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Chad Jacobs of Bailey Island is the communication chair for the Cumberland County Democratic Committee. He is also an entrepreneur and longtime advocate for communities, now focused on empowering local and national governments to improve living conditions for people across the country.
Let’s be honest: the Democratic Party has lost the thread.
We’ve let the Right claim ownership of the word “freedom,” twisting it into a shallow talking point that ignores the truth of what real freedom looks like. Meanwhile, we’ve fumbled our own story. We’ve allowed ourselves to be branded as the party of big government, cultural overreach, and endless bureaucracy.
It’s time to change that. It’s time for the Democratic Party to get back to what I believe we’re really about — empowering freedom. Because true freedom isn’t just about the absence of regulation. It’s about access, opportunity, and dignity. And that’s our ground to take.
What does that mean? It means freedom isn’t real if you’re stuck in debt because you got sick. It means you’re not free if you can’t afford an education. You’re not free if the air you breathe is poisoning your kids, or if you have to work three jobs just to stay afloat. You’re not free if your zip code decides your fate. You’re not free if your identity, your body, or your choices are policed by strangers in power.
We need to redefine freedom in American politics — and we need to own that definition. Freedom to me means universal healthcare. It means accessible education. It means a fair shot in the economy, regardless of where you were born or what you look like. It means feeling safe in your community. It means the power to choose who you are and how you live, without fear.
And no, this isn’t about giving handouts. This is about making sure every American has the tools they need to succeed. It is about investing in people so they can build, contribute, thrive. That’s what empowered freedom is. That’s the kind of freedom the Democratic Party should fight for.
We can’t keep handing rhetorical victories to the opposition by clinging to old labels and outdated messaging. Americans are tired of partisan noise. They want solutions. They want action. They want leaders who don’t sound like they’re reading off a script approved by consultants in D.C.
We need to tell a better story — one rooted in common sense, fierce compassion, and bold vision. A story where America leads again: in education, in innovation, in justice, in strength, and in spirit. Where our government doesn’t do everything for you, but makes damn sure nothing stands in your way if you’re willing to work.
It’s time for Democrats to reclaim the mantle of freedom. Because freedom without access is a fantasy. Freedom without empowerment is just survival. And America has always promised more than survival.
Let’s get back to building that promise.
