The two wings of the Democratic Party have significant disagreement on the following points:
- THE TREATMENT OF BUSINESS: The left views business as the enemy. Big business in particular inevitably oppresses workers and exercises undue influence over government policies on taxation and regulation. Liberals see business as the goose that lays the golden egg–to be nurtured, taxed, and regulated carefully so as to create the maximum benefit for society.
- FREE SPEECH AND SOCIAL ISSUES: The left thinks that traditional views on social issues are self-evidently wrong, that the opinions of historically oppressed people are presumptively correct, and that it is necessary to censor clearly false right-wing and even centrist views in order to encourage more speech from the oppressed people. Liberals don’t believe that social conservatives are necessarily “deplorable”, and don’t support censorship of anything but the most extreme opinions.
- PAYING THE BILL: The left either thinks that the wealthy will pick up the entire tab, or goes as far to believe that costs are irrelevant. Liberals worry about costs and take the position that most social programs should be paid for in one way or another.
- HOW DO WE WIN?: The left thinks that elections are won by mobilizing apathetic left-wing voters and that progress on legislative issues ultimately results from dominating the street. Liberals believe in winning over swing voters and in making deals in the legislative process.
- INCREMENTAL VS. REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE: The left thinks the American people are crying out for fundamental political, economic, and social change. Liberals like their change to be slow and easily digestible.
The liberals won this battle during the primaries, but it isn’t over. You will hear a little bit about it during the convention.