July 28, 2024
Lee Drutman wrote for The New Republic on the state of the Democratic party.
And the Democratic Party? Is it capable of sustaining liberal democracy on its own, or is it, too, on the brink of capitulation? In the latest Gallup poll, just 23 percent of Americans identified themselves as Democrats—the lowest number in the poll’s 90-year history. Meanwhile, 51 percent of Americans choose not to affiliate themselves with either party—the highest share in the history of polling. This level of disaffection suggests that the two parties are failing in their crucial role as intermediary institutions—collectively integrating concerns of diverse Americans into a coherent and meaningful representation. Without parties to integrate, represent, and share power, democracy falls into chaos and authoritarianism, violence and force. There is a simple, obvious answer to our present conundrum: Replace them with new and better parties.