4 ms·
Poverty in the US certainly isn't new, but in many ways it's worse than it used to be. Labor unions were very effective at increasing wages for blue collar job
by boredprograming 5y ago
Poverty in the US certainly isn't new, but in many ways it's worse than it used to be.
Labor unions were very effective at increasing wages for blue collar jobs. Particularly ones not easily outsourced, like construction. Businesses have lobbied to systematically attack organized labor for around 100 years. The few unions left are relics from an earlier time. Businesses have made it neigh impossible to form new ones.
The "gig economy" is a new form of exploitation. Technology has enabled a new breed of job that barely skirts employee regulations. This has undone decades of worker protections.
Importation of foreign workers has been good for foreign workers, but in the US is mostly a tool to suppress wages. You can get away with more law breaking when your employees are wholly dependant on you. Job Visas are indentured servitude.
The US has regressed in every income inequality metric over the last 50 years. To out it simply, the ultra rich own half the country. You don't see this same wealth concentration happening in Europe.
If wages kept pace with worker productivity, the average worker would make something like $150,000 a year. The productivity gains are real, but all this money has gone to the people at the top. Tax law is just a small part of why the median American is getting poorer while the average American gets richer
- axiolite 5y agoI didn't see anything in your entire comment about how to go about fixing things from here.
- boredprograming 5y agoI don't think anything but a massive political realignment will fix our structural problems. The US has no functional labor/green party. The right has elements of populism but serves the owner class. The left has a progressive wing that's basically powerless. In most other democracies these elements would be aligned in a progressive green party. But split as they are in the US, they're powerless. Under Obama, Democrats had a veto proof majority for 2 years and didn't do much to help income inequality. Trump talked a lot about helping blue collar workers but similarly did nothing. I'm afraid both parties are too corrupted by big business
- happyjack 5y agoThis is completely true. The left had Obama and the whole 9 yards for two years; nothing done. Trump and the Repubs had the whole nine yards for 2 years as well and got nothing done either (besides the tax overhaul). I'm not sure much will ever the change the current situation, honestly. Both the parties server the same ruler. All the news and "issues" at hand are just distractions to divide and conquer.
- boredprograming 5y agoI'm afraid so. The Democratic party has "more" people willing to help the masses, but not a big enough group to get effective policy. Both parties have traded full control back and forth, yet nothing gets done to help our insane wealth inequality. Look at how quickly Biden's minimum wage increase got smashed. More interesting, look at how some populists on the right are also calling for it. And look at how populists and progressives on both sides are asking for regulations on big tech. The progressive wing is split. Trump picked up a ton of voters that were mad Obama didn't help them. These voters otherwise align more with Bernie Sanders and AOC. You'll notice some MAGA voters have a begrudging respect for those two. It's because they honestly want to help people, reputation be damned. The US is on a path towards oligarchy unless the voters can shake our parties free from their corporate overlords.
- adamcstephens 5y agoThe people who can fix things are the same people who benefit from the existing system. Why would we expect them to act against their interests?