The fomented hate (emanating from the highest level of government) that was so viciously manifested in the recent acts of mass murder in El Paso, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; and Gilroy, California serve as a grim reminder and persistence of the element of fear that pervades the current psyche of America. Perhaps the underlying basis of this fear is to be found in the continual pandering to a loss of cultural and ethnic hegemony historically belonging to a white-dominated power structure. Of course, this appeal to the fear of losing a hold on power is based on the actual fact of the changing demographics in this country whereby, within a decade or so, the white population will no longer be in the majority in these tenuously United States. While many of us celebrate and welcome this change as the inevitable evolution of a society in search of its true identity and expression of its authentic self, so many other citizens are being terrorized by visions of invading hoards from without (i.e.immigrants) seeking to usurp the 'true' identity of the nation (i.e. white) and replace it with the 'horror' of a truly multi-cultural and ethnically diverse electorate. While many of us regard this turn of events as the long awaited fulfillment of the American dream of inclusive participatory democracy, so many others are frozen in the fearful grip of identity loss and cultural abandonment. These fears are fanned and enflamed by a political structure dedicated to serving a narrow segment of the society based on the fear of 'the other'. The 'leaders' of this movement are only too aware of the inevitability of the demographic change in the country, their dwindling popularity (e.g. only one Republican presidential candidate has won the popular vote since 1988), and, and, as a consequence, have worked worked tirelessly to gerrymander an electoral advantage and conduct outright voter suppression (i.e. Kansas, North Carolina, and Georgia) in a desperate attempt to hold onto political power from a distinctly minority position. Meanwhile, long dormant voices, previously muffled or made silent by neglect, continue to seek expression as the arc of history slowly proceeds toward justice. These same voices might also be heard to assure their pale brethren that there really is nothing to fear as we move ever closer to the fulfillment of America's promise to include all of its people in the functioning of its government. They may also whisper that those exiting power will still have a seat at the table albeit perhaps not at its head.
One would be remiss to suggest that the politics of fear are confined to the Republican Party. As the progressive movement of the Democratic Party seeks to give expression to an emerging majority of existing and previously excluded (or disenfranchised) members of its electorate, a fearful and entrenched establishment of leaders (e.g. Biden, Axelrod, McAuliffe, Perez, Pelosi, et al), steadfastly attempt to stem the progressive tide within the very same political organization that has loudly claimed its identity as the voice change for so long. Instead of embracing the clarion call of 'the squad' and other more senior representatives to reach out to a wellspring of potential activists ready to adopt the policies of real change, we see the erstwhile leaders of the Democratic Party assiduously endeavor to stifle, suppress, and resist the voices of change in their midst who might otherwise lead the way toward a more hopeful future where millions of willing citizens stand ready to be engaged in a truly democratic system of participation and inclusion. Lest one be mislead by thinking that this vision of the Democratic Party is somehow unrealistic or even illusory, please be reminded that the progressive policies so courageously championed by Bernie Sanders in 2016 and are now being refined by Elizabeth Warren, accepted by more moderate candidates, and are widely popular with a broad range of voters across a wide swath of geographic and demographic territory throughout the country. These include but are not limited to free public higher education, a call for the wealthiest Americans to assume more of the tax burden, universal health care as a right; not a privilege, guaranteed childcare for young families, elimination/reduction of student debt, a non-intervention policy in the affairs of sovereign nations, and the value of including all people in the fabric of a culturally and ethnically diverse society. Their appeal is to a broad range of citizens and carries with it the promise of growing a base of sustainable support by virtue of its responsiveness to real needs, aspirations, and ideas. This is approach stands in sharp contrast with the establishment's ongoing fear of being labeled too far to the left or, God help us, socialistic (in spite of the real popularity of such ideas). This entrenched group allows the opposition to dictate the terms of the debate and plans their political strategy based upon a fear of how any given statement will be interpreted by the other side instead of having the courage of their own convictions as they develop and implement their vision for the future of the country. As a consequence, they continue to pursue a narrow block of voters (i.e. the crossover vote from Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016) instead of acknowledging and responding to the millions of emerging and willing Americans eager to join in a political process that for far too long had ignored, dismissed, or otherwise excluded them from meaningful participation.
Time is up for Democrats to step up, overcome the temptation to allow fear to determine their actions, and courageously assert their clear identity in the face of a sinister force that seeks silence the will of the people and bring to a halt the natural evolution of a society seeking to realize its better self and, in the process, give long awaited expression to its original promise.
