Mike Hersh PDA Communications Director
Mike’s views are his own, and not necessarily PDA’s official positions

The Stakes for Our Democracy and Our Future

The U.S.A is under threat. Trumpism—right-wing extremism, corporate greed, and media manipulation—threatens our democracy, our economy, and our communities. Donald Trump and his administration are waging war on America. These are not just abstract policy debates—they are lived realities for millions.

Trump’s policies did not emerge from a vacuum. They are just the latest chapter in a decades-long assault on working people, civil rights, and democratic norms by right-wing, neoliberal, and corporate interests. Well-funded right wing think tanks, extremist politicians, and corrupted corporate media laid the groundwork for Trump’s brand of plutocratic faux populism.

Decades of attacks on democracy have taken their toll. The Reagan’s administration’s wholesale corruption, massive tax giveaways for the wealthiest aka “voodoo economics,” and reckless deregulation that dismantled the New Deal and waged a war against reason. W. Bush’s Patriot Act, another round of massive tax giveaways for the wealthiest, lying us into a costly war of choice, and war crimes. Bipartisan failure to hold lawless presidents accountable exacerbated these crises of governance.

Generations of Supreme Court anti-democratic judicial activism exacerbated crises by attacking voting rights. This, including the Citizens United, Shelby County, and other unprecedented, overreaching decisions. These edicts eviscerated duly enacted limits on dark money dominance in elections and carefully crafted protections of voters’ rights.

An impeccably sourced Harvard Law & Policy Review article The Roberts Court’s Assault on Democracy explains, “[E]conomic and political developments in the last fifty years have in many respects undermined America’s democratic institutions and that, instead of working to strengthen democracy, the Supreme Court over which Chief Justice Roberts presides, is substantially contributing to its erosion.”

Right wing recklessness and neoliberal complicity leads to destructive deregulation, heartless cuts to services, and speculative bubbles. This makes ordinary people suffer while oligarchs consolidate their power and multiply their wealth. History warns us that if we don’t act, this fascistic cycle will continue. That’s how we got in this mess. This is what’s happening now.

Ten Harmful Trump Policies

1. Gutting the Affordable Care Act: Millions lost coverage, and protections for pre-existing conditions were threatened. Progressive Solution: Pass Medicare for All (H.R. 3421).
2. Family Separation and the Muslim Ban: Cruel immigration policies tore families apart and fueled xenophobia. Progressive Solution: Enact humane immigration reform and abolish ICE.
3. Corporate Tax Giveaways for the Wealthy: massive gifts to corporations and the ultra-rich ballooned the deficit and starved public services. Progressive Solution: Reverse the Reagan, W. Bush, and Trump tax cuts; tax the ultra-wealthy.
4. Climate Denial and Environmental Rollbacks:  Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement and gutted EPA protections, accelerating climate catastrophe. Progressive Solution: Pass the Green New Deal (H.Res. 332).
5. Attacks on Voting Rights: Trump spread lies about voter fraud and encouraged state-level suppression, undermining democracy. Progressive Solution: Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act (H.R. 14).
6. Embrace of Unregulated Crypto Hype: Trump and allies slash investor protections and promote risky, unregulated crypto schemes, leaving ordinary investors exposed to scams and volatility. Progressive Solution: Enact strong consumer protections and financial regulation for digital assets.
7. Attacking LGBTQ+ People: The administration banned transgender people from military service and weakened civil rights enforcement for all LGBTQ+ people. Progressive Solution: Pass the Equality Act (H.R. 15).
8. Weakening Worker Protections: Labor rights are under attack, the NLRB is stacked against unions. Progressive Solution: Pass the PRO Act (H.R. 20).
9. Sabotaging Pandemic Response: Trump’s misinformation and politicization of COVID-19 cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Progressive Solution: Medicare for All, strengthening public health infrastructure, and guaranteeing paid sick leave.
10. Judicial Appointments to Undermine Democracy: Trump appointed hundreds of right-wing judges, threatening abortion rights, voting rights, and more. Progressive Solution: Expand the courts and pass court reform legislation.

Progressives Offer Real Solutions

PDA is mobilizing for all of the solutions listed above, focusing on:

• Medicare for All: Universal, single-payer health care.
• 21^st Century Economic Bill of Rights: Sound policies for share prosperity.
• Green New Deal: Bold climate action and jobs.
• Voting Rights: End gerrymandering and voter suppression.
• Fair Taxation: Tax the rich, invest in communities.
• Empowering Workers: Promote unions, a living wage.
• Humane Immigration: Dignity and justice for all immigrants.
• Corporate Accountability: Regulate businesses and protect people.

Our organizing principles are rooted in justice, equity, and democracy. We believe in building power from the grassroots up—because real change comes from people like you.

• Will you join PDA’s phone banking team?
• Will you deliver a letter to your senators and representative?
• Will you take online actions?
• Will you join or organize a local PDA chapter?
• Will you donate to support PDA’s grassroots organizing?
• Will you share this blog to inspire others?

The harm is real, but so is our power to change it. Ready to lead? Ready to make history? Let’s get to work. Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s win together.