Too Much WOKE and not Enough Empathy

Introduction: Democrats Messaging Alienates the Working Class

Over the past 45 years, the Democratic Party has steadily alienated the working class, a voter base once central to its identity. This erosion stems from policy decisions, cultural disconnects, and an inability to address economic shifts that devastated middle- and low-income Americans. Below are ten key reasons, supported by specific examples, illustrating this disconnect.

As a simple disclaimer, I must admit that I have never voted for a Republican for any office in any election. I sat home in 2016 when the Democrats decided that it was Hillary Clinton’s time. I could not bring myself to vote for Donald Trump so I sat home. I reluctantly voted for President Biden as his record spoke volumes that he was hardly anything but a Clinton-era Democrat and as chair of the Judiciary Committee allowed Clarance Thomas to be confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice. Perhaps I am naive but in the last election, I voted for Vice President Harris despite her middle-of-the-road, standard Clinton-like posturing. From my perspective, the Democrats lost me long ago when they aligned themselves with globalization and the Randian-like protection of business interests over the welfare of the people they serve. It comes as no shock that the Democrats Messaging Alienates the Working Class with whom I identify.

In no way are the Republicans any better. The one thing, however, they have been quite good at is messaging. No matter that the promises they make are seldom favorable to any constituency save their corporate donors that subsidize their campaigns expecting loyalty to corporate greed. In short, American politics is in a state that resembles a textbook oligarchy. I say A POX ON BOTH THEIR HOUSES!

Now let’s take a closer look at the problem, a sort of self-destruction fueled by being deaf and blind by arrogance that backfired slowly over the past 45 years.

1. Abandonment of Union Advocacy

Democrats Messaging Alienates the Working Class, as they retreat from robust union support, began during the Carter administration and worsened under Bill Clinton. For example, during the 1990s, Clinton promoted pro-business policies and downplayed union concerns about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA displaced millions of manufacturing jobs, particularly in industrial states like Michigan and Ohio (Autor, Dorn, & Hanson, 2016). By prioritizing corporate growth over union-backed labor protections, Democrats alienated organized labor and its working-class members.

2. Support for Globalization Over Domestic Jobs

Another significant reason that Democrats’ Messaging Alienates the Working Class begins with the Clinton administration’s embrace of globalization devastated manufacturing hubs like Youngstown, Ohio, and Gary, Indiana. In Youngstown, the steel mills closed, leading to population declines and economic hardship. Workers blamed NAFTA and other trade deals that incentivized outsourcing to Mexico and China (Autor et al., 2016). Even Barack Obama’s administration struggled to counteract the impact of globalization, as seen when Carrier Corporation moved jobs to Mexico in 2016 despite federal incentives to stay.

3. Failure to Address Wage Stagnation

Wage stagnation is another fundamental reason that Democrat Messaging Alienates the Working Class. Since the late 1970s, wages for most American workers have stagnated despite increases in worker productivity (Economic Policy Institute, 2021). Democrats controlled Congress and the White House during pivotal years but failed to enact policies to address wage stagnation meaningfully. For example, while the Obama administration raised the federal minimum wage for federal contractors, it stopped short of passing broader wage reforms. This perceived inaction angered working-class voters, who saw their purchasing power dwindle.

4. Cultural Disconnect

Cultural messaging often prioritized progressive social issues over economic concerns. In 2016, Hillary Clinton’s campaign focused on diversity and inclusion but failed to address the economic struggles of blue-collar workers in the Rust Belt. Statements like Clinton’s 2016 “basket of deplorables” remark alienated many rural and non-college-educated voters, further reinforcing the perception of elitism. Donald Trump’s counter-messaging capitalized on these cultural divides, offering a simplified narrative about jobs and industry revitalization. The Democrats push for these and other more personal issues like abortion and gay marriage while clearly in line with the American Dream of equality for all pushing hard against religious bigotry, which turned into an anti-woke campaign that was effective in separating the Democrats from the working class.

5. Trade Policy Missteps

Trade policies like NAFTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and permanent normal trade relations with China disproportionately harmed working-class communities. In the Rust Belt, NAFTA resulted in job losses for auto and steel workers, contributing to Detroit’s economic collapse. Democrats also struggled to distance themselves from the negative effects of these policies. For example, in 2016, Bernie Sanders’ opposition to TPP gained traction with working-class voters, exposing rifts within the party over trade policy.

6. Failure to Counteract Deregulation

The Democrat support to bail out the big banks and the greed of top executives who used the available money to increase their wealth was a grave mistake allowing the working class to abandon their message and turn to the conservatives. Democratic support for financial deregulation worsened economic inequality. The repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999, signed by Bill Clinton, allowed commercial and investment banks to merge, paving the way for the 2008 financial crisis. Millions of working-class families lost homes, jobs, and savings. The Democratic-led bailout of Wall Street banks through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) further alienated voters, who felt the party prioritized corporations over struggling Americans. As long as Democrats continue to support the path of Ayn Rand’s philosophy of self-interest and capitalist greed their chances of winning back the working class is nil.

7. Weak Responses to Health Care Needs

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded coverage but fell short for many working-class Americans. Rising premiums and deductibles frustrated middle-income families, especially in states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. For example, the closure of rural hospitals under ACA regulations disproportionately affected working-class Americans in underserved areas. Republicans weaponized this discontent, labeling Democrats as proponents of a flawed system.

I continue to argue that privatized health insurance whether in the ACA or Medicare Disadvantage continues, the Democrats Messaging Alienates the Working Class

8. Neglect of Rural America: Democrats Messaging Alienates the Working Class

The Democratic Party’s focus on urban voters alienated rural working-class communities. In Iowa, for example, farmers and factory workers felt neglected as Democrats championed environmental regulations that increased costs for small businesses. Policies like the Green New Deal, while addressing climate concerns, appeared out of touch with rural realities. The lack of significant Democratic presence in rural campaign events further compounded the issue.

9. Perception of Ineffectiveness

Repeated failures to deliver on promises created frustration among working-class voters. For instance, despite campaigning on infrastructure investment, the Obama administration’s 2009 stimulus package fell short of revitalizing infrastructure in many struggling communities. In Flint, Michigan, ongoing water crises exemplified the perception that Democratic-led governments could not solve critical problems affecting working-class Americans.

10. Rise of Populist Messaging

Republicans used populist rhetoric to attract working-class voters, framing Democrats as elitist and disconnected. Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign promised to “bring jobs back” and protect American industries. He visited factories and mining towns, capitalizing on Democratic neglect. In contrast, Democrats struggled to counter these narratives with equally compelling messaging, further ceding ground to Republican populism. Democrats Messaging Alienates the Working Class by not strategizing to counter the Republican messaging, and failing to act with positive policies that separate them from Republicans which is not easily accomplished without giving up their hubris in favor of real policies that support people over politics. Perhaps Democrats should listen to folks like Bernie Sanders and act upon his ideas.

Democrats Messaging Alienates the Working Class: A Conclusion

Democrats Messaging Alienates the Working Class as a function of the two faces of their message. First, a blindness to their problems claiming the problem lies with their rivals in the Republican party. Secondly, they appear to be deaf to the loud voices of those whom they alienate. It makes little sense to stand above the fray while the battle is being won by the other side. Losing the very people for whom they claim to serve is nothing to write home about.

 Sources Cited

Autor, D., Dorn, D., & Hanson, G. (2016). The China shock: Learning from labor-market adjustment to large changes in trade. Annual Review of Economics, 8(1), 205-240.

Economic Policy Institute. (2021). The productivity-pay gap. Retrieved from https://www.epi.org

Packer, G. (2013). The Unwinding: An inner history of the new America. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Stiglitz, J. E. (2019). People, power, and profits: Progressive capitalism for an age of discontent. W.W. Norton.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Union membership in the United States: Historical trends. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov

Suggestions for Further Reading

Frank, T. (2004). What’s the matter with Kansas? How conservatives won the heart of America. Explores working-class political realignment.

Hochschild, A. R. (2016). Strangers in their own land: Anger and mourning on the American right. Examines disillusionment among rural Americans.

Sanders, B. (2016). Our revolution: A future to believe in. Proposes policies to rebuild working-class trust.

Milkman, R. (2017). On labor and inequality. Analyzes the decline of unions in America.

Wilkerson, I. (2020). Caste: The origins of our discontents. Highlights structural inequality in the U.S.

Krugman, P. (2020). Arguing with zombies: Economics, politics, and the fight for a better future. Offers insights on economic stagnation.

Freeman, R. (2020). The war on normal people. Discusses automation’s impact on workers.

Silver, B. J. (2003). Forces of labor: Workers’ movements and globalization since 1870. Explores labor history.

Lichtman, A. (2020). Repeal the second amendment. Explores cultural divides shaping politics.

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