"We are listening now": Democrats' path forward leads back to the economy

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"We are listening now": Democrats' path forward leads back to the economy
Supporting bipartisan legislation like RSAA gives Democrats the chance to show Americans the party hears them

By Adrienne Elrod
was senior spokesperson for the Kamala Harris presidential campaign
Published February 22, 2025 7:19AM (EST)


(Salon) As Democrats look ahead to rebuilding and focus on elections in 2026 and 2028, party leadership has an urgent responsibility to regain footing with critical constituencies like working class voters and, in some cases, relearn how to communicate with critical voting blocs. On this score, the economy stands out.

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Regaining economic credibility with voters will require addressing the deep insecurities felt by a large share of workers and families. Democrats should start by fighting to give them access to the tools they need to build wealth and achieve financial stability and security.

Consider retirement savings, which are the number one source of wealth for American households. According to the Federal Reserve, over one-quarter of non-retired adults have zero saved for retirement. This is in large part because more than 50 million Americans – many of whom are lower and middle income -– lack access to employer-sponsored retirement plans.

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Of course, Democrats have long been champions of social safety net programs like Social Security and shouldn’t give an inch in fighting to preserve the future of those vital programs. But Democrats must also work to take the pressure off the safety net by expanding access to the wealth-building tools and incentives that upper-income Americans have long taken for granted. ....................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/02/22/we-are-listening-now-democrats-path-forward-leads-back-to-the-economy/