Big Tent Party

Dear Democrats,

After four years of Donald J. Trump and the cunning, strategic republican party, we democrats still aren’t able to bridge the divide within our own ideological factions. Often you’ll hear democrats explain that we are a “big tent” party. Well, that tent is crumbling and like every shallow infrastructure bill passed by Congress, the party itself is grappling with its own identity.

Is “big tent” intentional in ascribing the various factions of constituencies the democratic party serves? African-Americans, LGBTQA+ persons, Mexican-Americans, City living folk, suburban moms, and last but not least, overwhelmingly people with degrees. Or is “big tent” a description for the wide range of political ideology within the party; Leftist, Moderates, Liberals, Progressives, Neo-liberals. The presenting two questions expose both a cultural disconnect, as well as, intellectual within the party.

“Big tent” should encompass ideology as it relates to culture. Not every black person is a democrat, and not every liberal is progressive. Who and how we are influences our political ideology, however...that shifts constantly. Millennials are the “no titles” generation and that in itself has changed how politicians use their words. "Politician" is no longer associated with a positive connotation, so they use the term “Public Servant.” That has nothing to do with moderates, liberals, or progressives. It’s simply a cultural shift that has influenced our elected leaders. In the same tone, when speaking of local policies, such as public transportation, there is no room to be moderate, liberal, or progressive. To expand, whether you’re a moderate who likes the slow and steady pace, or a liberal who’s more akin to immediate action, there is no discussion about this issue that could drive a wedge between people discussing because it’s a problem that you must solely focus on solutions or alternative funding.

So why is it that the Party itself finds itself grappling with accepting liberals (anywhere on the spectrum) and progressives? Moderates don't want to be pulled to the far left, yet it is those very radical ideas that shaped America today. Liberals want to scream and shout, yet offer no possibility of compromise. Progressives are currently stuck in the middle as the people who want to get things done; a term that most democrats have begun to accept as a happy medium between moderate and liberal.

Let’s be honest with each other, in that a great majority of moderates are older. Not because they’re not fun or smoking pot anymore (quite the contrary, thank you 1970s), but rather those are the people who would rather focus on two to three big-ticket topics and commit to solving those issues, one bill at a time. Liberals, whatever they want to call themselves (i.e socialist, Marxist, communist, democratic-socialist) side on the more crusader issues. Big-ticket topics create movements and change to influence the rest of our American challenges. Admirable, but you need more than just a singular issue to bring together voters. Single issue candidates rarely make it through. Progressives, you are our saving grace. We know this now from the sheer impact right here in Miami Dade County. Progressives take the moderate approach of policy and give it the firebrand energy that liberals have. Progressives inspire, but also legislate, and know when to push the needle on certain issues, and when to compromise for progress as a whole. That’s what moderates and liberals lack. A definitive goal with the limited resource in our governments, legislating.

I am a proud democrat of The United States! But lord have mercy on all of our souls if the Democratic Party doesn’t start to rebuild its tent. As Uncle Joe said we need to build back better. Recognize our faults, Discuss our priorities, and forge ahead united with a plan of action. It’s going to take all of us, regardless of ideology to GET SHIT DONE! Let’s put down the blow-horn and stop trying to shift how people think about things, and put our heads together to solve the issues of today. For today is a present, and tomorrow a gift. Some gifts are good like Obama. Some gifts are bad like Trump….so let’s get our shit together people…we don’t need another #45.

‍