THE QUESTION
Newsletter #73 / January, 7 2024
Does the Democratic Party need an identity that unites and inspires every single Democrat in this country? Do we need an identity that creates an emotional connection to the vast sea of unaffiliated and disaffected Americans out there?
That is the question we should have been asking for the past twenty years, because clearly, we don’t have one now. Not only have we failed to connect with growing numbers of American voters, we have endlessly fractured ourselves. Our failure to understand the importance of this basic, emotional principle of identity has left us so divided we attack ourselves as easily as the enemy, and the Big Tent has been torn to shreds in the process.
And it all does come down to identity, our approach to the most fundamental thing we possess. For a very long time, traditional politics ruled the day. We basked in the warmth of the coalition that FDR created, never questioning it as the world went on changing. We clung to the belief that elections were an endless traditional battle between two traditional political parties, using traditional political tactics. And we went on clinging to that belief, even as the ground began to shift beneath us, even as the handwriting appeared on the wall and the walls themselves began to crumble. We clung to these beliefs as Hillary lost to a man who, by traditional political standards, shouldn’t have even made it past the first round of the Republican primary. But traditional politics no longer apply, and failing to recognize it is the reason we have gone on to spend nearly a decade focused on how to stop Trump. Stop and think about that as you watch Trump put his hand on the Bible.
And while we’ve been busy retreating behind the wall of “Stop Trump!”, the Republicans have gone on to build their own Big Tent. While we’ve retreated and bit our fingernails and railed against Evil, they have put together a successful coalition that has no right to exist.
Well, it’s time to put a stop to it. It’s time to recognize that the root of our problem is identity. And identity isn’t messaging, or branding. Identity is belief. Identity is about who we actually are. It’s about the values and the vision that hold us together and inspire us.
We have those values and that vision. We are literally the inheritors of the Declaration of Independence. We are the modern champions of the dream that was founded in 1776. But until we stand up and declare our identity, make it not just a symbol of idealism, but a practical path forward, a clear way through the incredible problems we are going to face in the future, until then we are destined to bite our fingernails and point fingers and try the same things over and over. And continue to drift.
Grassroots folks understand this. Rural counties sure do. Dems 101 understands as well, and that is why a national, grassroots movement has sprung forth. That is why there is a growing, county-level demand for not just an identity, but an identity that demands action, and identity that says we need to do more than win by 50.1%. Holding Congress by a few seats isn’t victory, it’s not losing. We need a supermajority. We need to take back this country. What Dems 101 and the growing coalition of county parties has launched is a determined, long-term campaign, a change in thinking that says we need to pull the rug out from under MAGA and ensure a future for this country, a future that leads to a just society ... as long as it takes.
This movement is happening now, all around you. Read the book that launched it. Accept the Democratic Creed and the definitions of Freedom, Justice, and Opportunity. Know why you are a Democrat, then come and join us. Adopt the Creed, volunteer, donate … it all goes to the same thing. Join the movement that has set out to change things, once and for all. America is at a fork in the road, the time to act is now.
News: We are proud to announce that Dai Parsons has assumed the role of Outreach Coordinator as Karen Prelipp will be assuming other duties. Karen passes the torch to an outstanding coordinator. Dai hails from Fayette County, Ohio, and brings both impressive skills and remarkable energy. Dai joins Rochelle Twinning, our Fundraising Coordinator, and Tom Yeager, our Executive Director as part of the growing staff at Dems 101. Contact info and more developments will follow.
A note to everyone:
January 22nd, Day One of the 2nd Trump Regime, is barely two weeks away. The time to reach out and join us is now. Dems 101 is working hard to change the political conversation in 2025, to launch major initiatives that will change the political dynamic once and for all. We need volunteers, people who want to be part of something different, a new way forward … especially in rural counties. Now is the time to take a stand and make your voice heard.
Stay safe, and stay involved. Let’s make this a very Happy New Year come 2026.
