An Accidental Insight

Occasionally The New York Times' Thomas Edsall, an old lefty but a smart one, comes up with an insight worth sharing or, in this case, elaborating upon. The question with which he begins today's column is this: Why don't today's poor engage in collective action to better their lot?

Most of his answer is the usual liberal claptrap, but he stumbles across an insight almost as if by accident.

Those bearing the most severe costs of inequality are irrelevant to the agenda-setters in both parties. They are political orphans in the new order. They may have a voice in urban politics, but on the national scene they no longer fit into the schema of the left or the right. They are pushed to the periphery except for a brief moment on Election Day when one party wants their votes counted, and the other doesn’t.

The Democrats - historic advocates for the interests of the less-well-off - have been captured by a collection of affluent interest groups with agendas that either fail to assist, or actually damage, the well-being of the poor.  Examples include the greens who oppose growth, LGBT groups, the tech moguls, and the public employee unions, including teachers.

These groups now fund the Democrats and, as they pay the piper, they call the tunes to which the party dances. Lip service is given to betterment of the poor but little actual equalization results.