Two historians have said that the Democratic Party was wrong to overlook Bernie Sanders' policies for working class people.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/21778444

Summary

Historians suggest Democrats might have fared better against Donald Trump by embracing the economic issues championed by Senator Bernie Sanders, who has long pushed for a focus on “bread-and-butter” concerns for working-class voters.

Despite Kamala Harris’s progressive policies, polls showed Trump was favored on economic issues, particularly among working-class and Hispanic voters.

Historian Leah Wright Rigueur argued that Sanders’ messaging on economic struggles could be key for future Democratic strategies.

Sanders himself criticized the party for “abandoning” the working class, which he said has led to a loss of support across racial lines.

  • queermunist she/her
    45·
    1 month ago

    This assumes that Democrats want to win at any cost. Listening to Sanders is a bridge too far.

    Democrats would rather lose than do even the most tepid social democratic reformism.

    • cosecantphi [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
      13·
      1 month ago

      It sucks to realize in hindsight, but if Bernie had won the 2016 primary he would have been thoroughly ratfucked as a matter of bipartisan consensus. The Democrats would have sabotaged his national campaign at every step, probably even going as far as to have a few high profile Democrats endorse a third party candidate to make sure Bernie loses.

      • Didros@beehaw.org
        8·
        1 month ago

        The people who kill are not those who refuse to vote. It’s those that vote to kill.

        • Dragon Rider (drag)@lemmy.nzEnglish
          45·
          1 month ago

          Allowing someone to be killed through deliberate inaction is the same as killing them. You’re responsible for the actions you chose not to take.

          • Didros@beehaw.org
            5·
            1 month ago

            You’ve killed thousands if that is true. You could have said something to prevent a suicide, you could have spared a dollar to save a homeless person who froze that night. You are a mass murderer if you really think that. It’s a sad way to live.

                • Dragon Rider (drag)@lemmy.nzEnglish
                  13·
                  1 month ago

                  Drag did say all drag could to prevent a suicide whenever one of drag’s friends was down. And it worked, none of drag’s friends are dead yet.

                  • Didros@beehaw.org
                    2·
                    1 month ago

                    So you deliberately only assist those you consider “a friend”?

                    We really don’t need to keep dragging this out. My point is simply that voting for the “lesser evil” is not morally superior to voting for your ideal candidate or protest voting. And fighting for an actually left movement to take power benefits us all.