Proposition: the leadership of the Democratic Party is happy the way things are

[elzenmahn]

18. Thom Hartmann would agree...

Last edited Thu Nov 13, 2014, 09:50 AM - Edit history (1)

...that the best way to do this is for progressives to take over the Democratic Party, with all of its machinery.

My issue with Mr. Hartmann's solution, though, is: how did all of that machinery get there? Through corporate dollars and the donations of wealthy individuals (sound familiar?). The left wing in this country - formerly the labor unions, entertainment, and academia - provided the political backstop that made progressive reforms like the New Deal possible. Now, if the Dems are taken over by the progressives, we may in fact have to suffer a few election cycles in the wilderness (at least).

I would do the following:

1. Rebuild the PROGRESSIVE base in this country through the state and local levels (This doesn't necessarily mean DEMOCRATIC, BTW - but they do have the machine that the Greens and other parties don't).
2. Prepare to donate very heavily - as a percentage-of-income basis - to the progressive politicians of your choice;
3. Prepare to take some losses;
4. Think long-term.