General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Chomsky: The Majority of Today's Elected Democrats Are Moderate Republicans [View all]andym
(5,443 posts)IN 1972 moderate Republicans were more progressive on economics than most Democrats today. He's right that most Democrats would be to the right of Nixon who increased government regulations (EPA) and imposed wage and price controls (central government economic intervention). That's the problem with the after effects of Reagan that persist to this day. Far too many voters buy into it as well. For example, the anti-tax sentiment is still strong-- think of how beloved Proposition 13 is in California to this day (even on DU). A progressive version of Proposition 13 would only prevent property taxes rising on the homes of the needy and elderly, not everyone.
On the social side, he is dead wrong, Democrats have moved far to the left on equal rights than they were in the 70's, when they couldn't even pass the ERA.