In light of the recent election, it’s clear that the Democratic Party needs a significant leftward shift to better address the needs and concerns of the American people. The party’s centrist approach is increasingly out of touch, limiting its ability to appeal to a broader base and especially to young voters, who are looking for bold and transformative policies. The fact that young men became a substantial part of the conservative voting bloc should be a wake-up call—it’s essential that the Democratic Party broadens its appeal by offering real solutions that resonate with this demographic.

Furthermore, one major missed opportunity was the decision to forgo primaries, which could have brought new energy and ideas to the ticket. Joe Biden’s choice to run for a second term, despite earlier implications of a one-term presidency, may have ultimately contributed to the loss by undermining trust in his promises. Had the party explored alternative candidates in a primary process, the outcome could have been vastly different. It is now imperative for the Working Families Party and the Progressive Caucus to push for a stronger, unapologetically progressive agenda within the Democratic Party. The time for centrist compromises has passed, as evidenced by setbacks dating back to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 loss, the persistently low approval ratings for Biden since 2022, and Kamala Harris’s recent campaign, which left many progressives feeling alienated. To regain momentum and genuinely connect with the electorate, a clear departure from moderate politics is essential.

  • Kethal@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    edit-2
    17 days ago

    All these Sanders supporters talking about the establishment as the reason he doesn’t win. Yet none of them voted in the primaries this year. None of them wrote him in for president. Sanders won’t win because instead of going to the polls and actually voting for him, his supporters will post on the Internet about wishing they could go to the polls to vote for him.

    • theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      edit-2
      17 days ago

      none of them voted in the primaries this year

      … dude. The primary between Biden, the magic crystals lady, and some no name executive?? I did vote in it, and I also knew it was a total sham. What primary did Kamala Harris win? Oh right, not a single one… how can we possibly act surprised that a candidate did not win in a general election when they never even won a primary in their own party?

      The Democrat party has not held a valid and legitimate primary since 2008. Super-delegates that are literally pre-pledged to the elites’ chosen candidate is not valid democracy. Holding a primary in stages where specific states go first and sway and influence other states that go later is not valid democracy. You’re not going to win at democracy if you don’t even do democracy.

      🤡

      • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        17 days ago

        Holding a primary in stages where specific states go first and sway and influence other states that go later is not valid democracy.

        The alternative is to hold all primaries at once, which costs candidates a lot more money. It would basically exclude any candidate who did not have significant establishment support from the moment they annouced and/or is not a billionaire.

        If you want a non-establishment candidate to have any chance, you must give them the opportunity to prove themselves in a small contest, like Iowa, and allow them time to build up momentum.

          • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            17 days ago

            Democrats have won the presidency roughly half the time over the past 30 years.

              • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                edit-2
                17 days ago

                There is always room for reflection and self-improvement.

                Reflecting on past Democratic wins for the presidency, governorships, and Congress suggests that centrism is often an asset. If anything, the relative lack of victories for leftist candidates should prompt self-reflection.

                • theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  4
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  17 days ago

                  There is always room for reflection and self-improvement

                  The following paragraph:

                  “I’ve reflected and we are doing everything right! Our current strategy is an asset and not obviously the reason we failed!!! Progressives are the ones that need to self reflect!!!”

                  Lmao

                  • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    arrow-down
                    1
                    ·
                    edit-2
                    17 days ago

                    No, I don’t think we are doing everything right. Like I said, there is always room for improvement. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we need an ideological shift to the left.

                    For example, we need to bring back Latino voters. I don’t think embracing leftism is the best way to do that.