He Is Us

In 1813, U.S. Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry said, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” In 1970, Pogo said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” I couldn’t swear to this, but I think Pogo may have been a Democrat. His comment on human hypocrisy, where we are the source of our own worst problems, is wholly appropriate today.

With a sitting Republican president who is widely unpopular, the Democrats have an almost clear road to flipping both the House and Senate. But, if anyone can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, look no further than the Democratic Party. Being left of center wasn’t good enough, so they (33%) decided to identify with democratic socialism. Did they sleep through marketing 101 and not know that branding is everything? Do they not know that the mere mention of socialism sets off flashing lights and raises red flags? Do they not realize that once that word is uttered nothing is heard?

It really doesn’t matter that we already practice socialism through Social Security and Medicare and other mutually beneficial programs. It doesn’t even matter that the Trump administration has used government money to buy an interest in corporate portfolios. He added six companies in July bringing the total U.S. corporate investment portfolio to 30. That’s not just socialism, but a major factor in the dreaded C-word with its public ownership of the means of production.

Most Americans don’t understand the nuanced differences between major political ideologies. This is the buzzword generation with short attention spans. These are people who barely look up from their screens long enough to avoid walking into walls and has to wait for someone to honk a horn to let them know that the light has changed. Say socialism and they hear communism. Democratic socialism may sell in a few niche areas of the country, but it won’t fly in most of the “fly-over” states.

As we saw with the radical right takeover of the former Republican Party, radical isn’t really working out for anyone. Democrats should learn that radical anything is a recipe for disaster. They should find common ground in the middle and address problems shared by all. Fight for affordable housing, sane border control and sound immigration management. Fight for education and healthcare. Support our police and law enforcement agencies with reasonable reform measures. Most important of all, be electable.

I think AOC and Bernie Sanders are nice people with good intentions who will never be elected to any office at a national level. It’s time to stop knee-jerk reactions to what’s wrong with this country and it’s time to begin working to make life better for working Americans. It will be a tough fight because, as they say in poker, “money talks and bullshit walks.” Wealthy America and big corporations have money and the courts on their side, but the people have the numbers and we can still vote. If we don’t act fast, even that last freedom, the right to vote, will be in jeopardy.

These next few election cycles may be all important. The right is already threatening military intervention in the election process. They have made key personnel placements in election management. The stage is set with unsubstantiated claims of massive voter fraud to warrant federal interference in upcoming elections. Democrats don’t need the added handicap of misunderstood socialism to add to their woes. It will be difficult enough as it is.