John Edwards Offers More Than Talking Points to American Workers

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday July 06, 2007 · 7:32 AM PDT

2007/07/06 · 07:32

John Edwards is the candidate in this race that understands the enormous pressures that have been put on the American worker in the last few decades by several administrations. From trade deals that expose them to uneven markets, to neglecting to address falling wages, to the diminishing number of workers who have the right to collectively bargain for wages and benefits, the American worker no matter who is in power seems to be the ones who are constantly taking the shaft.

John Edwards understands that the backbone of a free society is a thriving Middle-class. He has been fighting for those who desperately hope to remain in the middle-class and those who strive to attain it. He has fought to raise wages for thousands of workers, and to help them organize into unions. Stamping out poverty and making sure Americans get an honest day's wage for an honest day's work has become the mission of his life. Not to mention making healthcare affordable to all who work.

Now I know the knee-jerk reaction among the MSM and many opponents of Edwards is to say that he can't really care about these things, he is this rich lawyer with a huge house who gets fancy haircuts. But where are their ideas for respecting the American Worker with more than talking points? Why are they not speaking out and fighting against these lopsided trade deals, or expanding our middle-class?

John Edwards has studied long and hard on the causes of poverty and of how to lift people out of it into the middle-class. He doesn't only talk the talk on these issues he walks the walk. You notice at the ACORN convention that the people there all talked about knowing him, and him coming to help them on the ground to get minimum wage raised. He is the only candidate that has had the guts to take a pounding from Corporate American and say what really needs to be done to level the playing field for the American worker once again, and create One America for everyone. I want to look at some of those ideas now.

First again, Edwards identifies the problem he wishes to solve:

With Washington dominated by powerful special interests, it is no coincidence that the benefits of economic growth are enjoyed by increasingly few individuals. Over the last 20 years, American incomes have grown apart: 40 percent of the income growth in the 1980s and 1990s went the top 1 percent. The top 300,000 individuals now make more than the bottom 150 million. [EPI, 2006; Saez, 2007]

Are there any takers on arguing this point? To those Clinton supporters who dream of going back to when Bill run the show I say, sure Bill Clinton was the best President in my lifetime. (1970) However, as seen by these numbers very little got accomplished for the average working American during those years. In fact we lost ground with NAFTA opening the door to other foolish lopsided trade agreeements. His whole second term was marred with who was blowing him, if they were blowing him, and whether he lied about getting blown. We got nothing accomplished accept keeping him from being impeached. I do not want to go back to that. I want to accomplish Democratic goals for Democrats!!!

Now, before I am roundly demonized for talking bad about Slick Willy, I did say he was the best President we have had since I have wandered around this mortal coil. As a Progressive dedicated to the cause of the working man however, I feel his Presidency was a huge missed opportunity in which little of the goals we had were truly accomplished. Why anyone wants that again puzzles me.

Anyway, back to the Edwards plan to respect American workers again, and create One America for all. His first idea has had some play in the last couple of days:

Raise the Minimum Wage to $9.50 an Hour: Edwards will set a national goal of a minimum wage that equals half the average wage. He will raise the minimum wage by 75 cents a year until it reaches $9.50 in 2012. He will also restore the minimum wage for tipped workers to half the full minimum wage—the minimum wage for these workers has stood at $2.13 since 1997—and extend wage and hour protections to home health care workers.

Some will argue this as is their right. It is my right to agree. As more and more middle-class jobs get replaced with lower-paying service type jobs, the wages simply must move up if America is to maintain a middle-class which is essential to her survival. The last part is just a no-brainer. Every American should have wage and overtime protections. Next Edwards goes on to address a worker's right to unionize:

Strengthen Workers' Right to Organize: Edwards believes that unions are essential to building the future middle class. The right to choose a union is poorly enforced, full of loopholes, and routinely violated by employers. He will enact the Employee Free Choice Act, vigorously enforce labor laws and ban the use of permanent replacements for striking workers.

I hope I don't have to argue this paragraph with any Democrat. If I do, I fear for our party. We must defend actively a union's right to exist. We must pursue policies that expand the middle-class. The Employee Free Choice Act is desperately needed. A union's right to strike desperately needs to be upheld. John Edwards understands this and can be depended on to fight for us in Washington!!

Edwards goes on:

Help Low-Income Families Find Work and Join the Middle Class: Edwards has set a national goal of eliminating poverty within 30 years. He will cut taxes on low-income workers by expanding the earned income tax credit for single workers and reducing its marriage penalty. He will create 1 million Stepping Stone jobs to help people struggling to find jobs gain skills and work experience. He will also expand affordable housing near good jobs, rather than concentrating it in high-poverty neighborhoods far from opportunity.

Now, these are all excellent ideas. The EIC has shown it is an effective poverty fighter, and a friend to the middle-class. The Stepping Stone Program shows a lot of promise, and the idea to expand affordable housing is genius. Edwards really shows he can relate with the problems of working Americans, and will fight for the things that help them. Next he moves on to college availability:

Make College Affordable for Everyone: College tuition and debt is escalating. To help students work their way through college, Edwards will pay one year of public-college tuition, fees, and books for more than 2 million students who take a part-time job.

I have already diaried this plan in its entirety here:

http://www.dailykos.com/...

So now we can move along to the next point. This one is a big one:

Enact Smarter Trade Policies: Trade deals need to make sense for American workers, not just corporations. Edwards will insist on strong labor and environmental standards, vigorously enforce American workers' rights, and help workers and communities hurt by global competition.

This statement is simple, yet profound. With the flood of trade deals, it seems that everyone is happy but the American worker. We are falling further and further behind. More than any time since FDR, the American worker needs a President who will fight for them. Edwards would be the most labor-friendly President in over a generation, and this statement shows why. He just gets it.

Now this one has been talked about for a while, and can be found here:

http://www.johnedwards.com/...

Here is the quote:

Guarantee Universal Health Care: Edwards has a truly universal health care plan that will guarantee affordable coverage to every family. Employers will have to help cover their employees, the government will make insurance affordable with new reforms and subsidies, and all Americans will buy insurance.

I know much arguing has been done over healthcare plans but I truly believe Edwards plan is better because it allows for flexibility and universality. Lastly, Edwards would adress Predatory lenders:

Fight Abusive Debt and Help Families Save: Edwards will crack down on abusive credit card companies, predatory mortgage lenders, and payday loan shops that take advantage of working families. To help families save, he will provide matched savings accounts for low-wage workers.

http://www.johnedwards.com/...

He has many ideas on cracking down on predatory lending here:

http://www.johnedwards.com/...

These are just some of the reasons I think John Edwards would be the best President for working America since FDR. He came from a working family and he understands the everyday problems that working Americans face. Better yet, he has the courage and conviction to stand up against big business and fight for them against all odds. A John Edwards Adminisration would truly be a godsend to working Americans everywhere!! Please join us in creating One America for us all!!

John Edwards in 08- The Only Choice for Working Americans!!

Poll
34 votes Show Results
Do you believe the playing field is truly tipped against American workers?

Yes

No

34 votes Vote Now!
Do you believe the playing field is truly tipped against American workers?

Yes

33 votes

No

3%

1 vote

This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

Make YOUR voice heard!

Comments are closed on this story.