[1] It was founded as a forum for progressive and liberal ideas by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny in 2006.

Modeled after conservative journals like Commentary and The National Interest,[2] the editors put forward Democracy as "a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred" at a "time when American politics has grown profoundly unserious.

"[3] Baer told The Hill: "We think that the [Democratic] party is rich in tactics and poor in ideas.

Every big idea — Social Security privatization, supply-side economics, preemption, faith-based initiatives — had come out of one of their journals in their intellectual infrastructure.

"[2] In an editorial for the Los Angeles Times on July 10, 2006, Baer and Cherny laid out a case for making a break with what they characterized as the "ad hoc approach to politics" they claim the current Democratic Party is engaged in.