Exactly. The "center" is where neoliberalism lives and where the true reform we need goes to die. The "center" is where wealthy donors call the shots, and where party politicians run to in order to avoid being tagged with that donor-hostile label of "progressive." No wonder we are making no progress on true universal healthcare, extended parental leave, affordable higher education, eliminating predatory student loan debt, and campaign finance reform. All of these things are viewed by the center as too far left, and their advocates are considered unrealistic and unelectable. The center believes we have to use "common sense" in terms of these issues. This is not common sense -- it is blatant disregard for the needs of the American people. A healthcare system that includes everyone is common sense! The ability of students to attend college without punishing loan debt is common sense! Giving new parents ample time to bond with their children is common sense!
Well written, lots of excellent points that are very elegantly stated. I agree we need revolution but the first step is repealing Citizens United, term limits, limits on gerrymandering, reducing the special benefits congresspeople receive. Considering those structural problems in our democracy, it seems impossible to elect representatives with the guts to do right by the most constituents and actually tackle real societal problems.
Stacey, while I agree with the general thinking of your piece, I wonder gently if you are using the term neoliberalism correctly. You seem to be employing it to define the current - and I agree completely ineffective - path of the Democratic Party. I believe (with a little help from Wikipedia) the term to mean the reinvention of conservatism - back to its “liberal” roots when that term meant a hands off, laissez-faire approach to govt which characterised the Reagan-Bush era. I agree that neoliberalism has laid the groundwork for the fascism we are enduring now. But I believe the term more properly applies to conservatives and not to today’s Democratic Party, if it can be considered liberal, and not just feckless or complicit as you suggest.
Boom! Nailed it.
More of what we have and don’t want, just wrapped in prettier paper.
Exactly. The "center" is where neoliberalism lives and where the true reform we need goes to die. The "center" is where wealthy donors call the shots, and where party politicians run to in order to avoid being tagged with that donor-hostile label of "progressive." No wonder we are making no progress on true universal healthcare, extended parental leave, affordable higher education, eliminating predatory student loan debt, and campaign finance reform. All of these things are viewed by the center as too far left, and their advocates are considered unrealistic and unelectable. The center believes we have to use "common sense" in terms of these issues. This is not common sense -- it is blatant disregard for the needs of the American people. A healthcare system that includes everyone is common sense! The ability of students to attend college without punishing loan debt is common sense! Giving new parents ample time to bond with their children is common sense!
Well written, lots of excellent points that are very elegantly stated. I agree we need revolution but the first step is repealing Citizens United, term limits, limits on gerrymandering, reducing the special benefits congresspeople receive. Considering those structural problems in our democracy, it seems impossible to elect representatives with the guts to do right by the most constituents and actually tackle real societal problems.
Stacey, while I agree with the general thinking of your piece, I wonder gently if you are using the term neoliberalism correctly. You seem to be employing it to define the current - and I agree completely ineffective - path of the Democratic Party. I believe (with a little help from Wikipedia) the term to mean the reinvention of conservatism - back to its “liberal” roots when that term meant a hands off, laissez-faire approach to govt which characterised the Reagan-Bush era. I agree that neoliberalism has laid the groundwork for the fascism we are enduring now. But I believe the term more properly applies to conservatives and not to today’s Democratic Party, if it can be considered liberal, and not just feckless or complicit as you suggest.
Thanks for your thoughts Michael, it’s appreciated!