The franchise has been extended to everyone, and all literacy tests are illegal. Most people have only the haziest idea of what is going on in Washington. They rely on people like Peter Jennings of ABC News to tell them. There are no constitutional barriers to the redistribution of wealth. Tens of millions of people are eligible for entitlement programs, and the Democratic Party stands ready to fight to increase their benefits and win their votes and gratitude.
Economic reality dictates that the tax-supported classes can only grow so large, of course.
In the Western world, they have probably already topped out. In that sense the Democratic leadership is fighting a rearguard action. Its most important goal is to preserve its gains and prevent its interest groups from becoming self-supporting or from relying on the market. A mood of grievance and discontent victim status is nurtured. Here we do see ideology and interest working hand in hand.