With President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican Party soon in control of the White House and majorities in both houses of Congress, Democrats are at a crossroads. Either we can resist at all costs, or we can adopt a policy of strategic cooperation with the Trump administration.
In the interests of the Democratic Party, and indeed this country, they must choose the latter.
Simply put, after an election in which Americans rejected the Democratic Party's approach to key issues such as the economy, immigration, crime, government waste, and social problems, outright resistance is simply bad politics.
This is not to say that Democrats need to abandon their principles. They should make clear that there are specific policies they will fight to protect if the administration takes a radical turn.
Rather, it is to argue that the party is best served by working with the administration to forge bipartisan compromises on the most important issues facing this country.
On a positive note, there are clearly areas where compromise can and should be made, particularly in the economy, immigration, crime, and cutting government overreach.
When it comes to the economy, there is a middle ground approach that keeps taxes low, stimulates growth, and allows American workers to support their families without being overwhelmed by rising costs of living.
Part of that requires working with Republicans on education and job training. It is possible to find compromises that support job training and school choice and increase educational opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups.
Similarly, Democrats need to work with Republicans to rein in government spending and rising national debt, which are key concerns for voters.
While I was in the Clinton administration, then-President Bill Clinton prioritized spending cuts and balancing the federal budget. This not only took back the mantle of fiscal responsibility from the Republican Party, but also produced the last budget surplus in American history.
But more than two decades later, runaway spending under both parties is contributing to ever-growing debt and inflation.
Democrats have traditionally supported a wide range of social programs, but they should now work with the newly created Department of Government Efficiency to root out waste and inefficiency.
To be clear, Democrats don't have to completely capitulate on issues like Social Security and Medicare, but they can and must make targeted spending cuts in other areas. No.
Besides the economy, immigration and chaos at the southern border had the biggest negative impact on Democrats in the 2024 election.
For too long, Democrats have allowed the left to dictate party policy, but as the 2024 election has shown, Americans on both sides of the aisle want action at the border.
In fact, according to Axios, a majority of Americans (56%) believe that illegal immigration increases crime (21%), increases the burden on taxpayers (18%), and poses a threat to national security (17%). ). vote.
Additionally, Democratic voters are increasingly concerned and demanding action.
The same poll found that nearly 6 in 10 Democrats (59%) feel that “illegal immigration is a problem,” and a slightly smaller majority (53%) believe there is a real crisis at the border. It became clear that they agreed.
Democrats should recognize these concerns and commit to working with Republicans to pass bipartisan immigration reform without giving in to President Trump's mass deportation plans.
Meanwhile, President Trump recently expressed support for the H1B visa program for highly skilled workers. Democrats need to work with the administration to protect or expand that program while taking steps to address uncontrolled illegal immigration.
The focus should be on strengthening borders, abolishing sanctuary cities, and making it harder for illegal immigrants to enter the country, while also providing a path to citizenship for those who already work and pay taxes here. It's important.
To that end, there should clearly be room for compromise in cutting off support to sanctuary cities.
Well-intentioned but misguided sanctuary cities have become both a real security concern and a political lightning rod.
This is especially true after high-profile cases, such as in New York City, where an illegal immigrant protected by sanctuary laws set a woman on fire on the subway in late December.
Finally, on crime, Democrats should consider compromising with Republicans to roll back crime-reducing policies that voters continue to reject.
Demands to “defund the police” and crime reduction laws that would put violent criminals back on the streets will hurt Democrats across the country unless they change direction in their party's approach to crime. Will continue.
Even in deep-blue California, voters overwhelmingly voted to pass Proposition 36 (68 percent to 32 percent), which increases penalties for various crimes. And the state's voters rejected crime-friendly mayors and district attorneys in cities like San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles.
Strategically working with Republicans on strengthening law enforcement and introducing tougher-on-crime laws should be a priority for the new Congress.
Socially, Democrats should be able to recognize that they are protecting the rights of transgender Americans while compromising on the issue of biological men playing in women's sports.
It doesn't have to be the be all and end all when it comes to this hot-button issue.
A policy of strategic cooperation would show Democratic voters that they support what mainstream America wants for them and their families.
Conversely, resisting virtue signaling at all costs will only increase the perception that the Democratic Party is the party of the “elites” and will do nothing to improve the Democratic Party's future political viability. It's useless.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York seems to understand that strategic cooperation is the best path forward. he recently said“House Democrats will strive to find bipartisan common ground whenever and wherever possible…but we will also vigorously defend the common good.”
A good first step would be to recognize that there are areas where compromise can and should be reached, while also understanding that Democrats should uphold certain core principles.
The country and the Democratic Party would be the biggest winners if Democrats could heed Jeffries' words instead of supporting a “take-it-or-leave-it” approach and opposing Trump at all costs.
Douglas E. Schon is a political consultant and founder and partner of Shane Cooperman Research. The latest book is “The End of Democracy? Russia and China are rising, and America is retreating. ”
