Gordon L. Weil
“This is a deeply divided country.” That statement has become part of the
national mantra.
The split is between Donald Trump and his loyal Republicans
and an ill-formed opposition. Each side embodies a collection of sentiments
and interests that cannot be explained simply in partisan political terms.
The Republicans discovered in 1994 the virtues of party discipline,
and they have increasingly set the terms of the national debate about
change. The Democrats have seen their power
fade as they coasted, propelled mainly by the dying momentum of post-World War
II democratic liberalism.
With Trump as their charismatic leader, his Republican Party
has become a strong political force. It
draws on people with a variety of interests, fears and claims.
It includes people who resent that a great nation cannot control
its own borders. Others reject traditional
Democratic big-spending policies. Many
want change, making them loyalists of a president who brings change, whatever it
may be.
The wealthy support him to obtain tax policies that further
enhance their wealth, their growing assets being used by him as a measure of national
economic health. The economy operates free
from protective constraints.
Social issues add people seeking to delay and undermine an
inevitable shift in national power from traditional white, male control to
women, Blacks and other rising groups. Their
tools include gerrymandering and voter suppression. He inflames personal social and religious beliefs
to gain votes by promising to crush alternate views and practices.
Trump has given his backers a window of opportunity. His administration has a sense of urgency
that reflects his desire to seize the moment, before it is lost. If he can cement in place the changes he is
making, it might take the nation decades to change course. He
wants his results, and he wants them now. He rejects compromise and its proponents.
He maintains his partisan support by offering a combination
of rewards for the wealthy and hope for average people. His MAGA aura may lead some to back him, even
against their
own interests.
The Trump GOP leaves behind the traditional Republicans, and
emphasizes the individual over the community.
Abandoning tradition, it does not favor weak government, preferring
strong, authoritarian power.
His efforts have not produced favorable results for Trump. A recent, reliable
poll shows that none of his key policies has majority support and that he
himself is unpopular. This may increase his
urgent need to produce measurable results.
There’s no organized opposition to the Trump GOP. The leaderless and confused Democrats offer
few positive proposals. Instead, they
continue to rely on the belief that Trump’s political and personal unpopularity
will lead his Republicans to defeat themselves, a proven failed concept. People don’t love Dems just because they don’t
like Trump.
The Democrats have failed to mobilize support, because they
are poor at communicating their position, and they lack constructive
alternatives. There’s no official party spokesperson. Too often, when they respond, Democrats rage into
democratic abstractions.
The Democrats downplay their traditional agenda in favor of
issues, while most important, do not focus on the needs of many people who are
struggling now. They fail to confront creatively
the immediate problems affecting many Americans – health care, housing, jobs, purchasing
power, equality.
Franklin D. Roosevelt offered universal policies benefitting
people without regard to whether they were northern Blacks or white poor in the
racist South. People shared common
problems that demanded common solutions.
The opposition to Trump should recreate that kind of community of interests
– a coalition of Democrats, independents and traditional Republicans.
This New Coalition must be bold. Trump builds support by his bold moves. The coalition
message must have broad appeal, prepare to be vigorously and dishonestly opposed,
and make its case well and persistently.
To broaden its appeal, it will have to rebalance the issues it
emphasizes.
The battle against climate change while ignoring transitional
job loss hasn’t worked. Trade policy has
stolen jobs. Government cannot make
vague promises about a brighter future to people worried about their jobs. It should have a carefully phased policy that
creates, say, affordable home building jobs as coal mines close, keeping people
continuously employed.
People want universal health insurance, a roof over their
heads, jobs, decent pay. When such government
help is reduced to pay for tax cuts, strong, creative and coordinated opposition
is needed. The Democrats often resort
to righteous indignation as a response, when they need a specific platform and
a voice.
Coalition policies, paid for by the community for the good
of the community, contrast with abandoning those who need help. Creative policies cost money. But there’s no humane alternative. The coalition needs a specific agenda, like
the conservatives’ Project
2025, to provide answers about covering
the cost.
Unquestionably, government must assume more responsibility
for the common interest. More tax revenues
are needed. So is tax reform, especially
of a system that benefits so few at the expense of so many.
Increased government action will
be called socialism. But that’s wrong
and must be rejected. For example, universal health insurance can be
provided through
private companies, and it works.
This frames the issue. The Trump GOP: uncompromising, authoritarian
control, reduced public services, unfair tax policy. The Coalition: restore and expand public
services, open and lawful operations, tax reform. The choice comes now.
