Washington Post: The Democrats' most salient, combustive and unifying idea

[DemocracyMouse]

At this stage it's not about Warren, Booker, De Blasio or Sanders. It's about understanding the underlying forces at work in this country... about empathy for the millions of people such forces are affecting.

It's about putting forth a vision that can shed light on all the other issues. May the Democrats work together to forge this unifying vision.

Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hey-democrats-whats-the-big-idea/2018/05/15/daab0926-5880-11e8-858f-12becb4d6067_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.3c083d079c81

Sanders, with one presidential run under his belt, was better than most at articulating a unified theory. He spoke of tuition-free public universities, ending institutional racism and the war on drugs, reforming criminal justice and immigration, and fighting climate change — “but there is one issue out there which is so significant and so pervasive that, unless we successfully confront it, it will be impossible for us to succeed on any other of these important issues.”

And that is inequality. “The oligarchy in this country, whose greed is insatiable, is destroying Lincoln’s view of America, our vision of America, and is leading us to a government of the few, by the few and for the few.”

This is a big idea. Maybe the big idea. Whoever can best make that case should lead the Democrats in 2020.

[JoeOtterbein]

1. Err, duh?

Or we could stay with the anti-Dem Underground and lose again!

[DemocracyMouse]

2. This post was about unifying the Democrats around forging a powerful, driving vision.

It's not about put-downs. It's not about defeatism. It's about saving our country, maybe even the planet. Please be constructive.

[JoeOtterbein]

3. Thanks but then, BE HAPPY!!!!

The progressives in PA WON Tonight!!!!

And I'm so HAPPPY!!!!!

WE won!!!!!!

[Sophia4]

4. Good post. Thanks.

Inequality based on race and income, gender, gender preference, it's all about the same divisive politics that we have to respond to in 2020.

It's good to see so many women running for office now. I say that because I am a woman. But it isn't just about women. It's also about working men (and women), Hispanics, African-Americans, LGBTs and all minories. It is always good to see people successfully overcoming discrimination and barriers that should not exist.

And behind all these barriers is the effort of the extremely wealthy and powerful to grab and maintain even more power for themselves.

Discrimination takes a lot of forms.

We need to have policy proposals and a campaign focused on greatly diminishing inequality in America.

[PaulX2]

5. The Billionaires Are Killing Us, Destroying Our Planet, And Not Paying Jack Sh*t In Taxes And...

They run our government as their personal cash machines. Even when they get caught paying bribes they are never prosecuted.

Our children face poor job prospects because of robots and AI, trillions and trillions in debt, and a collapsing environment EVERYWHERE.

This needs to be addressed.

A winning message.

[stuffmatters]

7. Well put.

[elleng]

15. Yes

[pnwmom]

6. Bernie's big idea was about economic equality, which he implied would lead to

equality in general. It doesn't.

[Uncle Joe]

10. The 1960s might disagree with you

Economic equality was much better than it is today and by coincidence it also happened to coincide with dramatic social gains ie: civil rights and womens' rights.

[Squinch]

8. THE big idea is repealing Citizens United and stopping the wholesale theft of our government by

foreign and domestic criminals.

[yurbud]

20. until Citizens United is repealed I'd settle for candidates who not only refuse

corporate money, but pledge to NEVER work as lobbyists, corporate lawyers, corporate execs, or do nothing board members when they leave office, and not accept any contributions for any foundation or whatever.

It should be public service, not an internship for your corporate job.

[machoneman]

9. Bernie and Stein can unify Democrats....

by never running again and getting behind the man or woman garnering the most support before the next Presidential election!

[DemoHack]

12. Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have a winner!
But they won't - their egos are the size of Jupiter.

[populistdriven]

17. Hillary and Jill Stein can unify Democrats by never running or speaking in public again.

hurts when the shoe is thrown at you doesn't it.

[DemoHack]

13. That's not a very concise message.

New Deal, New Frontier, and Great Society are slogans with easily understandable messages right behind them. That? That's several pessimistic-sounding platitudes that people can't repeat like "Make America Great Again" or "Morning in America" or "Compassionate Conservatism."

Let alone, how do you even get a program and platform behind such a message? One that appeals to the mainstream 55%-ish center-left?

Good thing there's lots of time to think about this, since 2018 precedes 2020.

[Blue_Tires]

14. "inequality" is a bit vague, isn't it?

Maybe narrow the scope a little?

[Hassler]

16. Given our under-siege schools, better find a simpler term for voters than oligarchs

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

18. Yes, Dems must have a simple and powerful idea which

Bernie articulated so well- "We want a government that works for all Americans, not just wealthy ones. "
Roger, over and out!

[DemocracyMouse]

19. He's a great public speaker. Democrats could pivot off his example.

...and some new leadership might even be forged by noting his emphasis on repeating a unifying theme. It's not about Bernie, it's about the rigged system at the center of our society which Bernie articulates so well. Warren has made great strides doing the same. I'd like to see Kennedy give it a shot. Or any of the younger folks.

But, frankly, age is only an issue if an actual age-related affliction has set in. Bernie had the youth vote in the primaries as I recall. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is doing push-ups and planks! (Go RBG!).

But I'll take any Dem who can inspire the nation.

[Alethia Merritt]

21. Funny how the woman whose theme was "Stronger Together" is seen as a divider and men who

opposed her, both in the primary and the national elections, who ran on destroying a nation and one who ran on destroying a party are seen as unifiers. Go figure.

[DemocracyMouse]

22. Really? So nobody should have campaigned in the primaries but Hillary Clinton?

PEOPLE! Stop quibbling! Focus on the message, not the messenger!