Summary

Historians suggest Democrats might have fared better against Donald Trump by embracing the economic issues championed by Senator Bernie Sanders, who has long pushed for a focus on “bread-and-butter” concerns for working-class voters.

Despite Kamala Harris’s progressive policies, polls showed Trump was favored on economic issues, particularly among working-class and Hispanic voters.

Historian Leah Wright Rigueur argued that Sanders’ messaging on economic struggles could be key for future Democratic strategies.

Sanders himself criticized the party for “abandoning” the working class, which he said has led to a loss of support across racial lines.

    • Vespair@lemm.ee
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      6 days ago

      Yes, but people forgot that his real message was to get out there an be the change. Bernie’s message was never about relying on or believing in the Democrats, it was that change only happens when we mobilize.

      He told us to get out there and run ourselves and get personally involved and invested in our local politics so we can be the revolution… We just chose not to listen to him.

      • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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        6 days ago

        People talk about “the Dems” like they are a monolith.

        AOC unseated a long term Congress member who was tightly connected to the New York power structure. She did it by hitting the streets and talking to the locals. She built up voter support and won her primary.

        I know it’s an uphill battle, but it is possible to change things.

        • Vespair@lemm.ee
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          6 days ago

          Yes, this is what I’m saying. I’m not saying take up pitchforks and bring the fight to the democrats like they’re the villain, I’m just saying not to blindly trust them either. They are a part of the system; even if not in permanent institution certainly in effect. Bernie didn’t say go fight the Dems, in fact he proved that you can strategically use them. But don’t think that D = good or D = hero automatically either.

          It’s not about fighting the dems, it’s about trusting in ourselves instead of others. It’s about autonomy and the fact that nobody is going to fight the fight for you, you’ve gotta get your knuckles dirty. Don’t trust anyone to do the work for you, red or blue; get out and do the fucking work yourself.

      • the post of tom joad@sh.itjust.works
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        6 days ago

        God i’ll never forget where i was when he dropped out. I had phone banked and donated and I was watching his concession speech just…wrecked maaan, wrecked at how the DNC et al had ratfucked him and how tilted the game was… and while I’m saltin my booze with tears someone in the group asks him “What do we do now?” and he says something like

        “Vote Dem, vote in your primaries”

        and my heart fell in that shitty whiskey with the rest. Maaaan, i never knew i still had faith to lose until that moment.

        • Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works
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          6 days ago

          Haha, I feel similar, I was really mad for a while that he just gave in, but at the same time, I think he did what he thought was best for the country at the time, Trump was and will be terrible for the country, and if the DNC was going to fuck over Bernie and he thought he couldn’t possibly win third party and if he DID fight that fight, Trump would assuredly have won.

          Of course in hindsight, he won anyway so it would have been better to take the fight to the DNC then.

    • Verdant Banana@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      It is not the voters job to embrace a progressive modern platform nor is it their job to get themselves energized over said policies

      But both parties have shoved that false belief down voters throats that is the voters’ faults when they fail to deliver

      • orclev@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        Not sure exactly the point you’re trying to make, but you’re half right. It is a politicians job to convince voters to support their policies, that’s true, but it’s also equally true that voters should support good policies. While it’s not their “job” to do so, they still suffer the consequences for failing to do so all the same. No matter how you slice it, people were stupid to not listen to Bernie all this time.

      • grue@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        In a democracy, it sure as Hell is the voters’ job to do all that. And more, for that matter.

        In fact, the voters should be controlling the parties (if not abolishing them entirely), not the other way around!

        • MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          No no no, the Democratic Party is some magical uncontrollable entity, we must abandon it, making progressive change infinitely more difficult.

          /s if it wasn’t obvious. Banana is a bad faith agitator. They desired a GOP victory.

      • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        It was the DNC’s job to be clear about Bernie’s message. I voted for him in the 2016 primary even though I was bombarded with “radical socialist regressive left” Bernie articles in my social media feeds at the time.

        Unfortunately, most Americans don’t actively seek out information and just accept the picture painted by the news that’s fed to them.

        • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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          7 days ago

          It was the DNC’s job to be clear about Bernie’s message.

          LOL the DNC has actively fought against Bernie’s message.

      • Tiefling IRL@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        7 days ago

        This is a systematic failure. Non-Harris voters are definitely at fault, but so is the DNC for moving further right and abandoning progressives and for sitting on their ass for 4 years.

      • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
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        7 days ago

        Democracy is participatory. If it isn’t your job, you can’t complain when it isn’t done to your liking.

        • Deceptichum@quokk.au
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          6 days ago

          You lot gave everyone Trump by refusing to listen to voters concerns.

          You apparently have still not learnt.

          • ThirdWorldOrder@lemm.ee
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            6 days ago

            Lol I actually voted and voted for Harris. FWIW I’m also a former Republican who voted for Trump in ‘16.

            If I’m able to fucking learn then so will all these morons who stayed home and didn’t vote because of either their apathy or “principles”.

            Those people gave Trump the path to the White House again.