Can Democrats rebuild public trust while criticizing the tech giants they once supported?
Today’s Tesla was born from the California state government’s strong subsidy policies and active support…
Recently, prominent progressive figures in the Democratic Party, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), have been actively conducting nationwide tours criticizing a small number of giant corporations, the so-called “oligarchy.” They argue that tech giants wield excessive influence over politics and society, and advocate for stronger regulations against them.
However, there are significant voices of criticism and skepticism regarding these movements within the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. This is because the Democratic Party has long maintained a symbiotic relationship with Silicon Valley, gaining considerable political and economic benefits through cooperation with tech giants.
In particular, Elon Musk’s Tesla was able to establish itself as a leader in the electric vehicle market thanks to strong subsidy policies and active support from the California state government led by Democrats. At the time, the Democratic Party poured tens of billions of dollars in policy support in the name of fostering environmentally friendly industries, including Tesla. Critics consistently point out that without this support, Tesla as we know it today would have been difficult to create.
Given this background, critics argue that the Democratic Party’s current criticism of tech giants they actively supported in the past as “power groups manipulating politics” cannot escape accusations of hypocrisy. The main argument from critics is that the Democrats’ behavior—cooperating sometimes and criticizing at others depending on political interests—may confuse the public and erode trust.
Political analysts interpret this situation as reflecting internal conflicts within the Democratic Party. They analyze that tensions between the mainstream Democratic Party, which has traditionally had a strong establishment character, and the progressive camp seeking radical change are now surfacing.
Ultimately, for the Democratic Party to gain public trust, they need to do more than just offer superficial criticism. They need to transparently acknowledge their past cooperative relationships and demonstrate responsible change. This is the true meaning of reform and the challenge that the Democratic Party must solve to win the public’s hearts.
