Problem: After watching the 2016 presidential election unfolds, there was discussion in both major political parties that they each need to execute a better job defining themselves. According to findings in the Democratic National Committee's report, released in 2015, Democrats lack a "cohesive narrative" and need to find ways to help their party explain bedrock values such as fairness, equality and opportunity. The results of the 2016 presidential election seem to support this conclusion. The 10-member task force went to work after Democrats were clobbered in 2014, surrendering control of the Senate to Republicans and allowing the GOP to pad its majority in the House. Republicans captured governor's offices in Massachusetts, Maryland and Illinois - all safe Democratic states in presidential elections - and strengthened their grip on state legislatures. The losses led to soul-searching among Democrats as they tried to translate success in presidential elections under Barack Obama into midterm elections dominated by congressional campaigns. Many party leaders contended that Democrats should have run more aggressively on Obama's record and drawn sharp distinctions with Republicans. Indeed, during the 2014 elections, the Daily Show attacked Democrats for not having a clear message and mobilizing voters. You can watch the Nov. 4th show here. (Note that there are several segments and you can see them all if you let it run together. I suggest looking at the Reince Priebus segment, as he details the differences between the parties.)To bring us closer to the 2016 results, read the following article from the BBC that provides some of the very same analysis about Democrats that you see from 2014. In the immediate aftermath of the 2016 elections, it did not appear that the Democrats had learned any of the lessons from previous elections. At the 100 day mark of President Trump's administration, public opinion polls showed that Americans felt the Democrats were the "most out of touch" of the political parties and leaders. In the aftermath of the 2020 elections, do you think that either party finally figured it out? Take a look at the current issues being promoted by President Biden and the Congressional Democrats. What are the consistent positions that emerge from these groups? How about on the Republican side? Is the GOP the party of Trump or have they moved to define themselves by some type of policy goals or ideological vision? If so, what is it? At this point in the semester you have examined political ideologies and the constitutional framework for our system of government. Political parties are constructed around political ideologies and actively work to shape public policy by winning elections. They must execute this within the parameters established by the Constitution. Keeping these elements in mind, respond to each of the following prompts:
Q1. What does it mean to be a Democrat? A Republican? Would you use either one of these party labels to describe yourself?
Q2. Select a political issue that was highlighted on either the Republican or Democratic Party websites and make an argument supporting either party's position on the issue. Why do you think the party you selected is right? What alternative is being promoted?
Q3. Using the same policy area, identify a 3rd party position on this matter. (The Tea Party is not a political party.) How is their stance different from the Democrats and Republicans?
Q4. Which third parties stand the best chance of becoming a legitimate electoral force? Why?