One pattern is increasingly clear. Republican leaders devote enormous political finger-pointing energy to people who have relatively little power. Immigrants are blamed for crime and economic insecurity. Transgender Americans become the focus of legislation far out of proportion to their numbers. Teachers and librarians are accused of indoctrinating children. Students are scrutinized over what they read, what they learn, and sometimes even how they identify themselves. Low-income families are portrayed as taking advantage of government programs.
These groups have one thing in common: they possess little economic or political power. They are easy targets because they have limited ability to defend themselves in the political arena.
Democratic leaders focus enormous effort on protecting rights, providing and managing collective action that individuals cannot handle alone. Rather than targeting society’s least powerful members, they accept their responsibility for all Americans, especially the marginalized. JFK said, “For of those to whom much is given, much is required.”
Democrats believe their north star is not to blame the powerless, but to uplift them.
Democrats generally ask a different question. Rather than concentrating on society’s least powerful members, they argue that government should pay closer attention to those whose decisions affect millions of people every day.
Let’s face it. Billionaires should pay taxes under the same rules as everyone else. Corporations should not be allowed to eliminate competition through monopoly power. Insurance companies should not be permitted to deny legitimate claims simply because it improves quarterly profits. Industries should not be free to pollute communities while shifting the costs onto the public. And elected officials should not be allowed to use public office for personal gain.
These are not questions about personal identity or cultural differences. They are questions about power.
Throughout American history, reforms have often come from recognizing that concentrated power requires accountability. Child labor laws, workplace safety protections, antitrust enforcement, consumer protections, environmental regulations, civil rights legislation, and financial oversight all grew from the understanding that individuals are rarely capable of standing up to powerful institutions on their own.
Government exists partly to level that playing field. That does not mean every corporation is bad, every wealthy person is dishonest, or every government regulation is wise.
Power itself is not the problem. Unchecked power is. Likewise, immigrants, teachers, transgender Americans, librarians, and struggling families are not beyond criticism. Every group includes individuals who make mistakes. But building public policy around fear of relatively powerless people distracts from addressing problems that affect millions of Americans every day.
When political debate centers on banning books instead of lowering prescription drug costs, attacking teachers instead of improving schools, or demonizing immigrants instead of addressing corporate wage theft or monopolistic practices, our priorities become distorted.
A healthy democracy asks those with the greatest influence to meet the highest standards of accountability.
…That’s how free markets remain competitive.
…That’s how democracy remains healthy.
…And that’s how ordinary citizens are protected from abuses of power.
The question is not whether government should hold people accountable. It absolutely should. The real question is who deserves the greatest scrutiny. Government shouldn’t spend its energy policing people with the least power. It should hold accountable those with the most.