By David Ferguson
Some people vote Democrat because they always did. Some because they lean left on social issues and support big government solutions. And, when one party is in power some people vote for the minority party (currently Democratic Party) as a protest vote over one or more issues.
But what all these voters need to know is the Democratic Party has been hijacked. The Democratic Party now embraces candidates who have declared their support for destroying capitalism and knocking down foundations of our government.
How did this happen? The Democratic Party calls itself the “Big Tent Party” and a “Coalition.” Being a Big Tent Party can bring in a bigger voter base for the party, but there is a cost. The cost is that it gives credibility to radical fringe groups that run as Democrats and who would otherwise make no headway running as their own party.
Radical socialist candidates (they look more like communists to me) are having success running as Democratic Party candidates. A growing number of elected Democrats are also members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Some notable DSA members include members of congress, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Rashida Tlaib, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.i
The Democratic Socialists of America operates as a party within the Democratic Party. The DSA has its own platform. The DSA rejects our economic and political foundations.
Consider this one plank of the Democratic Socialists of America. This alone should have been enough to make Democrats throw out the Democratic Socialists, but it didn’t happen!
- END CAPITALISM: Under the heading “A Day Without Capitalism” The DSA says: “Establish public ownership of the largest corporations and essential industries to ensure democratic control and accountability to the people.”ii They want the government to take over and own big corporations and any industry the socialists deem “essential.” They try to sugarcoat the destruction of capitalism by saying it is needed to “ensure democratic control and accountability to the people.” Do you really buy that? Remember the DSA says, “A day without capitalism.” Capitalism is not just big businesses. It is all businesses, even a small one-person operation.
Here are a few more examples from the DSA’s platform. As you read them, remember the Democratic Party embraces the Democratic Socialists as members.
- OPEN BORDERS: While the Democrats under President Biden opened the borders, the Democrat platform at least paid lip service to secure borders. The DSA specifically proposes: (A) Open borders for free migration into the United States, (B) Giving social services benefits to all immigrants, (C) Abolishing the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and (D) Giving noncitizens living in the US full voting rights.
- DEFUND THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR: I guess there won’t be a need for a national defense when other countries can just walk in since the DSA wants open borders.
- ABOLISH THE POLICE AND PRISON SYSTEM: Under the heading, “End Mass Incarceration” the DSA says: “Demilitarize police departments, disempower police unions, and redirect funding to public services as steps towards fully abolishing the police and prison system which protects the rich and jails the poor.” How do you think catch and release (or don’t bother catching) will work out?
- CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT: “Abolish the U.S. Senate.” “Replace the President and Supreme Court with an executive and judiciary chosen by and subordinate to Congress.”iii Our Constitution provides checks and balances with three independent branches of government – executive, legislative, and judicial. It is not perfect but imagine how easy governmental abuse will be under their goal of there being only one house of congress and with it controlling the presidency and the judiciary.
I encourage you to read their entire program or at least take a look at the Wikipedia summary of their agenda. There is just too much to cover here.
Political analyst James Carvell called for a schism to kick out the Democratic Socialist from the Democratic Party. Carvel said ,“Everybody’s always said, ‘No, no. We’re a coalition. We’re a big tent.’ And there’s just some sh*t I can’t be in the same tent with.” iv
Carvell’s call has fallen on deaf ears. There appears to be no real move in the Democratic Party to disassociate the party from Democratic Socialist candidates. Despite the DSA goals of destroying capitalism and foundations of our government, it is highly unlikely the Democratic Party will ever disassociate itself from the Democratic Socialists.
What does the Democratic Party stand for in 2026? By its inaction, the Democratic Party stands for embracing or tolerating Democratic Socialists of America members as their candidates.
If you think the DSA is just something somewhere else, not here — Think Again. The DSA website shows chapters across America. Arkansas already has three Democratic Socialist Chapters: the Central Arkansas Chapter, the Northwest Arkansas Chapter, and the Arkansas Valley Chapter. (see map)
No matter how attractive an Arkansas Democrat candidate is made to appear in a slick campaign ad, the fact remains that the candidate has chosen to be a member of a party that accepts, within its big tent, candidates who advocate the dismantling of capitalism and foundations of our government.
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David Ferguson is a former Director of Arkansas’ Bureau of Legislative Research, having a thirty-two-year career as an attorney for the Arkansas legislature. After retirement from state service, his primary focus has been beef cattle farming. He is also a former officer of Conduit for Action.
i https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Socialists_of_America
ii https://program.dsausa.org/#narrative
iii https://program.dsausa.org/#narrative
iv https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/m-done-m-not-f-224335661.html
