By Matt Underwood Democrats Are in Crisis. Eat-the-Rich Populism Is the Only Answer.
The Democrats are in a tough spot, and it’s time to acknowledge that the old playbook isn’t working. People are feeling left behind, and the economic landscape feels rigged. What’s the answer? A potent dose of “eat-the-rich” populism. This isn’t just about being anti-billionaire; it’s about recognizing that the system is designed to benefit a select few at the expense of everyone else.
The history books offer a clear roadmap, pointing to the need to return to pro-worker, pro-labor principles. We’ve seen it work before. Think of Theodore Roosevelt, who wasn’t afraid to take on the mega-companies and the super-rich. The core issue is the same: a system controlled by a few, while everyone else struggles. The solution? An economic message that resonates with the masses, a call to arms against those at the top. It’s about more than just checking boxes; it’s about changing the narrative. This is about the many against the few, with the stakes being everyday life itself.
For decades, the focus has been on the financial needs of the ultra-wealthy, while millions of Americans are struggling. This strategy hasn’t worked. We should look back to the policies of the past, specifically the tax rates of the mid-30s until 1981, when wages and worker productivity moved higher in lockstep. The solution is wealth tax, ensuring that wealth gained is shared with society.
It is time to embrace a spirit like FDR’s. He famously embraced the hatred of the wealthy to fight for the working class. The aim is to lift all Americans to a decent life, not to let the elite keep everything. The emphasis needs to be on creating a system of assistance so people can go to college and make the middle class.
This is a shift away from the Democrats’ focus on the rich, as these past administrations were focused on pocketbook issues. Democrats need to challenge the class divide. The party needs to build policy that redistributes power and resources downward. Working people are apathetic because both parties protect the rich.
The answer is not to embrace the mindless populism of the past. Rather, the answer is an unapologetic left-wing populism. It is essential to directly call out the billionaires who rig the system, show how concentrated wealth undermines democracy, and build policy that redistributes power and resources downward.
Economic mobility in the US has stagnated. This challenge can be addressed through progressive policies. The issue is more than just jobs, but the availability of GOOD paying jobs. There are issues with housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and childcare,
The rich have historically built a system where others fail. Capitalism can’t be sustainable if it can’t be effectively regulated. To defeat fascism, we have to defeat oligarchy.
The political environment needs to change. Citizen United needs to be repealed, wealth and income taxes for the top 1-5% of American earners need massively increasing, and universal social safety nets need re-implementing.
The current system is rigged for the wealthy, and we need to start holding them accountable. A return to the traditional Democratic values is needed. These include relief for workers, rights for workers, a minimum wage, social security, bank regulations, and the FDIC. This is the foundation of Democratic Party approval and success. The key is to fight for those who are not the elite. It’s time to go back to the roots.