Democrats Must Embrace Working-Class Economic Populism to Save Democracy and Win Elections
Source: David Sirota. "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Channeling FDR." February 17, 2026. jacobin.com
The Gist
The author argues that Democrats keep losing because they ignore working-class economic needs, which pushes people toward authoritarians who promise solutions. Following FDR's example, Democrats should embrace policies like higher minimum wages and free college to both win elections and protect democracy.
Conclusion
Democratic leaders must adopt working-class economic populism both for electoral success and to prevent the rise of authoritarianism
Premises
- FDR warned that economic hardship and insecurity lead people to abandon democracy for authoritarianism
- Democrats have betrayed working-class voters by rejecting populist economic policies like $15 minimum wage, tuition-free college, and expanded healthcare
- This betrayal has created conditions that allow authoritarians like Trump to gain power by positioning themselves as solutions to economic problems
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani represent a new generation of Democrats who understand this connection and are advocating for working-class-centered politics
- Corporate concentration has reached levels that rival nation-states in power, making economic reform urgent for democratic stability
Assumptions
- Economic populism is inherently working-class friendly and beneficial
- There is a direct causal relationship between economic policy and democratic stability
- AOC and Mamdani's approach represents the correct path forward for Democrats
- The Democratic Party establishment's resistance to populist policies is the primary cause of electoral losses
- Historical parallels between the 1930s and today are valid and instructive