Aug. 2 Open Thread: Liberals Are Not Popular, But Liberal Ideas Are

When people say, “I worry that voters will be scared of a leftist agenda,” they’re really saying, “I’m scared of a leftist agenda.” Polling demonstrates this over and over again — people label themselves conservative but approve of all sorts of programs that are unabashedly liberal. Here’s another one that shows surprising strength even for a federal jobs guarantee.

When people hear “Democratic socialism” they only hear “socialism.” That’s why Fox News keeps trying to demonize Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with segments that could double as campaign ads for the DS movement. Some people think DS is just updated FDR liberalism, but Jacobin magazine writer Meagan Day explains the goal isn’t to reform capitalism but to move beyond it.

What’s wrong with late-stage capitalism? Consider the media’s love of the media portrays as feel-good storiesfeel-good stories, like those about GoFundMe campaigns to raise money for medical care, or people donating vacation days to co-workers to cover for lack of maternity leave. Such stories rarely point out the depravity of a rich society that abandons its citizens to fend for themselves.

For now, though, late-stage capitalism rules, and Trump’s trade war is making a lot of late-stage capitalists nervous. It’s also hammering people in the heartland, which could do more than any of Trump’s crimes to turn voters against him.

Trump will brag about anything, so he wants the Nobel Peace Prize again for getting some remains of MIA soldiers back from the North Koreans. Amid all the self-congratulation, is it churlish to point out that last time the country sent remains they arrived in a jumbled mess that included animal bones?

Kirsten Gillibrand is getting snippy about George Soros’ claim that he won’t back her because of her role in banishing Al Franken, framing it as Soros opposing the #metoo movement. This is a favorite move among Republicans and centrist Democrats, framing criticism as a call for extremism. Because, you know, those scary lefties.

Finally, Dover councilman David Anderson found a thrifty way to generate testimonial support: Pay for it, from a former Pussycat Doll no less. That’s capitalism for ya.