The Democratic Strategist (TDS) publishes strategy white papers that provide an in-depth analysis of major strategic issues facing the Democratic Party and its leaders. Todays look isolates non-college-educated white voters who are not attracted to the Tea Party Movement but who are rapidly trending Republican as an important strategic target for Democrats in 2010 and particularly in 2012.
Today we are publishing a new strategy white paper by Andrew Levison whose study of white-working-class voters dates back all the way to the 1970s.
Levisons study examines the often-heard proposition that a strong anti-corporate populist message is the key to attracting these voters and finds it lacking in terms of the strong anti-government and anti-politics sentiments that have become an entrenched factor in the world views of many non-college educated voters in recent years.
He instead suggests a comprehensive message of government reform that addresses the legitimate and perceived concerns of those white working class voters who are still open to persuasion and that contextualizes progressive policy proposals in a way that makes them far more acceptable to skeptics of government and politics.
Levisons paper which draws on the extensive academic literature on the white working class along with public opinion research communications theory and sociological findings provides we believe something of a landmark on a subject of perennial interest to progressives and of considerable urgency given todays political landscape.
It also constitutes a good antidote to oversimplified media discussions of the Tea Party Movement and of populism by looking at what non-college-educated voters actually think and how they process information on politics and government.
It is well worth the time it takes to read digest and we hope discuss with others.
The Democratic Strategist (TDS) publishes strategy white papers that provide an in-depth analysis of major strategic issues facing the Democratic Party and its leaders. Todays look isolates non-college-educated white voters who are not attracted to the Tea Party Movement but who are rapidly trending Republican as an important strategic target for Democrats in 2010 and particularly in 2012.
Today we are publishing a new strategy white paper by Andrew Levison whose study of white-working-class voters dates back all the way to the 1970s.
Levisons study examines the often-heard proposition that a strong anti-corporate populist message is the key to attracting these voters and finds it lacking in terms of the strong anti-government and anti-politics sentiments that have become an entrenched factor in the world views of many non-college educated voters in recent years.
He instead suggests a comprehensive message of government reform that addresses the legitimate and perceived concerns of those white working class voters who are still open to persuasion and that contextualizes progressive policy proposals in a way that makes them far more acceptable to skeptics of government and politics.
Levisons paper which draws on the extensive academic literature on the white working class along with public opinion research communications theory and sociological findings provides we believe something of a landmark on a subject of perennial interest to progressives and of considerable urgency given todays political landscape.
It also constitutes a good antidote to oversimplified media discussions of the Tea Party Movement and of populism by looking at what non-college-educated voters actually think and how they process information on politics and government.
It is well worth the time it takes to read digest and we hope discuss with others.
