What is a Democrat?

Honestly, the Democratic Party has a sketchy history—we elected Andrew Jackson for god’s sake. There is Polk’s expansionist war with Mexico for Texas. Post civil war, Slavery’s party just became the Segregation party. Up through Woodrow Wilson, who segregated the federal workforce, not much broad-based presidential pride for our party until Franklin Roosevelt. It has been pretty good since then.

What is the thread in this world’s oldest political party from Jefferson and slaves to Biden and infrastructure? I will assert, broadly and without citation, that within our party’s DNA is a closer connection to the tangible, with the products of labor versus markets and speculation. Over time, it is the Not-Democratic-Party that aligns more closely with capitalist mysteries of wealth and privilege, not us.

Doesn’t fight for me

The NBC poll released yesterday said 4 in 10 Americans do not think either party fights for them. These voters do not see anything useful from our Democratic Party. Unlike the New Deal, when voters could see the party acting for them, today’s party is in a political identity crisis brought on by our identity politics. Democrats keep seeking election as if building a bicycle. Just looking for the parts—these ethnicities, that gender, this sexuality—to build a ride into office. A broad coalition is good, but one built primarily on how people are excluded and oppressed is brittle and cannot expand much to win election. Even marginalized people do not want to think themselves weak, so the approach often loses with apparent allies. The problem is not building a bicycle, but getting people to ride the same bike lane.

How then can we reconcile today’s identity politics with the need to deepen connections, expand horizons and show some efficacy? What path still pursues justice for all while assuring a voting majority we work in their interest?

Household budgets matter

No matter what identity a voters has, most voters work for a paycheck. Or they had a job and want to keep their social security. Nothing could bring a transgender woman and a MAGA man into the same politics than losing social security checks. These voters all have concrete needs from child care to end-of-life care, month by month, all set in their household budgets. If we, as a party, can clearly offset household expenses covered by these paychecks, that is a path. This sets us against those unpopular billionaires and wannabe followers in a way that touches on what is meaningful to most voters in our country.

Our campaigns must be more than simply opposing Trump and taxing billionaires. Voters want their votes to do something. We need meaningful policies, but they must be clear and simple—not simplistic, but tangible, straightforward without jargon. Go to a rural community and talk about bringing hospitals and doctors closer. Go to poor school districts with plans for expanded, quality child care. We must protect democracy with a clear demonstration as to why it matters by always linking back to the household budget.

Hope

We can inspire voters to believe change is possible. Obama pulled this off, but then only had two good years before the Republicans descended. Biden the same problem. In fact, you have to go back to Jimmy Carter to find a Democratic president with a full four years of a Democratic House and Senate. It has been impossible for Democrats to accomplish much because we keep losing the Congress. So today, Democrats hunt for identity votes based on hope for change, while it is harder for many people to remember change is possible.

Democrats, focused on a worker’s monthly budget, with clear and meaningful solutions can unify much more than identity politics alone. While contending with a legacy of Republicans quashing our gains, we can keep reminding voters that only the Democratic Party has a record of meaningful accomplishments for paycheck voters and that we will continue this tradition. That is our identity—the needs of those who labor are greater than those who own the capital.