I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat and when we moved to Iowa in the mid-70s it was like living in politics heaven. We were active in our local party and we’re able to meet literally every D running for president up close and personal. Sometimes there were only a handful of people and we were able to get every question answered in depth. Those were the days. (Highlight was Jimmy Carter hands down -an absolutely brilliant and gentle man) When we moved to MN after nearly 40 years, the political scene was much different. We rarely see a candidate, much less meet one.
All of this is to say, I’ve heard hundreds of political analyses over the years but this one is spot on. Thanks.
(Also, having tried to work with fellow Ds over the years, I can agree with my husband’s opinion-Democrats, it’s like herding cats.)
Regarding the pendulum of politics, I agree that is normally what happens, yet there are other times in our history where there has been a large shift in popular ideology for one reason or another.
It happened in the 1850’s when the Democratic Party controlled by the elite slave owners tried to make this country an oligarchy, Lincoln and his new Republican Party emerged to push back and the majority of the country woke up to the fact that enslaving our Black neighbors was NOT in anyone’s best interest except the elite slave owners.
It happened in the 1930’s after the Republicans, who by that time had jumped in bed with the elite robber barons caused our economy to crash throwing us into a depression. FDR and Francis Perkins along with the Democrats in Congress created the New Deal government. People realized that the government can work for the common folk and not just big business by providing a social safety net, investing in infrastructure and regulating business to create a more level economic playing field.
It happened in the 1960’s when people realized that Jim Crow laws and discrimination SUCKS.
The last time was in the Reagan Revolution in the 80’s. The majority of Americans fell for trickle down economics. The narrative that if we just slash taxes and regulations for the people at the top of the economy, they’ll invest more, create more jobs and raise workers’ wages. Hahahahaha. We all know how THAT has been working out. Even the Democrats swung right thinking they couldn’t get elected if they didn’t move closer to the right-the Reagan Revolution was hugely popular and accepted.
I believe we are now realizing how bad Trickle Down has been and want to go back to creating a government that works for the common folk.
Grandpa Joe and the Democrats/Independents in Congress passed more legislation these last two years to help the common folk since LBJ in the 60’s.
Whether Grandpa Joe should run again, I’m not certain. He’s 656 years old with a stutter so he’s not appealing to people. I’m on the fence with that.
The tide is changing in our country, like it did in the late 1850’s, 1930’s, 1960’s and 1980’s and I welcome it.
Take a breath Corey. Enjoy the moment. We were expecting a red wave, and it didn't happen. People are conceeding. N o insurection. I'm putting up my CHristmas tree this week.
My district in SW Washington just elected a Democrat (Marie Perez) who was running against a MAGA election-denying MTG fan!! Some are calling it the upset of 2022, because no one thought this red district would ever go blue. I’m so happy! 🙌🏻
Android users can't do substack chat yet. They'll let us know when we are cool enough.
I'm pissed. The only reason I voted was to give my irate constituent letter writing the appropriate oomph. The whole thing makes me cuss a meemaw out at the lake mad. It makes me dump some Nair in some political demagogues manscaped products mad. It makes me yes I did go down on the preacher's wife for pure spite mad.
Also is it weird that I imagine some gossipy meemaw watching you with binoculars from behind her begonia patterned window dressings going "Earl that man is fighting ghosts at the battlefield again" while you're running around gesticulating and ranting..
You absolutely nailed the differences between the 2 parties!
I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat and when we moved to Iowa in the mid-70s it was like living in politics heaven. We were active in our local party and we’re able to meet literally every D running for president up close and personal. Sometimes there were only a handful of people and we were able to get every question answered in depth. Those were the days. (Highlight was Jimmy Carter hands down -an absolutely brilliant and gentle man) When we moved to MN after nearly 40 years, the political scene was much different. We rarely see a candidate, much less meet one.
All of this is to say, I’ve heard hundreds of political analyses over the years but this one is spot on. Thanks.
(Also, having tried to work with fellow Ds over the years, I can agree with my husband’s opinion-Democrats, it’s like herding cats.)
Regarding the pendulum of politics, I agree that is normally what happens, yet there are other times in our history where there has been a large shift in popular ideology for one reason or another.
It happened in the 1850’s when the Democratic Party controlled by the elite slave owners tried to make this country an oligarchy, Lincoln and his new Republican Party emerged to push back and the majority of the country woke up to the fact that enslaving our Black neighbors was NOT in anyone’s best interest except the elite slave owners.
It happened in the 1930’s after the Republicans, who by that time had jumped in bed with the elite robber barons caused our economy to crash throwing us into a depression. FDR and Francis Perkins along with the Democrats in Congress created the New Deal government. People realized that the government can work for the common folk and not just big business by providing a social safety net, investing in infrastructure and regulating business to create a more level economic playing field.
It happened in the 1960’s when people realized that Jim Crow laws and discrimination SUCKS.
The last time was in the Reagan Revolution in the 80’s. The majority of Americans fell for trickle down economics. The narrative that if we just slash taxes and regulations for the people at the top of the economy, they’ll invest more, create more jobs and raise workers’ wages. Hahahahaha. We all know how THAT has been working out. Even the Democrats swung right thinking they couldn’t get elected if they didn’t move closer to the right-the Reagan Revolution was hugely popular and accepted.
I believe we are now realizing how bad Trickle Down has been and want to go back to creating a government that works for the common folk.
Grandpa Joe and the Democrats/Independents in Congress passed more legislation these last two years to help the common folk since LBJ in the 60’s.
Whether Grandpa Joe should run again, I’m not certain. He’s 656 years old with a stutter so he’s not appealing to people. I’m on the fence with that.
The tide is changing in our country, like it did in the late 1850’s, 1930’s, 1960’s and 1980’s and I welcome it.
Michigan has a blue legislature for the first time in 40 years! And “those three women in Michigan” won (Whitmer, Nessel, Beson)!
Take a breath Corey. Enjoy the moment. We were expecting a red wave, and it didn't happen. People are conceeding. N o insurection. I'm putting up my CHristmas tree this week.
JIm Acosta quoted this last night. He felt it is what the people of the USA told the election deniers, the insurrectionists, Qanon, etc.
"Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here."
My district in SW Washington just elected a Democrat (Marie Perez) who was running against a MAGA election-denying MTG fan!! Some are calling it the upset of 2022, because no one thought this red district would ever go blue. I’m so happy! 🙌🏻
Android users can't do substack chat yet. They'll let us know when we are cool enough.
I'm pissed. The only reason I voted was to give my irate constituent letter writing the appropriate oomph. The whole thing makes me cuss a meemaw out at the lake mad. It makes me dump some Nair in some political demagogues manscaped products mad. It makes me yes I did go down on the preacher's wife for pure spite mad.
Also is it weird that I imagine some gossipy meemaw watching you with binoculars from behind her begonia patterned window dressings going "Earl that man is fighting ghosts at the battlefield again" while you're running around gesticulating and ranting..
I have a lot of these same fears about 2024. Hope we’re both just pessimists.