How Democrats Can Moderate
(I wrote a post about this before, but I deleted it because I wanted to organize it better.)
Ruy Teixeira, who was interviewed by Ezra Klein, proposed a three-point strategy to reform the Democratic Party and strengthen its coalition:
- Democrats Must Move to the Center on Cultural Issues
- Democrats Must Promote an Abundance Agenda
- Democrats Must Embrace Patriotism and Liberal Nationalism
I'll focus here on the first point—moving toward the center on cultural issues. While there's been much debate about the need for Democrats to moderate their positions, concrete suggestions have been scarce. Below, I offer specific proposals:
Idea #1: Explicitly Advocate for Merit-Based, Rigorous, and Politically Neutral Education
Although a somewhat niche topic, the shift among Asian-American voters toward the right has significantly been influenced by state-level Democratic stances on “exam schools”. Many Democrats view the disproportionate representation of Asian-American students in these schools as problematic, advocating instead for holistic admissions criteria over exam-only evaluations.
I strongly disagree with this approach. Test-only admissions remain the fairest and most transparent method to evaluate student merit. Efforts to achieve demographic proportionality through holistic selection methods fail to address the true drivers of academic disparities: differences in parental expectations, home learning environments, and the amount of study time students dedicate (not systemic racism or genetics, as sometimes suggested).
Democrats should acknowledge that these underlying factors are largely outside the state's direct control. Instead, their focus should be on maintaining rigorous, merit-based educational standards and protecting exam schools and similar programs that cater to advanced students. This commitment should also extend to higher education admissions, particularly given recent rulings like Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. College admissions should similarly be color- and class-blind, with primary consideration given to standardized exam scores.
Moreover, Democrats should advocate for politically neutral curricula. Critical Race Theory (CRT) and explicitly LGBTQ+-focused courses have become contentious issues at school board meetings nationwide. Compared to a balanced and comprehensive teaching of American history—which covers both successes and shortcomings—CRT seems unnecessary. While I'll address LGBTQ+ issues later on, my point is that it would be best for schools to prioritize essential educational content and avoid politically charged topics.
Idea #2: Explicitly Adopt a Tough-on-Crime Position
Since 2020, Democrats have increasingly been viewed as soft on crime, a perception that isn't entirely without basis.
A popular thought among more progressive Democrats is that policing is problematic because it disproportionately impacts Black Americans. However, this viewpoint often overlooks the fact that the vast majority of Black Americans are law-abiding citizens who prioritize public safety over concerns about disparate impacts. While Black Americans are disproportionately represented within the criminal justice system, the individuals involved represent only a small antisocial minority.
Therefore, Democrats should not hesitate to embrace policies that maximize deterrence of criminal behavior and effectively incapacitate repeat offenders. Additionally, rigorous criminal justice policies complement effective gun control measures, contrary to Republican assertions that these goals are contradictory.
Idea #3: Prioritize Equality of Opportunity and Universalism Over Equality of Outcome and Particularism
Concern about equality of outcome is a recurring theme in previous proposals and especially within diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which have proven controversial. Instead of continuing diversity training—often ineffective and potentially harmful compared to straightforward intergroup contact—Democrats would benefit from reducing emphasis on diversity as an explicit goal.
Shifting towards universalism, Democrats should adopt language that addresses all Americans collectively rather than singling out specific groups (e.g., White, Hispanic, Black, Asian, men, women). This inclusive approach could mitigate perceptions that Democrats favor certain groups over others. Additionally, while there has been recent discussion about how Democrats can better appeal specifically to men, an explicit strategy targeting men may not be necessary. The Republican Party, for example, successfully attracted male voters without employing targeted appeals based explicitly on sex.
Idea #4: Embrace a More Socially Conservative Approach
This idea may be controversial, but adopting socially conservative positions could help Democrats broaden their appeal significantly.
Advocating for the traditional family structure—two married biological parents—could resonate widely with voters who see this arrangement as ideal. By embracing such positions, Democrats can counteract the perception that their party is only for socially progressive voters. Moreover, it’s especially relevant considering that declining marriage rates are the main cause of America's falling birth rates.
Additionally, Democrats should consider distancing themselves from transgenderism. Clearly defining men and women based strictly on biological sex—adult human males and females—rather than gender identity, could align more intuitively with the views of a substantial segment of voters. Although this stance reflects my personal biases, I believe it has practical appeal to a broader electorate.