure to read well written, insightful, skilled commentary by a journalist. For too many years I have watched journalism being systematically dismantled by “media” barons.
Gone are the days of Sunday mornings with three different newspapers packed solid with concise news articles about the local, national and international news. Guest editorials. And most provocative—a special series of in-depth investigative pieces done by the best and courageous journalists about an issue that has great interest and meaning to Americans.
My now deceased husband (Vietnam veteran and amazing high school history teacher) and I ( humanities/writing high school teacher) were deeply aware of how fragile the democratic dream could and can be. Our kids grew up with vigorous discussions between their Dad and me about what was going on in the world!
What I want to make very, very clear to you Marc is my agreement with you about “what happened” to the Democratic Party.
What we all know is that there is a personal story behind your chosen party or affiliation. If you talk long enough with anyone in a sincere and curious conversation, eventually there is a shift in stridency or passion. They begin to go to the deeper heart of the matter. They tell you about their family. A tragedy. A drive to “make something” of themselves. There is where you find the wisdom of how to compromise or even agree about the “social contract.” The glue that has somehow held together our dear democracy.
I digress.
I grew up on a farm in western Minnesota. Rural America. My parents started with nothing and grew a successful farming business which took many years to build.
What we call the Democratic—Farmer—Labor Party was the party of every day working class people. NO ONE voted Republican in rural Minnesota. It represented the issues of rural Minnesota and much to a degree of the Metro area!
It had flaws as all parties do. The Republican Party was much more moderate than it has been recently. Practically, both parties responded to and worked at the Legislature to make government work for “the vast Middle.” We were and still are to a degree a state of moderation with a streak of progressive policies and vision.
Please continue to address what is at heart the needs of Americans—good jobs. Affordable housing. Healthcare. And an excellent public education for kids. I have within me the legacy of my parents and grandparents and the futures of my grandchildren.
It may have been said already but these current threats of off kilter persons is designed to scare long time civil servants to whom I wish they not be moved to leave their posts. Don't quit, jam.
"Democratic outreach continues centering race and gender instead of class." So we should have had Walz at the top of the ticket? Lower middle class white man. There's our guy for 2028.
Rereading the above makes me cringe, but I think it's an honest assessment of our country.
The future of Democracy is in peril.