The Nation article: we must transform the dem. Party

[alarimer]

56. Democrats need to speak for people rather than Wall Street/Silicon Valley

The money issue is complicated. They may not be able to win elections with so much dark money funding scurrilous campaigns of lies (just see what they are throwing at Jon Ossof to get a taste of the bullshit). Democrats do not have Koch brothers money funding things. And I'm glad they do not, or they would be beholden to yet another billionaire.

No, the issue is that Democrats have helped dismantle the very things that have helped people the most: the social safety net. Remember Bill Clinton's welfare "reform" (He gets the blame because he signed the fucking bill- could have vetoed it): it only made things much worse for a lot of people. Also, continuing the war on (some) drugs. Which to be fair, a lot of Democrats have recognized that it wasn't working and have taken steps to change things. By deciding that becoming DINOs in order to win was more important than actually standing up what was right: single payer, universal health care, environmental protection, reducing the BLOATED military budget, shoring up Social Security (instead of calling for raising the retirement age), helping people who are out of work through free trade or automation, etc, they have lost and will continue to lose. To be fair, I do see signs that some, at least, have gotten the message. Putting Tom Perez in charge of the DNC will help, I think. As will competing in all these local races.

And to be fair, there are also a lot of other issues that make things complicated. Systemic voter disenfranchisement in violation of the Voting Rights Act. Gerrymandering (which Democrats are also guilt of, or at least complicit in). Possible Russian interference (I'm still skeptical that this was the major factor in 2016). And others.