Arkady at least you have a reasoned argument instead of the racist rhetoric of tat clown who keeps joining in. To answer your question: If Democrats do lead the country to increased prosperity they are at a loss for what to do next. They fall back into divisive habits that lose them votes by turning on their own success and making demagogues of their own supporters and anyone else who benefitted from their being in power. Moreover the continual promises to retain a system that makes a social underclass - welfare - hurts and characterizes any Democrat administration as poverty pimps. Instead of improving peoples standard of living through job creation and and encouraging individuals small business development. They've been in the wilderness so long, that when they get in power they're like a schitzhophrenic without their meds!! They're unsure where to begin.
Instead they attempt to increase the size of social programs - education, without reforming the system - that does not benefit the people they claim to represent. I realize that a large part of the Democrat power base comes from union support - and I don't believe that all unions are evil. However, the continual pandering to the NEA for example without properly examining well meaning programs. That do not mandate that public school teachers actually teach loses votes. AMERICA CANNOT COMPETE if teachers do not allow the next generation of leaders in America to compete in the classroom. Where will they learn it? Why is the best engineering school (IIT) in the world in India? Because the Indian government made a commitment towards education in that field. Competition is not only for the sports arenas and basketball courts. Why is it that students who migrate to this country generally do better than children who've been in this system their whole lives?
Education reform is needed in America, I support the creation of Charter schools and education vouchers. The NEA and school districts cannot explain why, even with the continual influx of dollars the schools continually fail students? Or why publicly funded Charter schools do better than public schools in economically depressed neighborhoods? Yes, you may claim that graduation rates are up - but if they can't even write the simplest of college papers or fill out an employment form without supervision what did they learn in 14 years of public schools?
If you allow parents to use the dollars allocated for public school children to be directed by parents for private/charter schools enrollment. Public schools will be forced to compete for these same dollars. Competition breeds success, creativity and innovation. Yes, yes, yes people will claim separation of church and state: so allocate the funding by law to non-parochial schools. Give them an honest chance at success, not block them because your union lobbyists want yo to.
The bottom line is the mentality/mindset has to change with the times. Crying foul and resting on the laurels of the glory days will only get so far.