General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Beware of People Pretending to Be on Our Side [View all]betsuni
(25,380 posts)The People's Party/Sunrise Movement/third parties/populists (one name I can't say who is responsible for much of the damage) -- claiming to be on the Left but considers the Democratic Party/liberals corrupt/immoral/evil/ideologically bankrupt/elites: the true roadblock to progress because beholden to wealthy donors, corporations, billionaires, Wall St., Big Pharma, etc., with the same economic policies (ignoring working/middle classes) as Republicans, but worse because they could pass progressive polices if they wanted to but don't (FDR and LBJ are often mentioned but that they had large majorities in Congress and a non-insane opposition party is top secret). Lesser of two evils, half a "bowl of shit" and so on. Ignorance of how government works and history are essential for believers.
The Democratic Party is the progressive party.
The ideology insists dysfunction in government is only because of money in politics, everyone's corrupt except for them. Populists need lots of enemies but the Republican Party isn't one (they think Republican voters suffer from economic anxiety (because Democrats ignore them) and they're actually democratic socialists waiting to join the working class revolution against the 1%). Therefore the Democratic Party must be replaced by true progressives who are pure and righteous. A crusade/revolution.
Same progressive goals as the Democratic Party, but when there are slight policy differences, demonize Democrats by attacking character as corrupt, immoral and evil. The label "progressive" is denied to Democrats, replaced by "corporate Dems," "neoliberals," establishment," "elites" "status quo" and other insulting buzzwords. They believe lots of myths: bully pulpit, purity tests, misinformation.
It's a long story. Republicans have horribly polarized the country, and this absolutely unnecessary non-Republican polarization encourages cynicism
I highly recommend this book, available in full online that explains (the only source I've found that really does). Steven Stoft's "Ripped Apart, How Democrats Can Fight Polarization to Win."