It is always interesting to hear the Democratic establishment whining Democratic Socialists winning in primaries – rather than seeing this as a sign of enthusiasm and engagement by young people they see it as a challenge to their entrenched interests. What is even worse is the chorus online, particularly on BlueSky, by so-called ‘enlightened centrists’ by claiming that ‘moderates get things done’ even though all evidence points to the contrary.
Why do I say that? because it is the moderates, not the left wing who have undermined both Obama and Biden when they were in power. It was the moderates who took the ACA who undermined the most progressive parts, there was the Connecticut Independent Senator Joe Lieberman (put up by such Democrats as being the embodiment of moderation) who threatened a filibuster if the public option wasn’t taken out – the public option being one of the few ways to keep the private sector in check.
Then there was the ‘Build Back Better’ bill that was undermined by once again moderate Democrats by getting on television and spreading half baked justifications with the two most prominent people being Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin (although there were reports of another 8 senators who were unwilling to support it – as I like to call them, the treacherous ten) – talking about the enormous cost while leaving out the tax increases at the top end of town to pay for it. Then there were claims that the impact would be inflationary while ignoring that it wasn’t adding new money into the system but taxes being used to pay for it.
What was the consequence of the undermining these two big pieces of legislation? in the 2010 midterms the Democratic Party lost control of the house because voters felt that after giving the Democratic Party a mandate to make major changes they instead did a wimpy compromised half baked solution rather than the robust response that the moment demanded. Then in 2021 there was a the Build Back Better build that was once again a vision to address systemic problems – a once in a lifetime opportunity to make real changes to impact the lives of ordinary Americans and once again it was undermined by so-called ‘moderates’.
What was the consequence of these so-called moderates undermining progressive change? low voter turnout and some even throwing their hands up in the air and voting Republican. What was the response by moderates when they lost power? ah yes, the usual chestnut of complaining about ‘woke culture’ and ‘identity politics’ even though it was their obstruction of progressive reforms that could have won back middle and working class voters who had abandoned the Democratic Party for Trump because they felt like they had nothing to lose.
The greatest threats to the Democratic Party don’t come from the Democratic Socialists but instead the wishy-washy moderates who, when the moment calls for bold solutions they instead find refuge in mediocre half baked solutions that have minimal impact in the lives who are really doing it tough. Democrats need to learn that when you have a majority then you use it, you act with a unified voice and you deliver – if that means getting rid of the filibuster then do it. The right wing aren’t scared of wielding power when they have it so neither should the left be scared of their own shadow when it comes to having the power in their hands to make transformational change.
I avoid caffeine 3-4 hours before I go to bed because I find that if I have coffee too close to bed time results in me being able to get to sleep. I also like to go for at least an 8-10 km walk before having a shower then heading to bed – some people find it difficult to get to sleep after a work out but for me I fall asleep a a lot easier when I’m tired resulting in me being able to fall asleep quicker. Probably the last but most important one, don’t use your phone or computer 30 minutes to 1 hour before going to bed – even if you just lay there listening to a podcast or the radio, just allow your brain to relax and unwind by not having constant stimulus.
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