Who’s afraid of the Democratic Socialists of America?
Story after story has popped up, warning Democrats that the “radical” left is gaining momentum, winning primary races, and even becoming mayor of the wealthiest and most populous city in the United States. But while centrist Democrats wring their hands and issue screeds, they’re ignoring why the DSA is appealing to voters in the first place.
Standing in the middle of the road no longer works in a political environment where voters’ choices are often between conservative madmen and the same old political grifters and octogenarians who run every cycle. The pickings are slim. And voters on the progressive left are pragmatic, but they’re also tired of the lip service, tired of waiting, and tired of establishment Democrats behaving as if it’s still the early 2000s.
The dedication to decorum and the old ways is woefully out of step with their multicultural base, which is under siege by the Trump Administration. They don’t need another sternly worded op-ed. They need action. And if it’s not coming from the establishment, voters will go elsewhere.
The DSA seems ready to fight, and that’s what voters want: politicians willing to do whatever it takes to right the ship and bring the corrosive forces within our Democracy to justice. People want the corruption and abuses to stop; they want their immigrant neighbors to feel safe; they want the deadly and costly wars to end; and they want to be able to find work to feed themselves and afford housing.
Progressive-leaning voters are basically pulling a Celie in “The Color Purple,” telling the big tent party that until you do right by those who actually vote for you, everything you touch will falter. The GOP is beholden to and rightfully afraid of its base; when they flip out, the Capitol is in tatters. Democrats, on the other hand, often take theirs for granted, as if to say, well, the other side is trying to deport or bankrupt you, so what choice do you have?
This attitude is why many are choosing the DSA.
Socialism is often presented as this dirty word in American politics, ignoring that some of the most popular policies and programs that exist and are under attack by the Trump Administration are socialism.
Medicare and Medicaid are socialism.
Social Security is socialism.
The Affordable Care Act is socialism.
The New Deal, the Great Society plan, and various anti-poverty campaigns? All socialism.
Your local library? Socialism.
Basically, you could argue that anything funded by our tax dollars to benefit citizens is socialism. Once you realize that, you understand why conservatives from the Red Scare’s Joseph McCarthy on down have railed against it, because when socialist policies are actually implemented, people use them, like them, and want more. Hence why the GOP is always attacking these institutions and programs, seeking to weaken, eliminate, or destroy them because they mean people are happier, healthier, safer, and more educated.
And if the people are well taken care of by their government, that’s less money for wars and the ultra-wealthy. If people are educated and not starving, they can make better decisions for themselves and maybe not elect people whose greatest ambition for America is the status quo.
We know what we get with the status quo—a crumbling democracy where we can’t trust the food in our grocery stores.
Rather than decrying the DSA members running for office, maybe establishment Democrats should find out why people are voting for them and why their platforms are so appealing.
Maybe it’s time to stop worrying about the DSA, and start listen to those voting for them.
