A very revealing article about the libertarian take over of the Democratic

[pampango]

7. I read the OP not as a libertarian takeover, but a tech/big city/urban professional takeover

of the party.

As an example of their growing power, California was once Ronald Reagan territory; but now, the Democratic leadership has taken over big cities, as their base in manufacturing union towns dwindles (think of House Leader Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco, Hillary Clinton from New York, and Barack Obama from Chicago).

On nearly every major battle within the Democratic Party (high skilled immigration, Syrian military intervention, Keystone XL pipeline, and charter schools) education is the dividing line between the capitalism-loving-global-citizen Democrats and regulation-happy-America-first Democrats.

Unlike their capitalism-loving libertarian counterparts, these tech Democrats aren't rabid individualists. They want the government to encourage everyone to maximize their contribution to society by competitively funding citizens to be as educated, entrepreneurial, healthy, and civic as possible.

Traditionally, each political party had had their fear-of-change coalition. Conservatives feared cultural disruption while liberals feared economic disruption. ... That is, psychologically, the same need for certainty that predicts anti-gay attitudes in conservatives also predicts support for wage laws and regulation in liberals

blockquote]
On each of the issues in the graphic, Democrats differ but not dramatically. On 'decreasing Asian immigration' a majority opposes it. On 'free trade is good for Americans' the difference is only 6%, right around 50%). On 'public services should compete', again a majority opposes it. On the Keystone Pipeline, leaders of the party have not supported it, although some unions did.

There are certainly changes in the makeup of the party. If tech and urban professionals had migrated to the republican party, I doubt our party would be stronger today. There always have been changes in the makeup of the party and always will be.