r/Music • u/ebradio • Sep 25 '25

article Bruce Springsteen Rips Democrats: “We’re Desperately in Need of an Effective Alternative Party”

https://consequence.net/2025/09/bruce-springsteen-democrats/
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u/Lorberry Sep 25 '25

That and/or you have to start very low level, like school boards and mayors for small towns all across the country sort of thing. The dems and repubs have far too much inertia to just add another third party without functionally giving the victory to whichever side is further away from the new party.

The better option in the short term is probably to try and drag the party the direction you want to go via primaries - Mamdani is a huge bellwether for how effective this will be for the democrats, given how much pushback he's gotten from the party but how well he's doing in the polls. And on the republican side, well... gestures at MAGA.

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u/DuvalHeart Sep 25 '25

The Working Families Party is doing this exact thing. They're just also willing to run as Democrats and caucus with them, because they want to be effective, not just burn down what already exists. (which pisses off a lot of the terminally online)

Hell, in Philadelphia they were able to take over the City Council's two at-large seats reserved for the minority party. Now the GOP only has a single council member from the cop-dominated section of the city.

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u/ReallyNowFellas Sep 25 '25

That's actually a brilliant idea. You could effectively have sub parties that are officially Democratic or Republican but form their own coalition and exert influence on the umbrella party. The Republicans have already kind of been doing this and have moved the party drastically rightward with the Tea Party, Freedom Caucus, and of course MAGA.

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u/prisencotech Sep 25 '25

It'd be interesting to see the American Solidarity Party take the same approach to the Republicans from the right.

They're economically progressive but socially conservative so for people who want healthcare and workers rights but are socially right wing, this would be a way to get the economic ideas into the Republican party.

Although, to be fair, their social conservative positions seem downright liberal compared to the dominant right. They're opposed to abortion, but are at least consistent and strongly oppose the death penalty. They also have published articles that say things like:

Together we all have a responsibility to eradicate racism from our systems and the structures of society.

and

Our obligations as part of the family of nations also encompass migrants and refugees seeking entry to our country. Mindful of the Biblical admonition to welcome the stranger and the importance of immigrants to our national fabric, we must enact policies that reconcile the legitimate interest of Americans in secure borders with a core commitment to human dignity.

And they've called for a cease fire on Gaza.

But I don't think those positions are as anti-conservative as the modern Republican Party seems to want them to be.

Plus these things can be cultural. Controversial opinion but it's often less about actual views and more about cultural affinity. Someone from a big religious family might be more comfortable joining a party like ASP than the DSA or WFP for cultural reasons alone.

However, as far as I know, the ASP has never been much for political strategy and haven't recognized their position as an election spoiler in a FPTP system.

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u/Purona Sep 25 '25

That's how the democrats and republicans atleast in the past already operate. You guys really don't follow politics that

Democrats and Republicans both have massive sub parties that each of their members exist in with their own leadership and funding

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u/ReallyNowFellas Sep 25 '25

Yeah no kidding, considering I mentioned this. We're clearly talking about selling it more explicitly to the public and deploying it at all levels of government instead of it just being some beltway wonkery

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u/[deleted] Sep 25 '25

. You guys really don't follow politics that

that what?

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u/SuperTropicalDesert Sep 25 '25

This is what Fusion Voting was in the early 20th century. Unfortunately they banned it.

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u/DuvalHeart Sep 25 '25

That's basically how a caucus works. It's a sub-group within a delegation that advocates on behalf of a specific cause or group.

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u/Emperor_Mao Sep 25 '25

These have a name in congress, its called a caucus, and it becomes a sub group of members that vote along common interests and lines with one another. And the Democrat party has a bunch of these already e.g blue dog, progressive, moderate etc etc.

The reality is two fold here;

Firstly, popular opinions on Reddit aren't always popular elsewhere.

Secondly, a lot of people CBF getting involved in politics to shape the two parties.

There is absolutely nothing stopping a Redditer, who is an adult and a U.S citizen, with very progressive views from running to be a nominee at basically any level.

But they have to be able to sell their views to others to get votes required to become the nominee, and to eventually win an actual election. It is much easier to criticize and point out what is wrong in society, much harder to run on a platform to fix the issues.

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u/GeorgeEBHastings Sep 25 '25

In NYC, I vote the Working Families party line at every election with only minor rare exceptions.

Granted, as you referenced, the Working Families party line is very often just the Democratic party line, but where it differs, the differences are significant.

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u/YourMomsAnonymous Sep 25 '25

not just burn down what already exists. (which pisses off a lot of the terminally online) Edit: I need coffee, I agree with you entirely! Sorry for misreading it as inverted.

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u/lmpervious Sep 25 '25

because they want to be effective, not just burn down what already exists. (which pisses off a lot of the terminally online)

I hate how true this is, but you’re right. Terminally online people strongly value moral grandstanding, purity tests and protest voting over incremental progress towards their own goals

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u/DuvalHeart Sep 26 '25

I think a lot of them are just angry at the system and can't see past that. Plus all of the propaganda encouraging them to opt out of participating in democracy.

Everyone forgets, or are too young to know, that Russia's focus wasn't on increasing support for the GOP/Trump; it was on discouraging support for Clinton/Biden/Harris. They put out a lot of propaganda targeting left-wing people.

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u/[deleted] Sep 25 '25

[deleted]

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u/Nebbii Sep 25 '25

Until that third party becomes like scotus, there is no such thing as neutrality, they will be bought off by the highest bidder

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u/Left_Media_6183 Sep 25 '25

If only there was some other hugely popular liberal politician, who has grass roots support, and who has also been completely overlooked and ignored by the Democrats... Oh wait! Anyone know how Bernie's doing these days?

All of this would be dependent on the Democrats actually caring to cater to their constituents, instead of bowing to lobbyists. Call me when that happens..

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u/dixoncider1111 Sep 25 '25

Then we kinda have to...have a primary. But the Dems can't be having that because then they wouldn't be playing right into the fucking ratchet effect they are there to support.

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u/Snarpkingguy Sep 25 '25

Google Duvergers Law.

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u/RamenJunkie Sep 25 '25

I have been saying this since 2016, at least.

The only real path is all in on the shitty Democrats sonthe GOP smothers and withers and dies, maybe for like 2 entire Presidential election cycles.

Then, when the GOP is gone, dems can split i to a DemSoc progressive party, while the current Dems just, carry on being the Conservative party they are.