I thought it was self-evident that most western European countries have a long tradition of social democratic parties with strong trade union connections. Thos

I thought it was self-evident that most western European countries have a long tradition of social democratic parties with strong trade union connections. Those politicians to vote for doesn't come about magically. In the US there's no such options, just two right-wing parties, and that's reflected in their labour laws. The labour movement in large have provided those options in Europe and the trade unions are where the practical power is through the threat or use of strikes etc.