Dems Caved. Go Figure.
Corporate Democrats have got to go. You may know them as establishment Democrats. They're the ones shaping the party in whatever likeness their corporate donors see fit; the ones with just as much of a corporate funding problem as their Republican counterparts. This week, Senate Dems made clear after the strongest Democratic election cycle in years that their priorities have nothing to do with working people.
They were willing to stand strong when federal workers were furloughed or working without pay, and when SNAP benefits were the ire of court proceedings. They knew Republicans were taking the blame, so they held their ground. What was the straw that broke the camel's back? Airlines canceling flights. All eight of the Senate Dems who betrayed the party this week have received PAC money from airline companies in the last few years. None of them are running for re-election. Senate minority leaders knew the political fallout that would take place when they bowed to their corporate donors. They made a calculated decision for the best possible strategy to shirk that fallout onto the shoulders of people who can't be held accountable at the ballot box next year.
A pinky promise to hold a meaningless vote in the Senate on the ACA subsidies does nothing when the House won't follow suit. It wasn't even a pinky promise to pass anything! Just, "We'll talk about it later, okay?" What an embarrassment. This isn't the first time this year that Schumer turned his back on people in need. People will lose their health insurance, and others will see increased premiums. As a result, people will die. But at least the airlines get to advertise those air traffic control jobs with pay, right?
This is the reason it's hard for me to find enthusiasm to organize with and for Democrats in my area. It's not because I'm a blue dot, a small minority in a very red county; it's not because I'm afraid of what people will think of me; it's not even because I find it hopeless to push back against the growing authoritarian regime. It's because Democrats have shown me time and time again that they aren't the progressive party they say they are.
If Dems are going to get anywhere, they need to scrap their entire corporate agenda, and walk the walk they like to talk.