Why Demographics Can't Save the Democrats -- But Populism Can

There is only one way for Democrats to form a winning coalition of seniors, working-class whites, and its traditional constituencies, and that's by promising to address the economic problems that all of these groups share. While there's no room for a comprehensive list, those problems include:

• Financial insecurity after retirement or disability, which means support for Social Security expansion;
• Un- or under-employment, which can be addressed with a meaningful jobs program that includes massive infrastructure investment;
• Costly or inaccessible higher education, which requires reform of college financing;
• Inadequate wages, which means support for the union movement, minimum wage increases, and a broad array of worker protections;
• An overall weakening of the social safety net, which can be addressed through higher taxes on the wealthy and an end to Democratic support for privatization of government services;
• The economic predation of the financial class, which means stricter regulation of Wall Street;
• and, a reduction in intergenerational wealth inequality, calling for (among other things) stronger inheritance taxes and programs designed to increase social mobility.

There's a reason why an agenda that addresses these problems is often described as "populist." These problems cross demographic boundaries and embrace most of the population. Women are looking for full-time work. People of color are struggling to make ends meet. Same-sex couples are trying to put their kids through school.

A problem quickly becomes apparent with even a truncated list of economic woes and potential solutions like this one: While an agenda like this could unify seniors and the white working class with more traditionally Democratic constituencies, it is also likely to alienate the wealthy backers of the party's "centrist" wing.

No wonder the Democratic Leadership Council/Third Way crowd prefers identity politics. Unfortunately, a divide-and-conquer approach won't satisfy the Democratic base for long. Nor will it persuade any of the other groups the party must win over if it is to succeed in the long term.

That leaves "centrists" in the Democratic leadership with a choice they would rather not make -- between the financial interests that have served them so well for so long, and the policies that would serve the nation economically while boosting their party politically.