The Thing About Democrats

To the Editor:

There’s been a lot of buzz about weak, woke, and corrupt Democrats; a fair portion amongst themselves. I do not believe weak is appropriate, and I actually disagree they are weak, nor is woke a bad thing as implied. The sidenote here presents the bigger problem in which Democrats describe themselves this way. Self deprecation, along with a lack of message, pushed Democrats into a netherworld with no map to help guide them outside this perception by voters and of themselves.

Weak does not describe the Democratic Party. Unfocused describes the Democratic Party, which, in turn, makes them appear weak. The 2024 presidential election proved this. Harris was all substance but couldn’t conjure a clear and present message. A message, be it a short phrase or sentence, helps people focus on the candidate’s ethereal intentions. The substance exists for the inquisitive nerds who require proof, e.g., policy stances on the issues. Harris talked all day about policy; great for the nerds and not so great for us normies. Meanwhile, her opponent’s message tapped into fear, hate, racism, and ignorance to, well, everything. That made people feel good about their own weaknesses; so her opponent won. Harris appeared condescending without a message which shifted all voter demographics away; so she lost.

Democrats also attempt to revere people like Liz Cheney who, while in office, was actually a typical Republican. She almost always voted keep that in mind, VOTED - against the exact causes the majority of Democrats champion including basic human rights, environmental regulation, and abortion access. The frenemy of your enemy is not your friend. People may believe such alliances provide a more balanced playing field by overthrowing the current crime boss and allowing a more equal distribution of power and opportunity. This is simply not true. You are essentially supporting the opposing crime syndicate by supporting the “man on the inside”, or woman as it were. However, that person will turn on you in a heartbeat as it suits them should they gain more power.

Stuff like this shows the Democrats’ nature to dig their own graves. Harris coalesced with the Cheneys and no one of import, i.e., voters, bought it. Democrats thought reaching across the aisle of the political past demonstrated their negotiating abilities and the leanings of the old Republican guard. However, they failed to realize the old Republican guard was just that, old. The antic accomplished nothing against the new, TikTok Republican prowess that encouraged swing voters to feel good about their own ignorance by justifying their fear.

Democrats have been so hard on themselves to make sure to include so many people that they lost their focus of purpose, and they keep coming back full circle to doing nothing. While that is not completely true, they definitely lost the ability to sell themselves and so it feels as if they are doing nothing. They lost their message and now cannot find it. In essence, they tried too hard to be moderate. By attempting to embrace the opposition they appeared to justify the fear of the antiwoke to the point it paradoxically doomed inclusivity.

Regarding woke, it’s just an idea of inclusivity. And if you say you are antiwoke you are saying that you are extremely prejudiced, likely to the point of racism. Your actual race in this construction does not matter. Just because white people have been the proprietors of racism doesn’t make racism an exclusive club. And when you look at this as an even playing field - when you look at this as everyone being created equal - that inherently means everyone is capable of being an *insert expletive*. It doesn’t matter if you are white, black, Hispanic, Palestinian, East Indian, or whatever. If you’re antiwoke and don’t consider yourself racist it is likely your prejudice just hasn’t manifested into racism yet.

Lastly, Democrats are no strangers to corruption. Whether we like it or not, cryptocurrency may be a viable economic strategy. It’s probably not going anywhere as it tends to help smaller countries create more inclusive economies. However, current United States trends with crypto feel scammy. That’s because all sorts of scams exist and plenty of politicians vie to board the crypto scam train versus treating it like a commodity. Corporate Dems want their share and currently seek to help pass a crypto bill that will increase profits mostly for wealthy politicians and scammers while contributing only minutely to the economy. Government positions are not a place for personal business.

At the core of the Democratic Party exists the capacity for good. The mid 20th century showed us what it could accomplish with legislation like The New Deal and later policies toward racial integration. The party’s progress proved Democrats could break away from the racist bigots from which it originated and start moving toward something better.

Right now, many flinch on basic human rights despite advocating how they stand with everyone. They were too obsessed with a has-been president when he was not in office because they could not focus on the big picture anymore. That’s who defined and continues to define Democrats, a has-been. And now they flail, punching up at the Republicans with no clear path forward to bring justice back to the American citizens and its immigrants. They seek more moderate versions of themselves which, at this time, postures closer to racist bigots once again. Now is not the time for moderation. Now is the time to be bold. Are Democrats capable?

Justin McCord La Grange