The latest Democratic primaries in New York did more than produce new nominees. They raised a larger question: Is the political coalition that helped build and sustain the American Dream beginning to erode?

The victories of democratic socialist candidates—and the swift response from moderate Democrats declaring, “We are capitalist, not socialist”—suggest that the debate is no longer confined to campaign rhetoric. It is about the Democratic Party’s identity, its governing philosophy, and whether it is moving away from the coalition that has defined it since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

The New Deal was more than a collection of government programs. It was an effort to restore confidence after the Great Depression and rebuild faith in the future. Social Security provided security in old age. Labor protections strengthened workers. Banking reforms restored confidence in the financial system. Together, these and other reforms helped lay the foundation for a growing middle class and made the American Dream attainable for millions of........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)