In the wake of the 2024 elections, a critical question hangs in the air for the Democratic Party: What Is A Democrat in today’s America? This question isn’t merely about political labels, but delves into the core identity, values, and future trajectory of a party seeking to resonate with a diverse and evolving electorate. This exploration becomes even more pertinent as Democrats navigate an era marked by stark political polarization and the enduring influence of figures like Donald Trump.
To gain deeper insights into this complex issue, we turn to a compelling conversation with Congressman Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts. Recorded in January, this discussion, while not directly addressing the immediate Trump news cycle, offers a valuable framework for understanding the broader challenges and opportunities facing the Democratic Party. Auchincloss, known for his thoughtful approach and innovative ideas, provides a perspective that is both grounded in current political realities and forward-looking in its vision for a revitalized Democratic agenda.
Alt text: Congressman Jake Auchincloss discussing the implications of AI in Congress, highlighting the need for technology as a tool, not a master.
The “Diet Coke” Theory: Populism and Democratic Identity
One of the central themes of the conversation revolves around what Auchincloss terms the “Diet Coke theory” of the Democratic Party. He expresses concern that in response to the populist wave exemplified by Donald Trump, some Democrats have been tempted to offer a diluted, “Diet Coke” version of populism. This approach, he argues, risks misreading the electorate and ultimately failing to offer a compelling alternative.
Auchincloss points to examples like Fall River, Massachusetts, a working-class, multi-ethnic city within his district that voted Republican in 2024 for the first time in a century. He notes that some Democrats, observing trends in cities like Fall River, might conclude that embracing populist rhetoric on issues like immigration, trans rights, or culture wars is the path to electoral success.
However, Auchincloss cautions against this interpretation. He argues that voters seeking genuine populism, the “Coca-Cola,” are unlikely to be satisfied with a Democratic imitation, the “Diet Coke.” Instead, he suggests that Democrats need to understand who their core voters are not and then focus on attracting those voters who are potentially receptive to their message.
He illustrates this point by considering voter priorities. If a voter’s primary concern is gun rights, immigration restriction, or the debate around transgender athletes in sports, they are unlikely to be a Democratic voter. Auchincloss acknowledges this reality, stating, “That’s O.K. There’s two parties.”
However, he emphasizes that voters who have shifted between parties, perhaps voting for Obama, then Trump, then Biden, and again for Trump, represent a crucial demographic. For these voters, whose primary concern is often the “cost of living,” Democrats have a significant opportunity to reconnect and regain their support.
This analysis underscores a key aspect of what is a democrat in the current political landscape. It’s not about mimicking the opposition, but about clearly defining and articulating a distinct Democratic vision that addresses the real concerns of swing voters while staying true to core Democratic principles.
Reclaiming the Economic Narrative: Kitchen Tables and Front Porches
The conversation then delves into the economic messaging of the Democratic Party and the need to refocus on “kitchen table and front porch issues.” Auchincloss suggests that Democrats may have lost ground by being perceived as losing sight of these fundamental economic concerns.
He references the infamous political ad, “Kamala’s for they/them, Trump’s for you,” as emblematic of a broader cultural perception that Democrats have become disconnected from the cultural mainstream. While acknowledging the importance of cultural issues, Auchincloss implies that an overemphasis on these topics may have overshadowed the party’s economic agenda.
He argues that Democrats once held a strong position with a multiracial, working-class coalition, winning voters earning less than $50,000 and non-white voters by significant margins. To regain this ground, he believes Democrats must forcefully communicate that the Trump agenda, despite its populist rhetoric, ultimately serves the interests of “cop beaters and tech oligarchs” rather than the average American family.
Auchincloss stresses the need to drive home the “cost of living message,” emphasizing that the core Democratic economic promise is that “taxes plus housing, plus health care is less than half your wallet.” This message, he argues, requires a focus on tackling “cost disease” in sectors like housing and healthcare, where prices inflate faster than GDP due to labor intensity and low productivity gains.
Alt text: Auchincloss explaining the shift in cultural perception and the need for Democrats to refocus on kitchen table issues and the cost of living.
The Abundance Agenda: Supply, Not Just Subsidies
Auchincloss elaborates on the concept of “cost disease,” explaining it as an economic phenomenon where sectors with low productivity gains, like housing and healthcare, experience rapid price increases. He uses the analogy of building a car piece by piece in one’s driveway to illustrate the inefficiency and high cost associated with traditional housing construction.
He advocates for an “abundance agenda” as a key solution to address cost of living challenges. This agenda emphasizes unlocking supply rather than simply subsidizing demand. In housing, this translates to advocating for zoning reform to increase housing supply and embracing innovative construction methods like modular housing to reduce costs.
Auchincloss cites the example of a modular housing project in San Francisco, “Tahanan,” highlighting its potential while also acknowledging the political resistance to scaling such solutions due to entrenched interests. He criticizes what he terms “everything-bagel liberalism,” where multiple, often conflicting, goals are piled onto individual projects or policies, hindering progress and innovation.
In healthcare, Auchincloss argues for promoting biotechnology and medical device technology as ways to transform services into products, thereby increasing productivity and lowering costs. He points to the looming Alzheimer’s crisis in 2050, where millions will require extensive care, emphasizing that prevention and technological solutions are crucial to addressing long-term affordability challenges.
The “abundance agenda” provides a concrete policy framework for what is a democrat to advocate for in the economic realm. It’s a vision that moves beyond traditional demand-side subsidies and focuses on structural changes to increase supply, drive down costs, and improve affordability for everyday Americans.
Technology and the Democratic Party: Navigating Skepticism and Opportunity
The conversation shifts to the complex relationship between the Democratic Party and technology. Auchincloss observes a growing skepticism towards technology within Democratic circles, contrasting it with the earlier, more optimistic stance of figures like Bill Clinton and Al Gore.
He acknowledges valid concerns about disinformation, misinformation, and the actions of tech billionaires. However, he cautions against a wholesale rejection of technological solutions, arguing for a sector-by-sector approach.
Auchincloss expresses strong support for biotechnology and medical device innovation, aerospace and defense technology, and blockchain’s potential to empower creators in the digital economy. However, he voices deep concern about social media corporations and their “attention fracking” business models, particularly their impact on children and young people.
He highlights the need for social media companies to uphold a “duty of care” to their users, criticizing their current monetization of attention spans at the expense of user well-being and societal health. This concern leads to a discussion of TikTok and the bipartisan effort in Congress to address national security concerns related to the platform’s ownership.
Auchincloss defends the Congressional action on TikTok, emphasizing the national security risks and the need to prevent foreign adversaries from wielding undue influence through social media platforms. He acknowledges the political complexities and shifting dynamics surrounding the issue but remains confident that a resolution, likely involving a sale of TikTok, is necessary.
Alt text: Auchincloss discussing the evolving relationship between Democrats and Big Tech, noting the shift from enthusiasm to skepticism.
Attention as a Public Good: Taxing the Attention Economy?
Expanding on the theme of social media and attention, the conversation explores the idea of “attention” as a collective resource and public good. Auchincloss suggests that the quality of American attention has been degraded by the current attention economy, dominated by social media platforms.
He proposes a novel policy idea: a tax on attention. He argues that in the digital world, “paying attention” is a valuable activity that is not currently taxed, unlike similar exchanges in the real world. He envisions a value-added tax (VAT) levied on social media companies based on the amount of time users spend on their platforms.
The revenue generated from this “attention tax” would be earmarked for supporting local journalism, aiming to revitalize a sector struggling in the digital age and crucial for civic engagement and informed communities. Auchincloss acknowledges the implementation challenges and potential criticisms of such a tax but argues that it’s a necessary step to update the tax code for the attention economy and address the negative externalities of social media’s current business model.
This proposal highlights a potentially transformative policy direction for what is a democrat to consider. It’s a bold idea that challenges conventional economic thinking and seeks to address the societal costs associated with the attention economy while supporting vital public goods like local journalism.
Healthcare Beyond Insurance: Community Health Centers and Middlemen
The conversation then turns to healthcare policy, moving beyond the focus on health insurance coverage that has dominated Democratic discourse for years. Auchincloss argues that while universal health insurance is critical, the focus must now shift to addressing healthcare costs and improving the delivery of care.
He criticizes the role of “middlemen” in the healthcare system, particularly pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who he argues extract excessive rents and contribute to rising drug prices. He cites data showing that for every dollar returned to drug makers for novel therapeutics, fifty cents goes to middlemen.
Auchincloss advocates for a shift from “subsidizing health insurance” to “subsidizing the delivery of health care.” He highlights community health centers as a model for patient-centric, team-based care that minimizes administrative burdens and insurance complexities. He envisions expanding access to community health centers as a key strategy to improve healthcare delivery and control costs.
While acknowledging the unpopularity of private health insurers, Auchincloss surprisingly expresses support for their continued role, particularly in providing catastrophic coverage for rare, unpredictable, and expensive medical events. He argues that government price regulation, while common in other countries, may not be the most effective approach in the US context.
However, he emphasizes the need for greater granularity and transparency in negotiations between providers and payers, criticizing the current concentrated healthcare market where neither side can effectively say “no,” leading to unchecked inflation. He suggests that promoting competition and choice, coupled with government buying power, is crucial to controlling healthcare costs.
Alt text: Auchincloss advocating for community health centers as a model for patient-centric healthcare delivery, moving beyond insurance-centric approaches.
Antitrust and the “Legos Economy”: Challenging Corporate Power
The discussion touches on the issue of economic concentration and antitrust enforcement. Auchincloss expresses concern that too much of the economy has been “captured by middlemen and rent seekers,” hindering innovation and individual empowerment.
He uses the analogy of “Legos versus Monopoly” to illustrate his vision for a more dynamic and equitable economy. He advocates for an economy that works like Legos, empowering individuals to build things together, rather than a Monopoly game where a few players accumulate wealth and extract rents.
Auchincloss acknowledges that markets can be captured by both government and corporate power. He calls for attacking power wherever it undermines the “Legos economy,” advocating for robust antitrust enforcement to promote competition and prevent excessive concentration.
This perspective underscores a crucial aspect of what is a democrat to advocate for in the economic sphere. It’s a commitment to challenging concentrated corporate power, promoting fair markets, and fostering an economy that benefits individuals and communities, not just large corporations and rent-seeking intermediaries.
The Power of Interest Groups and the Need for Political Reform
The conversation delves into the role of interest groups in the political system and their influence on Congress. Auchincloss notes that it’s not just corporations that wield power, but also ideologically motivated special interest groups.
He points to examples across the political spectrum, from pharmacy benefit managers hindering PBM reform to tech companies resisting Section 230 reform, and also to groups resisting immigration reform or gun violence prevention. He argues that these groups often hold disproportionate sway over political discourse and policy outcomes.
Auchincloss attributes this influence, in part, to the primary election system, where many members of Congress are more focused on their primary electorate than the general election. He advocates for political reforms to address this, including open primaries, independent redistricting, and campaign finance reform, drawing examples from Alaska, New Jersey, and Maine.
He believes that these reforms would shift the focus of campaigns towards the median voter, reducing the power of special interest groups and leading to a more responsive and representative political system. This focus on political reform is essential for what is a democrat to champion in order to create a more functional and democratic political process.
Navigating the Trump Era: Discipline and Focus
Finally, the conversation turns to the Trump era and the Democratic response. Auchincloss expresses little surprise at Trump’s actions, noting that they align with his campaign promises. He acknowledges the sense of overwhelm and constant news cycles but advocates for a disciplined and focused Democratic strategy.
He emphasizes that Democrats should not engage in an “outrage Olympics” or chase every “ball that he throws.” Instead, he argues for a consistent focus on contrasting “who is he helping and who is he working for and who are we helping and who are we working for.”
Auchincloss believes that while it’s important to call out Trump’s actions and defend core Democratic values, the most effective approach is to connect these issues to pocketbook concerns and demonstrate how Trump’s policies negatively impact everyday Americans. He emphasizes the importance of localizing the message and focusing on issues with direct local impact.
He concludes by quoting a line from Mike Pence, “I’m a conservative, but I’m not angry about it,” offering his Democratic counterpart: “I’m a liberal, but I’m not condescending about it.” He stresses the need for Democrats to engage with voters in a respectful and listening manner, avoiding the perception of lecturing or elitism. He emphasizes the importance of shattering echo chambers and engaging in conversations across diverse media landscapes to effectively communicate the Democratic message.
In conclusion, the conversation with Congressman Auchincloss offers a nuanced and insightful perspective on what is a democrat in the 21st century. It’s a vision that embraces core Democratic values while advocating for fresh approaches to economic policy, technology regulation, healthcare reform, and political strategy. It’s a call for a Democratic Party that is both principled and pragmatic, focused on addressing the real concerns of Americans while offering a compelling alternative to the populist and often divisive politics of the Trump era.
Recommended Books:
- “How Mathematics Built the Modern World” on works in progress
- “Radical Markets” by E. Glen Weyl and Eric Posner
- “Plurality” by E. Glen Weyl and Audrey Tang
- “What Hath God Wrought” (Oxford history of the United States)
