Moving the Democratic Party More Left

I have frequently spoken and lamented that the Republican Party has moved so far to the right that it bears no resemblance to the Republican Party of my youth in the 40’s and 50’s; becoming radically right and becoming the toadies of the wealthy. Others have said there is not even a single Republican Party but five of them all with significantly different positions. I would like to see a more centrist Republican Party capable for negotiating with Democrats for the common good as once was true.

But the same critical eye needs to be applied to the Democratic Party, which also has moved significantly to the left and has also become toadies of the wealthy. All of Washington seems to have become a elaborate club of politicians who are mainly interest in getting elected and re-elected rather than serving their constituents. To that end they all are lead by the nose by the extreme wealthy and have done incredible harm to the country, that is the middle and poorer economic classes. Both parties have succumbed to the ethics of efficacy rather principles of civilization that are for the common good – treating ones neighbor as you would treat yourself.

I also see hope on the horizon. I do see truly progressive politicians that seem to honor time accepted virtues of political responsibility. Two of the best examples would be Senator Elizabeth Warren and here in Wisconsin, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Hillary Clinton.

Recently the Republican leadership condemned President Obama for making yet another speech on the economy instead of doing things to make jobs and provide means to improve their lives. They did this while continuing to block legislation that would make that a possibility.

Elizabeth Warren has made great efforts to address the loan debts of students in this country so they will not be tied to huge debt while pursing the American dream of upward mobility through education. She also works hard to revive the Glass-Steagall act dealing with the banking abuses in our country as they gamble with investors money and when they lose, get bailed out by tax payers while their CEO’s get pay raises.

In my opinion modern Democrats are not moderate but have moved to the left by a significant measure. President Obama I believe has the right instincts but is too inclined to compromise with Republicans and perhaps is too practical of leader; then perhaps he just doesn’t have a choice.

We need real progressives such as Warren and Baldwin and grass roots organizations strongly supporting them to get this country back on tract.

What is lacking even among these progressives is the most important problem in this country – election reform. Until we can get the big money out of the election process we are doomed to continue to have a plutocracy rather than a democracy.

I wonder how the founding fathers would view and deal with the country we have today which is so different that the American they lived in and created our democracy. We need a significant update if not an entire reboot to recapture their dreams in this era.

I believe the country is open to progressive ideas whether they come from the right or the left but we need powerful spokespersons to help get us united in these efforts.