‘Never-Trump’ won’t help Democrats in the next election — here’s what will 

Democrats have taken a political beating in recent years because they have failed to articulate an agenda that inspires voters, especially those in the struggling middle class. In short, they have lacked a unifying vision for the nation. 

President Trump may be their best hope in the next two elections, as he is creating multiple issues for Democrats, some of which are of historic importance. While accusing Democrats of ignoring the middle class, Trump has focused on helping the rich. Americans in the lower 90 percent of income and wealth see the rich getting richer while the middle class struggles with affordability. Families find again, as they have in previous Republican administrations, that the rising tide only lifts the boats of those who can afford them. Everyone else drowns. 

In January, the Federal Reserve reported that low- and middle-income households are falling further behind. In the third quarter last year, the top 1 percent of households held assets totaling $55 trillion, equal to the combined wealth of all households in the bottom 90 percent. It was the highest imbalance since record-keeping began in 1989. While wealth stalled for the rest of the population, it grew three times faster for billionaires last year than the average over the previous five years. 

Vast economic inequality won’t fix itself. Trump’s policies aren’t fixing it either. He can’t keep blaming past presidents — the federal government created the middle class after World War II, and it can do so again now.

The goal........

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