Trends in American Politics

The Democratic Party is lost in the wilderness with no leader or impetus for the future.  It bungled a national election and a string of off-season contests it ought to have won.  Like in 1992,  Democrats must devise a strategy to reconnect with the American people or escape the doldrums of electoral defeat.

But the Democratic Party isn't the only political institution in trouble in America.  The Republican Party,  thanks to Trump and others, has lost its way too.

With both parties at a crossroads,  what must they do to survive or escape impending doom? 

Democrats need to do a host of things to get back into the good graces of the American people.  They must first fight Trump on healthcare, taxes, and other issues popular with Americans.  At least 60% of respondents in a recent poll, for instance, say they don't want to see Obamacare overhauled or repealed by Congress.  Rather,  they support minor adjustments that would strengthen the plan along with a fairer tax code for poor and middle-class filers to be able to afford life-saving drugs.

Next,  the Democratic Party must scale back its involvement in the culture war to attract more of a share of middle-of-the-road voters.  Instead of focusing all their energy on gay rights,  the environment, or other social issues that have been decided by the courts or enjoy widespread public support,  Democrats must lead the fight for jobs,  affordable health care, and safer streets for all Americans.  And in foreign policy,  progressives need to check Putin, the leader of Russia,  and battle Isis at any cost.

Also, Democrats cannot afford to trivialize their supporters or take them for granted if they want to recapture the White House.  This is why the party fell short in traditionally blue states like Pennsylvania,  Wisconsin, and Michigan in the 2016 general election.  And what many progressives don't realize is that African Americans, a top voting bloc for the Democratic Party,  are conservative on most social issues,  especially in the rural South, and could be slowly slipping away, as evidenced by the last presidential campaign. 

Like African Americans,  women,  who usually vote Democratic in large numbers,  have also begun to question the goals of the Democratic Party and have demonstrated their frustration by voting increasingly for Republicans. Unless they bridge the gender gap or hold on to the support they already have,  Democrats will lose again in 2020.

Republicans will also need to hit the reset button on their relationship with the general public even though they control all three branches of government.  Most Americans expect leadership from the G.O.P. involving  Russia,  healthcare, and jobs, and that Conservatives will be willing to work with others to achieve it.

Although Trump captivated the so-called silent majority with his unorthodox campaign,  traditional Republicans, many of whom didn't support his candidacy, want their party to stand up to the president or hold his feet to the fire, especially on whether or not the president's team colluded with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election.  If the answer proves to be yes,  they would like to see the guilty punished because Russian meddling in U. S. affairs could not only spell an end to democracy but give the former Soviet Union a leg up in foreign policy if the commander in chief has something to hide.

Aside from Russia,  the American people want Republicans to seek bipartisanship or work across the aisle with Democrats to bring about positive change in America. The general public wants the G.O.P. to craft a plan with Democratic leaders to fix Obamacare or reign in high premiums rather than scrapping it altogether.  Americans also want joint action on jobs, infrastructure, and the environment.  Without it, the less of a chance to put large segments of society back to work,  which is what the country voted for.

Finally,  to achieve true bipartisanship on Capitol Hill,  there may have to be a shake-up at the top of the G.O.P., as many have indicated.  Some think Mitch McConnell should step down as Senate Majority Leader not just for blocking many of Obama's initiatives, including judicial appointments but for his inability to build a consensus among Democrats and Republicans on health care, Russia, and other hot-button issues that usually divide the nation

The same may be said of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan,  who's often cited for not being tough enough on Trump. He's also been accused of getting bogged down in conservative ideology instead of reaching out to opposing members of Congress for their ideas or input on issues critical to the American people.

With an ongoing civil war in the Republican Party touched off by President Trump and an identity crisis among Democrats,  what does the future hold for American Democracy?