Moving to the Middle Ground

Democrats are currently reeling over the fiasco of the Iowa caucuses.  We stand accused of being too far left for main stream America with no coherent, unifying message.  Main stream media and right-wing pundits are having a hay-day attacking our “ineptitude” and disconnect from mainstream thought.  And it is still only February.  By November, the roiling of disunity will be if full boil.  Democrats are on the ropes, flaying for life and that is exactly where Republicans want us.

The election process is supposed to be the market place for the exchange of ideas.  It is where the country is to gather round evaluating all sides of the coin of opinions, biases and non-viable ideas in order to determine a direction in which the next president and congress people are to lead.  Instead of building a unity of goals and aspirations, we are being torn apart by our differences and our humanity.  Iowan Democrats are being vilified for being human.  There is no room in today’s politics for foibles or goofs in process.  Just as divided as the entire country has become under Trumpism, efforts are constantly at work to tear apart anything that resembles community or consensus of opinion.

The Democratic Party is comprised of a vast range of ideals, concerns, hopes, and dreams.  We have different social traditions, both religious and cultural, and we have myriad ideas, thoughts, concepts, concerns, issues, and foci.  This vast rainbow of colors is supposed to be our strength.  Not too long ago we won a presidency on the strength of that Rainbow Coalition.  Where is this coalition today?  Are we being bogged down by an outdated, monstrosity of an election system that no longer celebrates the exchange of ideas, or are we simply under-attack by an unrelenting enemy willing to tear down and destroy all that is good with the intent of preserving their seat of power and control?

I think we have forgotten our roots as illustrated in the lyrics of the Youngbloods song from the sixties that came out in response to another time in history where the fabric of society was being ripped apart.

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

Yes, I agree that this is an idealist’s dream, especially considering the manner in which politics is seemingly designed to work today.  It is not very likely that “coming together” is going to be the outcome in November.  When the final vote is tallied and the winner announced by the slimmest of margins, half the country will feel despondent and fearful of the unknown future being thrust upon them.  However, within the Democratic Party itself, the only way Trumpism will be defeated is if we actually link arms, put all our differences aside, and vote with one voice.

Yes, a moderate candidate will be unwilling to make the significant changes our country needs.  I agree that tweaking what we currently have will not fix our problems of healthcare, income inequalities, and climate change.  I realize that this candidate will fall short of the ideals and dreams of about one-half of our party. 

However, the same can be said of a progressive candidate.  Decades of vilification of socialist programs has been entrenched in the minds of most of the country that are fearful of a government growing too large and its people becoming too dependent on its programs.  They have been lead to believe that Socialism is a slippery slope which will eventually destroy capitalism, democracy and all freedoms we enjoy.  (“Just look at Venezuela,” they will argue.)  It is a waste of time to argue that we have hundreds of programs already in place that the socialist fear-mongers are neglecting to mention.  We already have a government that is too big when it comes to a worldwide military presence.  We have already experienced attempts to reduce the size of government which has resulted in giving tax breaks for a few and putting pressure on existing programs like Medicare and Social Security to be downsized.  It doesn’t matter that these are examples of things Republicans have done to destroy capitalism, democracy and freedom from a large number of Americans.  The argument against socialism is unfounded and only designed to create fear in those suspicious of change and new promises; but it is effective and it will be a major force to contend with in November, especially if we have a progressive candidate.

I strongly believe that our society is in desperate need of the programs the progressive candidates are touting.  I dream of a day in my life where our society will be more loving and helpful of a downtrodden middle class.  I pray and hope for a day where the American Dream can exist for all peoples that call America their home and that it can be, once again, a beacon of hope to the world.

However, all of that will be destroyed before it ever gets off the ground if we continue, as a party, to be split apart by how to proceed this fall.  We will not win the White House or the Senate.  As a result we will be stuck forever in this quagmire called Trumpism that destroys hope for all except the elite in society.  Elitist governments can exist… for a while.  When it eventually comes tumbling down there will be nothing left of the society they infected and destroyed.

It is now time to act before it is too late.  We need to select a candidate that will recreate the Rainbow Coalition, giving us all hope of victory in the fall.    I believe Elizabeth Warren is more likely the person that can do this but it will take every Democrat to set aside their issues of discontent, selfishness and disappointment to unite behind a candidate that can win against Trump.

“Come on, people now…. Everybody get together.  Right now!”

“I have only one thing to add… all societies work better when they work together.”  Peace – Ollie