For over four decades now—ever since Reagan’s misbegotten reign—I have watched our population increasingly divide to where it’s now almost exactly 50-50 between shining ideals and gutter ideology. Two halves of a People divided against themselves—promoted and exploited by crass inheritors of the formerly loyal GOP. Against such strategy, the Democratic Party’s ongoing official focus on worthy but ideologically divisive hot-button social issues (abortion; gender; gun control; DEI etc ad nauseum) continues to forfeit the votes of conservative-inclined lower-income voters who place far higher practical value on their stagnant income than on their social prejudices. Last year they were “promised” some attention to their paychecks, and many voted for what’s-his-name precisely for that reason. (Watch the backlash when they finally realize the betrayal.) They don’t care how many new factories we pull in, their focus is keeping their checkbook in the black month-to-month.

Relative to growth of national wealth, low-income voters haven’t had a meaningful raise since Reagan’s supply-side trickle-down scam began dismantling the New Deal. Their paychecks have kept falling farther behind ever-inflating prices for two full generations now. They lose ground. Every year homelessness increases because our critical nationwide housing shortage offers nothing they can afford anywhere near where they might hold employment. Full-Red Trumpublicans now controlling Congress and a majority of state legislatures delight in, and keep fanning, the flames of those troublemaking social issues which effectively divert and dominate most people’s outraged attention—while 1% billionaires untroubled by any social issues quietly scheme and steadily pick everybody’s pockets. We Dems are never going to win the country back unless we pay attention to low-income voters’ pocketbooks, setting aside those emotional, divisive hot buttons until AFTER we’ve won some meaningful elections and restored some Democratic control. To know the truth, always follow the dollar.

It is long evident that Democratic Party leaders at every level don’t get the dual choice highlighted here. I long for the day when the un-perceptive mindsets who’ve controlled our state and national party leadership for decades are replaced by perceptive new leaders who will, for a change, beat the drum on big income increases for everybody who’s not already rich. I have little hope for our future unless/until this fundamental change occurs. I now pound these thoughts into all quarters and urge others to do the same. I’ll turn 88 this summer and don’t have time to waste politely beating around the bush. Dammit to hell, debate the two big choices highlighted here, then get on with it. Reconstitute the basic Democratic platform, turn our obsessively-misled party around and WIN some pivotal elections for a change!