Michael Cohen's recent article in The Guardian was a great read. He suggests that 2012 could be the year that we in the U.S. finally have a real debate about income disparity and fairness. I sure hope he's right because this is long overdue.

Cohen suggests that "growing income inequality and its negative effect on the American middle class" could become the central issue of the 2012 election. That would be a positive development indeed.

The reason in part is that talk of inequality is resonating with voters. When asked recently what was a bigger problem – "unfairness in the economic system that favours the wealthy or over-regulation of the free market that interferes with growth and prosperity" – 55% of Americans chose the former and only 35% the latter. Two-thirds of Americans believe there are either "very strong" or "strong" conflicts between rich and poor in America – a nearly 20% increase from 2009.

It is no secret that the state of the economy is going to be the focus of this election. And I believe that the time is right for progressive candidates to push the issue of income disparity. There is considerable public support for progressive economic policies, and this hasn't always been the case.

From a policy standpoint, polls consistently suggest that Americans believe taxes should be raised on the wealthiest Americans. It's even a view held among rank-and-file Republicans, in stark contrast to the tax cut absolutism of party leaders.

The real test, as Cohen suggests, is whether the Democratic Party finally decides to embrace populism and halt the party's shift to the right. Republicans are going to whine about class warfare and accuse Democrats of being divisive no matter what Democrats do. Just look at how they have called Obama a socialist despite his centrist policies.

If Democrats accept this challenge, they can become the party of the people. If they do not, they become irrelevant.

H/T to Library Grape

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