(Previously posted in Democrats sub and not a peep there)

Why not a faction within the Democratic Party named as per the title? Still democrats but with a different emphasis on the working people, not corporations or ceos nor even celebrities. It was cringe to me seeing the likes of Oprah and Beyonce come out publicly endorsing Harris/Walz. Who are they to the average working class?

In the 90’s, we had the other DLC (democratic leadership council), a faction within the Democratic Party which got Clinton elected and he passed NAFTA, a big FU to the working class. It has been downhill ever since. Even Obama with his private insurance based ACA is a big disappointment to me when Medicare for all was right there.

We need to go back to being the party of the working class (if we ever were). They (the democratic leadership) keep telling us that we shouldn’t primary incumbents because we would lose. Well now that we have lost everything(POTUS, SCOTUS and both houses) that threat rings hollow. Let’s support democrats who champion the working guy. The messaging will follow.

I say this because I believe the most pressing problem in our society is not all the distractions thrown at us by the MAGAts (with no serious pushback or worse, agreement) but is income inequality. And the democrats are just as guilty as the other party. The average worker income has been pretty much stagnant since “Reaganomics” while the super wealthy has seen their net value increase exponentially. We need to attack this head on and not weakly (if at all) like the democrats have been doing.

I’m with team Bernie on this. How about you?

Apologies for the lengthy post, but I wanted to share my vision for a progressive populist policy platform and associated messaging that I think is actionable, conceptually simple and can attract support across the political spectrum to gain grassroots support the way that Bernie’s campaign did (and, although for the wrong reasons, Trump’s campaigns did as well)

This platform is meant to create simple, populist messaging opportunities and provide policies that will directly improve people’s lives. It can also be party-agnostic, focusing on reforming the status quo and getting DC to work for the American people, which I believe will appeal to everyone from progressives to moderates to a lot of Trump voters, especially working class and middle class, people with and without degrees.

Current GDP-per-capita is approximately $81,000 Every citizen earns a dividend set at 25% of GDP-per-capita, automatically index this to GDP changes so as GDP-per-capita increases the value of the dividend increases 25% flat tax on most income, 15% surcharge on high incomes over $500,000 Payroll taxes will remain, bringing total federal tax burden to approximately 32% for majority of income Social Security recipients will have the option to choose either the full dividend payment or the full Social Security payment and 10% of the other, and they can change which one they receive the full payment from at any time All other credits/deductions eliminated to make the tax code easy enough for anybody to understand and calculate Medicare will be consolidated into one plan available to all citizens with a tiered opt-in price based on age. Citizens will be able to choose Medicare, traditional private/employer insurance, or a combination. Monthly prices per age group - 0-21: $150 Ages 22-64: $300 Ages 65+: $500. No additional out of pocket expenses, everything is covered in full just pay the monthly premium. Assuming vast majority of people will choose this plan, use purchasing power as leverage to lower prices Significantly increase housing supply, if we want to get ambitious, develop a Vienna or Singapore-style public housing plan Green New Deal (perhaps under new name). As part of this, include a jobs guarantee or something close to it Public funding for a “Manhattan Project” style initiative to develop a single, noninvasive, at-home covid-style test for all cancers. This would catch cancers early, making treatment easier, saving lives and money from lost productivity and the cost of advanced treatments End Citizen’s United, itnroduce public funded campaigns, limit the individual contributions allowed, cap political spending on ads, etc A value-added-tax of 10% will be implemented, possibly with an additional 25% for “extreme luxury goods” such as yachts, fourth, fifth or beyond houses, multi-thousand dollar champagnes or liquors, etc As more jobs are automated, an automation tax will be applied at 75% of the expected salary if a human was doing the job

Simple messaging such as “25-by-25 plan” for 25% dividend plus 25% tax rate. Develop an online calculator app where people can input their income and see how their take-home pay would change. I’ve done calculations for various income levels and family sizes and this seems to be a good deal for the vast majority of people. Messaging can focus on how this policy will encourage entrepreneurship and revive the dream of owning a home and providing a comfortable life for a family on one income.

This protects Social Security and ensures that no senior will be worse off, in fact, every senior will be better off. Meanwhile, either Social Security expenses will be significantly decreased, or the cost of the dividend payments will decrease. I do think it would be a good idea to use some of these savings to pay down the national debt, reframing the policy argument as one of fiscal responsibility and putting conservative “deficit hawks” on the defensive

We can still fight for progressive/popular ideas such as paid leave, higher minimum wage etc but they will be less essential. You don’t need paid parental leave, paid sick leave, etc if you have a guaranteed check regardless. Also, companies will have to offer additional benefits to be competitive in a nation where every citizen has the financial security and freedom to say “no” to unfair employers. All of our interests will be inherently aligned because we would all directly benefit from GDP growth.

For Green New Deal, focus on simple, impactful messaging: connect “good paying, safe union jobs” to the types of jobs that powered the middle class and pursuit of the American Dream during the 50s/60s, rather than specifically saying “equity/justice” focus on broader inclusivity and all Americans being able to pursue a comfortable middle class lifestyle, emphasize the GND as an investment and put more emphasis on future cost savings,

Also, in terms of messaging, emphasize the aspects of innovation and frame GND messaging around American creativity, brilliance, determination etc (similar to Kennedy and the space race, a way to make it patriotic, something we can all be proud of etc and put Fox talking heads on the defensive framing them by extension as unpatriotic, anti American, ashamed of American innovation and creativity etc)

The public funding for research and development of new clean energy/energy storage/distribution systems will also create new jobs and companies, which will boost GDP, leading to GDP-per-capita growth, increasing the dividend for all citizens, giving taxpayers a direct return on investment for their tax dollars

For the automation tax: This will allow corporations and the American people alike to benefit: For an example with simple numbers, take a job valued at $100,000. Currently, a business would have to pay $100,000 in salary, plus applicable payroll taxes, for a minimum total of at least $107,000. Now, they would simply pay $75,000 in taxes, for savings of at least $25,000. At the same time, more total taxes would be paid. Additionally, the increased productivity of automation would boost GDP and GDP-per-capita, leading to an increased dividend paid out to all Americans. The exact number can be negotiable, but even if it was as high as 90%, it would still benefit taxpayers and result in cost savings for the business

A national jobs database will be created (think of a better Indeed or LinkedIn but it is national and companies are forced to be accurate/transparent, compensation and remote/in person/hybrid will have to be listed and accurate along with industry/industries, and fake listings will be banned), and once 50% of jobs are automated, a federal jobs guarantee can be instituted for those who wish to work traditional jobs for compensation. Alternatively, this jobs guarantee could be part of the GND as outlined above

When it feels like we have no control, we need to turn to our community now more than ever. I live in a blue, but not deep blue state, so YMMV. Here are some ideas, but please add yours.

1. Join at least 1 local progressive organization. Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists of America are more prominent near me. If they're not, you can certainly start a chapter for DSA, and I imagine WFP would be happy to support you too. They'll connect you other ways to support locally and can provide ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club are a few other good examples that may have volunteer opportunities.

2. City/town/county council. Your county council has influence on zoning, which can mean smart growth, like mixed-used development vs. suburban sprawl or deforestation. Follow your councilmember and attend relevant meetings. Also vote for progressive school board members that will protect marginalized students.

3. State senate/representative district. If you're in a majority Democrat or swing district, it can be a tedious, but useful, way to become involved. In my state, we had a recent special election, and if you were part of the RD committee, you voted on the candidate. Otherwise, it's a good way to develop rapport with local Dems, should you decide to run or are trying to convince them to support your preferred progressive candidate. Also contact your rep/senator! At the local level, your voice has more of an impact (and local politics is sometimes less partisan).

Canvassing, phone banking, and poll greeting can make a difference, especially in local elections with multiple candidates.

4. Advocate for measures that support populism, like referendums. Remember how Missouri recently passed paid sick leave and $15 minimum wage through referendum? Unfortunately not all states allow for referendums on ballots, but it's worth determining how they work in your state.

5. Join and become involved in your union, if possible. Maybe even run for leadership positions. Support your local unions too. Unions are weak in the US compared to, say, Nordic countries, but we're more powerful together.

6. Volunteer/mutual aid. This kind of ties in with 1, but even help to clear invasive plants from state parks is a meaningful way to get involved.

If you're in a Red area, change is going to be harder, but there's still a community out there for you. Maybe that means supporting pro-labor Republicans in primaries, or Indies, or running in nonpartisan races (school board near me is nonpartisan).

Oh, and celebrate the small wins. It can be discouraging at times, but you are making a difference if you support your community.

I’m still unpacking the brainwashing I’ve received since birth from the corporate propaganda machine. I’m still exploring and learning about the social and economic realities we face today.

Today, I’ve been thinking about how extreme wealth inequality and unchecked capitalism has put the US on a path toward imminent political and economic collapse.

It sounds extreme, but let’s dive into the facts.

-Our government has largely been captured by corporate and wealthy interests.

-Trust in institutions is at an all time low.

-Wages have stagnated for decades.

-Labor rights have been systematically eroded, leaving workers with less power and more insecurity.

-Upward social mobility is a pipe dream for many.

-The climate crisis is looming and threatening every aspect of human life.

This is the path we’re on. It’s a dark future, unless we correct these systemic plagues.

Unchecked corporate greed is stretching consumers to a breaking point. It pushes Americans to lose trust in its government, undermining the very system that relies on trust to function. Americans trust the government to maintain a monopoly on legal tender, to solve problems, and to protect them. Without that trust, the foundation of our democracy is weak.

If billionaires and corporate interests continue distorting democracy while shipping jobs overseas and extracting wealth from the middle class, we won’t just lose our economy, we’ll lose our country. A society stretched too thin can’t sustain itself. If Americans don’t have the buying power to support businesses, or the faith to engage in civic life, collapse and failure is inevitable.

Our system is more fragile than we realize. We saw this in 2008, when the banks failed. The government had to step in to save our economy, and use the people’s tax dollars to rescue the banks that gambled with our economy. At the same time many Americans suffered and lost their jobs, homes, and savings. Political unrest followed. That was a warning.

It’s a bright flashing warning sign saying the ship is sinking. Are we going to continue ignoring it? Are we too polarized to come together to solve this problem?

To start, I am a massive Bernie Sanders fan. And a massive believer in social and economical justice for working class Americans of all types of background.

It is undeniable as far as the evidence is concerned, regarding the depth of slander and deception which occurred in 2016 and 2020 leading to Bernie Sanders being shoved out of both Presidential races.

A question I still have yet to find an answer to - Why did the Democratic party allow Bernie a platform in the first place if he was such a threat to the status quo?

They fought hard to oust him, but why go to such lengths when you can push him to the side as an "Independent" from the start?

Thanks in advance. I'm sure the answer is simpler than I am imagining

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/14/16640082/donna-brazile-warren-bernie-sanders-democratic-primary-rigged

As much as I would love Bernie in 2028, I don't think he has any desire at his age to do so. This will be the first post-Bernie national democratic primary for the progressive left. It's also interesting because there's no clear Establishment Democrat they've unified around either. In 2016, Hillary Clinton was their candidate. In 2020, it was Biden. It would've been Kamala Harris in 2028, but her loss probably means she doesn't run in 2028. In that case, neither the establishment Democrats have a candidate nor do we as progressives. This is an opportunity for a candidate from our wing of the party. I put together a list of potential candidates. Some might be likely to run, while others probably not. Some might be true progressives and others we might have questions about. The idea of this is to discuss these things and get an idea for how people in this sub who love Bernie see options for the 2028 primaries.

Ro Khanna, US Representative (CA-17)

I'm a fan of Ro Khanna. He's intelligent, relatively well spoken, and one of Bernie's top allies since he joined Congress. Have some concerns about him representing Sillicon Valley and I'm afraid of how he can make noise against the likes of Buttigieg, Shapiro, Newsom, and Whitmer. I'm not sure if he runs either, but definitely one of my favorite members of Congress.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, US Representative (NY-14)

In a perfect world, AOC is the perfect heir to Bernie Sanders. Many would even say she's the obvious heir. She's a dynamic speaker, charismatic, good on policy like Bernie, authentic, has an A+ social media game, and makes really really good political ads. I think she's a generational political talent and the brightest star we have in the progressive movement. My concern with AOC is i fear that cultural issues would shape voters perception of her in ways they wouldn't of Bernie. Some of that is down to her identity which you can't control, but sometimes she uses terminology like "Latinx" and things that are off-putting to certain groups of people. I'm not sure if she can go on Joe Rogan and appeal to the kind of voters you need to win. I also fear an unsuccessful run this early in her career would be a waste of her potential. She is too talented to waste on a premature Presidential run that you don't know if she can win or what will come of her future afterwards if she fails. I'd rather her build her profile in the House and then maybe seek a promotion to the Senate when Gillibrand or Schumer decide to retire. Then her profile is even higher and she could really be a heavy hitter in Democratic politics.

Nina Turner, former Ohio State Senator

Nina Turner is an amazing speaker. She has the ability to captivate audiences like few on this list. I have no concerns with if she's on the right side of policy. I am concerned that she would be subject to insane levels of attacks from establishment Democrats that would make her hard to accept for normie Democrats. I remember the Shontel Brown race and what they did to her. She also personally hasn't ascended to a position like Governor or US Senator or even the House. I'm curious about her demographic appeal too. She doesn't center her politics on her identity in a way that is off-putting to people, but you never know how that might impact her ability to put together a winning coalition.

Jon Stewart, Comedian currently at the Daily Show

This is a wild card pick, but I'm not opposed to it. From all indications, Jon Stewart has good politics. He's also funny and charismatic. He has a stage presence. Despite him never holding office, it would be hard for the media to ignore him. The question with him is if he even wants to run for office or not. If he does, he'd be a first time candidate and we have no idea if he'll have a Trump-like trajectory or crash and burn.

Shawn Fain, President of the United Auto Workers (UAW)

I'm a huge fan of Shawn Fain. I love the work he does at the UAW. Unlike Union leaders of the past who have sold out members and refused to pick big fights, he came in on almost Bernie-esque candidacy for UAW President and won. His leadership during the strike last year was really effective. Even CNBC admitted he was a really effective organizer and leader. Perhaps those leadership skills can translate in politics. Like with Jon Stewart, he is a bit outside-the-box, but you never know how successful he could be.

Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota

Tim Walz just might be the most progressive Governor in the country. He also has natural political talent. He can sit down at a table with a bunch of working class Trump supporters and get them to support him. He also likely passes the Joe Rogan test. As much as I like him, he had a horrible answer on the Tianamen Square issue at the VP debate and he might be tied to Kamala in a way that makes the Democratic electorate view him as unelectable.

Chris Murphy, US Senator (CT)

Chris Murphy is not exactly what you think of when you think of Progressive Firebrand. In 2016, he actually attacked Bernie Sanders and was supportive of Hillary Clinton. He's not bad on policy, though, and if you pay enough attention, has been decent on issues like foreign policy. I remember in 2020, he did an interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN where he defended Bernie to the point that Wolf said "that was really strong. Are you endorsing him?". He didn't, but showed some defense of Bernie at a time the entire Democratic establishment was attacking him. I was a little shocked myself. What's even more pleasantly surprising is his Twitter (or X) thread on what Democrats need to do going forward. He says to embrace economic populism, directly cites Bernie, and decries "neoliberalism". I don't know what it is. Perhaps he has seen the light. I'm not sure if he wants to run for President and I think he can be a little dull and boring. I'm also concerned how he would do in non-white areas, particularly outside of the Northeast. Interesting discussion point, though.

Raphael Warnock, US Senator (GA)

Like Chris Murphy, Warlock hasn't exactly drawn a line in the sand and declared himself on the progressive wing of the party. I've heard some praise of him from progressives though and on issues like healthcare he's been pretty good. He also would be taken seriously by the establishment and is pretty electable. He's a good speaker and has some potential as a candidate. I'm curious to know what everyone thinks about where he falls on the progressive-establishment divide, though.

Curious to know if there's any names I missed or what yall think of these 8 possible candidates.

In Funville, where joy once bloomed like wildflowers, toy shops lined every street. The finest toys came from Toyland across the sea, which also supplied Funville's own toymakers with springs, fabrics, and paints. Children saved their coins for treasures, while local craftspeople turned simple materials into magical creations.

In the shadows between shops, something watched. Waiting. Calculating.

Then came the King—a man with a dark past of fraud, violence, and lies, crowned by those desperate for change. His first decree echoed through the cobbled streets: "Five extra coins tax on every toy and supply from Toyland! This will make Funville great again!"

His loyal Royal Club cheered. They didn't notice the spotted shadows moving closer.

The effects rippled through Funville like frost on glass. A doll that once cost 10 coins now cost 15. But it wasn't just the finished toys—local toymakers found their costs soaring too. The springs for jack-in-the-boxes, the stuffing for teddy bears, the paint for wooden soldiers—everything from Toyland now carried the extra fee.

Old loyal Mr. Tex's shop was the first to close. "I can't make toys at prices families can afford," he said, locking his door one last time. "The materials cost too much now." The shadow of something large and feline fell across his window.

Then came the deportations. The King declared that workers who didn't fit his vision would be sent to Tacoville. But the process was chaos. Maria, who had sewn dolls' dresses for twenty years, disappeared overnight. Then Jorge, whose wooden trains had delighted generations. Soon, anyone could be next—even those who'd lived in Funville all their lives.

The Royal Club applauded each removal, too caught up in their cheering to notice what circled behind them.

Empty shops multiplied like shadows at sunset. Families who'd run toyshops for generations found themselves bankrupt. Children pressed their faces against dusty windows, their piggy banks too light for the new prices. Communities that had worked together for decades splintered as neighbors vanished in midnight raids.

The leopards struck without warning.

When Royal Club members' own shops failed: "I never thought the leopards would eat MY face!"

When their own craftspeople were deported: "But we SUPPORTED the deportations! We didn't mean OUR workers!"

When their own children couldn't afford toys: "This wasn't supposed to happen to US!"

But here was the truth, hidden like a poisoned spring in a broken jack-in-the-box: Funville had been dying long before the King arrived. For decades, the real puppet masters—the Royal Red and Royal Blue elites—had played a game of musical chairs with Funville's future.

They'd created a banking system where the money for interest payments never existed, ensuring someone would always lose their home. They'd moved seamlessly between running banks and regulating them, writing laws that made themselves richer while binding others in chains of debt.

When people finally rebelled in 2016, rallying behind honest voices like Bernie, the establishment crushed him. They preferred the King's chaos to losing their power, even as he turned their game of musical chairs into a feast for leopards.

Now those leopards prowl freely through Funville's empty streets, past foreclosed shops and broken dreams. Their spotted coats ripple in rhythm to a song only they can hear—the final notes of a game most don't win.

Some say on quiet nights you can still hear the faint echoes of children's laughter, of toy shops' bells, of the music that once kept everyone dancing. But in Funville, the music always stops eventually. And when it does, there are never enough chairs for everyone.

And so Funville learned, too late, the truth about the leopards they’d invited in. In a land betrayed by its leaders and broken by greed, they’d fallen into the jaws of the very beast they’d cheered for, realizing only at the end that they, too, were never safe.