American Voters And The Political And Media Establishments Diverge Sharply On Policy Solutions

Are Americans Far Left? Or Is Progressive Policy Mainstream?

Both in swing state polling (Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona) and <> national polling American voters have made it clear that they have turned against Netanyahu and that the Democrats will do better in November by disassociating themselves from Israel’s anti-Palestinian/pro-genocide agenda. The media likes to paint that as part of a “far-left” agenda, never noting that it’s also what the majority of Americans want. And policy towards Israel is far from the only way corporate media is working to shift public opinion against progressive policy.

In an OpEd for The Guardian a few days ago, Bernie noted that the so-called “far left” agenda is exactly what most Americans want. Noting that Trump and his media allies are flat out lying when they claim Kamala is more left-wing than he is, Bernie wrote that “despite what the corporate media and political establishment may tell you, the so-called ‘radical’ and ‘far-left’ agenda that the progressive movement is fighting for is enormously popular. Poll after poll shows that our ideas are supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans who have the crazy idea that maybe, just maybe, government should represent the needs of all of us and not just wealthy campaign donors. It’s also important to understand that many of these ‘radical’ ideas are already in place in countries around the world. In other words, what’s ‘radical and crazy’ is not what we are proposing, but just how far behind the United States is compared with other wealthy nations in terms of protecting working families, the elderly, the children, the sick and the disabled. Some examples:”

When we talk about guaranteeing healthcare for all as a human right, we’re talking about the ability of every one of us, regardless of income, to go to a doctor when we’re sick and not go bankrupt when we come out of the hospital. We’re talking about the right to change jobs without fear of losing our healthcare. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about our government using its bargaining power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, we’re talking about ending the absurdity of Americans paying, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about paid family and medical leave, we’re talking about a new mom and dad being able to spend the first few months with their newborn child without rushing back to work the next week, and we’re talking about being able to take care of a loved one who is sick without having to worry about missing a paycheck or losing a job. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about strengthening public education and childcare and paying teachers a decent salary, we’re talking about making sure that all of our children, regardless of income, get the quality education they need to prepare themselves for the future. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about tuition free college, we’re talking about the right of all Americans to get a higher education without leaving school with crushing debt. We’re talking about the ability of the United States to have the kind of highly educated workforce that we need to compete effectively in a highly competitive global economy. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about a “Green New Deal” we’re talking about creating millions of good-paying union jobs that will transform our energy system, protect us from climate change, and create a planet that is habitable for future generations— with less drought, famine, floods, extreme weather disturbances, disease and human suffering. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about raising the minimum wage to a living wage we’re talking about ending starvation wages and preventing people from having to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet for their families. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about strengthening and expanding social security, we’re talking about making sure all of our seniors can retire and live out their lives with dignity. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about expanding Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision, we’re talking about our seniors being able to chew the food they eat, listen to the sound of their loved ones’ voices, and see the world around them. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about passing the Pro Act, we’re talking about giving working people the ability to exercise their constitutional right to organize unions against illegal, corporate opposition. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about ending Citizens United and moving toward public funding of elections, we’re talking about the need to protect our democracy and prevent billionaires, and their Super Pacs, from buying elections. Does that really sound radical to you?

When we talk about making the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes, we are simply saying that it is time we addressed the unprecedented level of income and wealth inequality that currently exists and end a regressive tax system that allows billionaires to have an effective tax rate lower than nurses or truck drivers. Does that really sound radical to you?

Bottom line: what we are fighting for is not a radical agenda. It is a commonsense agenda that the vast majority of Americans support.

But let me tell you what is radical. It’s a Republican party that wants more tax breaks for billionaires, massive cuts to social security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, letting polluters destroy our planet and allowing drug companies to charge us whatever they want.

That is radical.

This isn’t just true in Vermont, California, New York and other liberal bastions. It’s true on gerrymandered red states as well, like Florida. State House candidate Haley Morrissette is the progressive Democrat taking on the MAGA Republican in Florida’s western Panhandle. The two couldn’t be more different. “While Alex Andrade is a proven loyal servant to corporate interests and votes in lockstep with the agenda of billionaires and big business,” Morrissette told me yesterday, “I stand for the interests of Florida’s working families. My platform isn't about catering to the wealthy few— it's about hope, healing and healthcare for all. Andrade, has supported policies that widen the gap between the haves and have-nots and threatens to steal the power and voices of everyday citizens. I'm fighting for commonsense solutions that uplift every Floridian. From protecting our environment to ensuring affordable healthcare, I'm committed to representing the needs of everyday people, not just the wealthy elite. This isn't radical— it's what the majority of Americans want.”

Ben Braver is running in a suburban/rural district south of Haley’s. His MAGA opponent is Danny Burgess. “There are two paths being suggested to the American People,” offered Braver— “increases in the quality of our life, or increases in the corporatization of our life. Progressives like me call for a more fair tax structure where the poorest don’t pay the most. We’re calling for more competition in the market place to reduce prices. We’re calling for the conservation of our land and our freedoms. My opponent and Governor DeSantis are selling off chunks of our state, the last safeguards for our water quality, to add to Florida’s over 1,200 golf courses. They are fighting against legalization of marijuana and reproductive healthcare, basic freedoms Floridians want. They’re deregulating the insurance & private equity firms, which collude to drive up housing costs. My opponent consistently sells us out to corporations, sacrificing our quality of life to the great and powerful ‘laws of Supply and Demand.’ He believes that if we don’t let corporations do whatever, pollute wherever, and steal however much they want, the economy will crumble. If the government offers a ladder to the citizens pushed down the arbitrary economic hierarchy, inflation kills the market.”

He told us he understands Burgess’ thinking. “But it’s flawed. The Republican economic worldview is based on a scarcity mindset, where if people are able to afford to live, the economy will implode. And if that’s the case, then he’s imagining market conditions that are not happening, and advocating for an economic system none of us should be happy with. When America wastes 145 billion meals annually & nearly $10 billion helping farmers over-produce we know scarcity is not a problem. The only problem is ability to pay. Corporations like Walmart take advantage of the government programs like SNAP and EBT, not only by getting access to a new customer base, but by using programs as a subsidy earmarked for their employee’s paychecks. So we can stick with the Republicans’ economic plan which is 1) Pay to overproduce our goods, 2) Allow corporations arbitrarily to raise their prices, 3) tax the poorest people the most, 4) give those tax dollars as subsidies to corporations to keep our wages low. We can stick with the ‘plan’ that creates cycles of poverty keeping the scarcity mindset flowing. Or we can go with the ‘Progressive Economic Plan’ which is to invest our resources in the people. Create better schools, better homes, better communities with better healthcare. My opponent’s policy is literally to keep my students from graduating because of their school meal debt. My policy is to feed the hungry children of Florida. They want to sell out your life, I want to help you improve it.”

Thomas Witkop is the young progressive Democrat running for the Congressional seat Brian Mast is sitting in until he gets his appointment to the Trump regime— hopefully never. “Last week,” he told us, “I saw on the news that Brian Mast and his buddies from Americans for Prosperity we're hosting an event where they're giving out dollar gas, claiming things would be this way if it weren't for Joe Biden. I came with press and cameras and asked why he was so proud to take money from the reactionary Koch billionaires and why he was so proud to represent the 1% of the 1% rather than his constituents who do struggle to afford home insurance under the bottom paid for Republican Florida super majority. He was dumbfounded and speechless. Most Republicans have put themselves in a tricky situation having to defend the support they receive from these villains. It's up to us to call them out on it as publicly as possible.”

If you’d like to help Florida progressives like Ben, Thomas and Haley replace MAGA Republicans like Andrade, Mast and Burgess, click right here and contribute whatever you can give comfortably.