At the Campaign for America's Future, Dave Johnson writes, Winning The Race To The Bottom:
"Free trade" -- moving factories across borders to evade the protections of democracy that generations of Americans fought for -- pits exploited workers with few rights and no means of improving their condition against Americans who once had environmental and wage protections. But such ideas as protecting the gains of democracy are out of favor. That is labeled "protectionism" and is thought for some treason to be a bad thing. Conservatives were able to break the unions and wages for working people have stagnated, while the amount going to the top few has soared.
Here is the future of American wages: From today's Washington Post: In its biggest foreign market, BMW gets skilled workers for less,
Among the applicants: a former manager of a major distribution center for Target; a consultant who oversaw construction projects in four Western states; a supervisor at a plastics recycling firm. Some held college degrees and resumes in other fields where they made more money.
But they're all in the factory now making $15 an hour—about half of what the typical German autoworker makes.
. . . the price of having a more globally competitive workforce means more in the United States could fall well short of the middle-class living standards that manufacturing workers once could expect. Wages adjusted for inflation have declined for these workers since 2003.
That's right, German workers are now paid almost twice what American's can make. (And they get health care and an average of 35 paid vacation days; we get 13.)
Tea Party Wants To End Minimum Wage
The Tea Party has its sights set on the minimum wage. They say it is "unconstitutional" and want it "abolished."
Your Wages Are Next
If you still have a job, your wages are next. You can bet that executives in every company are wondering why they are paying their employees so much when there are so many hungry, unemployed people out there looking for work. Every dollar they can save on paying you goes into their pockets. |
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At Daily Kos on this date in 2007:
What's a cheerleader to do when the big man on campus is tanking? Well, if you're the Washington Post you report that:
The wildfires in Southern California this week have served to remind the world once more about one of the singular and underappreciated skills of George W. Bush: The man is a generous hugger.
Starts a war based on lies? Pffft. Denies health care for 10 million children? Yesterday's news. Makes torture the official policy of the United States? He's protecting us. Treats the Constitution like birdcage liner? He's the decider. What's important to remember is, Mr. 24% is a generous hugger.
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Check out the Daily Kos GOTV diary series coordinated by Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse and Sophie de Vries, with assistance from rb137, Sara R, A Siegel, Cpt Robespierre, Laurence Lewis, David Waldman and me. So far, the diarists have been Robert Reich, Al Franken, digby, Bob Fertik, Sen. Jeff Merkley and Gov. Howard Dean. See here for a list of scheduled participants. The series continues through Sunday.