WE THE PEOPLE: Workers made the U.S. the most prosperous country in the world

Opinion

August 26, 2009

By Clyde Ussery / Chronicle contributor The Crossville Chronicle Wed Aug 26, 2009, 09:51 AM CDT

Since the early days of our republic, the struggle of American workers to improve their lives in the workplace has been an uphill fight against rich and powerful conservatives whose primary goal is to maintain a ready supply of cheap labor. In order to keep workers “over a barrel,” they have done their best to destroy one of the most important protections of working people—unions.

In their efforts to defeat organized labor, conservatives mobilized support from the economically comfortable who suffer from the delusion that they are part of that rich and powerful circle, and from workers who are hard-wired to oppose anything designed to improve their lot in life.

Despite the best efforts of rich “cheap labor” conservatives, from the late 1930s through the mid 1970s, working Americans had bargaining power. It has been called by some labor’s golden age. Unions had significant clout with Congress, and through legislation they were able to get the 40-hour workweek, the 8-hour workday, overtime pay, medical insurance, pension benefit protection and safety protections in the workplace. Not just for union members, but for all workers, even those who had fought them every step of the way.

For those who preach that lower taxes on wealthy investors is the only route to prosperity, it should be noted that in the years Americans were experiencing wage growth and improved working conditions, taxes on the wealthy were the highest in our nation’s history.

Since workers had attained power, investors and corporate executives wooed them with promises. They said help make us more productive and profitable, and we will share our prosperity. Wealth will trickle down to you.

So American workers trusted the investors and CEOs, after all, wasn’t the U.S. a Christian nation with high moral standards. The workers kept their end of the bargain and made this country the most competitive and most prosperous in the world, not only with hands-on labor, but also by contributing their creative talents to develop superior production techniques.

But alas, what the workers didn’t have was enough money to buy politicians. Wealthy investors did, and they began their rise to power. Pro-business, anti-worker politicians were elected, and politicians who had the interest of our total society at heart became an endangered species.

When the rich and powerful gained control of our government, all their promises to workers—the people who built this country—were forgotten. The investors were rewarded with special tax breaks, enormous subsidies, regulatory advantages, and political privileges—a welfare state for the rich. They got these favors on the grounds that everyone would benefit from the advantages they were given. Nothing trickled down.

Our best jobs have gone overseas, factories are sitting idle, and communities are decaying. Fairness to workers is no longer a moral standard. All that counts is profit for investors. The wealth has been redistributed.

Have a good Labor Day. If you have the day off, or if you have to work and collect time and a half, just remember, some old liberal fought hard to get that for you.

Text Only

Opinion

GARY'S WORLD: A birthday worthy of celebrating
Sometimes it's good to rejoice over the simple things in life. In fact, I always have been thankful for the simple things in life that bring me so much joy.

February 9, 2012
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Will the bullying ever stop?
Memories of a 1980 visit to Dachau concentration camp are seared in my mind. They all came back as I read a travel story about Boston.

February 7, 2012
LION AND THE LAMB: The conspiracy against women
One can find many major conspiracies against women throughout history. Most of these have come out of a context of male domination and patriarchal mindsets.

February 7, 2012
WE THE PEOPLE: Meet Grover Norquist
Who is Grover Norquist? Norquist is a private citizen. He has never held an elected office. Yet, he has been called the most influential man in America. Grover Norquist helped cause our economic tragedy, putting millions of Americans out of work. Grover Norquist is dictatorial and uncompromising. Grover Norquist must be stopped.

February 7, 2012
TIDBITS: Duct tape fixes everything
There's an old joke about how all you really need in your tool box is a roll of duct tape and a can of WD-40. Use duct tape if it moves and it shouldn't and WD-40 if it won't move and it should. This fabric-backed tape is one versatile product.

February 6, 2012
STUMPTALK: Democrats dishonor their history
Once upon a time, in this very land, and not so long ago, there were Democrats who were able to summon the courage to provide direction for our nation during times when strong leadership was needed.

February 6, 2012
Gary's World: Game? What game? I'm watching the commercials
Anyone who really knows me, knows that I'm not much of a football fan.

February 2, 2012
We the People: Crime and Punishment
Maybe we don’t have enough tools. Maybe we don’t have enough imagination. Whatever the reason, we in the United States seem to be confused about finding and applying effective solutions to major societal problems. We seem to have a one-size-fits-all solution: use more force, increase the punishments. Our approach seems to be based on anger and revenge instead of logical thought.

January 31, 2012
Lion and the Lamb: Football and religion
Football games and religious services have many similarities. Both deal with the human struggle toward various goals in life, the importance of both individual and group effort, liturgical celebrations that include music, singing, pageantry, symbols, bidding calls and responses, and the ingestion of food and drink. Also, those sports and religious figures that are deemed most successful, such as by filling large gathering places with celebrants, are usually given special rewards and higher remuneration.

January 31, 2012
Random Thoughts: Enjoy a ride on a Merry-Go-Round
Our first son sent a picture of a sign which told about the man who hand carved the elegant animals on a carousel in San Diego, CA. A second picture was of that son, of retirement age but still working, and his young son mounted on two of those animals. Both males wore broad smiles.

January 31, 2012
More Opinion Headlines

Opinion

Search Results

WE THE PEOPLE: Workers made the U.S. the most prosperous country in the world

Site Map

Contact Us