In the early years of this blog, I opined that the fundamental split in the blue team revolved around means, not ends; in other words, the left wanted dramatic increases in the size of the welfare state, while the center thought they were not politically or economically possible. I labeled these groups “realos” and “fundis,” the terms used to describe groupings within the German Green Party. Does that analysis hold up today?
It does. The DSA, notwithstanding its name, is really a faction of Social Democrats that is more interested in expanding the welfare state than in nationalizing the means of production. More centrist Democrats have no theoretical objection to this goal but doubt the American electorate will tolerate the large tax increases that would be required to finance it. The obvious example is “Medicare for All;” the left wants it now, while the center, based on the numbers and our experience with Obamacare, thinks it is unattainable for the foreseeable future, whatever its merits.
The division between the two groupings is fairly easy to overcome; the center doesn’t have any fundamental objection to voting for someone who tells them to follow their dreams instead of their fears, and the left will vote for half a loaf rather than nothing. The real practical question is whether the left alienates enough swing voters to lose elections. We’ll get a partial answer to that when we see who wins Michigan in November.