u/AlexZedKawa02

So, we’ve all heard varying takes on how the Democratic Party needs to change. Some people argue that the problem is their style, particularly with how much they suck at messaging, and how they come across as out of touch to a lot of voters. Others argue that they don’t actually stand for anything (I know I’ll get a ton of comments saying this is not true, but this is what a lot of people believe, so that’s why I’m saying this), and that they need a clear policy agenda to define themselves (and whether that’s more moderate or more progressive is a debate in and of itself).

Which side of the argument do you fall under? Do you think their problem is mainly their messaging, or do they need a new (or at least updated) set of policy ideas altogether?

I found this while doomscrolling. It goes unnecessarily hard.

This is the district right next to mine (that I work in). Truly a sight to behold.

New album review for my prog metal review blog!

We've seen the redistricting war that's been going on over the past year, and it's now getting even worse with the recent SCOTUS ruling in the VRA case. At this point, if the Dems manage to win a trifecta in 2028, they must pass a bill to end gerrymandering. But of course, to do that, they'd need to overcome an inevitable GOP filibuster in the Senate. Knowing this, do you think it's worth it to abolish the filibuster altogether?

I keep going back and forth on it. On one hand, you must think about this stuff long-term, and what it means when the other party holds power, but on the other hand, some things (like ending gerrymandering) are so urgent that they must get done at all costs. My position has long been to bring back the talking filibuster, so senators would actually have to speak for hours, if not days, on end to actually filibuster, but I'm wondering what you all think.

So, this is a question I've been thinking about for a while now, basically since Trump's second term began. When he first won in 2016, I think a lot of Dems (and left-leaning people in general) were willing to write it off as a fluke. After all, he'd lost the popular vote and had come within just tens of thousands of votes across three states of losing outright. So people were willing to trust Dem leadership and the establishment to help them weather the storm. When the Dems took the House in 2018, it was mostly on the strength more moderate candidates, and that culminated in voters lining up behind the "safe" and "electable" Joe Biden as the nominee in 2020. Then he won the election and everything seemed like it was all worth it.

But now that Trump is back in power, things are a lot different. I've noticed a complete sea change happening among the Dem base, even in my personal life and off the Internet. People have completely lost trust in leadership, especially leaders like Chuck Schumer, and are gravitating towards more populist candidates. Of course, it remains to be seen which types of candidates Dems nominate in primaries this election cycle, but even the most establishment Dems are shifting their message in more populist directions (e.g. focusing on affordability and going after the billionaire class), because they know that's where the energy is.

I say all that to ask you all where you fit into this changing dynamic. Were you somebody who had a lot more faith in the establishment/leadership a decade ago than you do today? And if so, what's made you realize your attitudes needed to change?