A Democratic Future in the West?
October 1999 - The political pollsters and spinmeisters repeatedly assert that Democrats can no longer win in the West. They say an increasing Republican voter registration advantage - largely generated by the growth of the radical right and new, higher-income people - make it electorally impossible for Democrats. Hang on, the pundits emphasize, the West is swinging to the right.
The “experts” misread elections because they see politics through a very biased and outdated prism - liberal vs. conservative, Democrat Vs Republican, etc. Meanwhile, voters make their decisions in a much more pragmatic, nonpartisan and non-ideological manner.
Colorado is a case in point. When actually asked for their opinions (which a Colorado DLC poll did last year), voters tell a much different story. For example, 74 percent believe the best solutions to Colorado's problems come from the center. Sixty percent refuse to identify themselves as either strong Democrats or strong Republicans.
Far from rejecting activist government, almost two-thirds believe the public sector should help people equip themselves to solve their own problems. Small numbers say the role of government is to stay out of our lives and let us solve our own problems.
Nonetheless, the challenges facing my party in the West should not be underestimated. While voters themselves are non-ideological, they - especially the unaffiliated - have specific concerns about Democrats.
Democratic candidates must shakeup the debate by offering New Democrat ideas on the “ tough governing” issues - economic opportunity, fiscal discipline, crime, welfare, and streamlined government. Once that threshold of credibility is reached, the party's traditional advantages on the “compassion” issues - education, health care and the environment - can be maximized.
Count on Western voters to continue rejecting the ideological extremes of both traditional liberals and conservatives. Strong majorities are increasingly tired of an old left-right debate that is more focused on rehashing the past, rather than building the future.
Those realities should lift the hopes of my party. But even more important than that, Democrats have a duty and responsibility to redefine progressivism in the Information Age and offer a new, real political choice to all Westerners.
Jim Gibson is president of the Colorado Democratic Leadership Council, a think tank that advocates new public policy ideas and the Democratic Party's historic commitment to economic growth, personal responsibility, community, individual liberty and equal opportunity.