A few of our stories and columns are now in front of the paywall. We at The Chief-Leader remain committed to independent reporting on labor and civil service. It's been our mission since 1897. You can have a hand in ensuring that our reporting remains relevant in the decades to come. Consider supporting The Chief, which you can do for as little as $3.20 a month.
To the editor:
“Men are not bound by their predetermined destinies but by their thoughts and beliefs.” So said Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The Democratic Party, once a steadfast advocate for the middle class, has strayed from its path. Middle-class voters who supported the party have felt disenfranchised.
During the Roosevelt Dispensation, Democrats dominated federal elections, securing the White House from 1933 to 1953, 1961 to 1969, and 1977 to 1981. Led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, progressives championed progressive rulings, leading to substantial growth and improved well-being, including long-awaited social reforms.
During the 1930s, working-class Americans held a profound respect for Roosevelt and the Democratic Party, a support that endured for three generations. But this support gradually shifted to the Republican Party because of the Democratic Party’s departure from FDR’s ideological framework, which advocated for government intervention and a commitment to the interests of the common people. This shift gained momentum in the early 1980s and intensified during the Clinton administration.
Barack Obama’s failure to fulfill his campaign promises further contributed to this trend. Consequently, the Democratic Party has distanced itself significantly from FDR’s New Deal policies.
In a polarized America, Roosevelt’s four freedoms — of speech, of worship, from want and from fear — offer hope and freedom. Both parties should uphold these tenets, not disregard them.
What happened to my father’s Democratic Party?
Robert Sica
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Admin
I never thought I'd see a superb Robert Sica letter that says exactly what I think! I love it!
Wednesday, April 30 Report this
reenjoe
Robert, I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment.
However, to answer your question - our father's Democratic Party changed because we did. Working class folks left the Dems in 1980 when they bought into the GOP narrative that "government is the problem", a phrase Reagan rode into office. Working folks began shunning candidates promoting the common good, a pro-active government and the FDR framework that built the middle class. New Deal policies were being looked upon by a large swath of the electorate as "give aways to society's takers" and robber barons became "job creators" in their eyes. Even Unions were demonized by those working for a paycheck.
When Clinton took office, the GOP had held the Whitehouse for 20 of the prior 24 years. Clinton raised taxes on the wealthy, which balanced the budget, but also lost Dems the House only two years into his first term. We share the blame for ending the momentum that Clinton might have created by making Newt Gingrich the Speaker. As with all organizations, the Dems had to adapt, so they moved RIGHT.
Obama had the same problem. Only two years after Republicans DESTROYED the economy, WE gave them back the House and two years later the Senate. Obama could get nothing passed for his last 6 years. A wasted opportunity of our own making.
"The fault lies not in our stars, but in ourselves" - William Shakespeare
Thursday, May 1 Report this
JDonne
The contemporary Democratic Party has strayed from FDR’s principles. It’s become an elitist entity influenced by radical-left ideologues seeking to impose their ideologies on the middle-class, facing economic challenges.
((The letter writer accurately points out that the party abandoned Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ideological framework, which advocated for government intervention and a commitment to the interests of the common people.)
To restore its principles, The Democratic Party must emulate Franklin D. Roosevelt’s guiding principles.
The majority of Americans do not identify as left-wing or right-wing ideologues; rather, they tend to hold centrist political views.
"Observe moderation; it’s best in all things."
-Hesiod-
.
Friday, May 2 Report this
reenjoe
The second sentence in JDonne comment "It’s become an elitist entity influenced by radical-left ideologues seeking to impose their ideologies on the middle-class, facing economic challenges." is exactly the attitude that brought Newt Gingrich, John Boehner and Mitch McConnell into positions that derailed the FDR wing of the Democratic party.
After the Dems were shellacked in the 1994 midterms, Clinton moved the party to the RIGHT. In the years since, Dems helped pass GOP top-heavy tax cuts, remove protective regulations FDR and other Dems enacted and fought against a single-payer healthcare system.
I only wish Dems stayed LEFT where FDR guided the party. FDR created Social Security, hired WPA workers to do everything from road work to art, set the Fair Labor Standards Act, funded bread lines for Americans out of work, established the SEC to stop Wall St cheats, unemployment insurance and more. While FDR refused to wear the "Liberal" label, his actions said otherwise. FDR was a lot closer to AOC and Elizabeth Warren than he was the Joe Manchin or Bill Clinton.
Tuesday, May 6 Report this