There have been some recent books attempting to place blame on Democrats for destroying the Middle Class.
But I believe the analysis of many of such attempts miss the mark. Relatively speaking (versus other political party choices),
the Democratic party has been more pro-worker, blue- and white-collar.
Of course, I’m talking about economics here and not a
discussion of “values” and how that has been used to distract many working voters
from the economic savagery they were being subjected to, starting with Reagan’s
assault on unions.
Reagan’s presidency was the beginning of when a sufficient
number of blue collar workers chose to prioritize nationalism, militarization
and “family values” over their own economic interests. And, it has been down-hill
ever since.
It is true that Clinton’s embrace of the “moderate” Democratic Leadership Council agenda
moved the Democratic Party more towards an embrace of the Republican worship of
the free market and the havoc that wreaks when left unchecked.
This, in turn, led to disastrous policies that make both
parties culpable for gutting the rust belt, worker rights and good-paying jobs.
As our elected leaders paid lip service to the future of better-paying professional jobs,
they failed to help factory workers and the like transition to the “new
economy.”
But, choices have consequences. And as the book, “What’s the
Matter with Kansas?” points out, the working class itself made choices. And, those choices were not inconsequential. If people put as much stock in the substance
of what politicians delivered as a whole instead of being soothed by their cheap
words, single-issues or party affiliation, we’d all be a lot better off.
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