Zero-Sum Government

Washington politics are a zero sum game. When one branch gains power, others lose. For example, in the middle of the last century, Congress proved itself unable to deal with civil rights. The Supreme Court eventually stepped in. Congressmen howled about “judicial overreach and activism;” to no avail. With decisions on one-man-one-vote, abortion, equal access to public facilities and right to counsel, the Supreme Court gained power at Congress’ expense.

In our own era, Americans have witnessed a dysfunctional immigration system for decades. Self-weakened through filibustered gridlock, Congress did nothing. It was inevitable that one or both of the other branches of government would eventually move into the vacuum.

Far from castigating President Obama for making immigration law through executive action, Congress has only itself to blame. Under our system of zero-sum government, when one branch fails the others will step up. Further inaction due to Republican-led gridlock will inevitably weaken Congress while strengthening the President.

 

Such strengthening could, of course, get out of hand. For this reason alone, Congress must reject its zealots and return to producing compromise solutions to vexing national problems. Among the problems on Congress' plate are unequal tax treatment, political influence spending, and gerrymandering, among others. If Congress fails to act, more Executive Orders and Supreme Court decisions will fill the void.

Democratic Denial

Never underestimate the power of denial.

Democratic excuses for last Tuesday’s election disasters are pitiful. Placing blame on President Obama’s leadership or the vagaries of mid-term elections ignores the election of a Republican governor in Maryland, a Republican state house in Minnesota and the near-defeat of Democratic businessman Mark Warner in Virginia. Democrats now control fewer state legislative seats than at any time since the Civil War. Republicans are on a long march to dominate American politics – and Democrats are to blame.

Two statistics are all we need to know. First, median household income in America continues to fall. It is down 10% since 2000, with no sign or recovery. Second, the employment rate of Americans aged 18-65 is also down 10% since 2000. It also continues to fall.

Middle-class, working Americans live in economic turmoil. Their vision that a middle-management career would provide a home in a good neighborhood, college tuition, vacations, healthcare and retirement suddenly evaporated along with middle-management. Millions of Americans, reared in the pre-planned Industrial Age, are ill-equipped to realign their skills with the fluid expectations of the Information Age. As our economy continues to evolve this problem will endure.   

Republicans offer a solution: less government; lower taxes. This is a terrible solution; trickle-down economics don’t work and deregulation just gave us the Great Recession. However, the Republican “solution” is politically preferable to the Democratic solution – which doesn’t exist.

In the 1960s, a common bumper sticker read, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” Average Americans may not demand that government create jobs, but they understand that taxes and regulation impact job creation. They understand that one-third of the job force has given up trying to find a job. They understand that average working Americans earn 10% less today than 15 years ago. They understand that the Democratic Party has no strategy for aligning government action with economic growth.

The measure of merit in political economics is not the Dow Jones Industrial Average – it is median household income. Democrats must convey a clear and concise strategy for middle-class driven economic growth. When the Democratic Party proves its dedication to this standard it will regain the votes of America’s middle class.

Learning from Defeat

Yesterday, November 4^th, 2014, was a Democratic Pearl Harbor. In an era of economic turmoil, with household median incomes down 10% since 2000 and continuing to fall, a robust job market was the number one issue for America’s voters. What was the Democratic message for voters with falling incomes and tenuous jobs? Reproductive rights.

The cause of another Democratic debacle is extraordinarily clear. A liberal-only Democratic Party is a political minority. To regain the political majority, Democrats must regain the faith of working men and woman – who voted yesterday for Republican candidates across the ballot.

The means of Democratic resurgence is also extraordinarily clear. Every Democrat must test every political issue with a simple question: “How is it good for America’s working families?”

• Tax breaks for corporations? “How is it good for America’s working families.”

• Cut public education? “How is it good for America’s working families?”

• Constrain reproductive rights” “How is it good for America’s working families?”

• Restrict gun ownership? “How is it good for America’s working families?”

• Repeal & Replace Obamacare? “How is it good for America’s working families?”

• Bomb ISIL? “How is it good for America’s working families?”

• Deport illegal immigrants? “How is it good for America’s working families?”

• Cut carbon emissions: “How is it good for America’s working families?”

Only when the Democratic Party has the backs of America’s working families will the majority of Americans entrust their votes to the Democratic Party.  Democrats must prove we deserve their trust. The next test is in 364 days.