Many Democrats are generally smart people
Depends on the meaning of smart. They appear to be quite ignorant with all of their stupid ideas.
In a properly functioning society most adults should work.
The British Labour Party and the American Democratic Party sought the votes of working people.
In the 1960s, to help blacks get better housing, the Democratic Party kicked the white working class to the curb with block busting. Whites sold their houses to blacks at fire sale prices, such as $10000 for a house on DC’s New York Avenue.
The Democratic Party tried to rebuild its power on immigrants, but these immigrants tend to work and will favor the party that now best represents working people, the Republican Party.
The Democratic Party now relies on vote buying.