The democrat issue is not economy, fool

The Democratic Party has reacted to the series of recent election losses, repeating once again that it needs a better economic message. Head of the Senate Minorities Charles E. Schumer said the <x0-democrats need a strong, bold, sharp and sensitive economic agenda”. The only disagreement within the party is how tough and left this agenda should be. More and more, however, it is clear that the problem for Democrats has little to do with the economy, and much more has to do with a group of problems that they often don't reconsider in the sphere of culture, social customs and national identity.

The democratic economic agenda is widely known to the public. More people prefer the republican tax parties' views, poverty reduction, healthcare, government benefits, even climate change and energy policies. In a recent poll, 3 out of 4 supported the rise of the minimum wage to $9. Seventy-two per cent wanted to secure pre- K (pre-school program for children at 5 years of age) for all four-year-olds in poor families. Eight in 10 favoured expanding supplementary aid in the food. It is noteworthy that each of these proposals has found support from most Republicans.

The Democracy Fund had ordered a comprehensive voter study in the 2016 presidential elections, and a researcher known as Lee Droutsman presented its first key find: “The main conflict that structures both sides includes questions of national identity, race and morals”. For people who voted for President Barack Obama in 2012, and then Donald Trump in 2016, Drutman found they were very close to the Democratic Party for Economic Affairs. But they were very right in their attitude towards immigrants, blacks and Muslims, and it is possible to assume that “people like me” are on the decline.

The Public Religion Research Institute has also conducted an important study to analyze the most powerful seers, if a white American working class would vote for Trump. The greatest forecaster was whether someone was identified as Republican, as a reminder, that loyalty to the party is too strong. But after that, the two best seers were “cultural shift quality” and support for deportation of undocumented immigrants. Those who thought their economic conditions were difficult or impartial means non-profit by the government were slightly more likely to vote for Hillary Clinton.

Clinton's party was careful to confront as moderate on many social issues. It had a medium position of the road on immigration and was progressive with priority on topics such as gay rights. The Democrats eventually moved courageously to the left bank in some of these areas, such as homosexual rights, an admirable sense of principle. For others, such as immigration, they did so much to judge a growing segment of democratic voters -- a process that Peter Beinart beautifully explains in the latest Atlantic issue. But in a broader sense, the Democratic Party moved left because it became a party dominated by educated professionals, and its social and cultural views naturally reflected this reality.

Party protection of minorities and celebration of diversity are genuine and commendable, but they have created a great distance between themselves and a wide generation of Middle America. This is a cultural rift that cannot be overcome by supporting smarter policies on tax loans, the re-qualification and early child education. The Democrats must speak of America's national identity in a way that highlights the common elements that bind, not the specific ones that divide it. Politics in these areas matter. The party must take a stand on immigration, which is less absoluteist and recognises both the cultural and economic costs of large-scale immigration. In some matters involving sexual orientation, they can and should affirm its principles without compromise. But it may be possible to show greater understanding about the parts of the country that disagree. California recently adopted a travel ban banning state-funded travel in eight countries with laws based on California's view of LUBT discrimination against people. Meanwhile, California has no problem paying employees to travel to such a tolerance shelter as China, Qatar and Russia.

The more I study this subject, the more I am convinced that people cast their vote largely based on an emotional connection with a candidate, a feeling they try to take advantage of each other. The Democrats must recognize this. Of course, they must remain loyal to their ideals, but still move into a large section of rural Americans, less educated, older, whiter than they understand and respect their lives, values and value. It's a much more balanced act than another push to raise the minimum wage. But this cultural sphere is the crossroads of politics today.

The Washington Post.

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