Not Fade Away

NOT FADE AWAY

By Deborah Long

As we enter the 2019 campaign season, the Democratic Party faces a national crisis of confidence. The country is so disillusioned with both political parties that the vitriol emanating from the zero-sum tactics of the Republican Party has convinced voters that our elections are hopelessly invalidated by fraud. We stand the chance that, unless the Democrats are willing to use the same rancorous tactics that gave Donald Trump his triumph, that we’ll lose America’s waning attention span. Americans increasingly want their bread and circuses with a side of spectacle, and Republicans are willing to concoct some gladiatorial masterpieces in order to deliver. The electorate has been masterfully cultivated to believe that corruption is equally distributed among both parties and that the only objective of politicians is to preserve their own power – even if their actions endanger our national security or immiserate those among us who have no voice.

I wish that Democratic leaders and all Democratic candidates would agree to begin each and every stump speech – every interview and every handshake on the road - with the recitation of a statement of Democratic Party principle. It should not include what the Democrats will give to its voters; it should be what the party stands for. A declaration that addresses the concerns of today - something like this:

“The Democratic Party will not condone any racist or bigoted rhetoric among its candidates; it will not tolerate even one policy that steals from the poor to give to the rich; it will not permit among its candidates or legislators even one utterance of anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim rhetoric, or any debasement of the poor, of women, of immigrants, or people of color. The Democratic Party is defined by its deeply held belief that freedom of speech and preserving the rights of a free press are precious jewels in American’s crown of freedom and liberty. Any candidate or legislator who has committed crimes or has shown evidence of questionable character, will immediately be culled from its ranks. And anyone who is a member of the Democratic Party who deviates from the ideals that define it, shall not be permitted to represent it”.

Cue the cynics…. And sure, we might have to look at some of our own and maybe replace them with younger, more idealistic progressives. But in light of the massive corruption in American politics and the loss of faith in our institutions - compliments of Donald Trump and his reprehensible party – we need to stop with the bread and circuses and tell people, as if it were a mantra – a sacrament, why the Democratic Party can be trusted to speak for them once again.

Deborah Long is a Principal at Development Management Group, Inc.  and founder of several non-profit charitable organizations.  If you find her perspectives interesting, controversial, or provocative, follow her at:  https://www.facebook.com/debby.long.98499?ref=br_rs