A Clinton-era centrist Democrat explains why it’s time to give democratic socialists a chance
Quote:
Barack Obama rolls into office with Mitt Romney’s health care policy, with John McCain’s climate policy, with Bill Clinton’s tax policy, and George H.W. Bush’s foreign policy,” DeLong notes. “And did George H.W. Bush, did Mitt Romney, did John McCain say a single good word about anything Barack Obama ever did over the course of eight solid years? No, they fucking did not.”
The result, he argues, is the nature of the Democratic Party needs to shift. Rather than being a center-left coalition dominated by market-friendly ideas designed to attract conservative support, the energy of the coalition should come from the left and its broad, sweeping ideas. Market-friendly neoliberals, rather than pushing their own ideology, should work to improve ideas on the left. This, he believes, is the most effective and sustainable basis for Democratic politics and policy for the foreseeable future.
|
I agree that the energy spent to appease the right is energy wasted.
Iowa caucus Feb 3 2020, and still more candidates to declare and 12 scheduled debates between now and then.
There will be a lot of money and effort spent promoting "centrist," pro-ruling class, incrementalist positions and candidates, who will want to do just what DeLong is cautioning against.