it all comes down to money. in the us elections are bought and sold. the voters are susceptible to ads/algo driven narratives on billionaire controlled platforms. gop still has the backing of capital, and dc consultants on the dem side are desperately trying to hold on to whatever wealthy donors that will fund their campaigns- this is part of the reason why dsa & the israel issue is so frustrating for them. we threaten capital interests & oppose the financial ties many have to the apartheid state. wealthy donors then punish the dems, and some even fund the fascist republicans, despite their flagrant abuse of power, brazen corruption and overall incompetence. we have to make a choice. do we believe in democracy & want to fight for it or do we continue this corporate oligarchy where we succumb to the needs of capital w hopes that they let us have crumbs while republicans destroy the remaining institutional checks and bring about total fascist control? you can either serve capital or the people. you can force capital to serve the people, but that requires a strong state, one that cultivates its legitimacy through its popular support. as long as dems are held hostage by the wealthy benefactors, as long as the democratic party opposes the mobilization of a strong committed base that will claw back power from capital, dc will remain a cesspool that trades off american well being for campaign cash in exchange for legislation that centers profits over people. the wealthy know this, that’s why they hedge their bets each cycle, but that’s not democracy - it’s a hostage negotiation.