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

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/21778444

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.

  • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
    ·
    14 days ago

    This assumes that Democrats want to win at any cost. Listening to Sanders is a bridge too far.

    Democrats would rather lose than do even the most tepid social democratic reformism.

    • cosecantphi [he/him]
      ·
      14 days ago

      It sucks to realize in hindsight, but if Bernie had won the 2016 primary he would have been thoroughly ratfucked as a matter of bipartisan consensus. The Democrats would have sabotaged his national campaign at every step, probably even going as far as to have a few high profile Democrats endorse a third party candidate to make sure Bernie loses.