Jessica Harper Uncanceled

For most of American history, the Democratic Party stood for the working man and woman. It was the party of labor rights, economic opportunity and the middle class. It fought for fair wages, Social Security, Medicare, and the right to a dignified life for blue-collar Americans.

Leaders like Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and even Bill Clinton understood that the backbone of America wasn’t found in radical social experiments or identity politics but in hardworking Americans who wanted a fair shot at the American Dream.

Today, the Democrats have drifted into a political wilderness. Instead of focusing on policies that help the vast majority of Americans, they’ve become obsessed with niche activist groups, radical gender theories, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives that prioritize quotas over qualifications. It’s no wonder working-class voters are fleeing the party in droves.

If the Democrats want to survive, they need to get back to what made them great. That means standing up for the little guy again — not the loudest guy in the room.

The glory days: when Democrats fought for Americans

Let’s take a walk down memory lane. FDR’s New Deal lifted millions out of poverty, built infrastructure that still stands today, and created social security — something nearly every American benefits from. Roosevelt wasn’t focused on fringe social theories; he was focused on putting people to work and creating a strong economy.

Fast forward to JFK, who inspired the nation with his call to “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” He was a Cold War hawk, an advocate for a strong America, and a believer in economic growth. He pushed for tax cuts to spur business investment, recognizing that the economy flourishes when businesses thrive.

Even Bill Clinton, for all his personal flaws, knew that economic prosperity mattered more than woke activism. Under his presidency, the economy boomed, welfare was reformed to encourage work, and America projected strength on the world stage. Clinton famously declared, “The era of big government is over,” signaling a shift toward pragmatism rather than ideological purity.

How the party lost its way

Fast forward to today, and the Democrats look nothing like the party of FDR, JFK, or even Clinton. Instead of fighting for working families, they’re more concerned with preferred pronouns and whether statues should be torn down. They’ve abandoned the broad coalition of working- and middle-class Americans to cater to radical activist groups that represent a fraction of the population.

Let’s talk about our old friend DEI — Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The idea that America should be a fair and welcoming place for everyone is noble, but DEI initiatives have gone off the deep end. Instead of ensuring equal opportunity, DEI policies often promote racial and gender quotas, forcing hiring managers to consider identity over merit. American companies, universities, and even government agencies are being told that straight white men should take a backseat, regardless of their skills or experience. This isn’t progress — it’s discrimination under a new name.

Were you surprized when DEI was one of Trump’s first targets when he got into office in January? Me neither.

And then there’s the obsession with fringe minority groups and activists who spend more time protesting than working. The Democratic Party now champions causes that alienate the vast majority of Americans — causes like defunding the police (which even major city mayors are now backtracking on) or gender ideology that has turned school board meetings into battlegrounds. These aren’t winning issues. They’re distractions.

Losing the working class

It’s no secret that working-class voters are shifting right. In 2016, Donald Trump flipped states that had been Democratic strongholds for decades — Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania — by appealing to blue-collar workers. He talked about jobs, trade, and the economy. He called out the elites in Washington and Silicon Valley who look down on ordinary Americans. And it resonated.

Democrats should have taken that loss as a wake-up call. Instead, they doubled down on their worst instincts. They spent four years screaming about Russia, pushing endless identity politics, and ignoring the economic concerns of working people. By 2020, they managed to scrape together a victory — not because they reconnected with workers, but because COVID and mail-in ballots gave them an edge. But look at where they are now.

Hispanic and black voters—once solid Democratic constituencies—are shifting right. Why? Because these communities value family, faith, and hard work. They don’t see themselves in the bizarre gender theories being pushed in schools. They don’t want criminals let back onto the streets. They want the same thing every American wants: safe neighborhoods, good jobs, and a chance to raise their kids without the government interfering.

A simple plan

If the Democratic Party wants to survive, they need to remember who they used to be. Here’s how:

1. Ditch the radicalism – Stop obsessing over DEI initiatives, fringe activism and pronoun policing. The majority of Americans don’t care about this nonsense.
2. Focus on the economy – Lower taxes for the middle class, bring back American manufacturing, and prioritize job growth over green energy fantasies that eliminate working-class jobs.
3. Strengthen law and order – Crime is out of control in major Democratic cities. Instead of coddling criminals, Democrats should support strong policing and harsher punishments for violent offenders.
4. Support parents and education – Stop pushing radical curriculums in schools and start focusing on academic excellence. Parents want their kids to learn math, reading, and history — not be used as social experiments.
5. Reclaim patriotism – Americans want to be proud of their country. Democrats need to stop acting like America is the problem and start celebrating the greatness of this nation again.

Final Thoughts

The Democratic Party was once a proud party of the working class. Now, it’s a party of woke activists, out-of-touch elites, and policies that alienate everyday Americans. If they want to win back the voters they lost, they need to get back to basics.

Scrap the identity politics, stop listening to Twitter activists, and start fighting for the things that actually matter—jobs, safety, and prosperity. Until then, they’re handing working-class voters over to the GOP on a silver platter.

There’s just one problem, of course. Which is that a rival party and its leader — who is inconveniently also leader of the free world for four more years — has beaten them to it.