The reason there is no “working across the aisle” is there is no longer an aisle to work across, thanks to neoliberal Democrats. In the party’s desperate attempt to garner campaign contributions from deep-pocket donors it has abandoned almost all platform positions that would distinguish it from the GOP except for a few social issues.

Bernie is the only (part-time), Democrat left in Congress if one measures the title in any meaningful metric to a desperately suffering America. Social issues are good to build on once a party has some control over legislation, but that control will only be gained by demonstrating a clear difference in economics that once was the cornerstone of the party. FDR Democrats do not compromise on basic econ issues, including education and infrastructure that make smart investments in our future.

Doing so only serves to weaken the party’s strong point of guaranteeing the citizens dignity and access to basic life support. A populace that is constantly striving just to stay alive in an unforgiving system designed to make survival a goal, not a guarantee, will favor people like Trump who will offer them targets to blame for their failure when the true failure is at the core of the system. Party loyalty is what creates an aisle to work across, and that loyalty can only be built when people can trust the party to work for their best interests without constant watching.

The DNC and establishment Democrats have done little since the ’80s to earn that kind of trust that can force the GOP to make any concessions, even on the little stuff. The fact that both resent Bernie for moving the Overton window to the left, where they claim to be and should have an advantage, should cause voters to take on the restructuring of the party if the politicians won’t. “We aren’t Trump” is no better as a platform for 2020 than it was for 2016.