Robert Reich
U.S. billionaire wealth in 2010: $1.5 trillion U.S. billionaire wealth in 2020: $3.9 trillion
Federal minimum wage in 2010: $7.25 Federal minimum wage in 2020: $7.25
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Reality-based commentary on politics.
gmoke says
Them that’s got shall get
Them that’s not shall lose
So the Bible said
and it still is news
Mama may have
Papa may have
but God bless the child
that’s got his own.
Here’s Ms Holiday to elucidate further
https://youtu.be/EpN40V0s4_E
johntmay says
Yes, I do. If it kept pace with worker productivity, something that was a reality prior to 1968, the minimum wage would be $24. As far as I can recall, neither political party had an iron grip on this issue since 1968. This is not something we can hang on the Republicans. It’s time to look in the mirror as we “fight for $15”? Why $15 ad not $24?
fredrichlariccia says
There you go again, making the perfect the enemy of the good.
Why $15? Because $15 is more than twice as good as $7.25.
Proof? Just ask anyone making $7.25 now.
johntmay says
Live in Massachusetts on $15 and get back to us on how “good” life is. That’s been the problem with Democrats for far too long.
SomervilleTom says
It’s disappointing that you so frequently attack Democrats and so infrequently criticize Republicans.
The “Democrats” in the Massachusetts legislature aren’t Democrats.
I’ve lived in Massachusetts since 1974. I can tell you that life in MA has been MUCH better during times of Democratic Party control of government than during the dark GOP years. I saw — and stood in — the line of unemployed workers stretching around block after block of empty storefronts in Lowell, waiting to apply for unemployment, during the George W. Bush years. Those weren’t there during the Clinton years and they weren’t there during the Obama years.
Hostility to working class men and women — and especially those working class men and women who are also minorities — most certainly IS something that we can hang on Republicans.
johntmay says
Does anyone else see the problem here?
Christopher says
By totality of record almost all them are. At least according to the Progressive Mass scorecards I’ve seen there is precisely one House Democrat in recent years who does not have a more progressive voting record than every single Republican – Colleen Garry.
SomervilleTom says
I don’t doubt that they are more progressive than the handful of GOP counterparts in MA — the latter are literally an endangered species that are not representative of anything.
The hallmark of “progressive” politics is taxing the wealthy at a higher rate — that’s literally where the term “progressive” originates. A convenient opinion holds that our MA constitution prohibits this. In the nearly fifty years since I’ve lived here, that opinion has been used to provide political cover so that NO legislator of any party ever has to actually VOTE for a progressive tax proposal.
Fifty years is plenty of time for actual progressives to organize and advance a test case that challenges the opinion and to advance an amendment if that test case fails. Our “Democrats” have shown ZERO interest in such a move.
I join John in criticizing the many failings of MA legislators.
My objection is to his false and misleading assertions about the national party. Even our state DINOs do not make the assertions that he ascribes to them.
I have never once heard any Democrat — even in MA — assert that ANY working-class man or woman “does not deserve” higher wages. Not once.
Christopher says
I’ve also conceded that many are not the progressive heroes some would like. I just want to stop the assumption that Dems are or should always be progressive. We do not have a progressive majority in our legislature, but we absolutely do have a solidly Democratic one.
SomervilleTom says
I grew up in MD. I remember 1968. I’m all too familiar with good-ol-boys who call themselves Democrats, I grew up with them.
I don’t believe that anybody who shares the values and priorities that have characterized the Democratic Party since 1968 can oppose progressive taxation.
As you’ve said so many times, the “Democratic” brand is meaningless in Massachusetts. Here are ten issues where I think our “solidly Democratic” legislature has significantly failed (in no particular order):
I’m sure there are others, but that’s at least ten specific issues where our “solidly Democratic” legislature has governed more like the Republican party governs in other places.
I don’t think we need a majority of “progressive heroes” to address these issues — I think we need ACTUAL, as in practicing, Democrats.
Christopher says
All of which Dems are better on than the GOP! I’m not talking about Dixiecrats here either. I’m not sure how much clearer I can be. In our largely binary two-party system Dems consistently fall on the left half of the political spectrum, even here in MA. We have prevailing constitutional issues with progressive taxation here in MA. I KNOW they aren’t necessarily the most progressive, but PLEASE do not suggest that all but a small handful are DINOs either. I do not believe the brand is completely meaningless. I am arguing very much the opposite here. I HAVE said the institutional party does not have the authority to bend its legislators to its will.
bob-gardner says
“It’s disappointing that you so frequently attack Democrats and so infrequently criticize Republicans.”
In John’s defense, Democrats seem to attack him more than Republicans.
SomervilleTom says
The inflation calculator at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm) says that $7.95 in June of 2010 is worth $8.57 in June of 2020.
The gap between labor productivity and inflation-adjusted compensation (see https://www.epi.org/productivity-pay-gap/) opened in 1980 — corresponding to the election of Ronald Reagan. The exploded during the 12 years that the GOP held the White House.
The gap leveled during the Clinton years (both indices increased), and then widened dramatically again during the George W. Bush years (2000-2008).
It took a beating after the 2008 recession while the combination of a GOP congress and naive president blunted the impact of Democratic Party proposals.
While neither party had an “iron grip” on the issue, the data suggests that the gap gets MUCH larger during periods of GOP domination.
The Democratic Party has not yet been able to reverse the effects of 40 years of GOP domination of our culture.
Steve Consilvio says
Why can’t it be hung on republicans? They are the party that consistently refuses to discuss any and every issue almost Carte Blanche. All they ever want to do is cut taxes and let businesses do whatever they want. They reject the idea of a social contract as socialism, and care nothing (beyond lip service) to equal opportunity.
Also, the original post said nothing about political party, so it would appear that your defense of republicans, and of liberals not being liberal enough, are part of your baggage.
You could have made your point (if it is your point) without any politics. Ie that worker productivity has increased significantly without any reward to the worker. Unfortunately, that argument wouldn’t be necessarily true. Overall worker productivity has nothing to do with minimum wage workers. I’ll admit I don’t know how much of the work force is employed at the minimum wage, but I doubt these cheap businesses are at the vanguard of efficiency. I know my last employer certainly wasn’t.
It’s just a simple fact that inflation exists and goods are sold at a fixed price. As prices go up, if peoples income doesn’t go up, then they can only survive by consuming less., or working multiple jobs, which is common for minimum wage workers. The rich can easily survive by consuming less. The poor should not be expected to sacrifice so the rich can have more. No democrat would likely contest that idea, but conservatives would, or insert a bs theory like your other post regarding a skill gap.
If I may, it is easy to see and criticize how everyone else is wrong, but you should also state your own opinion clearly and defend it. When the conversation turns into defending group alliances and nothing beyond vague trite stereotypes, it’s a bit of a waste, IMO. Real problems can be solved and consensus achieved with a little intellectually honest effort and forgoing stereotypes. The dysfunction in Congress is simply a reflection of the rank and file of everyday Americans. While all political parties could be better, it is false equivalency to say they are the same and bear equal responsibility. Of course, it depends on the specific topic.