3 ms·

I don't think either political party really cares about labor anymore.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
lotsofpulp 4y ago
Democrat led states and cities have paid sick leave, paid parental leave, longer leave periods for new moms, higher minimum wages, daily overtime laws, laws requiring sitting, pay transparency laws, laws requiring employee to be able to sit, higher unemployment insurance benefits, same minimum wage regardless of tips, etc. Republicans led states do not. That seems to be clear evidence indicating one cares more about labor than the other.
- TaylorAlexander 4y ago
  That’s fair. I guess at the state level things are better. Maybe even at the federal level democrats care more than republicans. I do however feel disillusioned with how little it feels like the democrats in congress are willing to do to fight for labor.
  - lotsofpulp 4y ago
    Democrats passed Affordable Care Act in 2009 during the only 6 months where they had a tenuous 60 seats in the US Senate required to pass non budgetary laws. Democrats also almost passed significant child care benefits and tax credits in the original build back better bill in 2021, which of course was voted against by every Republican. Even a single Republican voting with the Democrats would have enabled millions of poorer families with children. In my entire adult lift (since 2000) I cannot recall a single bill proposed by Republics to benefit lower income/poorer people. I do know they pushed through two wars and a bunch of tax cuts. I know Democrats tried to reform healthcare as early as mid 1990s (which then culminated in Affordable Care Act). Seems like pretty conclusive evidence that the parties are not the same at the federal level too, and the voting rules at the Senate level do not leave any options other than severe compromise.
    - TaylorAlexander 4y ago
      You’re right that they’re not the same. I’d say a bill in 2009 and another in 2021 do not give me the feeling that they’re fighting particularly hard for labor rights either. Though I’m sure there are more and you’re just listing a couple from memory.
      - lotsofpulp 4y ago
        What do you expect them to do if they do not have sufficient votes in Senate and a President to sign the bill?
        TaylorAlexander 4y ago
        They could start by getting more candidates in the Senate, by more aggressively advocating for policies that will genuinely help people. It really seemed like Bernie Sanders's policy proposals resonated with a majority of Americans, but the Democratic Party did everything they could to sink him. Their more moderate proposals were less exciting, which I think is why the election between Biden and Trump was so close. If the Democratic Party had gotten behind more popular policies, they could have won more seats in the Senate too. The problem, of course, is that both parties (though not Bernie Sanders) are beholden to big corporate interests. So they have to fight for lukewarm policy that doesn't really excite the people, but satisfies their major donors. They could fix this by advocating for election reform, but I don't think the party establishment really wants to change that. It is worth noting that Bernie Sanders even did a town hall style meeting on FOX news, with positive reception. The Democratic Party could see the value in what Bernie was doing and support candidates like him, but they choose to go after big corporate interests instead. And I think that is their folly.
        lotsofpulp 4y ago
        It does not make any sense to me that voters are voting for the exact opposite of Bernie (Republicans) rather than voting for someone closer to Bernie (Democrats). > but they choose to go after big corporate interests instead. Yet we established in this very comment chain that Democrats have passed some significant bills against big corporate interests, and Republicans have done the opposite.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

Democrat led states and cities have paid sick leave, paid parental leave, longer leave periods for new moms, higher minimum wages, daily overtime laws, laws requiring sitting, pay transparency laws, laws requiring employee to be able to sit, higher unemployment insurance benefits, same minimum wage regardless of tips, etc. Republicans led states do not. That seems to be clear evidence indicating one cares more about labor than the other.

TaylorAlexander 4y ago
That’s fair. I guess at the state level things are better. Maybe even at the federal level democrats care more than republicans. I do however feel disillusioned with how little it feels like the democrats in congress are willing to do to fight for labor.
- lotsofpulp 4y ago
  Democrats passed Affordable Care Act in 2009 during the only 6 months where they had a tenuous 60 seats in the US Senate required to pass non budgetary laws. Democrats also almost passed significant child care benefits and tax credits in the original build back better bill in 2021, which of course was voted against by every Republican. Even a single Republican voting with the Democrats would have enabled millions of poorer families with children. In my entire adult lift (since 2000) I cannot recall a single bill proposed by Republics to benefit lower income/poorer people. I do know they pushed through two wars and a bunch of tax cuts. I know Democrats tried to reform healthcare as early as mid 1990s (which then culminated in Affordable Care Act). Seems like pretty conclusive evidence that the parties are not the same at the federal level too, and the voting rules at the Senate level do not leave any options other than severe compromise.
  - TaylorAlexander 4y ago
    You’re right that they’re not the same. I’d say a bill in 2009 and another in 2021 do not give me the feeling that they’re fighting particularly hard for labor rights either. Though I’m sure there are more and you’re just listing a couple from memory.
    - lotsofpulp 4y ago
      What do you expect them to do if they do not have sufficient votes in Senate and a President to sign the bill?
      - TaylorAlexander 4y ago
        They could start by getting more candidates in the Senate, by more aggressively advocating for policies that will genuinely help people. It really seemed like Bernie Sanders's policy proposals resonated with a majority of Americans, but the Democratic Party did everything they could to sink him. Their more moderate proposals were less exciting, which I think is why the election between Biden and Trump was so close. If the Democratic Party had gotten behind more popular policies, they could have won more seats in the Senate too. The problem, of course, is that both parties (though not Bernie Sanders) are beholden to big corporate interests. So they have to fight for lukewarm policy that doesn't really excite the people, but satisfies their major donors. They could fix this by advocating for election reform, but I don't think the party establishment really wants to change that. It is worth noting that Bernie Sanders even did a town hall style meeting on FOX news, with positive reception. The Democratic Party could see the value in what Bernie was doing and support candidates like him, but they choose to go after big corporate interests instead. And I think that is their folly.
        lotsofpulp 4y ago
        It does not make any sense to me that voters are voting for the exact opposite of Bernie (Republicans) rather than voting for someone closer to Bernie (Democrats). > but they choose to go after big corporate interests instead. Yet we established in this very comment chain that Democrats have passed some significant bills against big corporate interests, and Republicans have done the opposite.