This is the class analysis America needs. All the financially exploited and neglected and hated Americans can unify with the progressive labor unions to win socialism. They did it in France, why not here?
David, this is a good post. Here are a few Klassikal thoughts on the matter. I wouldn’t necessarily say the pre-Clinton Democratic Party and Republican Parties are exactly how you describe them. They were both very much ‘big tent’ parties with liberals such as Nelson Rockefeller on the Republican side along with some people whose policies seem more consistent with the modern Republicans. On the Democratic side, there were politicians who might look familiar to modern Democrats, but also several other types of politicians including southern Democrats who were very much interested in racial and gender inequality.
Immigration is another issue where there isn’t clarity. Immigration skepticism is a classical leftist position. Antagonistic feelings towards immigrants came from social conservatives and perhaps with some concerned about labor issues. These groups were represented in both Republican and Democratic parties.
But, anyway, I think what you describe is really everyone’s favorite word, neoliberalism! Business interests within the Republican Party, certainly those under the influence of Milton Friedman and company’s monetarist economics, were pushing for neoliberalism. This is to say they were pushing for corporate deregulation, globalization, privatization, and austerity on social spending. Of course, the Democratic Party fully adopted neoliberal economic principles around the time of the rise of Clinton (Ralph Nader attributes this to Rep. Tony Coelho). Corporate deregulation, globalization, privatization, and austerity are all hallmarks of the Clinton administration…and the Reagan administration, the Bush administrations, the Trump administration, the Obama administration, and now the Biden administration. Congress deserves no free pass during this period, of course.
The Democrats severed their ties with the working class when the working class accurately knew that unchecked deregulation and globalization were not going to benefit labor even as Clinton and his ardent supporters in and outside of government, along with Republicans engaging in culture war diversionary tactics that the Democrats are all too keen to engage in themselves, pushed the narrative of Milton Friedman-esque, Reagan-esque ‘trickle down economics’. How is the concept of ‘trickle down economics’ working for the majority of the population these days?
Culture war aspects are used by both parties to create public narratives which are not economic ones even though poll after poll indicate that economic matters are at the forefront of the minds of voters…and for good reason. Adolph Reed, Jr. has spoken about this topic very eloquently over the years. I don’t know for sure if this is leading to more ‘hate crimes’, but it certainly could be a factor in things.
I don’t really think that ‘the rich’ should be targeted by Democrats. Wealth itself isn’t necessarily the problem. The problem is when policy is slanted towards corporate interests at the expense of interests as a whole. This is not to excuse modern Democratic Party policy, of course, as the party is very much in favor of neoliberalism/abusive corporate policies. It is neoliberalism which ought to be targeted.
The Corporate/ War Making Dimocrats are ensuring that the hateful Repubs win the next election. the Progressive wing of the Dimocrats faltered seriously when they withdrew their mild letter asking for a reconsideration of our position on the Ukraine War.
Your podcast last night was extra inspired. Thanks so much. Hope you're well!
This is the class analysis America needs. All the financially exploited and neglected and hated Americans can unify with the progressive labor unions to win socialism. They did it in France, why not here?
Finally I'm meeting Jews!
David, this is a good post. Here are a few Klassikal thoughts on the matter. I wouldn’t necessarily say the pre-Clinton Democratic Party and Republican Parties are exactly how you describe them. They were both very much ‘big tent’ parties with liberals such as Nelson Rockefeller on the Republican side along with some people whose policies seem more consistent with the modern Republicans. On the Democratic side, there were politicians who might look familiar to modern Democrats, but also several other types of politicians including southern Democrats who were very much interested in racial and gender inequality.
Immigration is another issue where there isn’t clarity. Immigration skepticism is a classical leftist position. Antagonistic feelings towards immigrants came from social conservatives and perhaps with some concerned about labor issues. These groups were represented in both Republican and Democratic parties.
But, anyway, I think what you describe is really everyone’s favorite word, neoliberalism! Business interests within the Republican Party, certainly those under the influence of Milton Friedman and company’s monetarist economics, were pushing for neoliberalism. This is to say they were pushing for corporate deregulation, globalization, privatization, and austerity on social spending. Of course, the Democratic Party fully adopted neoliberal economic principles around the time of the rise of Clinton (Ralph Nader attributes this to Rep. Tony Coelho). Corporate deregulation, globalization, privatization, and austerity are all hallmarks of the Clinton administration…and the Reagan administration, the Bush administrations, the Trump administration, the Obama administration, and now the Biden administration. Congress deserves no free pass during this period, of course.
The Democrats severed their ties with the working class when the working class accurately knew that unchecked deregulation and globalization were not going to benefit labor even as Clinton and his ardent supporters in and outside of government, along with Republicans engaging in culture war diversionary tactics that the Democrats are all too keen to engage in themselves, pushed the narrative of Milton Friedman-esque, Reagan-esque ‘trickle down economics’. How is the concept of ‘trickle down economics’ working for the majority of the population these days?
Culture war aspects are used by both parties to create public narratives which are not economic ones even though poll after poll indicate that economic matters are at the forefront of the minds of voters…and for good reason. Adolph Reed, Jr. has spoken about this topic very eloquently over the years. I don’t know for sure if this is leading to more ‘hate crimes’, but it certainly could be a factor in things.
I don’t really think that ‘the rich’ should be targeted by Democrats. Wealth itself isn’t necessarily the problem. The problem is when policy is slanted towards corporate interests at the expense of interests as a whole. This is not to excuse modern Democratic Party policy, of course, as the party is very much in favor of neoliberalism/abusive corporate policies. It is neoliberalism which ought to be targeted.
Let's meet some Jews finally.
The Corporate/ War Making Dimocrats are ensuring that the hateful Repubs win the next election. the Progressive wing of the Dimocrats faltered seriously when they withdrew their mild letter asking for a reconsideration of our position on the Ukraine War.