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Why Have Policymakers Abandoned the Working Class?

ksen

ksen

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http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2014/09/30/Why-Have-Policymakers-Abandoned-Working-Class

Why do we hear so much about the need to raise interest rates now rather than later, or get the deficit under control immediately despite the risks to households who are most vulnerable to an economic downturn? Those who are most in need – those least able to withstand a spell of unemployment or other negative economic events – have the least power in our political system.

With the decline in unions and other institutions that used to give workers a voice in the political process along with rising inequality that gives even more power to those at the top, the problem is getting worse. No wonder policy has been tilted so much in favor of those at the top. Fiscal policy in particular has been far too responsive to the interests of those with political power rather than those in greatest need.

If we are going to be a fair and just society, a society that protects those among us who are the most vulnerable to economic shocks, this needs to change. The necessary change won’t come easily, the entrenched political and economic interests will be difficult to dislodge.

But the current trend of rising inequality in both the economic and political arenas along with the rising economic risks faced by working class households due to globalization, technological change, and a political system that increasingly neglects their interests is not sustainable. If these trends continue unabated, change will come one way or the other. The only question is how.
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p much sums it up
 
The problem is that the economy has a lot of inertia. We are trying to hold things on an even keel, that means we must start opposing the swing well before it reaches the midpoint. Otherwise you get what you normally do with a pendulum--wide swings both ways.
 
Loren Pechtel said:
The problem is that the economy has a lot of inertia. We are trying to hold things on an even keel, that means we must start opposing the swing well before it reaches the midpoint. Otherwise you get what you normally do with a pendulum--wide swings both ways.
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Mixed metaphor,much.
Where does one go to become an expert on everything?
 
Policy makers have abandoned the working class because the working class has abandoned its interests. The working class keeps electing and supporting class warriors (as in pro-upper classes) into office.
 
laughing dog said:
Policy makers have abandoned the working class because the working class has abandoned its interests. The working class keeps electing and supporting class warriors (as in pro-upper classes) into office.
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Yup, 'fraid so.
 
Canard DuJour said:
laughing dog said:
Policy makers have abandoned the working class because the working class has abandoned its interests. The working class keeps electing and supporting class warriors (as in pro-upper classes) into office.
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Yup, 'fraid so.
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The working class faces a media hostile to their interests and supportive of the interests of the corporations that own them.

The working class never gets to choose candidates from their ranks.

Practically every choice we get is a choice that has been carefully vetted by corporate interests. If they don't say the right things they don't get the money to have a campaign, unless they are like Rick Scott in Florida who paid $72 million of his own money to become governor. He's a lackey for corporate interests by genetic endowment.

It is a system where only those with a lot of money participate. And a system where the media is against the interests of working people in case after case.

All one has to remember is the media coverage of the buildup to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Nothing but generals and weapons experts, all fully in support of the invasion. Huge protests around the world before the invasion begins totally ignored. Phil Donahue the most watched host on MSNBC fired because he was opposed to the invasion. The beginning of the end of MSNBC in my opinion.

Working people are busy. Working hours are increasing and wages have been stagnant for decades. Few have the time and energy to work to support some candidate they would like better. They certainly don't have the money to support one.

Take the money out of politics and things might change, but this Supreme Court doesn't think money in politics is a problem.
 
The policy makers can not abandon the working class because they never supported them to begin with.
 
I am curious, though I think it would be hard to measure. Would people now or back in the days when the political machines ran towns did people feel they had more of a voice in politics?
 
Say what you will about Boss Tweed, he took care of the working man.
 
coloradoatheist said:
I am curious, though I think it would be hard to measure. Would people now or back in the days when the political machines ran towns did people feel they had more of a voice in politics?
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It would depend on which side you were on and the kickbacks and jobs you got from the party.
 
Politicians are not put in office by the working class. They do not have working class tastes or experiences. They do not rub elbows with the working class. They do not work for the working class. They know very little about working class life. It is odd that this question would even be asked.
 
Loren Pechtel said:
The problem is that the economy has a lot of inertia. We are trying to hold things on an even keel, that means we must start opposing the swing well before it reaches the midpoint. Otherwise you get what you normally do with a pendulum--wide swings both ways.
Click to expand...

So, Loren, when we cut down all the redwoods, the pendulum somehow swings back the other way and we get too many redwood trees? An interesting theory. Of course it will take thousands of years to prove it! Our economy does not have that much inertia. Have you ever heard of a crash or a bubble bursting? It goes like hell then suddenly stops! Unemployed everywhere and overseas banks bursting with untaxed money. Your theory doesn't seem to add up.

When we load up the atmosphere with CO2, the pendulum takes a long long long time to swing back the other way. If we were to cut off Social Security, the old folks would die off quicker but I don't think there would suddenly be a new bigger crop of old folks. This pendulum idea is crazy.
 
arkirk said:
Loren Pechtel said:
The problem is that the economy has a lot of inertia. We are trying to hold things on an even keel, that means we must start opposing the swing well before it reaches the midpoint. Otherwise you get what you normally do with a pendulum--wide swings both ways.
Click to expand...

So, Loren, when we cut down all the redwoods, the pendulum somehow swings back the other way and we get too many redwood trees? An interesting theory. Of course it will take thousands of years to prove it! Our economy does not have that much inertia. Have you ever heard of a crash or a bubble bursting? It goes like hell then suddenly stops! Unemployed everywhere and overseas banks bursting with untaxed money. Your theory doesn't seem to add up.

When we load up the atmosphere with CO2, the pendulum takes a long long long time to swing back the other way. If we were to cut off Social Security, the old folks would die off quicker but I don't think there would suddenly be a new bigger crop of old folks. This pendulum idea is crazy.
Click to expand...

The recessions in the late 90s and 2000s were caused by inflation and bubbles. They went too far during those times.
 
coloradoatheist said:
arkirk said:
So, Loren, when we cut down all the redwoods, the pendulum somehow swings back the other way and we get too many redwood trees? An interesting theory. Of course it will take thousands of years to prove it! Our economy does not have that much inertia. Have you ever heard of a crash or a bubble bursting? It goes like hell then suddenly stops! Unemployed everywhere and overseas banks bursting with untaxed money. Your theory doesn't seem to add up.

When we load up the atmosphere with CO2, the pendulum takes a long long long time to swing back the other way. If we were to cut off Social Security, the old folks would die off quicker but I don't think there would suddenly be a new bigger crop of old folks. This pendulum idea is crazy.
Click to expand...

The recessions in the late 90s and 2000s were caused by inflation and bubbles. They went too far during those times.
Click to expand...

US_Inflation.png
 
coloradoatheist said:
The recessions in the late 90s and 2000s were caused by inflation and bubbles. They went too far during those times.
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What inflation was that in the late 90s and 2000s?

U.S.%2BYearly%2BInflation%2Bsince%2B1900.jpg
 
goddamn you pyramidhead . . . delete your post!
 
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