Thomas Frank: What’s The Matter With Democrats?
…data-minded commentator like Nate Cohn is able to look out over the blasted moonscape of Appalachia and conclude that a party of the left has nothing it might conceivably offer the people there. If Democrats wish to win back the seats that Republicans have taken away from them in such stricken areas, the Dems must either become more conservative themselves or sit audaciously on their butts for a couple of decades while some new generation is born and grows up to populate the boarded-up towns and collapsing houses of the deindustrialized hinterland. Those are the only choices.
The fatalism here may be science-driven, but still it boggles the mind. Today, the right is out there organizing and proselytizing and signing people up for yet another grievance-hyping mass movement. Over the last 40 years they have completely remade the world, and at no point did they play by the centrist rules.
But the Democrats chase nobly on after grand Washington bargains and sign more free-trade deals and make endless compromises with Wall Street—and then can’t figure out why such achievements don’t win them the adoration of the people in the hard-bitten countryside. No matter. They’ll simply wait for a new generation to come along, a new public that is more enlightened, better able to appreciate the fine distinctions between the parties, that is capable, at long last, of making the rational choice.
Or Democrats can stop acting like Republicans and do what the right-wing party does: stand up for what you believe and know that voters will follow.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
24 responses to Thomas Frank: What’s The Matter With Democrats?
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BillTheCat45 September 15th, 2014 at 13:36
Well, if America doesn’t think that all of the progressive ideals we fight for (fair pay, equality, minority and women’s rights, job creation, infrastructure) is “offering something”, then frankly, they get what they deserve. And LOL @ the notion that conservatives have “remade the world” – what utter baloney. If anything, they are living in our world and just haven’t figured it out yet (and when their demographic completely dies out, they will… too late).
tiredoftea September 15th, 2014 at 13:49
The last part of your posting is wrong. The right is destroying our world at a fierce rate. And, with Rand Paul and other younger rightie’s coming up, they are, unfortunately, going to adapt their nonsense economic and social policies for some time to come.
juicyfruityyy September 15th, 2014 at 14:01
This is the reason why we have to GOTV!. They are not for doing better for this country. They are out to destroy it.
BillTheCat45 September 15th, 2014 at 13:36
Well, if America doesn’t think that all of the progressive ideals we fight for (fair pay, equality, minority and women’s rights, job creation, infrastructure) is “offering something”, then frankly, they get what they deserve. And LOL @ the notion that conservatives have “remade the world” – what utter baloney. If anything, they are living in our world and just haven’t figured it out yet (and when their demographic completely dies out, they will… too late).
tiredoftea September 15th, 2014 at 13:49
The last part of your posting is wrong. The right is destroying our world at a fierce rate. And, with Rand Paul and other younger rightie’s coming up, they are, unfortunately, going to adapt their nonsense economic and social policies for some time to come.
juicyfruityyy September 15th, 2014 at 14:01
This is the reason why we have to GOTV!. They are not for doing better for this country. They are out to destroy it.
NW10 September 15th, 2014 at 13:55
Milt Shook at pleasecutthecrap.com debunks this “both parties are the same” nonsense:
http://pleasecutthecrap.com/repost-dear-both-parties-are-the-same-folks-they-do-not-get-their-money-from-the-same-sources/
http://pleasecutthecrap.com/if-you-think-both-parties-are-the-same-youre-nuts-2/
(((NW10,PATRIOT! ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ))) September 15th, 2014 at 13:55
Milt Shook at pleasecutthecrap.com debunks this “both parties are the same” nonsense:
http://pleasecutthecrap.com/repost-dear-both-parties-are-the-same-folks-they-do-not-get-their-money-from-the-same-sources/
http://pleasecutthecrap.com/if-you-think-both-parties-are-the-same-youre-nuts-2/
juicyfruityyy September 15th, 2014 at 13:59
My stripes, will not change. All the more reason i’m out there with the Dems. We are for a Democracy; that is worth fighting for. We will not sit out one moment or one day!! Bank on it!
juicyfruityyy September 15th, 2014 at 13:59
My stripes, will not change. All the more reason i’m out there with the Dems. We are for a Democracy; that is worth fighting for. We will not sit out one moment or one day!! Bank on it!
eddie1247 September 15th, 2014 at 14:05
Or Democrats can stop acting like Republicans and do what the right-wing party does: stand up for what you believe and know that voters will follow.
I’ll have to assume that this article is tongue in cheek as no rational person could believe this drivel.
eddie1247 September 15th, 2014 at 14:05
Or Democrats can stop acting like Republicans and do what the right-wing party does: stand up for what you believe and know that voters will follow.
I’ll have to assume that this article is tongue in cheek as no rational person could believe this drivel.
tiredoftea September 15th, 2014 at 14:34
An excellent, and timely article about this:
http://www.vox.com/2014/9/15/6131919/democrats-and-republicans-really-are-different
mea_mark September 15th, 2014 at 15:18
That really is a good article.
tiredoftea September 15th, 2014 at 15:48
Yes. Now we know why Dems bring ice cream to gun fights!
mea_mark September 15th, 2014 at 17:40
It delivers results? The people watching get ice cream and a gun fight.
jasperjava September 15th, 2014 at 19:00
Wow, thanks. That’s a must-read for both sides of the divide.
tiredoftea September 15th, 2014 at 14:34
An excellent, and timely article about this:
http://www.vox.com/2014/9/15/6131919/democrats-and-republicans-really-are-different
mea_mark September 15th, 2014 at 15:18
That really is a good article.
tiredoftea September 15th, 2014 at 15:48
Yes. Now we know why Dems bring ice cream to gun fights!
mea_mark September 15th, 2014 at 17:40
It delivers results? The people watching get ice cream and a gun fight.
jasperjava September 15th, 2014 at 19:00
Wow, thanks. That’s a must-read for both sides of the divide.
Kick Frenzy September 15th, 2014 at 18:13
I think the main issue is the amount of people who are misinformed by the lies and distorted stories that come out of Republican/Conservative government officials as well as right wing media.
If more people knew the truth about what Democrats stand for, they wouldn’t erroneously think they didn’t stand for anything.
Shorter version: Stop watching Fox News
Kick Frenzy September 15th, 2014 at 18:13
I think the main issue is the amount of people who are misinformed by the lies and distorted stories that come out of Republican/Conservative government officials as well as right wing media.
If more people knew the truth about what Democrats stand for, they wouldn’t erroneously think they didn’t stand for anything.
Shorter version: Stop watching Fox News