Two historians have said that the Democratic Party was wrong to overlook Bernie Sanders' policies for working class people.

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.

  • Verdant Banana@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1959·
    12 hours 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

    • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
      391·
      11 hours 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
        124·
        10 hours 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.

    • orclev@lemmy.world
      501·
      11 hours 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.

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
      212·
      11 hours 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.mlEnglish
        8·
        10 hours 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
      91·
      10 hours 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
      41·
      10 hours ago

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