This election has revealed many things to us, including just how ineffective the Democratic Party is. It is riddled with corruption and politicians who work for their own interest, never truly representing the Americans they claim to.
As young people become increasingly more interested in political and social issues, there has never been a better time for us to question our current political parties and take the necessary actions to build a party that will represent all of our values and needs.
Frustration with the Democratic Party has escalated significantly within this past year. The DNC makes it very difficult for an independent candidate or outsider to run a campaign, as was the case with Bernie Sanders. Many young voters supported him, only to have the corrupt head of the DNC help to end his run during the primaries. The candidates who run for office are often too moderate, take huge donations from major corporations, and have agendas that aren’t progressive enough. After Trump’s win, it is crucial to examine other options besides the Democratic Party that has failed us.
Many Democrats have been excusing their party and pointing fingers at certain groups of people. Blaming the party’s ineffectiveness on its inability to relate to the “white working class” is absurd. This statement is not rooted in reality, and it is, in fact, hyper visibility that caused us to gloss over white supremacy, sexism, racism, and homophobia, and only view race issues as a class division. Members of the Democratic Party use this language frequently, which spreads the idea of adhering to the “scared and innocent” white people who voted for Trump.
We need a party that will not condone the hateful rhetoric that Trump has normalized. Many Democrats in office have seemingly thrown in the towel already. Trump has appointed many dangerous people to positions of leadership, proposed a list of harmful policies, and sparked nationwide hate crimes against marginalized people. This is the time for Democrats to condemn these actions, yet many are not doing so, and some are even praising his cabinet picks and have started to compromise with Trump’s policies.
So what can we do to change this? Keep protesting, and don’t just protest the election of Trump. Protest the injustices that marginalized people face and protest the electoral system and the political parties that allowed this mess to happen. Call your local and federal governments and talk to your legislators about the work that needs to be done. Finally, have difficult conversations with your friends and family about political issues. Generating support for a non-traditional party and making true change is going to take all of us.
