Do you like this survey?
We want to hear directly from you about where we should go from here. With Trump back in office, our communities face real threats, and we need a plan that truly reflects our shared priorities. Your input will help shape our next steps.
Tell us what matters most to you:
- Key Issues: What should we focus on? Are there specific causes you feel are urgent?
- Political Strategy: Do we need to work outside of the Democratic Party? What other avenues should we explore?
- Moving Forward: How can we best organize and prepare for the challenges ahead?
Your voice matters, and together, we can create a path forward. Thank you for standing with us.
Reactions
A: We have to work to change the attitude towards immigrants and immigration—-draw attention to their historic and current economic and other contributions to our communities
I have researched the contributions of the families of the “wretched refuse” immigrants of 1880-1924 to science and found, for example 50 Nobel laureates in science and medicine among their children and grandchildren
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG6QBiX9ghc
A: We must bring down the imperialist scums of the earth. We must stop thinking either party is the answer to our problems. We must bring down the evil empires that are destroying humanity and our planet. The US war machine enables and facilitates the genocide in Gaza that is paid for by the US taxpayers. America is actively engaged in genocidal ethnic cleansing, killing tens if not hundreds of thousands of mainly children and women and spitting on every precept of humanitarian and international law. The most powerful weapon of the U.S. establishment has been divide-and-conquer tactics to scapegoat immigrants and refugees. As servants of the capitalist class, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are dedicated to this system. Iran is not my enemy. Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis are not my enemies. My enemies are the western imperialists and their Israeli partners in crime who are inflicting a waking nightmare upon the middle east and working to start a massive new war of unfathomable horror.
A: Honestly at this moment the path forward is less clear than ever for me. Having Trump and his followers successfully bamboozled their way into a second election victory is a horrendous setback at a terrible time. While I think it’s still true that grassroots organizing is the path that has and will always be the only reliable course that results in positive progress—doing that is going to be so much harder for several reasons including the return of previously outdated forms of oppression in this country. We could be soon facing giant steps backward in social evolution that materially harms millions of lives.
Unfortunately I’m thinking the first thing everyone needs to do is try to stay aware and if increased violence in some form is headed your way, do your best to keep your loved ones and friends away from it. With rigorous journalism being especially an enemy of the returning administration, staying aware is going to be that much more difficult.
So I guess the path forward is maybe trying to balance your safety and organizing more than ever. We can’t afford to lose each other and reckless power grabbing isn’t right to go unchallenged. The two things don’t together. I just hope it won’t be as bad as the impending threat seems right now.
A: We learned in high school civics class that one of the prerequisites for democracy is an informed citizenry.
Unfortunately, what we have today is a MISinformed citizenry.
Today, any person, with essentially zero money, can spread lies on the Internet which can potentially reach millions of people. To quote PBS:
‘If a news site falsely calls you a swindler, you can sue the publisher for libel. But if someone posts that on Facebook, you can’t sue the company — just the person who posted it.
That’s thanks to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which states that “no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”’
TV networks and newspapers don’t get this protection, just companies like Facebook and Twitter. If you get slandered/libelled on Facebook or Twitter, you can sue the poster, but what’s the point? It’ll likely cost you plenty for legal expenses, and, if you win, the poster likely won’t be able to pay.
This is a HUGE problem. Why isn’t it at the top of everyone’s mind? We’re constantly being bombarded by lies (Trump being liar-in-chief), and a large number of people are believing these lies.
The solution is simple, although it will be hard to get through Congress. Section 230 MUST be rolled back. The details are for the lawyers to work out, but, for example, if you believe you were harmed online, you would be required to complain to the interactive computer service in question. The service would be given a period of time to take whatever action they wished: contact the poster, remove or edit the post themselves. If, after the period ended, you weren’t satisfied with the actions the service had taken, you could then sue them.
Some change like this would still protect the services against frivolous lawsuits, but would help to stem the tsunami of mis- and dis-information we face.
A: If we don’t save the environment, NOTHING else matters, because those of us don’t die because of the Dumpster WILL die because of the changing climate.So we HAVE to work with any or all of the environmental organizations (or maybe form a super organization.) I believe in all other progressive needs, but I feel this is most important.
A: Bringing solutions for working families and taxing rich
A: If the Democrats won’t listen to legitimate criticisms of their acceptance of Queer Theory and dismiss it as right wing, when so many of these critiques come from the left, and if they don’t quit catering to the extraction industries, the country will continue to move to the right. Fear will be the motivator unless the Dems can give citizens legitimate hope.
A: Undo Citizens United, get big $ out of politics. We do not have a democracy so long as elections are determined by billionaires, AIPAC, and weapons manufacturers.
A: Detaching from the Democratic party. Their high stakes campaign strategy of turning away from their own base (war on Gaza, poverty, corporate power and climate crisis) cost the election.
A: The Democratic party needs to stand up not just for the working class but the working class poor living paycheck to paycheck. They were left out of this election as they cannot afford to buy homes even with down payment assistance, they can’t afford to start a small business even with assistance, the campaign ignored these people in favor of college educated people who are doing well enough to not be living paycheck to paycheck. We can’t be the party of billionaires, millionaires, big money donors only, we have to see the people struggling just to put food on the table.
A: Build our base of poor and low-income people
A: Do things that assure Americans that Democrats are better for the economy in a way that benefits the working class. Somehow, improve the education level of most Americans.
A: Everything changed when George Clooney wrote his op-ed in the New York Times, which lead the Democrats to plead with Biden to step down. They judge him because of his disability of having a stutter that became more pronounce through the years. There was no cognitive issues with Biden.
As you can see below, Biden out performed both Trump and Harris by 9 million and 14 million respectively in his election.
2016 Trump 62,984,828 Hillary 65,853,514
2020 Trump 74,223,975 Biden 81,283,501
2024 Trump 72,075,930 Harris 67,266.990
Harris gained some new voters but lost the fringe voters of Biden. Race is still an issue in America. Those white, black and latino voters who in the pass voted for Biden didn’t vote for Harris. I believe Biden would have had the votes to beat Trump’s 72 million. It’s a shame that the Democrats over reacted concerning Clooney’s letter.
Franklin D. Roosevelt never use his wheelchair in public (he couldn’t even walk). If the public had been aware of his physical state, Roosevelt would have been perceived physically handicapped and weak. A man incapable of carry out his duties. The presidency requires someone with knowledge and experience not agility.
Ageism has run rampant and was an excuse to disqualify Biden. Yes, ageism just like all the other ugly “isms” out there. More than 3 years of the Biden administration’s accomplishments that have helped the American people are forgotten because of a 90 minute debate.
Biden has always been a stutterer and sometimes halting in his speech. So, when I began watching the debate and saw a frustrated Biden trying to say more words than he could speak at one time. I knew people were going to flip out.
If the late English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking who was unable to walk or speak was placed in his wheelchair alongside of a tall younger man and the passersby were asked, which of these two men is a director of research at a prestigious university? Many would have been wrong in their answer.
Although the American colonists were safe, prosperous, and free, they fought for their independence for natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the rule of law. And now as Democrats, we too have to do more than just evade and block the punches, we have to go for the knock out. And the only way to do that is to throw a PUNCH.
A: Enemy #1 is the firehose of lies from the plutocrats. Terminate the Democratic party and replace it with “The 90%”. Focus only on what’s good for THE PEOPLE, not the plutocrats. Don’t tell people what to think.
A: Bernie is correct. The Democratic Party is no longer the party of working people. Like the GOP, it has become a party owned by the wealthy and powerful. This has gone on for decades. Remember NAFTA? Remember destruction of Glass Stiegel? What happened in 2008 when millions lost their savings and homes courtesy of Wall Street and the banks? Did the Democrats save their homes? Replace their stolen savings? Nope. But boy oh boy did they ever rush in to save the too-big-to-fail corporations. How many of the greedy who caused that calamity went to prison? Not a one. The corporations own the politicians – ALL OF THEM – courtesy of legalized bribery commonly known as “campaign finance”. Go to opensecrets.org and search any politician you like and there you will see who owns them. Pharmaceutical corporations. Weapons corporations. Etc etc. mind-blowing corruption. The rich and powerful in the Democratic Party sabotaged Bernie Sanders. Had they NOT done so, it’s very likely he’d have won the election and we would not now be where we are. The way forward? There is none with the Democratic Party as it now exists. Better to scrap it and start all over.
A: Find and document the emotional stories that will unfold about how Trumps policies will affect people, especially immigrants who were contributing to the US in significant way. Track and show how policies like his tariffs will be passed on to consumers. Follow the money. Little is known about how the election was influenced with billionaire money. Show how the wealthy will gain even more. Employ an effective social media strategy to get your information out like the Republicans successfully did.
A: Improved education
A: Key Issues:
What should we focus on? Voter Empowerment; Not enough registered voters are voting! Class struggles across identity spectrum! Housing & path to citizenship!
Political Strategy: We do need to work outside Democratic Party! Solidarity across identity spectrum! Historical Education of our political system!
Moving Forward: Create space to learn, dialogue, reconcile, and build trust across identity spectrum! How can we trust each other if we do not know each other!
A: Fire the head of Democratic Party!
Focus on the base of the party!
Stop supporting the genocide that’s occurring in the Middle East.
Sorry to say it but “ America isn’t ready yet for a female president”.
Start a new party for the people and the Earth, especially if the Democratic Party continues catering to corporations and it’s fringe special interests groups while not focusing on its base.
Seriously confront the reasons why this country appears to be turning towards fascism , and find answers to stop its spread. The train has left the station already . So we better start moving now if we want to catch up with this runaway train and put it back on track for a true and fair democracy.
A: First of all, we need new leadership in the Democratic Party. We’re in the shape that we’re in because of the weak leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. We need leaders who aren’t afraid to take on the extremism in the Republican Party and the religious right.
Secondly, we need term limits and an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court.
Thirdly, we need to get corporate money out of politics, end Citizens United and abolish the Electoral College.
Fourth, we need to warn people that spoke out against Trump of the dangers that may lie ahead for them and the ways they can protect themselves and their families. We need a network of Progressives that can come to the aid of people retaliated against by Trump supporters.
Fifth, we have to do a better job at getting people to register and to get out and vote.
A: We need to reduce the extreme polarization in this country. We need to be able to talk to each other calmly and in a spirit of inquiry and community. We need to develop a common sense of what is probably true and what is probably not true. We also need to build a very strong multi-cultural democracy movement that can counteract the evils that are about to descend on us.
A: Mandatory service. Two years. Military, Peace Corps, Americorp, or similar. Americans will learn to work together and learn about “other cultures,” genders, religions, and so on. Love one another, people.
A: The nation reset itself to the 1890s with this election, we even have a President who won, lost and won again. Call the billionaire class whatever, but they control the show like nothing seen since the height of the Gilded Age. For almost 60 years I’ve witnessed the Republican Party grab power and turn the nation upside down and inside out over and over, causing nothing but harm in the process. The Viet Nam War, Watergate, the AIDs crisis, S&L collapse, 9/11, Great Recession, Iraq & Afghanistan debacles, the COVID crisis are all the products of Republican ultraconservative principles of power that caused millions of American lives lost and the hard earned money of more than 80% of Americans wiped away. The conservatives of private wealth have assaulted the public with well funded anti-tax, anti-government, anti-public institutions, anti-arts, anti science messages to undermine the power of democracy. How could they continue to do so in the face of such epic failure that greatly harmed American society? All the major channels of media are controlled by the extreme wealth group, and nearly all of them work against democratic principles every day. Liberals must not abandon the Democratic Party and splinter into worthless small tribes of various causes. Liberals need to step up with real solutions to improve lives. Support unions as well as small business ownership. Attack the religious organizations growing control of property and rents along with their control of hospitals in America. Work for the immigrant and the minorities harder than ever. Start messaging that Russia, Israel and Saudi Arabia are not America’s friends. Network constantly and grow the alternative media. Don’t Quit!
A: Restructure agriculture policies to make farming profitable.
A: Teach individual and government economics in high school and for free to any adult who has the time to learn. Ignorance is the enemy and pocketbooks are always front and center.
A: There is nothing more important than winning elections, not the many things I prioritize which the Republicans do not. I draw your attention to the New York Times article of today about Marie Gluezenkamp Perez. She voted against present Biden’s College loan sides with the Republicans on certain issues and has a husband who runs an auto repair shop. She won her race again in a red District in Washington state Against All Odds. People this isn’t been bag, it’s war and if you don’t win you can’t be in charge. Sorry but the Geneva Convention doesn’t apply to political war and we need to pull out all the stops just like the Republicans do. We need to stop ceding ground by focusing on Do or Die Progressive issues that nobody gives a s*** about other than progressives like me. Let’s win some damn elections!
A: Democratic party leadership needs to change. They have undermined the most progressive person every time. Bernie Sanders is who we should all be backing if we want change. The most important policy besides Climate Change is stoping all aid the Israel. Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing are crimes and we are funding them.
A: We need to have a candidate who is charismatic/an actor or celebrity. The masses are stupid. They will vote for the person with the most cache. The stupidity of the American people cannot be underestimated.
A: I think (similar to what ME did)—get limits on how much PACs can contribute to elections. Also messaging clarity—on how democrats help the low income folks more than any republican thinking does. (Trump will get rid of these resources i.e. food stamps, etc.). Be more clear about that. I realize clarifying these things could be a hay-day for the Republicans—saying this is government waste..but find a way to do this. More clarity and examples on how government is good and not bad. Unfortunately many don’t beyond what conservative social media says (low info voters), but we need to find a way.
A: Eliminating money from elections, adopting more of Bernie’s platform for real change, investigating any possibility of voting interference by the Trump campaign, keeping the media focused on the inevitable damage that another Trump presidency will cause to anyone who is not a billionaire.. grassroots work to help people connect and step outside the silos of information/misinformation that keeps us separated and from seeing one another as fellow humans.. and continued work on mitigating/stopping further global warming impacts. Without a habitable planet, money won’t save you..