Critique of Democratic Party's Shift from Workers to Elites

Thomas Frank

Author of Listen, Liberal (2016), a political analyst and founder of The Baffler, known for critiquing American political culture.

Listen, Liberal Main Argument

The Democratic Party abandoned its working-class base, embracing a professional elite, leading to economic inequality and political disillusionment.

Working-Class Base

Traditional Democratic supporters (labor unions, lower middle class, poor) sidelined by the party's shift to elitism.

Professional Class

Highly educated, affluent group (doctors, lawyers, tech workers) that became the Democrats' new focus, prioritizing meritocracy and innovation.

New Deal Liberalism

FDR-era policies for workers' rights and social welfare, which Democrats moved away from post-1970s.

Neoliberalism

Economic philosophy favoring free markets and deregulation, adopted by Democrats like Clinton and Obama, per Frank.

Fred Dutton's Influence

His 1971 book Changing Sources of Power inspired Democrats to prioritize professionals over unions, rejecting New Deal legacy.

George McGovern's 1972 Campaign

Its failure led Democrats to shift to center-right politics, distancing from labor-focused liberalism.

Democratic Leadership Council

Neoliberal group arguing Carter, Mondale, and Dukakis lost elections due to New Deal ties, pushing centrist policies.

Bill Clinton's Presidency

Elected in 1992, his "New Democrat" policies (e.g., NAFTA, crime bill) favored markets and elites, exacerbating inequality.

NAFTA (1993)

Clinton's trade agreement that Frank says harmed workers by prioritizing corporate interests.

Violent Crime Control Act (1994)

Clinton's law increasing incarceration, seen by Frank as neglecting working-class communities.

Personal Responsibility Act (1996)

Clinton's welfare reform, criticized by Frank for deepening poverty among the poor.

Barack Obama's Presidency

Elected in 2008 amid economic crisis, but his complex laws (e.g., Dodd-Frank) favored professionals over workers, per Frank.

Dodd-Frank Act (2010)

Obama's Wall Street reform, deliberately complex to align with professional consensus, less effective for workers.

Affordable Care Act (2010)

Obama's healthcare reform, complex by design, reflecting Democratic elitism, per Frank.

Economic Inequality

Central issue Frank says Democrats failed to address, prioritizing Wall Street and Silicon Valley over workers.

Wall Street Bailouts

Post-2008 crisis, Democrats supported bank rescues while workers faced wage stagnation, per Frank.

Silicon Valley Ties

Democrats' embrace of tech elites, promoting innovation over labor protections, contributing to inequality.

Hillary Clinton's 2016 Campaign

Embodied professionalist ideology, focusing on competence and affluence, alienating working-class voters.

Donald Trump's 2016 Victory

Frank foresaw it, arguing Democrats' neglect of workers led to Trump's appeal in deindustrialized Midwest.

Massachusetts Inequality

Example of Democratic failure: Boston's professional wealth contrasts with Fall River's deindustrialized poverty.

Innovation as Policy

Democrats' focus on entrepreneurship and tech as solutions, ignoring structural labor issues, per Frank.

Meritocracy Critique

Frank argues Democrats' belief in meritocracy justifies inequality, blaming workers for systemic failures.

Social Question

Frank's term for the eternal conflict of rich vs. poor, neglected by Democrats' focus on professionals.