I did a quick Google run for left/right alignment of the independents but finally tired of looking. If anyone knows the percentages, that would be interesting.

So what do you think, can the left actually do this, assuming we agree on what this is, or does it need the other side's help?

How about this, could there be a parent entity that would define itself around populist issues, that could then encompass, under its non-corporate ideology, different caucuses that would vary on the left/right spectrum? Are we the people capable of organizing in such a way? If so, I think we'll be able to get some critical things accomplished.

If anyone has an actual plan to get a functional Democratic Party again, that would be even better. I don't see us getting it out of the hands of the corporations. I'll keep working to do so, but it's time to look at whether that's a good use of energy, or whether it's going to take something else.

Even if we could do so, I think we'd still be thwarted by the right, just because. The independents might actually get on board if it was a larger entity that left the left/right issues to different factions within it. A populist Democratic Party could be a part of such a solution, but the current Democratic Party is decidedly on the side of the polluters/extractors/financiers/militarists.