Democratic Party has moved from ‘Common Man’ to progressivism

Editor:

In a recent letter to the editor, the writer referred to some people as GOP zealots, bigots, and those with senile rants. He might as well have just said “Vote Democrat.”

Instead of resorting to this degrading verbiage, it is important to understand why the Democratic Party has fallen into decline, causing a lot of people to question its integrity, mission and adherence to democracy.

These justifiable inquiries don’t make one a zealot, or a bigot or senile. Instead people are internalizing the world around them and seeing some disturbing changes within the Party. They are using their brains to make conscientious decisions. Also, they know that what happens at the polls will not only affect their generations but future ones to come.

The party has suffered significant damage, starting with leadership failures. By the end of Biden’s time in office, the old Democratic Party was moving away from the advocacy of “the common man”.

As Kamala Harris surfaced, another metamorphosis happened within the Party. The Democrats were moving away from their roots – the party of workers. Instead they were leaning towards the post-industrial politics of California-style Progressives.

One only has to look at the disastrous mismanagement of California, with its financial instability in diverse sectors, to see how this state has failed its community: water resources, wildfire response, budgetary issues. California has spent over $18 billion on the high-speed rail which has been plagued with delays and ample criticism because the track is still not in place. When one emulates a loser, you usually lose too.

When the Democrats focused on housing, wages, living and working conditions, their voter loyalty was rock solid. Living standards took a nose dive when other issues like climate change, abortion, reparations and trans advocacy took center stage.

Also concerning are shifts in the Party towards socialism. Extensive government control in the economy threatens economic efficiency and growth. Many younger advocates of socialism are not fully equipped to understand the historical failures of this ideology. A

s more people embrace socialism, the decisions in the Democratic Party are bound to cause polarization within and also further alienation of the voter base. This will undoubtedly impact the electoral process. When the centralism of power in government takes hold, individual liberties are at stake. One need only to look at Venezuela and its socialist policies, which led to economic decline and social unrest.

We need to look at the whole picture, not the pretty propaganda that gets thrown in our faces. Abstain from name calling. Instead do your homework, and make a choice based on the facts.

Mary Mager

Fairport, formerly of Albion