Just a quick reminder that the progressive agenda which Sen Bernie Sanders has been pushing is extremely popular with the American people.
For example, take single payer. Examine these results from Pew polls
As the linked article suggests, ”A majority of Americans say it is the federal government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have health care coverage. And a growing share now supports a “single payer” approach to health insurance.”
Undoubtedly, a lot of Democrats will likely find a winning electoral message by latching themselves to this position. Al Franken, for example, has stated that “Senator Sanders’ "Medicare for All" bill lays down an important marker to help us reach that goal” and refers to Sanders’ bill as aspirational. Others will be where Sanders long has been. He has said, for example, that while Obamacare was better than nothing, it “doesn’t go nearly far enough” and is, in fact, a “good Republican program.” Which, it is. The contrast position is this: a universal single-payer Medicare for all, inspired by health care programs in Europe and Canada. Thankfully, as Senator Franken recognizes, this is a goal that now appears to be sufficiently aspirational for Democrats and even sizable numbers of independent leaning voters.
Bernie Sanders is many things, but in my eyes, he is also a visionary. But even more than this, the American people actually agree with his agenda.
They agree with reducing economic inequality
The agree with tackling climate change
They support single payer
They know that the wealthy don’t pay their fair share of taxes
They want the minimum wage raised
They sense that we are increasingly an oligarchy, even if they don’t necessarily use that word
They support making public college tuition free
They support fair trade, not neoliberal free trade agreements
They want to get big corporate $$ out of elections
They are critical of Trump
In fact, it may turn out that Americans are more the democratic socialists than they may just realize.
And so, here is a strategy for Democrats moving forward. Look at what Americans believe and address these beliefs. Look, for example at this and see what people say about vested and powerful interests. Find messengers who can speak to this and the policies that address this. in doing so, move the country forward and contrast this with Trump’s racist and unpopular faux populism.