As much as I despise our current President, watching his administration disastrously (and embarrassingly) blunder through its first 100 days brings Spazzie no joy. Chairman Nunes has yet to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation, and Congressional Republicans prevailed in their quests to deny women access to affordable mammograms and pap smears, and deprive anyone who has an internet connection of essential privacy protections.
Bubba and I were discussing how broken things are (well, Bubba was discussing, Spazzie was mostly ranting), and Bubba rolled with “Do we have a broken government, or do we have a broken party system? Apparently, our government works, because we don’t live in a failed state. When the same party has the White House, the Senate, the House, and still can’t get legislation passed? I say we have a broken party system.”
Yes. We have a broken party system. Now, I damn sure bleed blue. I believe, without question, the Republicans’ policies are disastrous for anyone who isn’t super-rich or a corporation. But where are the Democrats?
For a supposedly progressive party, Democrats in Congress are sickly and meek when it comes to fighting for policies that can improve the lives of Americans. Polices that protect our civil liberties, increase social and economic equality, provide affordable housing, protect our planet, and ensure that subsequent generations can realize upward mobility and prosperity.
I understand that creating good policy that addresses the needs of a diverse citizenry is hard. It’s especially difficult when our representatives exclusively represent their wealthy donors. Democrats are collaborators in a party system that rewards ideologues who refuse to govern, not moderates motivated to pass effective public policy.
The Washington Post’s new tagline is “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” You know what else kills democracy? Big money influence and a lack of commitment to a progressive agenda.
Do I, as a Democrat, feel invested and empowered? I do not, although Dems are spamming the fuck out of me with donation requests. And I give to particular candidates but fuck me; I want a return on my investment! Stop asking me for money to fight the Republicans’ conservative agenda, while rolling over when Republicans select a right-wing judicial activist for appointment to the Supreme Court!
Democrats need to stop fucking about and get down to work.
