Another Reason Why We Can't Take The Democratic Party Seriously.

 In America's binary political system, voters are led to believe that the Republican Party represents all that is politically right in the country while the Democratic Party represents everything that is politically left.

This could not be further from the truth. And with just a bit of searching even "approved" sites, you too can discover the reality of the situation.

Let's begin with this story about one of the congressional caucuses:

A large group of House Democrats are stepping up pressure on party leaders to revive their stalled economic agenda and avoid hitting voters with huge healthcare bills only weeks before the November midterms.

Fifty-seven members of the centrist New Democrat coalition led by Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington signed a letter meant to highlight the steep health insurance premium increases that many people would face if a pandemic-era financial assistance program expires in December. The cohort included many Democratic lawmakers locked in tight re-election races this fall.

Under the stimulus law last year, Democrats bulked up federal subsidies to cut monthly premiums for millions of Americans purchasing individual health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The move led to many lower-income Americans paying little or nothing for health coverage. Many middle-class families qualified for generous federal assistance for the first time.

Sounds noble, right? Until you remember that the ACA basically gave the medical industry and Big Pharma millions of customers, customers who suddenly found themselves with crazy bills and co-pays. Of course, one popular solution to that is Medicare For All, so why isn't a caucus full of Democrats pushing for M4A? 

Well, this is the New Democrat Coalition caucus, and as the article says, they are "centrist." Or, if we use their page's own description they are:

made up of 98 forward-thinking Democrats who are committed to pro-economic growth, pro-innovation, and fiscally responsible policies. New Democrats are a solutions oriented coalition seeking to bridge the gap between left and right by challenging outmoded partisan approaches to governing. New Democrats believe the challenges ahead are too great for Members of Congress to refuse to cooperate purely out of partisanship.

Got that? These guys are here to get things done for the people, even if they have to reach across the aisle to do it! ("Red-brown alliance?" SHUT UP) So much so their leadership and membership doesn't have one Republican member! HA! Take that, partisans! 

Too bad about that lack of Medicare For All though. Guess all that reaching across the aisle makes you too sore to fight for a universal system to improve America's health (how ironic). If only their was a caucus out there that believed in an issue like M4A...

Hold on, wait. There's the Congressional Progressive Caucus! Surely they'll fight for something like M4A; I mean look at their "about" page:

Since 1991, The CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and advance civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, good-paying jobs, fair trade, universal health care, debt-free college, climate action, and a just foreign policy. The caucus, which consists of 95 House members and one Senator, has been the leading voice calling for bold and sweeping solutions to the urgent crises facing this nation, including ending America’s broken for-profit health care system, raising the minimum wage, eliminating political corruption, bolstering labor protections for working families, and taking swift action to stop the warming of our planet.

That's more like it! And look at this membership page...all these people willing to fight for Medicare For All. Ones everyone knows like AOC and Katie Porter, but even non-household names like Adam Smith and Don Beyer and Veronica Escobar and...hold up.

Shontel Brown? Brendan Boyle? Madeleine Dean? Steven Horford? Donald Norcross? Branda Lawrence? Nikema Williams? Troy Carter? Lori Trahan? Darren Soto? Jimmy Panetta? Juan Vargas? Lisa Blunt Rochester? Sara Jacobs?

These guys, all 17 of them, belong to both the CPC and NDC! 

How can this be? How can you be for "fiscally responsible policies" and "bold and sweeping solutions to the urgent crises facing this nation" all while working with an opposition party that would rather see you out on the street begging to change? 

How could either caucus embrace them knowing they are with the other, and could switch their vote at a moment's notice?

The answer is: there isn't much daylight between the two caucuses, and the differences that do exist are negligible. It's why Medicare For All hasn't happen, and isn't likely to with either party.