The collapse of liberalism

Sam Smith – We’re not talking about it much but liberalism is just not what it used to be. I got started in politics as a teenager in Philadelphia in a campaign that ended 69 years of Republican rule. How did this happen? One factor was that liberals back then were not seen as an elite group – the GOP had much more of that reputation. Liberals were seen as pushing goals in line with those of ordinary citizens.

Since then, liberals have gotten wealthier and better educated and there is a totally misguided impression in many places that Republicans do more for ordinary folk. Ironically, this is a problem that liberals could handle if they just changed their approach. For example, dealing more with rural and labor issues and coming up with solutions the average citizen can easily understand. Talking less about grand theories and more about real change would help.

Then there is the implicit and explicit disparagement of white males. As I wrote back in 2001:

One of the besetting sins of many in the progressive movement is that they have made white men the enemy. In fact, no ethnic group in history has given up so much power so quickly and so peacefully. Every social movement of the past 40 years has depended on either the acquiescence or active participation of large numbers of white men. To bash them is both bad politics and bad philosophy, tossing out constituency and logic at the same time. One of the basic reasons for the Democrats' current problems is that they have implicitly treated minorities and women, on the one hand, and white males, on the other, as mutually exclusive groups. This perception has helped to send white males to the Republicans. While it is obvious that white men have been responsible for most of the horrendous political and ecological policies that have left us in our current situation, it should be similarly obvious that most white men have also been their victims -- in everything from war to black lung disease to economic exploitation.

As I wrote a few years later, “Dump self-righteous liberal evangelicalism and find issues that, by pursuing, can make friends with those that have been trained by the right to despise liberals. Talk about middle class white pain instead of white privilege. Teach ethnic commonalities. Find what we share. And choose issues that will make things better for most - regardless of the color of their skin.”

As evidence of their higher education, liberals don’t talk as simply as they once did. Then there is the lack of discussion of the actual effect that measures will have on the average citizen. And the lack of appealing alternatives if, for example, Biden doesn’t run for reelection. Even Bernie Sanders, good as he is on issues, would not be top on your list for a beer tonight.

I covered Washington in the days when personality was still an important political factor. Members of Congress were much easier to relate to. I think television, the internet and the increased cost of campaigning have had a lot to do with the change. And the powerful and the power-seeking increasingly think of people as numbers rather than as individuals.

It doesn’t have to be that way. For example, liberal politicians could come up with Facebook pages that feature good people, groups and events in their constituencies. Hard it may be for many of them to believe, helping others could earn more fans than just talking about themselves.

The secret of good politics is one’s relationship with the voters. Grand theories and plans don’t have anywhere near the impact of dealing with the real issues behind them. Liberals need to get closer to their voters and be more fun to be around.