Some progressives are disappointed that the Democratic Party’s “Better Deal” agenda for the 2018 midterms doesn’t go the Full Bernie. Sure, the Democrats are proposing a minimum wage hike and anti-trust reforms. But there’s no single-payer health care or free college tuition to be found.
Still, “Better Deal” suggests that centrist, pro-business Clintonites are in full retreat. The party now seems to take seriously the idea that unadulterated corporate power is badly hurting the U.S. economy and American workers. “We will crack down on monopolies and the concentration of economic power that has led to higher prices for consumers, workers, and small business — and make sure Wall Street never endangers Main Street again,” the party promised in its new policy proposal.
Democrats even named names! Among the sectors the party sees as lacking competitiveness and accountability — and thus perhaps ripe for anti-trust or other regulatory action — are the airlines, cable and telecommunications, the beer industry, agriculture, and eyeglasses.